Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Ultimate Review

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a mid-range smartphone that offers some of the features and performance of the flagship Galaxy S23 line but at a lower price point. 

It has a 6.4-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, and a triple camera setup with a telephoto lens. 

It also supports 5G connectivity and 8K video recording. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as a slightly older processor, a heavier design, and a less impressive photo quality than some of its competitors. 

In this review, we will look at the pros and cons of the Galaxy S23 FE and see how it compares to other phones in its category.

Design and Display:

The Galaxy S23 FE has a premium look and feel, with a metal and glass body that comes in various colors, such as Purple, Cream, Graphite, Mint, Indigo, and Tangerine. 

The front of the phone has a 6.4-inch display with thin bezels, except for a noticeable chin at the bottom. The display has a resolution of 2340 by 1080 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz, which makes it smooth and responsive. 

The display also supports HDR10+ and has a punch-hole cutout for the 10MP selfie camera.

The back of the phone has a rectangular camera module that houses three lenses: a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. 

The camera module also has an LED flash and a laser autofocus sensor. The back of the phone is slightly curved, which makes it comfortable to hold. 

The phone also has a fingerprint scanner under the display, a USB-C port, a speaker, a microphone at the bottom, and a SIM card tray and another microphone at the top. 

The phone does not have a headphone jack, but it does support wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

The Galaxy S23 FE measures 6.22 by 3.01 by 0.32 inches and weighs 7.37 ounces, which makes it larger and heavier than the regular Galaxy S23 and the Google Pixel 8, but similar to the Galaxy S23+. The phone is also IP68-rated for water and dust resistance.

Performance and Battery:

The Galaxy S23 FE is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, which is a slightly older chipset than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that powers the Galaxy S23 and the Pixel 8. 

However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is still a fast and capable processor that can handle most tasks and games without any lag or stutter. 

The phone also has 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, which can be expanded with a microSD card.

The phone supports 5G connectivity, as well as Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and GPS. 

The phone also has stereo speakers, which produce loud and clear sound, and a 3D Sonic Sensor for unlocking the phone with your fingerprint.

 The phone also supports Samsung’s DeX mode, which allows you to connect the phone to a monitor and use it as a desktop computer.

The Galaxy S23 FE has a 4,500mAh battery, which is the same as the Galaxy S23+. The battery can last for a full day of moderate use, but it may drain faster if you use the 120Hz refresh rate, 5G, or 8K video recording. 

The phone supports 25W fast charging, which can charge the phone from 0 to 50% in about 30 minutes, but it only comes with a 15W charger in the box. 

The phone also supports 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, which can charge other devices like earbuds or smartwatches.

Camera and Software:

The Galaxy S23 FE has a triple camera setup on the back, which consists of a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. 

The main camera has an f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization, and phase detection autofocus. The ultra-wide camera has an f/2.2 aperture and a 123-degree field of view. 

The telephoto camera has an f/2.4 aperture, optical image stabilization, and phase detection autofocus. The camera module also has a laser autofocus sensor and an LED flash.

The camera app has various modes and features, such as Pro, Night, Portrait, Panorama, Food, Hyperlapse, Slow Motion, Super Slow Motion, and Director’s View. 

The camera can also record 8K videos at 24fps, 4K videos at 30fps or 60fps, and 1080p videos at 30fps, 60fps, or 240fps. The camera also supports HDR10+ video recording, video stabilization, and a zoom-in mic.

The camera performance of the Galaxy S23 FE is good, but not great. The main camera can capture detailed and colorful photos in good lighting, but it may struggle in low-light situations. 

The ultra-wide camera can fit more in the frame, but it may distort the edges and lose some sharpness. The telephoto camera can zoom in on distant objects, but it may produce noisy and blurry images. 

The camera also tends to overexpose and oversaturate some scenes, especially in bright conditions. The selfie camera can take decent selfies, but it may smoothen the skin and lose some details.

The Galaxy S23 FE runs on Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5.1 on top. The software is smooth and user-friendly, with various customization options and features. 

The software also supports Samsung’s Knox security, Bixby assistant, Edge panel, Always On Display, and Wireless DeX. 

The software also has some bloatware and duplicate apps, which may take up some storage space and memory. The software also may not receive updates as fast as the Pixel 8, which runs on stock Android.

Verdict:

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a good option for people who want a Samsung phone with some of the features and performance of the flagship Galaxy S23 line but at a lower price. 

The phone has a premium design, a smooth display, a fast processor, a telephoto lens, and 5G support. 

However, the phone also has some drawbacks, such as a slightly older processor, a heavier design, and a less impressive photo quality than some of its competitors. 

The phone also fails to stand out from cheaper mid-range models, such as the Galaxy A54 and the Pixel 7a, which offer similar or better value for money. Therefore, the Galaxy S23 FE is a good phone, but not a great one.

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