Samsung’s FE (fan-edition) lineup is the South Korean tech large’s collection of gadgets with top-of-the-line options, usually present in its flagships, repackaged with a extra reasonably priced price ticket.
With Samsung solely skipping the Galaxy S22 FE, we weren’t positive if the corporate had determined to thoroughly finish its S-series FE line. Although lo and behold, in October, Samsung revealed the S23 FE.
Priced at $649.99 for the 128GB/8GB model, the S23 FE positions itself as an economical various to the S23, which begins at $879.99 for a similar spec mannequin.
The Fan Version system goals to ship the necessities of the S23 line in a extra reasonably priced bundle, and it does so in some elements.
Show excellence and a storage dilemma
The S23 FE impresses with a superior show in comparison with its flagship counterpart. That includes the identical Dynamic AMOLED 2X show, the S23 FE’s 6.4-inch display screen outshines (not actually) the S23’s 6.1-inch show.
The additional show actual property is nice, making the system simply barely smaller than the S23+. Inversely, this makes the FE gadgets heavier than the S23, with the S23 FE’s greater bezels, particularly at and across the backside, taking on a whole lot of area.
The Galaxy S23 can be brighter than the FE system. It has a peak brightness of 1,750 nits, whereas the FE is restricted to 1,450 nits. This, nonetheless, doesn’t make or break the S23 FE. In my expertise utilizing the system, indoors and outdoor, the display screen has all the time remained vivid and legible.
Crafted with Gorilla Glass 5 on the back and front and an aluminum body, the S23 FE appears to be like and feels much less like an reasonably priced system and extra like a premium flagship. The system received’t supply superior scratch resistance just like the S23’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 does. Nonetheless, for what it’s value, in my time utilizing the S23 FE with out a case or tempered glass, I’ve did not scratch it.
The absence of bodily buttons on the left aspect contributes to its modern look. Nonetheless, the shiny again is a fingerprint magnet. On the fitting, you’ll discover the amount rocker and the ability button. There’s a single bottom-firing speaker on the backside, alongside the USB-C charging port, and on the highest sits the SIM tray.
Sadly, just like the flagship S23 line, the system doesn’t characteristic a Micro-SD slot, so that you’re restricted to the storage you go for throughout buy.
Contemplating that the FE is a extra reasonably priced line, the place Samsung possible doesn’t need to care as a lot in regards to the system’s weight, the inclusion of a MicroSD slot would have are available in clutch.
Circling again to the show, the S23 FE doesn’t compromise on fluidity. It encompasses a responsive adaptive 60Hz-120Hz show; nonetheless, not like the S23, it could’t go as little as 1Hz, which might have improved battery life.
The display screen additionally helps HDR10+ for enhanced distinction and particulars, and viewing content material on the system provides an in depth and vibrant expertise.
The one hindrance on the display screen is the hole-punch selfie digicam, however contemplating that the flagship S23 line doesn’t have an under-display digicam, I wasn’t anticipating the S23 FE to both.
Sustaining IP68 water and dirt resistance, the S23 FE matches the S23 line’s sturdiness, surviving in freshwater as much as 1.5 meters for half-hour.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 can nonetheless maintain its floor
The S23 FE comes with an Exynos 2200 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset.
In Canada, the system runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, which was launched in late 2021. It is a step down from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 on the flagship S23 collection, but in addition one thing that was solely anticipated.
The selection of an older Snapdragon chip could impression effectivity, nevertheless it nonetheless delivers spectacular velocity and efficiency.
The S23 FE strikes a stability in offering an pleasant gaming expertise with out compromising total system efficiency with an Adreno 730 GPU. In my expertise utilizing the system, it hardly ever ever obtained sizzling throughout prolonged gaming periods, and fans will be capable of indulge of their favorite titles with clean graphics and responsive controls with the system.
Benchmarking-wise, there’s nothing too loopy. As anticipated, the system will get a decrease rating than new flagships, just like the iPhone 15, the Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung’s newest foldables. Nonetheless, the system is a giant improve over the past FE system, the S21 FE, and over different gadgets with comparable SOCs, just like the S22, Moto Razr+, the Z Flip 4 and the Z Flip 5. When in comparison with Google’s similarly-spec’d pocket-friendly Pixel 7A, on paper, the S23 FE leaves the Pixel in mud.
The S23 FE is on the market in two configurations: 128GB storage with 8GB RAM and 256GB with 8GB RAM. This is identical because the flagship S23’s RAM providing, although the S23 additionally comes with the next 512GB storage possibility.
Whereas the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE delivers commendable efficiency in lots of elements of each day use, it does undergo from the occasional lag when tasked with managing a number of tabs or apps concurrently. The dip in efficiency seems momentarily, and for customers who principally have interaction in normal, day-to-day actions, the S23 FE gives a passable and fluid expertise.
A superb, however not wonderful digicam
The S23 FE’s digicam system impresses in daylight circumstances. The 50-megapixel major digicam, 12-megapixel ultrawide, and 8MP telephoto supply versatility, although low-light efficiency falls wanting flagship requirements.
The primary digicam makes use of a bigger sensor with dual-pixel autofocus, and helps pixel-binning, which primarily combines 4 pixels into one to create a pointy and detailed high-definition picture with correct colors (that is nice for taking all kinds of photos). Nonetheless, like most of Samsung’s cameras, the Galaxy FE 23 tends to overexpose vivid areas in photos.
The ultra-wide, alternatively, with its 123-degree discipline of view, is nice for capturing landscapes and group pictures, although these photographs can generally be noisy, particularly in inadequately lit scenes, with distortions round edges.
The telephoto does a great job of zooming in on distant objects with out an excessive amount of distortion with section detection autofocus and optical picture stabilization. That stated, it is a step down from the S23’s 10-megapixel telephoto.
The S23 FE additionally helps 8K video recording at 24fps, which is spectacular for its worth vary.
The S23 FE’s total digicam efficiency is mostly good in optimum lighting, and even at evening time, the system’s Evening Mode does a ok job to enhance the low-light efficiency of the cameras, although it isn’t as efficient as the primary flagship line. Primarily, the S23 FE is an efficient cellphone with good digicam efficiency, however it isn’t a superb cellphone with wonderful digicam efficiency. The system’s digicam setup is finest suited to informal customers who desire a digicam that may do all of it however do not count on flagship-level high quality.
The drain is actual
The S23 FE boasts a much bigger battery than the S23, coming in at 4,500mAh, in comparison with the three,900mAh battery on the S23. The system can run for a full day on a one hundred pc cost with common use, however if you add intensive duties like gaming or watching content material for lengthy durations to the combination, the battery does drain considerably faster.
Pair that with the 60Hz-120Hz show, and even common duties like scrolling contribute to the drain. When utilizing the cellphone as a each day driver, you’ll usually end up roughly on the 15-20 p.c battery mark after a full day of use.
The FE system, identical to the S23, does characteristic 45W quick charging, and I used to be recurrently capable of juice it as much as the one hundred pc battery mark in roughly an hour.
Wi-fi charging on the system is sluggish, however the truth that it’s provided in a Fan Version system with a beginning worth of $649 is greater than I can ask for. One other stunning characteristic that the FE boasts for its worth level is reverse wi-fi charging, which may be finicky at occasions and costs sluggish and regular. Nonetheless, on the worth level, it’s a welcome characteristic to have.
The system provides a whole lot of worth for its worth, nevertheless it additionally compromises on some elements. The S23 FE is an efficient alternative for Samsung followers who desire a flagship-like expertise, nevertheless it might not be the only option for fans who need the highest quality and options.
The S23 FE’s expansive 6.4-inch show, vibrant HDR10+ assist, and sturdy design underscore its dedication to delivering a premium person expertise.
The system’s spine, whether or not powered by the Exynos 2200 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, offers it respectable efficiency velocity, although the selection of an older processor compromises effectivity.
The 4,500mAh battery, coupled with 45W quick charging and the comfort of wi-fi and reverse wi-fi charging, makes the system a sensible alternative as a each day driver, although the choice to go away out expandable storage looks like a missed alternative for the fan version system.
