The Galaxy S series represents the best phones that Samsung manufactures on a large scale every year, but such hardware comes at a high price. That’s why Samsung offers Galaxy FE models, which try to keep part of the flagship experience, but at a lower price.
The contemporary Galaxy FE (Fane Edition) concept was introduced in 2020 with the Galaxy S20 FE model. The idea was to take the most important features of the Galaxy S series, such as a quality screen, a good camera, a powerful chip, fast connection and a large battery, but with a few compromises that reduce the production cost.
The same principle applies today. The Galaxy FE phone usually arrives later in the year and is aimed at users who want the premium Samsung experience but don’t want or can’t pay the full price of the Galaxy S model.
The Samsung Galaxy FE series saves on screen, processor and cameras
The differences are best seen on the example of the Galaxy S25 FE, Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus phones. The Galaxy S25 FE has a 6.7-inch OLED screen, a resolution of 2340 × 1080 pixels, a refresh rate of 60 to 120 Hz and a maximum brightness of 1900 nits. The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus offer more advanced screens with a refresh rate of 1 to 120 Hz, a maximum brightness of 2600 nits and better protective glass.
An even bigger concession is found in the processor. Galaxy S25 FE uses Exynos 2400 made in 4 nm process and 8 GB of RAM. The Galaxy S25 models use the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the 3 nm process and 12 GB of RAM, so they offer noticeably better performance, especially in more demanding applications, gaming and during prolonged use.
The cameras are also weaker. The Galaxy S25 FE has a 50 MP main sensor, a 12 MP ultra-wide camera and an 8 MP telephoto camera. The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus have a better 10MP telephoto camera, while the ultra-wide module uses a larger sensor. The front cameras of all three models are 12 MP.
The battery does not always have to be the weak point of the FE model. The Galaxy S25 FE and Galaxy S25 Plus have 4900mAh batteries and 45W fast charging support, so the differences are narrowing in that area.
Buying a Galaxy FE phone only makes sense if the price difference is big enough. The problem is that the FE models arrive a few months after the main Galaxy S series, when the more expensive models often get serious discounts.
That’s why the buyer should compare the real prices at the time of purchase, not just the initial recommended prices. If the Galaxy S model on sale is only slightly more expensive than the FE version, the better screen, stronger processor, more RAM and better cameras can easily justify the extra cost.
The Galaxy FE series is therefore not a bad choice, but it is not automatically the best buy. The advantage exists when it really offers big savings compared to the Galaxy S models, writes BGR.