8.0 Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Like
Fast efficiency
Lower value for higher-end options
Lowlight images
Don’t like
Battery life
Feels much like the Galaxy S22, for higher and worse
After per week spent utilizing the $600 (£599, AU$999) Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, I made a decision that the corporate’s “FE” ought to now stand for “Flagship Essentials.” That’s not a nasty factor, because the S23 FE consists of most of the options that Samsung solely consists of in its Galaxy S23 telephones, whereas scaling again areas that assist it hit a value that is $200 much less. It fills a spot in Samsung’s lineup between the $450 Galaxy A54 and the $800 Galaxy S23 fairly nicely. A Samsung consultant has additionally confirmed that FE not stands for “Fan Edition” because it did prior to now, with the FE label now standing by itself.When I first bought the cellphone, I used to be pleasantly stunned to see how briskly it ran by establishing my apps, settings and net pages. That’s largely because of the cellphone’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, which regardless of being nearly two years previous continues to be quicker than the Galaxy A54 5G’s Exynos 1380 chip. Internationally, the Galaxy S23 FE consists of Samsung’s Exynos 2200 processor, however my overview unit is the US mannequin with the Qualcomm chip.When I took the S23 FE to my dad and mom’ home over the weekend, I discovered firsthand how beneficial it may be to spend a bit of further on a cellphone that has more-premium options like reverse wi-fi charging. I forgot my USB-C energy adapter, however the S23 FE helped me energy up my different units till I used to be capable of get to a Best Buy. That’s one thing I would not have been capable of do on the cheaper Galaxy A54 5G. The Galaxy S23 FE is on the identical processor because the Galaxy S22, which continues to be quick even when it is not new. Mike Sorrentino/CNETThe S23 FE features a 50-megapixel foremost digicam and 12-megapixel ultrawide digicam, much like what’s included on the $800 Galaxy S23, which labored like a appeal throughout my cousin’s nighttime wedding ceremony held on Roosevelt Island. The cellphone additionally features a telephoto digicam, one other function usually seen solely on Samsung’s dearer telephones, which got here in helpful for taking zoomed-in images.To be clear, this is not the Galaxy S23 mannequin to purchase should you’re on the lookout for the most recent and best specs at a reduced value. But should you’re contemplating springing for a less expensive Android cellphone, the Galaxy S23 FE is a superb starter flagship that will get you entry to Samsung’s higher-end options with out the value to match. My overview unit is the purple mannequin of the Galaxy S23 FE. Mike Sorrentino/CNETSamsung Galaxy S23 FE design, specs, batteryThe Samsung Galaxy S23 FE jogs my memory of Apple’s iPhone 5C from a decade in the past. That 12 months, Apple took the internals of the iPhone 5 and positioned them inside a colourful polycarbonate physique, and dropped the value to $100 lower than the new-for-2013 iPhone 5S. In this case, Samsung repackaged most of the Galaxy S22’s specs and options, put them into a colourful aluminum physique and made the value $200 lower than the Galaxy S23. Since Samsung did not find yourself releasing a Galaxy S22 FE, that is the primary cellphone between midrange and flagship value that the corporate has launched in a few years.My overview system is the purple mannequin, however the Galaxy S23 FE is available in a rainbow of colours, together with Tangerine, Indigo, Cream, Graphite and Mint. The again of the cellphone is a little bit of a fingerprint magnet, however the colourful model is in any other case welcome.The cellphone’s 6.4-inch 1,080p show additionally hits a candy spot between the smaller 6.1-inch show on the bottom Galaxy S23 and the 6.6-inch show on the Galaxy S23 Plus. I personally choose telephones this measurement as a result of the expanded display offers loads of room to view media with out the cellphone’s physique absolutely occupying my pants pocket. The S23 FE’s show runs at a variable refresh fee as much as 120Hz, and consists of an choice to activate an always-on show. The 6.4-inch show feels huge for media, but it surely does not overwhelm like a 6.7-inch display would possibly. Mike Sorrentino/CNETEven although we’re now on the cusp of seeing telephones that embrace Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 continues to be a really succesful chip. In my Geekbench 6 and 3DMark testing, the cellphone compares equivalently to the brand new $699 Pixel 8 that runs on Google’s new Tensor G3 chip. It additionally matches up with the $599 Nothing Phone 2 and the $999 Motorola Razr Plus, each of which run on the marginally newer Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1. Unlike Samsung’s different Galaxy S23 telephones, this Qualcomm chip is not particularly optimized “For Galaxy,” but it surely nonetheless retains up with many different 2023 telephones.The cellphone ships with Android 13 and Samsung’s One UI 5.1 pores and skin, and consists of DeX mode, the desktop-optimized view for connecting the S23 FE to a monitor, which is not obtainable on the $450 Galaxy A54. Like different Galaxy S telephones, it will obtain 4 years of Android software program updates together with 5 years of safety updates.Though the Galaxy S23 FE features a bigger 4,500mAh battery than the common Galaxy S23’s 3,900mAh one, I discovered that the battery drained quicker than I anticipated. I used to be capable of make it a full day with out recharging, however I normally ended my days with the cellphone between 12% and 20%. The Galaxy S23 FE makes use of an optical fingerprint sensor for unlocking. Mike Sorrentino/CNETDuring our YouTube streaming drain check, by which I performed a video for 3 hours at full brightness, the S23 FE depleted to 94% after the primary hour, 85% by the second and 77% by the third. This makes the cellphone’s outcomes roughly equal to these of the Pixel 8 — which completed at 79% by the third hour. However, most different 2023 telephones on which we have run this check retained over 80% of their battery life by the third hour. In a 45-minute battery endurance check by which I performed 20 minutes of a recreation adopted by 20 minutes of a video whereas scrolling web sites, the cellphone dropped from 96% to 85%, which can be on the upper facet. The unique Galaxy S22 had an analogous consequence throughout an analogous endurance check, and my colleague Lisa Eadicicco famous in her overview that battery life was a problem.Though I do want the Galaxy S23 FE’s battery life was longer, its 25W charging was capable of take the battery from 5% to 59% throughout my 30-minute charging check, which bodes nicely ought to it is advisable give the cellphone a noon cost. This can be the identical charging velocity that is provided on the bottom Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S23. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE consists of three cameras: a 50-megapixel foremost digicam, a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens. Mike Sorrentino/CNETSamsung Galaxy S23 FE camerasThe Samsung Galaxy S23 FE’s cameras carry out fairly nicely in quite a lot of daytime and nighttime settings. I used to be capable of get some jaw-dropping images of New York City’s skyline from Roosevelt Island at night time, detailed pet images, and a few good images of a colourful charcuterie birthday dinner with my pal Mark. Nighttime picture taken on the Galaxy S23 from New York’s Roosevelt Island. Mike Sorrentino/CNET My pal Mark and I dug into all of the cheese. Mike Sorrentino/CNETThe S23 FE scales again barely with its 8-megapixel telephoto digicam, in contrast with the 10-megapixel telephoto lens provided on the dearer Galaxy S23 telephones. But that lens nonetheless helps with its 3x optical zoom. I examined this zoom lens outdoors in Astor Place and inside at Astoria Bier and Cheese, discovering the 3x zoom to maintain a pleasant quantity of element. Taken on the 50-megapixel foremost digicam. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Taken at 3x optical zoom on the 8-megapixel telephoto digicam. Mike Sorrentino/CNET A side-by-side taken at Astoria Bier and Cheese. On the left is a meals shelf taken on the primary digicam of the S23 FE, and the appropriate is the meals shelf at 3x zoom, profiting from the telephoto digicam. Mike Sorrentino/CNETThe S23 FE can zoom as much as 30x digitally, however high quality dips considerably — digital zoom crops into what the digicam can see, typically resulting in a noisier picture. My images at a pet present fundraiser did not come out nice when utilizing that digital zoom. Taken utilizing the digital zoom, which leads to much more picture noise. Mike Sorrentino/CNETHowever, it is value noting that the Galaxy S23 FE is $100 greater than Google’s Pixel 7A — and that latter cellphone gives plenty of digicam options regardless of missing a telephoto lens. I took each telephones with me for some comparability taking pictures, and located that in lots of settings the S23 FE compares fairly favorably to the Pixel 7A.During a go to to the brand new Wegmans grocery retailer in Astor Place, I took images of a Japanese fish stand. Both cameras soak up plenty of the totally different colours of fish on show. It’s solely once I begin zooming into the images that I begin discovering how the S23 FE captured extra of the writing on the small indicators than the 7A did. The fish stand at Wegman’s taken on the Galaxy S23 FE. Mike Sorrentino/CNET The fish stand taken on the Pixel 7A. Mike Sorrentino/CNETIn these images of Reis the pet, each telephones captured her furriness whereas struggling along with her continuously wagging tail. Notice the movement blur on Reis’ tail. Reis the pet as taken on the Galaxy S23 FE. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Reis as taken on the Pixel 7A. Mike Sorrentino/CNETNight mode is the place the Galaxy S23 FE pulls forward of the 7A, although. I took each telephones to a really darkish pond, and the S23 FE captured a considerably clearer shot, contemplating it was taken at midnight. The S23 FE’s picture has much less picture noise and seems to point out extra of the pond’s environment. Pond at night time taken on the Galaxy S23 FE. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Pond at night time taken on the Pixel 7A. Mike Sorrentino/CNETThe S23 FE’s 8-megapixel front-facing digicam is also a slight reduce from the usual S23’s 10-megapixel digicam. However, in my comparability testing in opposition to the Pixel 7A’s 13-megapixel front-facing digicam, the S23 FE bought extra element in my hair and face. This may come all the way down to a matter of desire, since Google’s picture processing tends to favor extra lifelike colours over the extra saturated look in Samsung’s images. Samsung’s digicam app has presets for pure or vivid processing, however I had the pure choice chosen for these.I can see the ways in which the Galaxy S23 FE’s digicam outperforms the Pixel 7A, however for some folks the standard distinction won’t be value the additional $100. Both cameras are fairly succesful in daylight and lowlight conditions. They additionally embrace quite a lot of processing choices for getting essentially the most out of these pictures. The S23 FE can file 4K video at 60 frames per second (fps) and 8K at 24 fps. The 7A’s highest setting is 4K at 30 fps. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE. Mike Sorrentino/CNETSamsung Galaxy S23 FE backside lineThe Galaxy S23 FE is a superb choice for somebody who desires a nicer Samsung cellphone with out having to pay $800 or extra. It could be a very noticeable improve for somebody coming from a 2- or 3-year-old cellphone from Samsung’s Galaxy A line or the Pixel 4A. The FE’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip will really feel like a velocity increase, and the images shall be a noticeable step ahead.On the opposite hand, this cellphone will not fulfill individuals who usually purchase the most recent cellphone available on the market. The more-expensive $800 Galaxy S23 nonetheless gives loads of step-up options to distinguish itself absolutely from the S23 FE, but it surely’s fairly probably we’ll be seeing a Galaxy S24 early subsequent 12 months with even newer specs.Someone contemplating the Galaxy S23 FE ought to examine it to Google’s $499 Pixel 7A. Both telephones embrace succesful processors, wi-fi charging, wonderful picture processing and embrace many of the options seen on their more-expensive counterparts, at a cheaper price. The foremost parts that separate the 2 are the S23 FE’s telephoto digicam, bigger show and barely quicker efficiency.Google additionally nonetheless sells the Pixel 7 for $599, which provides reverse wi-fi charging. The cellphone additionally matches up with the $599 Nothing Phone 2, whose glyph LED lights add its personal sense of fashion. We have not but reviewed the $600 Motorola Edge, however that cellphone is together with 256GB of house at that value, together with quick 68W charging, and it is much like the Lenovo AssumePhone by Motorola.But the Galaxy S23 FE consists of simply sufficient energy to offer entry to all of Samsung’s higher-end options, and the compromises Samsung makes to attain a cheaper price will largely go unnoticed. Just remember that relying in your utilization, chances are you’ll wish to preserve an influence twine close by to recharge that battery.Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs. Google Pixel 7A vs. Nothing Phone 2 Samsung Galaxy S23 FEGoogle Pixel 7ANothing Phone 2 Display measurement, decision 6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED show, (2,340×1,080 pixels) adaptive 120Hz refresh fee (60Hz to 120Hz)6.1-inch OLED; 2,400×1,080 pixels; 60/90Hz 6.7-inch OLED; 2,412×1,080 pixels; HDR10+, 120Hz adaptivePixel density 466 ppi361 ppi394 ppiDimensions (inches) 6.22×3.01×0.32 inches6x2.87×0.35 inches6.38x3x0.33 inchesDimensions (millimeters) 157.9×76.4×8.1mm73x152x9mm162x76x8.6mmWeight (ounces, grams) 209 grams (7.4 oz)193 grams (6.81 oz)201.2 grams (7.1 oz)Mobile software program Android 13Android 13Android 13Digital camera 50 megapixel (broad), 12 megapixel (ultrawide), 8 megapixel (telephoto)64 megapixel (foremost), 13 megapixel (ultrawide)50 megapixel (foremost), 50 megapixel (ultrawide)Front-facing digicam 10 megapixel13 megapixel, 4K @ 30fps32 megapixelVideo seize 8K at 24fps, 4K at 60fps4K at 30/60fps4K at 60fpsProcessor Snapdragon 8 Gen 1Tensor G2Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1RAM/Storage 8GB + 128GB, 256GB8GB/128GB8+128GB; 12+256GBExpandable storage NoneNoneNoneBattery/charger 4,500 mAh (25W wired charging)4,385 mAh (18W quick charging 7.5W wi-fi charging) 4,700 mAhFingerprint sensor In-displaySideIn-displayConnector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoneNoneNoneSpecial options Wireless PowerShare, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Samsung Knox with Samsung Knox Vault, IP68 water resistance5G (5G sub6/mmWave), IP67 score, 18W quick charging, 7.5W wi-fi charging 5G-enabled, IP54 water resistance, 45W wired charging, flashing back lights How we check phonesEvery cellphone examined by CNET’s evaluations crew was truly utilized in the true world. We check a cellphone’s options, play video games, and take images. We look at the show to see if it is brilliant, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and construct to see how it’s to carry and whether or not it has an IP-rating for water-resistance. We push the processor’s efficiency to the extremes, utilizing standardized benchmark instruments like GeekBench and 3DMark in addition to our personal anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution movies and enjoying graphically intense video games at excessive refresh charges.All the cameras are examined in quite a lot of situations, from brilliant daylight to darkish indoor scenes. We check out particular options like night time mode and portrait mode and examine our findings in opposition to equally priced competing telephones. We additionally take a look at the battery life by utilizing the cellphone day by day in addition to working a sequence of battery drain checks.We have in mind extra options, like assist for 5G; satellite tv for pc connectivity; fingerprint and face sensors; stylus assist; quick charging speeds; and foldable shows, amongst others that may be helpful. And we stability all this in opposition to the value to provide the verdict on whether or not that cellphone, no matter value it’s, truly represents good worth. Though these checks could not at all times be mirrored in CNET’s preliminary overview, we conduct follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.