Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

Very similar design to the Galaxy S23 ; Great performance from the Exynos 2200 ; All-day battery life

The regular Galaxy S23 can be found cheaper ; Slow charging ; Fairly heavy for its size

By itself, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE looks like a tempting option with flagship S23 DNA and the right compromises to fit its £599/$599 price tag – but with the regular Galaxy S23 already dipping beneath the FE’s RRP, it seems like it’s too little too...

Beautiful classic design, dual-glass, IP68-rated.

It's closer related to S22 than S23 and yet it arrives 18 months after the S22 family.

Overall, the Galaxy S23 FE is a good all-round smartphone, almost like a flagship-killer, even if it's a year late. It's pretty much a hard pass at $600, but at $500 or less - we'd say it's a good deal that makes sense.

Accomplished design fits neatly into Galaxy family ; 6.4-inch display larger than base S23 model ; Strong main camera performance

Older-gen hardware and so-so battery life ; The smaller Galaxy S23 now costs less ; 3x tele zoom camera has limitations

The whole 'Fan Edition' label may seem like a misnomer, as the true target audience for this phone will be lured in by its many features and sensibly pitched price point. While older-gen hardware means so-so battery life, the 6.4-inch display will...

Solid, durable build quality ; Nice color options stand out ; Design reminiscent of the Galaxy S23 Ultra

Bigger and heavier than the Galaxy S23 ; Uneven bezels and thick frame ; Camera isn’t as good as S23

The Galaxy S23 FE is the best phone to buy in this price range, and its price is its distinguishing feature. You can get an older phone for the same price, or you can find a few oddball options, but the S23 FE is a solid, reliable handset that looks...

Nice, big display ; Fun color options! ; Four years of OS upgrades and five years of security support

Lackluster telephoto lens ; Sluggish portrait mode ; Costs extra if you buy unlocked from Samsung

Samsung found a way to wedge the S23 FE in between the midrange and premium classes, and I don’t think it’s a bad thing that we have one more good phone on offer between $500 and the $800 flagships. But as for the “fans” this phone is supposedly...

Big vibrant display with 120Hz refresh rates ; Water and dust-resistant, Fast and smooth performance ; More affordable than the S23+ or S24+

Processor inside is quite old ; Camera performance could be better ; Dated design makes it look like a bog standard midrange phone

Samsung's Galaxy S23 FE is designed to hit a specific price point by mixing old parts with new pieces.

Pros ; – Vibrant Super AMOLED, 120Hz display ; – Cameras almost as good as the Galaxy S23 ; – 8K recording ; – Solid performance ; – Samsung’s software policy

Cons ; – 25W charging, with no charging brick in the box ; – Exynos SoC offered in India may be off-putting for some people ; – Could have been priced a little better ; – Bezels are a bit thicker than other options at this pricepoint

Dedicated telephoto camera ; Wireless charging ; Decent OS support

Missed its optimal launch window ; Big and bulky with a huge chin ; Strong competition for similar money

You can’t argue with the Galaxy S23 FE as a proposition. It sports many of the key features of a flagship phone – not least a dedicated telephoto camera and wireless charging – but for a lower price. However, it’s a little unwieldy, and the timing of...

Styling and screen match top-tier phones ; Decent performance and all-day battery life ; Very capable main camera

Telephoto camera not very impressive ; Rivals offer similar hardware for less cash ; The Galaxy S23 isn’t that much more expensive either

Distills the Galaxy S23 formula down to a more appealing price, without too many compromises – but the mid-range competition is fierce and in many cases better value still.