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[Updated April 1st, 2024: Jump to the Software Update section]
Samsung makes a number of the most premium flagship gadgets in the marketplace, however that’s to be anticipated with telephones at or above $1,000. However, what about its cheaper choices? Properly, we got the chance to overview the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, the most recent premium mid-ranger from the Korean big.
This telephone sits in between the Galaxy A54 and the bottom Galaxy S23, which is a good squeeze. With the Galaxy A54 taking so many design cues from the Galaxy S23 sequence, we had been all questioning why Samsung would even trouble to launch an FE version. What justifies this gadget’s existence?
That’s what we’re right here to reply. Is there room for the Galaxy S23 FE amongst Samsung’s lineup, or is there simply not sufficient room within the Galaxy? Let’s discover out on this overview.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Assessment: Design
Beginning off with the design of this telephone, it would look slightly acquainted for those who’ve seen Samsung’s newest design language. Gone, is the digicam island that characterised Samsung’s telephones over the previous couple of years. Now, the entire digicam lenses prolong from the physique of the telephone individually.
This offers the handset that particular “Samsung” look. It’s not unhealthy, however I feel that the cameras prolong from the telephone fairly a bit. It’s virtually to the purpose the place it appears odd. This additionally signifies that utilizing it on a desk is a chore. The telephone rocks forwards and backwards manner an excessive amount of, and it clanks loudly on the floor.
The Galaxy S23 FE is a notably thick telephone, a lot thicker than lots of the others in the marketplace. I’m questioning if there was a cause for the thickness as a result of it appears unnecessarily thick for a contemporary premium mid-ranger. Some additional thickness isn’t a foul factor, as I like telephones that really feel extra important within the hand. Nevertheless, this telephone appears just some millimeters excessive.
The glass is created from reflective glass that contrasts the sheen of the steel digicam lenses to a pleasant impact. This goes the identical for the body.
All in all, with regards to the design, I feel that the Galaxy S23 FE is a lifeless ringer for the Galaxy S23 correct, and that’s what it’s meant to do. It’s meant to idiot you and everybody else round you into considering that you simply’re rocking the most recent Galaxy S telephone. It excels in that regard.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Assessment: Construct High quality
As acknowledged in my Galaxy Buds FE overview, the FE sequence of gadgets is designed to make you overlook. 5 minutes into utilizing the gadget, you’ve forgotten that you simply’re utilizing a much less highly effective model of Samsung’s finest. Why is that vital? Properly, selecting up the Galaxy S23 FE gave me a case of amnesia.
It’s apparent that Samsung needed to lower some corners to make this telephone extra reasonably priced; it didn’t lower any so far as the construct high quality is anxious. The second I picked up this telephone, I used to be blown away by how premium it felt. I’m met with the cool and heavy feeling of steel and glass. I wrapped my hand round it, and it felt like Samsung despatched me a Galaxy S23 by mistake.
Every part about this telephone’s design from the rear cameras, to the body, to the buttons was professionally crafted to really feel as premium as potential. Nothing on the telephone creaks or makes any noise. Additionally, the entire buttons are tremendous clicky.
There’s a notable heft to the telephone that provides it an unmistakably premium feeling that you simply don’t really feel with most different telephones within the worth vary. Nothing in regards to the Galaxy S23 FE’s construct high quality makes me suppose that Samsung skimped on this gadget. It feels simply pretty much as good because the Galaxy S23, and that’s actually saying one thing.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Assessment: Show
This can be a Samsung gadget, so you recognize that the show is a focus for this telephone’s expertise. It has an AMOLED display, however that’s not saying a lot. Any firm can match their telephones with an AMOLED display and boast about it on a spec sheet.
It’s not about simply having a display with the saturated colours and deep blacks that include the territory. It goes deeper than that. Let’s dive in to see how deep Samsung takes its show.
Colours
For this part of the overview, I seen the show in its Vivid colour mode with a impartial colour temperature.
Once more, this expertise permits for saturated colours, however that’s solely half of the story. The Galaxy S23 FE’s show has colours which are responsibly juicy. The colours get a pleasant increase due to the expertise together with Samsung’s calibration. Nevertheless, I’m consistently getting that Samsung dulled down the colours only a tad.
I watched examples of hyper-colorful Dolby HDR movies. These are showcase movies that are supposed to present simply how good your show is. Properly, I felt that the colours had been a lot saturated, however they stopped simply wanting what I’d see on a Galaxy S23 Extremely.
Don’t get me improper, the colours are lovely. Every part on the display simply appears nice. All the colours have a pleasant splash of life to them. That’s why I stated that they’re responsibly juicy. Samsung confirmed restraint with the colours of this show, aiming for a stability between saturated and eye-singeing.
The colours are lovely, punchy, well-balanced, and only a pleasure to have a look at.
Colour temperature
In the case of the colour temperature, I discovered that it leaned on the hotter facet out of the field. You’re in a position to regulate the colour temperature, however on its impartial setting, the whites positively regarded a bit sandy. I additionally discovered that there was a little bit of a pinkish hue to it.
This isn’t unhealthy or distracting, nevertheless; I’m not speaking a couple of software program or {hardware} bug within the show. In the event you’re used to shows with a wonderfully icy-white colour temperature, then you definitely’ll positively discover the distinction.
Distinction
The story of distinction ought to come as no shock. The expertise that Samsung makes use of for its show permits the pixels to go fully black. Due to this, the distinction is wonderful. Together with the excessive distinction, that is an HDR show. Which means that all the pieces from the brightness to the colours to the distinction will get a notable increase.
This makes the entire content material that you simply see on the display look extra crisp and clear. Motion pictures and reveals with lots of darkish areas will profit from the superior distinction essentially the most.
Brightness
Now we have all handled the problem of utilizing our telephones completely fantastic whereas indoors however having a horrible time open air. Smartphone screens, for the longest time, have been horrible when it got here to out of doors visibility. Now, that subject has been solved with telephones popping out with the facility to outshine the solar.
The Galaxy S23 FE is a type of telephones. Sadly, there’s no added brilliant mode that reinforces the brightness when in a brilliant surroundings. Nevertheless, that’s not a problem as a result of the display will get to a excessive brightness natively.
Once I take this telephone out within the shimmering afternoon solar, I can see all the pieces completely fantastic on the display. I’m speaking about peak afternoon hours; the time of day whenever you used to must cowl your telephone’s display to see it. I used to be in a position to learn social media, have a look at photos, watch movies, and play video games as comfortably as if I had been sitting in a dim lounge.
Changes
In the event you don’t like how the show appears whenever you flip in your telephone, don’t fear. You may make some refined modifications to the show in order that it fits your tastes.
Beginning off, you’ll be able to change how saturated you need the colours. There are two colour modes; they’re Vivid and Pure. The telephone might be set to Vivid mode by default. In order for you extra muted colours, you’ll be able to change the setting to Impartial.
Beneath these settings, you’ll be able to regulate the colour temperature as effectively. There’s a slider that may make the display hotter or cooler. That’s not all that you are able to do with the colours. Beneath the Colour Temperature slider, there’s an Superior setting button.
You’ll see particular person sliders for the pink, inexperienced, and blue colours on the display. You may slide to vary how intense every of these colours is on the display. Additionally, you’ll see your modifications happen in real-time.
Most individuals might be proud of how the display appears out of the field. Nevertheless, it’s nice that Samsung offers you the liberty to tweak the show to your liking.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Assessment: Audio system
Samsung affords a strong suite of customizations that you may make to the audio high quality that provides the audio system a very completely different sound. I’m going to overview the audio system on their out-of-the-box expertise, nevertheless.
The Galaxy S23 FE has a set of twin audio system. Which means that you’ll get a pleasant stereo expertise whereas listening to them.
Readability/loudness
General readability is nice. The sound comes out crisp and clear, so you recognize that Samsung fitted this telephone with high-quality audio system. This readability goes a good distance in augmenting the opposite qualities of the audio.
By way of loudness, these audio system get a lot loud to take heed to throughout a room. I put this telephone in my lounge and was in a position to hear the audio clearly within the kitchen, which is a good bit away.
Low-end
There’s an honest quantity of low-end that provides the audio some good depth. It’s sufficient so as to add some good heat to the audio, and that’s a troublesome factor to do with telephone audio system.
They’re not the bassiest telephone audio system on the market, however I can nonetheless hear the low hum of electrical basses. Listening to very heat 90s R&B, I might hear the bass singing via fairly decently. This additionally goes for 70s music.
If 80s music is your jam, then I feel that that is the place the low-end efficiency of those audio system shines. A number of the basses we heard within the 80s had been slightly brilliant and crunchy in nature. Quite a lot of the upper tones had been truly accented within the sound slightly than the decrease tones.
Properly, the audio system within the Galaxy 23 FE appear to hit that candy spot that provides 80s electrical basses a nice increase. So, don’t be afraid to crank up some Debbie Gibson or Tiffany. Their music will sound wonderful.
Excessive-end
Out of the field, I seen a good quantity of high-end when listening to music. At increased volumes, I might hear the sound beginning to method the shrill space, however not crossing the brink.
I feel that the low-end and high-end are fairly balanced, however the sound leans extra towards the high-end. So, whenever you’re listening to the music, you need to hear some emphasis on the upper percussion. Listening to some musical examples with percussion, I heard a particular emphasis on the excessive hats.
I feel that the high-end might have been toned down only a bit in an effort to create a extra balanced sound, however once more, that is the out-of-box expertise. It’s good for what it’s. Simply know that whenever you begin to crank the quantity up a bit, you’ll begin to get hit with a few of these increased tones.
Vocals
The story of the vocals is a bit odd. There’s some respectable emphasis on the excessive finish, however none of that emphasis appeared to make it to the vocals. Actually, I feel that the vocal efficiency was fairly missing. The voices simply didn’t sound crisp or actually stand out from the remainder of the music.
It didn’t actually matter what style or time interval of music I listened to, the voices simply didn’t pop. It appears that evidently the audio system emphasised increased tones, however not those the place voices reside. I’d say that the audio system’ efficiency with pushing voices is slightly mediocre.
Changes
Right here’s the enjoyable half! In the event you don’t like the best way the audio system sound, why not change it? Adjusting the sound of the audio system takes time, however the best factor that you are able to do is activate the Dolby Atmos audio. Turning this characteristic on will give the audio a wider stereo sound. There’s a right away distinction.
Beneath the Dolby Atmos settings, you’ll be able to select the sound profile that you simply wish to use. Every sound profile is fitted to particular sorts of audio. There’s one for motion pictures, one for music, and one for voices. There’s additionally a mode that may adapt the audio routinely.
Additionally, there’s a nine-band EQ that permits you to additional customise your sound. You may both use the EQ presets above to immediately change it or dial within the values your self.
Making modifications to the audio settings offers the audio system a very completely different sound.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Assessment: Efficiency
That is an reasonably priced telephone, however it’s working some spectacular {hardware}. Due to this, you’re going to get wonderful efficiency. Throughout my testing, I did all the pieces I might to sluggish this telephone down, however I simply couldn’t. The telephone glides via the software program with out skipping a beat. I used a number of apps in split-screen mode with apps popped out into home windows, and it nonetheless powered via. I actually used 4 apps on the similar time.
After utilizing the telephone for a bit and having it warmth up a good quantity, I used to be in a position to get a bit little bit of a slowdown. There have been some duties that took a bit longer than normal. Opening an app took a second slightly than doing so immediately. Another duties brought about the telephone to stutter only a bit. There’s a noticeable drop within the efficiency, however it’s not sufficient to hinder the expertise.
Warmth efficiency
So, after I stated that I needed to warmth up the telephone a bit, that wasn’t robust to do. I needed to sport for about 5 to 10 minutes to get the telephone scorching. I’m unsure how Samsung dealt with the cooling system for this telephone or if it needed to ditch a cooling system altogether to maintain the associated fee down. I don’t know; all I do know is that this telephone will get HOT!
After just some minutes of gaming, it began heating up. About 10 minutes right into a gaming session, it’s already heated as much as the purpose the place it was getting uncomfortable to carry. This telephone doesn’t solely get scorching, however it will get hotter sooner than some other telephone I’ve examined.
There’s no level in gaming on this telephone if it feels prefer it’s going to burst into flames. I’m unsure if the warmth administration is one thing that may very well be addressed in a future replace, however it’s a reasonably large subject for my part.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Assessment: Gaming
So, the telephone heats up lots whereas gaming, however how is the gaming efficiency itself? It’s nice, truly. This telephone is working some nice {hardware}; {hardware} that was powering flagship telephones not too way back.
2D video games
Beginning off with 2D video games, there aren’t any complaints right here in any way. Any of the easy and sophisticated 2D video games that I’d toss at this telephone ran fully easily. None of them even got here near slowing this telephone down. I performed platformers, motion video games, and bigger 2D titles like Stardew Valley. Nothing phased this telephone.
Mid-range 3D video games
Transferring a step ahead into the 3D gaming area, it was a lot of the identical story. I used my normal arsenal of middle-of-the-road 3D video games which incorporates Sky: Youngsters of The Gentle, Asphalt 9, and DragonBall Legends.
The Galaxy S23 FE ran these video games flawlessly. Whereas these aren’t essentially the most graphically intensive video games by at this time’s requirements, they’re nonetheless fairly video games, and so they have the potential to decelerate weaker {hardware}. Nevertheless, in my testing, none of those video games gave me any points with slowdown or stutters.
Graphically-intensive 3D video games
Now, let’s kick issues into excessive gear with some video games which have been choking telephones throughout the trade. These are a number of the most graphically intensive video games in the marketplace proper now. I’m speaking about Honkai Star Rail and Genshin Impression.
Beginning off with Star Rail, this sport positively will get up there by way of its graphics, and the battle sequences are fairly intense. Regardless, it didn’t decelerate the Galaxy S23 FE. I performed the sport on its highest settings, and I used to be in a position to get a reasonably constant 60fps. Nevertheless, I did discover the occasional dropped body throughout intense battle sequences. Nevertheless, it’s nowhere close to what I’d name unhealthy.
Transferring onto Genshin Impression, the story is far the identical. I performed this sport on its highest graphical settings, and it ran easily with a reasonably constant 60fps. It had no bother tackling this sport, even throughout intense battles.
Nevertheless, I’ve to say that this sport heats up this telephone essentially the most. I couldn’t play it for greater than 10 minutes while not having to set it down to chill. Additionally, when it acquired to these excessive temperatures, I seen that the body price dropped a bit. It was nonetheless effectively above 30fps and nowhere close to uneven. Nevertheless, I seen that it wasn’t on the fluid 60fps.
All in all
This outlines the significance of correct warmth administration. The gaming on this telephone is completely clean. I used to be getting constant body charges when taking part in these video games. Genchin Impression is among the prettiest video games on the cell market, and the Galaxy S23 FE conquered it with out breaking a sweat.
Nevertheless, the telephone simply heats up manner an excessive amount of when taking part in these video games. You received’t have the ability to play them for too lengthy earlier than needing to take a break to let the telephone cool off. That’s simply one thing that you will want to bear in mind.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Assessment: Digital camera
Samsung places a ton of consideration into the digicam expertise of its gadgets, and the Galaxy FE gadgets as effectively. That is true even for the corporate’s extra reasonably priced telephones. The Galaxy S23 FE has three cameras on the again, so let’s see how they carry out.
Publicity
Taking these photos on a brilliant afternoon day, I discovered that the Galaxy S23 FE did a very good job at reining within the highlights. There have been brilliant spots within the scene that would have been simply overexposed. Nevertheless, the telephone saved them from getting too scorching.
Normally, it appeared that the telephone leaned towards taking brighter photographs. A few of them regarded virtually like they had been on the sting of being overexposed, however they stopped quick.
So, I feel that Samsung did a extremely good job of getting evenly uncovered pictures even within the brilliant daylight. In high-contrast pictures, you would possibly count on to see some overblown highlights, however these are in excessive conditions.
Particulars
I used to be impressed with the quantity of particulars that this digicam was in a position to seize. The telephone has a hi-res mode that permits you to use all 50 megapixels on the sensor. Nevertheless, simply utilizing the usual mode, I used to be nonetheless in a position to seize some properly detailed photographs. I’m in a position to zoom into them fairly a bit earlier than I begin to see pixels.
Colours
We all know Samsung as the corporate whose cameras sometimes offer you juicy colours in comparison with others. Through the years, the corporate has toned issues down. Quick-forward to at this time, and the Galaxy S23 FE delivers outcomes which are fairly balanced within the colour division.
This stability actually reveals when taking photos of pink objects. Most individuals who use their telephones as their essential cameras ought to know the battle of taking photos of pink gadgets. The outcomes normally come out so brilliant and oversaturated that they make your eyes water. Nevertheless, within the instance of the flower beneath, the telephone was in a position to preserve the colour from going overboard. I commend the corporate for that.
The colours are good and punchy, although only a tad muted in some situations. For instance, the yellow flower was a brilliant and juicy yellow in actual life, however the digicam didn’t actually seize that. Nevertheless, the colours aren’t muted throughout the board. As you’ll be able to see, the picture of the pinkish leaves is slightly punchy.
All in all, I feel the colours are well-handled. They’re not too saturated and never too uninteresting.
Low-light
Transferring inside the place the lights are low, I’m nonetheless getting a excessive diploma of efficiency. In decrease lighting situations, the digicam was in a position to ship some strong outcomes. There was nonetheless some good element within the photos with restricted noise.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Assessment: Battery
There’s no level in having a very good telephone if it dies on you. The Galaxy S23 FE has fairly good battery life. With reasonable usage- with minimal gameplay, informal social media use, and a little bit of video watching- I used to be in a position to get about 10 hours of screen-on-time. That’s not too unhealthy, and it was about two greater than the Galaxy A53 that I reviewed final 12 months.
On heavier days, I used to be in a position to get simply above eight hours. I performed extra video games, watched extra movies, and spent a good period of time taking photographs. So, I feel that you simply’re in a position to make it via the day with reasonable use with some to spare for the subsequent day. In the event you’re going to be utilizing your private sport console and TV set, then you definitely would possibly want to succeed in for a charger earlier than going to mattress.
Charging
One disappointing facet of this telephone is the charging. The Galaxy S23 FE doesn’t actually cost all that quick. It takes greater than an hour and a half to cost it. That’s if in case you have entry to a 25W charger. You’re positively not getting one within the field. If it’s a must to rush out of the door, simply know that throwing your telephone on the charger received’t assist the battery life all that a lot.
Galaxy S23 FE Assessment: Software program model
This telephone makes use of the most recent OneUI software program from Samsung. It launched with Android 13 out of the field however, as of March 2024, it’s working One UI 6.1 working on high of Android 14. The construct quantity is
- Construct Quantity: S7110U1UEU2CXCH / S711U1OYM2CXCH / S711U1UEU2CXCH.
- Safety Patch: March 2024
That is the largest replace to this telephone because the transfer to Android 14. The primary factor about this replace is the introduction of Galaxy AI. Samsung unveiled Galaxy AI with the announcement of the Galaxy S24 telephones. Now, this
With Galaxy AI, you acquire entry to Circle to Search. That is the power to carry out a lens search of what’s in your display. It should additionally convey stay translation for calls. You’ll have the ability to seamlessly translate the audio throughout a name.
Interpreter lets you’ve got a face-to-face dialog with an individual who speaks one other language. It should translate what you say in actual time.
Different AI options embrace summarizing net pages, translating textual content from photos, AI in Samsung Notes, computerized voice message transcription, AI picture editor, and an AI wallpaper generator.
Last verdict
There are top-tier premium telephones and there are low-tier funds telephones. Nevertheless, there are these gadgets proper within the center that make it onerous to position them. The Galaxy S23 FE isn’t any considered one of them. It sits in an space the place it doesn’t appear to belong. That is an reasonably priced providing, however nothing about it factors to that.
The sensation doesn’t; the show doesn’t; the digicam doesn’t. Nearly all the pieces with this telephone makes you suppose that it’s a dearer Galaxy S gadget. There have been instances after I wanted to remind myself that I used to be utilizing an reasonably priced FE handset.
Once I’m blazing via Genshin Impression or watching motion pictures on the unimaginable show, I overlook that this telephone is technically a mid-ranger. In order for you a Galaxy S23 or a Galaxy S23+, and you’ll throw down the cash for a type of gadgets, go for it. Nevertheless, if you’d like a true-to-form premium expertise with an incredible telephone, I’ve no subject in recommending that you simply purchase the Galaxy S23 FE. For under $599, you’re getting an expertise that ought to value lots of extra.
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