Yes, the S23 FE is IP68 rated, like the rest of the S23 family.
Yes, it can charge at up to 15W with a Samsung-approved wireless charger.
The S23 FE is a physical nanoSIM and an eSIM.
No, the USB-C is the only port o this phone.
Yes, but it’s ultrasound optical like in the more expensive S23 devices.
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Samsung Galaxy S23 FE review: At a glance
A quick glance will tell you that the Galaxy S23 FE is a Galaxy S phone – Samsung just took some shortcuts to keep the value down. It has the same general shape, camera layout, and button placement as the other S23 phones. In these devices, the S23 FE has an aluminum frame with Gorilla Glass on the front and back. However, it’s Gorilla Glass five instead of the newer Victus 2, as seen on the S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra. It is a well built model overall. Phone that fits well in the hand, but it’s a shame that we don’t have more modern Corning glass when the valuable Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 have first-generation Victus protection.
Yes, the S23 FE is IP68 rated, like the rest of the S23 family.
One place you’ll notice the cut corners is, well, the corners. There’s a lot more space around the screen on this phone compared to the more expensive S23 phones. This wasted space makes the device larger than it needs to be — the S23 FE has a 6.4-inch display, but it’s slightly larger and heavier than the Galaxy S23 Plus with its 6.6-inch screen. I was also far more aware of the front-facing camera. There’s a reflective ring around the lens, which makes it stand out from the surrounding screen. That’s not the case with the other S23 phones. You also get stereo speakers (one bottom-firing and the other in the earpiece) that sound passable. There’s essentially no bass, but the sound is crisp until you push the volume almost to the max.
The OLED panel itself doesn’t meet the criteria set by other members of the S23 family, but that’s not surprising, as presentations are one of the most expensive components of smartphones. The solution is still smart at 1,080 x 2,340 and the FE maintains a 120Hz refresh rate. However, brightness tops out at 1450 nits, which is several hundred times less than the Galaxy S23. The S23 FE’s display looks darker and more reflective on the outside compared to the more expensive models, but it’s still readable. There’s also a little-proven fingerprint sensor, but it’s not a fancy ultrasonic variety. Instead, it’s a less expensive optical sensor. The speed is smart, but I’ve noticed more false negatives than most other phones. We have tested with optical sensors.
In day-to-day use, the S23 FE felt more than fast enough to me. It’s running a flagship processor, but it’s not the latest model, with Samsung instead sticking with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 from the Galaxy S22 series. The Gen 1 is still a very fast chip, at least at first. We already know from our extensive testing that this processor tends to overheat under sustained load, causing performance to tank. In a 20-minute 3DMark Wild Life GPU stress test, the S23 FE shed almost half of its speed due to thermal throttling. Qualcomm addressed this drawback with the TSMC-made Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 in mid-2022, but Samsung opted for the hotter (and probably cheaper) chip for the S23 FE.
The Galaxy S23 FE comes with Android 13 and One UI 5. 1, the same software that runs on other S23 devices. This phone has a capable processor, so Samsung didn’t have to forget about any of its exclusive software features. You’ll find DeX desktop mode (wireless and wired), multi-windows, auto-point, and much more. Samsung’s Android software is easier than it once was, but menus are still cluttered and some duplicate Samsung apps come preloaded. There are also some third-party apps like LinkedIn and Facebook that you may need to uninstall.
The Galaxy S23 FE will receive the Android 14-based One UI 6 update as part of Samsung’s four-year OTA commitment, but it may not receive the update at the same time as other S23 phones. There’s currently a beta for Android 14 on the Galaxy S23, but since the S23 FE uses another chip, Samsung will have to expand a separate update. However, Samsung’s update policy remains one of the most productive in the industry, even though it’s now Google in the Android world.
With a 4,500mAh battery, the S23 FE will get you through the day without a hitch. I extensively controlled about five or six hours of screen time on the S23 FE before I wanted to rate it. Stressed 25W charging is rarely very fast in 2023, but it’s the same as you get on the entry-level Galaxy S23 (which has a smaller battery). You want to upgrade to Plus or Ultra to get 45W charging.
Yes, you can reach up to 15W with a Samsung-approved wireless tester.
Samsung’s previous FE phones have taken a big step forward in terms of camera quality, however, the S23 FE only loses a little compared to the rest of the S23 range. The number one 50 MP and 12 MP ultra-wide cameras are the same as the S23. Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus, however, the 3x telephoto lens drops from 10 MP to 8 MP and the selfie camera is from 10 MP to 12 MP. Since it has the same main sensor as the Galaxy S23, this phone shoots videos up to 8K at 24fps. It looks as smart as the video on the most expensive phone, meaning it’s bigger than most Android phones.
Photos taken with the S23 FE’s main and ultra-wide cameras look just as smart as those taken with the Galaxy S23. The main camera takes pictures at 12. 5 MP, captures photos quickly and maintains intelligent details. However, the S23 FE proves a little more prone to overly bright photographs, which can cause details to explode in brighter areas. Telephoto zoom shots can look blurry if not taken in bright light, likely due to the lack of optical stabilization of this lens, such as the more beloved S23. That said, very few phones in this price range even have a dedicated telephoto lens.
You can view samples in full resolution at this Drive link.
At $599, it’s hard to complain about what you get with the S23 FE. But while you can get the S23 FE at this price from Samsung’s carrier partners, Samsung sells the device for $630. It’s still a reduced price despite the arbitrary increase, but it’s also dangerously close to the Pixel 8, which has an improved OLED display — Google’s sleekest edition of Android — and captures larger photographs.
The S23 FE retails for between $600 and $630, depending on where you buy it, and that’s not the only option in this near-flagship price range. Below are the top options we recommend, but you can also head over to our S23 FE Committed Opportunities page for more options.
The S23 FE is a physical nanoSIM and an eSIM.
No, USB-C is the port on this phone.
Yes, but it is optical ultrasound like in the more expensive S23 devices.