As expected, Samsung has introduced the Galaxy S23 FE, a high-end smartphone that makes some compromises to keep the price down. An interesting result, but for France we still have to be patient.
The Samsung Galayx S23 FE and the rest of the FE series // Source: Samsung
That’s it, it’s good! The Galaxy S23 FE was officially presented by Samsung. A promising smartphone on paper that you can get your hands on in Europe… provided you show a little patience. Conversely, the Galaxy Buds FE and the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Tab S9 FE Plus will not have the same problem.
Remember that the acronym FE means “Fan Edition” and that this range aims to offer high-end products, but slightly more affordable than the South Korean brand’s more expensive models at the price of some concessions. We therefore have a design “inherited” from the Galaxy S23 to make it clear that it is of the same caliber or almost equivalent. The aesthetics are particularly characterized by the rounded corners and the triple camera, where the cameras are well separated from each other.
We are using leak images from the Galaxy S23 FE because Samsung was unable to provide us with official images before the embargo was lifted // Source: OnLeaks via Smartprix
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE features an aluminum frame and glass on the front and back with Gorilla Glass 5 protection. With the IP68 certification, the smartphone is waterproof. Until then, the illusion is perfect that we could really mistake it for a Galaxy S23. And if we look at the Amoled and Full HD+ screen with 120Hz adaptive mode, we can’t really tell the difference. Even if some people may complain when they remember that the panel of the new smartphone “only” goes from 60 to 120 Hz. Above all, it is larger with a diagonal of 6.4 inches. The manufacturer promises a peak brightness of 1450 nits.
The compromises of the Galaxy S23 FE
Samsung was looking for slightly more subtle compromises to make the Galaxy S23 FE more affordable than its suffix-less alter ego. Especially on the photo page. Here you have to deal with an 8 Mpx x2 telephoto lens. A less ambitious proposal than the x3 zoom we’ve become accustomed to on Samsung’s true high-end models.
On the other hand, there’s a 50MP main photo sensor with an f/1.8 lens aperture, just like the S23 and S23 Plus. All of this is accompanied by a 12MP ultra-wide angle and a 10MP selfie sensor. Note that Pro mode is available for all rear cameras.
We are using leak images from the Galaxy S23 FE because Samsung was unable to provide us with official images before the embargo was lifted // Source: OnLeaks via Smartprix
There is another element that many people will undoubtedly view as a compromise. The European models of the Galaxy S23 FE will feature a 4nm engraved Exynos 2200 – in the rest of the world it’s a Snapdragon that powers the phone. A detail that can make you shudder, since the Exynos have suffered greatly in recent years from comparison with their Qualcomm competitor. Additionally, the S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra got a taste of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in Europe and it was a huge success.
The 4500mAh battery charges at 25W and can boast of restoring 50% power in 30 minutes. Wi-Fi 6E and 5G are obviously present.
Price ? Release date? patience patience
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is official… but not yet available in Europe. And we shouldn’t expect a release “before the end of 2023,” according to representatives from the brand. However, there is no doubt that the phone will soon arrive on the Old Continent. Two clues prove it:
- the company took the time to introduce it in detail to the French – and presumably European – press;
- The presentation in question already mentioned the presence of an Exynos chip for Europe.
We also currently have no information about the price of the Galaxy S23 FE. On the other hand, we know that it will be available in graphite, sea green, purple and cream. Additionally, two colors will be available exclusively on Samsung’s website: blue and orange.