After a nearly two-year-long hiatus, Samsung has revived its Fan Edition smartphone line with the Galaxy S23 FE. It brings some big upgrades to its predecessor, like more capable cameras, a faster chip, and a more modern design. But even though it bears the Galaxy S23 branding, there are still some major differences that set the FE apart from Samsung’s latest flagship smartphones. In this comparison, we’ll take a closer look at the differences between the Galaxy S23 FE vs Galaxy S23 and help you pick the right smartphone for your needs.
- With its starting price of $599, the Galaxy S23 FE is cheaper than the entire mainline S23 series.
- Compared to the base Galaxy S23’s 6.1-inch display, the Fan Edition packs a larger 6.4-inch display.
- The FE’s larger footprint allows it to accommodate a significantly larger 4,500mAh battery.
- The mainline Galaxy S23 series packs a far more powerful and efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.
- In select regions, Samsung will include its in-house Exynos chipset in the Galaxy S23 FE. That’s not the case for the flagship S23 line; all regions enjoy the same chip and associated performance.
- Compared to the similarly sized Galaxy S23 Plus, the S23 FE is significantly cheaper but has a smaller battery and slower charging speeds. The FE also relies on older UFS 3.1 storage, which may result in slower loading times.
- While all Galaxy S23 models feature a glass back, the Fan Edition skimps a bit with Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the back. The flagship models use Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for better durability.
- Samsung’s flagship smartphones include a handful of extra premium features like eSIM support and an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip in the Galaxy S23 Plus.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs Galaxy S23: Specs
| Samsung Galaxy S23 FE | Samsung Galaxy S23 | Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.4-inch Super AMOLED FHD+ (2,340 x 1,080) 19.5:9 aspect ratio 120Hz refresh rate |
6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED FHD+ (2,340 x 1,080) 19.5:9 aspect ratio 120Hz refresh rate |
6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED FHD+ (2,340 x 1,080) 19.5:9 aspect ratio 120Hz refresh rate |
| Processor | USA: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Global: Samsung Exynos 2200 |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | UFS 3.1: 128GB, 256GB | 128GB (UFS 3.1), 256GB (UFS 4.0) | UFS 4.0: 256GB or 512GB |
| Battery and charging | 4,500mAh battery 25W wired charging 15W wireless charging 4.5W reverse wireless charging No charger in the box |
3,900mAh battery 25W wired charging 15W wireless charging 4.5W reverse wireless charging No charger in the box |
4,700mAh battery 45W wired charging 15W wireless charging 4.5W reverse wireless charging No charger in the box |
| Cameras | Rear: – 50MP main: ƒ/1.8 aperture, OIS – 12MP ultrawide: ƒ/2.2 aperture, 123-degree FoV – 8MP telephoto: ƒ/2.4 aperture, 3x optical zoom Front: |
Rear: – 50MP main: ƒ/1.8 aperture, OIS – 12MP ultrawide: ƒ/2.2 aperture – 10MP telephoto: ƒ/2.4 aperture, 3x optical zoom Front: |
Rear: – 50MP main: ƒ/1.8 aperture, OIS – 12MP ultrawide: ƒ/2.2 aperture – 10MP telephoto: ƒ/2.4 aperture, 3x optical zoom Front: |
| Audio | Stereo speakers Dual mics No 3.5mm jack |
Stereo speakers Dual mics No 3.5mm jack |
Stereo speakers Dual mics No 3.5mm jack |
| Security | In-display fingerprint Samsung Knox 5 years of security updates |
In-display fingerprint Samsung Knox 5 years of security updates |
In-display fingerprint Samsung Knox 5 years of security updates |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 NFC support |
Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 NFC support mmWave 5G eSIM support |
Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 NFC support mmWave 5G eSIM support UWB chip |
| Software | One UI 5.1 based on Android 13 | One UI 5.1 based on Android 13 | One UI 5.1 based on Android 13 |
| Materials | Gorilla Glass Victus front Metal frame Gorilla Glass 5 back |
Gorilla Glass Victus front Metal frame Gorilla Glass Victus 2 rear panel |
Gorilla Glass Victus front Metal frame Gorilla Glass Victus 2 rear panel |
| Dimensions and weight | 157.9 x 76.5 x 8.1mm 209g |
146.3 x 70.8 x 7.6mm 168g |
157.7 x 76.2 x 7.6mm 196g |
Based on the spec sheet, we’re glad to report that Samsung hasn’t changed its strategy with the Galaxy S23 FE. It includes everything we’d typically expect from the Fan Edition line and is essentially a slightly cut-down version of the flagship S23 series. Its display size sits between the regular S23 and S23 Plus, ultimately landing a bit closer to the latter.