Samsung recently announced its latest FE 2023 edition line-up which includes the Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE, and Galaxy Buds FE. We got a chance to try out the Galaxy S23 FE and here are our thoughts about the new smartphone.
Design
The new Galaxy S23 FE borrows the same iconic design as the original S23 model, featuring a larger 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, capable of 120Hz refresh rates and a brightness that can hit up to 1450 nits. The device also comes with dimensions of 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm and weighs 209g. Samsung mentions that the Galaxy S23 FE features a metal frame, and the device comes in Mint, Graphite, Cream, and Purple color options. We received the mint color as our review sample.
There is also a 10MP selfie sensor on the front side. The display features an optical fingerprint scanner for security and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for better durability for daily usage. The screen also sports a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, along with 403 ppi density.
Despite the FE badge, the resolution and colors of the Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel are brilliant, and the viewing angles are great too for better visuals. The smartphone also rocks the IP68 certification for dust and water resistance.
The volume rockers and the Bixby/power button are located on the top-right side, and the SIM slot is placed on the top side. The speaker grill is placed next to the bottom USB-C port.
The rear side of the smartphone features the same borderless camera setup, just as it’s done with the S23 series. The rear side also features a glass back, again with Gorilla Glass 5 protection. To be honest, the Galaxy S23 FE looks and feels more or less like the original Galaxy S23.
Performance
For the latest 2023 FE-series smartphone, Samsung uses the Exynos 2200 for the Galaxy S23 FE. And while this isn’t the latest chipset of 2023, the chipset does offer amazing flagship-class performance. The device also runs on the latest Android 14 OS with One UI 6. The device comes packed with 8GB RAM and a choice of 128GB or 256GB storage capacities.
The Galaxy S23 FE performed well throughout the day while we used the device for daily tasks, phone calls, emails, clicking snaps, and more. The performance was smooth, thanks to the sufficient memory and snappy chipset. The 120Hz refresh rate of the display also adds up for the smooth user experience. For gaming performance, the SoC also features the integrated Xclipse 920 GPU. We ran some benchmarks on the Galaxy S23 FE and here are the scores.
Other features of the device include WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and more. The S23 FE also houses a large 4500 mAh battery, along with support for 25W fast recharge, thanks to Power Delivery 2.0. Users will be able to charge up to 50% of battery capacity in just half an hour. We tested the battery life using the PCMark Work 3.0 battery test, and the smartphone lasted for 10 hours and 29 minutes. Please do keep in mind that the benchmark stops once the battery percentage hits 20%, so there is still more juice to go on. The device also has support for wireless charging.
Camera
As for the photography department, the S23 FE sports a 50MP sensor as the main rear camera with F/1.8 as its aperture. The second shooter is an 8MP snapper for telephoto shots, and the third snapper is a 12MP sensor for ultra-wide photography. These sensors come with support for phase detection autofocus.
Users will be able to record high-quality 4K videos up to 60fps, and 8K videos up to 24fps. The front-facing camera also holds a 10MP shooter and can do 4K videos up to 60fps. We shot some test samples with each of the rear-facing cameras, for both day and nighttime situations. Take a look at the samples below.
Verdict
For those who are looking for a more affordable flagship-level smartphone, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE smartphone. The device shares similar design features to the original S23, and it weighs only 209g. The display is a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 120Hz refresh rate, and the screen resolution is 1080 x 2340 pixels. Both the front and rear glass panels are protected with Gorilla Glass 5.
The smartphone also sports the Exynos 2200 SoC, which still delivers flagship-level performance, along with 8GB of RAM for ample multitasking, and the AMD-based Xclipse 920 handles gaming well. The device also comes with a triple-camera system, with a 50MP sensor as the main camera that can do 8K videos up to 24fps. The device also features a 4500 mAh battery, with support for 25W fast wired charging.
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