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Customer Review
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 January 2024
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE landed in October 2023, aiming to bridge the gap between premium features and mid-range affordability. Packing a powerful processor, a versatile camera system, and a vibrant display, it's certainly tempting. But let's dive deeper and see if the S23 FE truly lives up to its "fan edition" moniker. First impressions are good. The S23 FE ditches the plastic back of its predecessor for a sleek glass panel, available in Graphite, Lavender, Mint, and White. While not as luxurious as the true S23 series' metal frame, it still feels solid and premium. The bezels are slightly thicker than expected, hinting at its non-flagship status. The 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED display shines with a 120Hz refresh rate for buttery smooth scrolling. Colors are vibrant and punchy, thanks to Samsung's signature AMOLED technology. Brightness is ample even under direct sunlight, making outdoor use a breeze. The S23 FE packs a punch with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, paired with 8GB of RAM. This combo tackles everyday tasks and even heavier gaming with ease. Multitasking is a joy, with apps switching seamlessly without a hint of lag. On the software front, the S23 FE runs Android 13 with Samsung's One UI 5.1 on top. The interface is clean and intuitive, with plenty of customization options. Samsung promises 4 years of OS upgrades and 5 years of security patches, ensuring your phone stays up-to-date for years to come. The camera system is one of the S23 FE's highlights. The triple-lens setup consists of a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and an 8MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. Photos captured in daylight are stunning, with excellent detail and natural colors. Low-light performance is respectable, with the dedicated Night mode working its magic to salvage details in darker environments. The telephoto lens offers decent zoom capabilities, although some image noise creeps in at higher magnifications. Video recording goes up to 8K at 24fps, making the S23 FE a solid choice for content creators. The 4,500mAh battery provides decent endurance, lasting a full day for most users with moderate usage. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (256GB) is a compelling offering in the mid-range segment. It delivers flagship-worthy performance, a great camera system, and a vibrant display, all at a price tag that's more palatable than its true flagship siblings.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE landed in October 2023, aiming to bridge the gap between premium features and mid-range affordability. Packing a powerful processor, a versatile camera system, and a vibrant display, it's certainly tempting. But let's dive deeper and see if the S23 FE truly lives up to its "fan edition" moniker. First impressions are good. The S23 FE ditches the plastic back of its predecessor for a sleek glass panel, available in Graphite, Lavender, Mint, and White. While not as luxurious as the true S23 series' metal frame, it still feels solid and premium. The bezels are slightly thicker than expected, hinting at its non-flagship status. The 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED display shines with a 120Hz refresh rate for buttery smooth scrolling. Colors are vibrant and punchy, thanks to Samsung's signature AMOLED technology. Brightness is ample even under direct sunlight, making outdoor use a breeze. The S23 FE packs a punch with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, paired with 8GB of RAM. This combo tackles everyday tasks and even heavier gaming with ease. Multitasking is a joy, with apps switching seamlessly without a hint of lag. On the software front, the S23 FE runs Android 13 with Samsung's One UI 5.1 on top. The interface is clean and intuitive, with plenty of customization options. Samsung promises 4 years of OS upgrades and 5 years of security patches, ensuring your phone stays up-to-date for years to come. The camera system is one of the S23 FE's highlights. The triple-lens setup consists of a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and an 8MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. Photos captured in daylight are stunning, with excellent detail and natural colors. Low-light performance is respectable, with the dedicated Night mode working its magic to salvage details in darker environments. The telephoto lens offers decent zoom capabilities, although some image noise creeps in at higher magnifications. Video recording goes up to 8K at 24fps, making the S23 FE a solid choice for content creators. The 4,500mAh battery provides decent endurance, lasting a full day for most users with moderate usage. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (256GB) is a compelling offering in the mid-range segment. It delivers flagship-worthy performance, a great camera system, and a vibrant display, all at a price tag that's more palatable than its true flagship siblings.
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