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Journalism of Courage
There’s a glut of smartphones on the market from all brands, and now that we’ve entered September, even more are on the way. I thought Samsung was done for the year (I had already attended two Unpacked events and reviewed every new Samsung device) but the South Korean behemoth is back with yet another Unpacked event.
On Wednesday, I was invited to a closed-door briefing ahead of the event, where Samsung revealed four new Galaxy devices: two tablets, a pair of wireless earbuds, and the Galaxy S25 FE (starts at $650 internationally). The Galaxy S25 FE, which stands for Fan Edition, is the latest addition to the Galaxy smartphone lineup, joining the S25 series. However, it’s not a flagship device; instead, it’s a premium mid-range phone that sits just below the mainline Galaxy S25.
I have reviewed several FE-branded devices in the past, and over time, Galaxy FE smartphones have continued to evolve. The core idea remains the same: bringing high-end features to a more accessible price point. However, I would argue that the definition of “accessible” varies from one consumer to another.
Before getting hands-on time at the briefing, I had plenty of questions about the Galaxy S25 FE. Didn’t Samsung release the Galaxy S25 a few months ago? Is the FE model missing any of the flashy features from the standard Galaxy S25?
After spending a few minutes with the device, here are my early impressions of the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE.
The Galaxy S25 FE follows the same design language as the other phones in the S25 series. Although it sits a step below the standard S25, it feels sturdy in hand, thanks to its aluminium frame. The phone also has a polished look and an overall pleasing feel. It comes in several colours, but I am especially drawn to the blue shade; it looks more premium, and the matte finish on the back isn’t prone to fingerprints. The device also carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning it can survive being submerged in up to 1.5 metres of water for 30 minutes.
While the Galaxy S25 FE isn’t exactly a compact phone, its size should still be comfortable for most people. It still has a large 6.7-inch AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display looks crisp, clear, and should deliver bright images.
The Galaxy S25 FE might be Samsung’s more economical option, but it will still feel like a significant upgrade if you’re coming from an older smartphone. Powered by the Exynos 2400 chip (up to 8 GB RAM and 512 GB of storage), the S25 FE is a fast device, though it remains to be seen whether it can match the performance of smartphones equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite 8 processor or come close to Apple’s A17 chip. Stay tuned for the tests I will be conducting in the coming days.
I am glad Samsung went with a larger 4,900 mAh battery capable of 45 W wired charging on the S25 FE. In general use, especially with a mix of 5G and Wi-Fi, battery life tends to take a hit, even on flagship phones like my iPhone 16 Pro. I will be keeping a close eye on how the S25 FE’s battery performs in real-world conditions.
The phone has three cameras on the back: a 50-megapixel primary camera with OIS, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. An upgraded 12-megapixel selfie camera is also there. I didn’t try the camera during the hands-on demo, as the controlled lighting environment doesn’t provide an accurate picture of how the camera performs in real-world conditions.
The most significant changes in the S25 FE are all software and AI-based. It runs the latest version of One UI 8 (based on Android 16). I recently tried One UI 8 on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and it’s one of the best versions of Android available, offering deep customisation and solid performance.
The user interface and AI features feel nearly identical to those on the Galaxy S25 lineup, including a wide range of tools for writing, image editing and generation, transcription, translation, and more. It also includes Google’s AI services, such as Gemini and Circle to Search. The Now Bar, which I find particularly useful, is also present on the Galaxy S25 FE, displaying ongoing activities such as sports scores, music playback, timers, alarms, and other useful bits of information.
Samsung will support the S25 FE with software and security updates for seven years from release, which matches the best from Google and Apple.
The Galaxy S25 line isn’t cheap, so it’s definitely nice to see a more affordable version (it’s $150 cheaper than the S25 and a whopping $650 cheaper than the Galaxy S25 Ultra). Because the S25 FE is part of the S25 family, it shares many similarities with other phones in the series, including Galaxy AI and its features. That said, there are some differences as well.
The concept of scaling down features from a high-end flagship to a premium mid-range phone isn’t new, but it’s a strategy that has proven effective in the past — after all, you gain access to key features without paying a premium price. I don’t see the S25 FE as a budget option, and it’s certainly not Samsung’s equivalent of Apple’s iPhone 16e. However, for casual users seeking essential features at a lower price point, the S25 FE does feel like an interesting option.
As always, this isn’t my final verdict on the S25 FE. I still need to test how well this device fits into the broader Samsung ecosystem.
