Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: First Impressions and the Elephant in the Room

Laconic

Samsung actually implements a agglomeration correct: A form determinant that is between the 6.1-inch Galaxy S23 (mull) and also the 6.6-inch Galaxy S23+ (mull ) through 6.4 inches. An Exynos 2200, which we confirmed in the incurable mull of the Galaxy S22 (mull) that its proficiency is professionally enough for 2023. There is also a triple cam compeling a real telephoto sensing system, a 4,500 mAh battery, and also Android 13 through the newfangled One Ui interface.

Samsung packs all that into a smartphone that totally feels more pick premium than mid-selection. As well as yet, I am ambivalent. Because I don’t recognize that the machine was made for. After all, we are conversing about a handset that will be obtainable in the US for $599 in a few days.

Upward until the machine is obtainable, you can thieve into consideration why you should acquire this smartphone—and also not a Galaxy S22 through an garb processor, or even a Galaxy S23 through Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

Colleague lug out

Colleague lug out

Architecture and also brandish

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE confers us a 6.4-inch, swaying AMOLED brandish in a horribly high-attribute casing, which, but, rotates out a compact also bulky pondering the brandish size.

Pros:

• Front runner model.
• Fantastic handiwork.
• IP68 qualification.
• Usual tenacious AMOLED brandish.

Downsides:

• A compact also confusing.
• Delicately broader brandish bezels than the rest of the S23 caboodle.

At 76.5 x 158.0 x 8.2 mm and also 209 grams in weight, the Galaxy S23 FE is exceptionally a compact longer, broader, taller and also heavier than the 6.6-inch Galaxy S23+ regardless of its 6.4-inch brandish. However, this implements not actually effect the managing adversely; simply the mildly broader brandish edges are obtrusive. Nonetheless, I position that this model robs the S23 FE of some of the premium feel that it undeniably shows.

As predicted, Samsung implements not depict any kind of weak point in stipulation of material and also build attribute and also intakes glass and also steel instead of plastic. By the way, Samsung bargained that the pub has been hoisted even greater in stipulation of recycled material. A sift at the ago compensates for the thicker brandish edges.

There we position the model accommodated from the S-Poise through the drifting cam elements. Samsung has also let loose multiple colors: The four “ordinary” colors Mint, Graphite, Lotion and also Purple are signed upwards through by Tangerine and also Indigo exclusively in the Samsung emporia.

Tangerine in fussy aesthetics striking to me, but I’m unsure if I’d yearn to tread about through an orange smartphone. However, I noticed that the darker colors are totally more at risk to finger prints than simply Tangerine.

Gazing at the brandish itself is enjoyable, as habitually through Samsung: Crisp colors, high contrasts and also deep blacks are slid by the South Koreans through this FHD+ panel. The peak luminances of 1,450 nits is mildly ignored than in the innumerable other S23 symptoms, and also the refresh rate differs between 60 and also 120 Hz. The red pen has to be presented someplace if you yearn to meld premium through a ignored expense.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE software

Samsung delivers the Galaxy S23 FE through Android 13 and also Samsung’s exceedingly own One UI 5.1 interface. So much, so foreseeable. So you avail exactly what Samsung delivers in stipulation of software: A fantastic Android overlay, Samsung’s exemplary modernize manifesto – and also a caboodle of bloatware.

Enable’s not profligacy also a agglomeration time below because you recognize both Android 13 and also One UI 5.1, and also if not, the educating nextpit short blog posts are connected in this liberty. Thus, those that already consumption One UI will correct away position their way about – and also arguably blight about the mountain of preinstalled apps simply as correct away.

However, I am less pertained to about the bloatware than the reality that Android 14 has been official for a few days. Of training course, Samsung can’t ship it this early. Yet I’m guessing about the launch date in the springtime. Will the Galaxy S23 FE perhaps hit the store fronts through Android 13 after that – at worst, simply after the S24 caboodle through Android 14? Conversely, Samsung might have Android 14 meanwhile, which would mediocre that the initially of four draconian Android updates would already be out the day you unpack the handset.

Regarding the updates, preserve in psyche that Google agency warranties updates for the Google Pixel 8 and also Pixel 8 Pro upwards to and also compeling Android 21. The Fairphone 5 (mull) also sheens through 5 Android updates and also 8 years of security and also security stabilize! Samsung’s software stabilize is fantastic, but it still has to streamline a compact.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE proficiency

The European incarnation of the Galaxy S23 FE that we obtained our hands on is powered by last year’s Exynos 2200. This is undeniably a tenacious SoC, but simply as undeniably poor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that powers the S23 schedule. On peak of that, there is 8 GB of RAM and also 128 or 256 GB of non-expandable storage void, as nicely as Wi-Fi 6E stabilize.

One thing upwards front: I reckon the Exynos 2200 is much closer than its standing. So, if Samsung sectors this part in the 2023 Fan Edition, which was still in the flagships last year, distinctly no one actually has to misgiving about the proficiency. In the hands-on, I might not yet offer through the SoC proficiency in such nicety. Therefore, please wait for the staked out mull for benchmarks.

We recognize from the Exynos 2200 that it warms upwards, but the proficiency is reliably throttled in this capsule. You will also be able to tinker more strict galleries without plights, regardless of the proficiency losses.

It is also worth revealing that there are two storage void symptoms through 128/256 GB in enlargement to 8 GB of RAM, which puts you on par through the Galaxy S23. The connectivity is also garb through Wi-Fi 6E, 5G stabilize, Bluetooth 5.3 and also NFC.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE cam

We cannot tell you a agglomeration about the cam at this juncture, less competent from what the specification sheet expresses. There is a triple cam, which is headed by a 50 MP sensing system through f/1.8 aperture, plus a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle shooter and also lastly a telephoto cam through 8 MP and also 3x optical magnifying. Samsung installs a 10 MP cam in the front for selfies.

So we have optical magnifying, optical and also electronic image editing in palette, and also access to the “Nightography” centers. Especially the last should earn a noncompliance, Samsung described to us, provided that some software centers telephone call for a specific proficiency that we don’t position in the A-Poise.

It might be that this will be the innumerable electrifying part of the final test—we will preserve you modernized!

Battery and also billing pace

I am still wavering between “let’s wait for the staked out test” and also “we already recognize” about the battery as nicely. The battery is professionally comprehensive through 4500 mAh, but it also has a less energy-productive SoC than its S23 bro or sisters. The rest is familiar: No charger in the box, speedy billing through upwards to 25 W, and also inductive billing (also reverse billing).

It lingers to be seen how long we will be able to avail by through the box, but I reckon it is a sweet response to climax the battery volume in favor of a slightly thicker handset.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE techie parameters

	Techie information
Things
Image
Brandish	6.4″ vibrant AMOLED brandish 2,340 x 1,080 pixels (FHD+, 402 ppi) 120 Hz refresh rate
SoC	Samsung Exynos 2200 (SSE9925, 4 nm)
Massaging retrospect	8 GB RAM
Recollection	128 GB 256 GB
Software agenda	One UI 5.1 based on Android 13
Expandable retrospect	❌
Extensive cam	50 MP | f/1.8 aperture | 1/1.56″ | 10 x electronic magnifying
Ultra-wide angle cam	12 MP | f/2.2 aperture | 1/3.2″
Telephoto cam	8 MP | f/2.4 aperture | 1/4.4 inch | 3x optical magnifying
Selfie	10 MP | f/2.4 aperture | 1/3.24″
Battery	4,500 mAh
Recharging through cable television	25 watts
Wireless billing (Qi)	✔, compeling wireless reverse billing
Usefulness	IP68
Connectivity	5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi Integrated, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC
Colors	Mint, Graphite, Lotion, Purple and also Samsung-grand Tangerine and also Indigo
Measurements and also weight	76.5 X 158.0 X 8.2 mm, 209 grams

Early Verdict

So what is our preliminary inspection? Rather truthfully, we are of two psyches. Highly, I reckon Samsung has slid a actually fantastic smartphone horribly confidently and also routinely. Yet there is this elephant in the liberty: The competition from our exceedingly own organization!

We have an expectedly sweet proficiency, a fantastic brandish, a uninfluenced cam schedule and also a high-attribute model. However, we do not recognize the launch date, which we simply recognize is much in the future and also arguably beyond the Galaxy S24 launch. We also do not recognize the expense, but every little thing stands and also drops through it.

That’s whereby it earn intakes of sly: Why should I acquire a slimmed-down flagship through Android 13 in the springtime of 2024 for a expense that is innumerable probable overhead the expense of a much closer-empowered Galaxy S22 or arguably even overhead the S23?

The Galaxy S23 FE is predicted to bridge the suspension between mid-selection and also premium S-selection. The reckoned is sweet, but implements Samsung hit the specific sweet place in stipulation of both vibrant technology and also expense that will preserve those fascinated from recovering to for the A-Poise and also not yet the S-Poise?

That’s uniquely the cliffhanger I’ll disown you through below presently. Please design me your thoughts about a actually fantastic smartphone and also less than fantastic accompanying crunches in the note liberty.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

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