Although the main stage of the world Samsung was occupied by the new Samsung S24, the S23 family is back to being talked about again with the Fan Edition. What was introduced years ago as a more modest edition of Samsung’s top of the range, finally returns for the S23 series and promises to offer mid-high range performance at a certainly lower price. The changes with the S23 and S23+ are certainly there and substantial, but Does the price difference really make, mind you, a difference? Let’s find out in this one recensione del Samsung S23 FE.
Our review of the Samsung S23 FE
As anticipated, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE presents itself as a cheaper alternative to the top-of-the-range models of the S23 series, while still offering respectable features and performance.
Data sheet
- Display: AMOLED da 6,4 pollici, Full HD+ (1080 x 2340 pixel), 120Hz refresh rate
- Processor: SAMSUNG Exynos 2200
- RAM: 8GB
- Internal memory: 128GB o 256GB
- Rear camera: 50MP+ 12MP ultra-wide, 8MP telephoto (3X optical zoom)
- Front camera: 10MP
- Batteria: 4500mAh, 25W wired fast charging, 15W wireless charging
- Operating system: Android 13
- Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC
Design
From the point of view stylisticthe Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is positioned halfway between the A series and the S series, offering an interesting mix of both features. The design aligns with the Galaxy models released during 2023, with matte aluminum frame and a glossy glass on the back. The back features three porthole cameras positioned in a row at the top left. Frontally, the screen has rather generous frames, perhaps a little too much considering the level of the smartphone.
It is certainly not the most original model of the year but its square shape at the sides and curved at the corners is particularly pleasant to look at. It may be a little challenging to handle given the rather generous dimensions (158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm) and a weight of 208 grams. However, the colors of the Samsung S23 FE available between Black, White, Green and Lavenderthe latter being the version (Molto Princess!) used for this review.
Technology
Powering our Samsung S23 FE we find an Exynos 2200 processor, as well as the main source of our doubts about this smartphone. Having abandoned the undisputed performance of the Snapdragon 8 processors, which power its older brothers, the Exynos processor has limits that shouldn’t be there. Performance is good and the phone can meet most of the needs of an average user without difficultybut having experienced the performance of the most recent smartphones in this range and considering the not exactly affordable price of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Spoiler, it costs around €700), we expected much more.
The situation is resolved by the 6.4-inch Dynamic Amoled 2X display with FullHD+ resolution and a highly appreciated 120 Hz refresh rate. The quality of the panel is satisfactory, with a peak of lbrightness of approximately 1400 nits which guarantees good readability even outdoors. The only sore point concerns the display frames which we hoped to have abandoned for the years 2017-18. On the audio side we find two very respectable speakers that offer fairly powerful and accurate audio reproduction, with effective frequency separation and good bass.
In terms of autonomy, the Galaxy S23 FE has a capacity of 4500 mAh, average for a phone in this range. Wired charging at 25W takes around an hour and a half to complete the cycle, while wireless charging is even slower (around 3 hours for a full charge). In terms of energy efficiency, the Exynos 2200 is certainly not at the top and the now approved 24-hour autonomy is not so obvious, especially with intense use.
Camera side…
As anticipated, The photographic sector of the Galaxy S23 FE is made up of three rear cameras:
- 50MP main with Isocell GN3 sensor (the same as S23 and S23 Plus) and optical stabilization (OIS)
- 12MP ultra-wide angle
- 8MP telephoto lens
Photo quality is great when using the main camera. In all lighting conditions, images are sharp, detailed and with true-to-life colours. The post-production software is complete and allows you to edit photos creatively and without special knowledge. The ultrawide and telephoto cameras, however, don’t particularly shine. The images are never truly convincing, especially in low light conditions, which is a real shame.
The performance of the videos, however, is excellent. The smartphone supports 8K quality, sacrificing FPS a little but the best results are obtained in 4K at 60 fps, where optical and electronic stabilization combine for a fluid and stable video.
The 10MP front lens defends itself wellgiving its best in very bright conditions and defending itself excellently in everyday or social use.
The Samsung S23 FE review in brief
For this review we tested the Samsung S23 FE for about three weeks during which it accompanied our daily use smartphone. During this period we had a love/hate relationship towards it, not so much for the performance yield, absolutely in line with the range in which it is placed but more for the strong imbalance between quality and price. The cost of €700 seemed rather high compared to what this Samsung S23 FE can do (and above all “how” it can do).
The competition in this price range is quite high and many other models on the market have features comparable to those of the S23 FE without asking such a high cost. On the other hand, we have in our hands a product that boasts the name, guarantee, security and update prospects of a brand like Samsung.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is an excellent choice for those looking for a complete and reliable mid-range phone, with premium materials and a high-level photographic sector but the high price could lead the majority of users away towards cheaper models, present, among other things, in the same Samsung family. In short, choosing whether or not to buy a Samsung S23 FE may not be simple and the real difference could be made by any current discounts
