The Galaxy S23 FE is the Fan Edition of Samsung‘s 2023 flagship lineup. Samsung announced it on October 3, 2023, and US sales began on October 26, 2023. In the US, it started at $599.99 with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. The phone has since been discontinued, and the Galaxy S24 FE replaced it.
Design and display
The S23 FE borrows the floating camera design of the Galaxy S23. It has an aluminum frame, and Gorilla Glass 5 covers both the front and the back. The body measures 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm and weighs 209 grams. An IP68 rating covers water and dust.
The 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel has a 1080 x 2340 resolution. Its adaptive refresh rate runs from 60 to 120 Hz. Samsung rates its peak brightness at 1,450 nits. The standard colors were Mint, Cream, Graphite and Purple. In addition, Indigo and Tangerine were sold only on Samsung’s own online store.
Performance
The chip depends on the region. US and Canadian models use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the chip of the Galaxy S22 series. Most other markets, including Europe, the UK and India, get the Exynos 2200. Both are 4 nm chips. Every version has 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB or 256 GB of storage. There is no microSD slot. A vapor chamber helps control heat during long gaming sessions.
Cameras
The rear setup has three cameras. The main camera has 50 MP, an f/1.8 lens and optical image stabilization. It sits next to a 12 MP ultrawide camera and an 8 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. The main camera records video at up to 8K and 24 fps. On the front, a 10 MP selfie camera can record 4K video at 60 fps. Samsung’s Nightography features target low-light photos and videos.
Battery and charging
The battery has a typical capacity of 4,500 mAh. Wired charging reaches 25 W, and Samsung says this fills the battery to 50 percent in about 30 minutes. However, the 25 W adapter is sold separately. The phone also supports Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 and Wireless PowerShare for charging earbuds or another phone.
Software and updates
The S23 FE launched with Android 13 and One UI 5.1. Samsung promised four major Android upgrades, up to Android 17, and five years of security updates. Galaxy AI features such as Circle to Search arrived later through updates. Other features include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, eSIM support, stereo speakers and an optical in-display fingerprint reader. There is no headphone jack.
Should you buy the Galaxy S23 FE?
The S23 FE suits buyers who want a flagship-style Samsung with a telephoto camera, wireless charging and IP68 protection. It also offers long software support for a phone of its price. On the other hand, it is heavier than the Galaxy S23, and the chip is from 2022. Samsung no longer produces it, so new units are limited. The Galaxy S24 FE is its direct successor.
