Latest Galaxy S23 FE news
Introduction
After skipping the Galaxy S22 FE in 2022, Samsung's Fan Edition smartphone series made a return in 2023 through the aptly named Galaxy S23 FE.
Like its predecessors, the 2023 Fan Edition phone isn't technically a flagship but boasts a handful of high-end specifications. And the Galaxy S23 FE model, in particular, borrows even more characteristics from its pricier siblings.
Design
The Galaxy S23 FE has a Gorilla Glass 5 back panel and an aluminum frame, which make it heavier and sturdier than the Galaxy S21 FE. The new model weighs 209 grams, up from 177. It feels like a higher-quality device than the previous Fan Edition phones. And it is.
The new aluminum frame should make it more resilient than the previous models, and beyond that, the S23 FE looks like a cross between the Galaxy A54 and Galaxy S23, leaning more toward the more expensive flagship.
Measuring 158 x 76.5 x 8.2mm, the Galaxy S23 FE uses Samsung's 2023 design language, consisting of flat panels and three individual cutouts for the rear-facing cameras. It's IP68-certified for dust and water resistance.
The phone was announced in four color options: Mint, Silver, Gray, and Lavender. Samsung also prepared two online-exclusive options: Indigo and Tangerine.
Specifications
Following tradition, the Galaxy S23 FE is powered by a high-end chip. It's not the latest high-end SoC, but it is better than any mid-range offering.
More specifically, the Galaxy S23 FE sports the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC in markets including the USA and Canada, and the Exynos 2200 chip in most other regions, including Australia, Europe, India, and other Asian markets. The chips are cooled by a vapor chamber, meaning they should perform better under stressful tasks, such as when running demanding mobile games.
The chips are accompanied by 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of non-expandable storage. The device relies on a 4,500mAh battery with features such as 25W fast charging, wireless charging, and Wireless PowerShare.
Display
Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S23 FE with a 6.4-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. It has an adaptive refresh rate of 60-120Hz.
Although it may seem like Samsung hasn't upgraded the display in 2023, the S23 Fan Edition benefits from the addition of Vision Booster.
This technology allows the AMOLED display to calibrate on the fly and offer better color accuracy in a variety of lighting conditions, even in bright environments. The screen has an Infinity-O cutout at the top to make room for the selfie camera.
Camera
Speaking of cameras, the Galaxy S23 FE features three rear-facing units. There is a primary 50MP wide-angle shooter with an f/1.9 aperture and Adaptive Pixel technology and OIS, an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, an f/2.4 aperture, and a 32-degree field of view, and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and 123-degree FOV.
The selfie camera has a 10MP resolution, an f/2.4 aperture, and an 80-degree field of view. The selfie sensor boasts 2x portrait mode.
In 2023, Samsung gave the Galaxy S23 FE plenty of high-end camera features, including Nightography, Pro Mode, better video recording through advanced VDIS, and a full-fledged Director's View.
Software and features
Samsung shipped the Galaxy S23 FE with Android 13 and One UI 5.1. However, the company released the phone around the time it was testing Android 14 and One UI 6.0, making the S23 FE a prime contender for the public version of the update.
Samsung confirmed it would support the Galaxy S23 FE with four OS upgrades and five years of security patches. It received Android 14 and One UI 6 in November, 2023.
One feature the Galaxy S23 FE has that is lacking even from the pricier Galaxy Z Flip 5 is Samsung DeX. This allows users to use the phone in a desktop environment by connecting it to an external monitor or TV. It's a productivity tool that can come in handy, as it greatly expands the phone's capabilities.
Availability and price
Samsung announced the Galaxy S23 FE on October 4, 2023, and confirmed the phone would go on sale in select markets a day later, on October 5.
The company priced the entry-level variant at $599, undercutting the Galaxy S21 FE predecessor by $100.
