Unlike its more illustrious ‘Pure S-series’ brethren or self-assured A-series cousin, the FE line of Samsung products have always been in a limbo state over the years.

Not quite carrying the premium offerings typically seen on flagship models yet still promising more bells and whistles compared to the mid-range products, devices carrying the FE brand are always seen as the forgotten child.

But that assumption is about to change thanks to their more recent offerings in the line. The subject of our device reviews today are the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE smartphone and later on, the recently released Galaxy Buds FE earbuds. Our objective is to answer the following: Are these devices worth your hard-earned cash, and are their “shortcomings” worth the dollars saved – or spent – if you so happen to upgrade from an A-series device?

Frivolous & Exquisite

As mentioned in our first impression piece, the S23 FE delivers what is expected from a device which is somewhat opulent yet pragmatic. Upon picking up the device, the DNA of a flagship-tier device is apparent yet some corners were cut for cost reasons.

However, these compromises in no way dilute the overall performance and the S23 FE’s stature when compared to models around its price range in the market.

What the S23 FE is very similar to its more illustrious family members is its packaging. It is slim and apart from the phone, charging cable and sim ejector tool which come packed in, a brand new set is bare bores. Something you can be more forgiving of Samsung considering this is the more wallet-friendly option. Available in four different colours – Mint or Graphite for the 128GB/8GB variant and additional Purple or Cream should you opt for the 256GB/8GB variant, the construction of aluminium frame sandwiched between two slabs of Gorilla Glass 5 does give the device a more old-school, familiar feel. I let my wife cop a feel of the review unit and her first impression was that it reminded her of a certain fruity product.

Considering how familiar the device is in hand, the S23 FE may actually be the best entry device for folks migrating from iPhones. Easing them into the Android ecosystem without a huge monetary commitment might be the way to go especially for those who were reluctant in the past due to budget constraints.

Powered by last year’s most powerful chip in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the S23 FE is more than capable of fulfilling an average user’s daily requirements and tasks. Like how the engines of supercars of yesteryear are still leagues ahead of your brand-new car, the S23 FE sits firmly among the most powerful sub-Premium devices currently in the market. So performance is not a worry.

As expected, navigation is buttery smooth and while those who are more used to premium builds would notice the slight shortfall in build quality, those who are more focused on overall performance would instantly realize the overall value the S23 FE brings. The camera setup is almost if not, par with the standard S23 phone. Only the most staunch photography aficionado would be able to tell the difference making it a great point-and-shoot setup.

As a gaming device, expect to be able to play most, if not all of your favourite mobile gaming titles on max settings with the S23 FE. The squared off edges makes handling of the phone much more comfortable and feels more secure in hand. Based on our experience, we did not feel any noticeable increase in temperature and it feels comfortable in hand – even for extended gaming sessions. Safe to say, you can ditch the portable USB fan if you plan to game on this device.

The wider dimension of the S23 FE allows more real estate for buttons enabling a wider view of what’s on screen. But don’t just take our word for it. Head on over to any Samsung store which have the demo sets on display and experience them yourself.

Battery-wise, the S23 FE would easily last over a day and depending on one’s usage pattern, may even breach the 36-hour standby time. Customizing has always been Android phones’ strength and with the Samsung Good Lock app now officially available in many Asian countries, phones customizations are elevated to new levels.

The fingerprint scanner to unlock the phone sits under the main screen and its pretty responsive with a wide area of detection. And while the phone does come with wireless charging, it isn’t able to reverse charge wirelessly. Not an issue in our books, and is pretty sure, a majority of users as well. One of the features sacrificed to trim the cost of producing the device for sure.

To dull the sense of loss, Samsung also lumps in over two years of accidental damage coverage, free upgrade deals – pay the price for a 128GB/8GB model and get a 256GB/8GB variant instead, discounts on accessories and rebate of up to RM350 when you trade in your old device.

All of these are packaged in a sub RM3,000 smartphone and you stand to save more by trading in selected devices or by partaking in a number of ongoing Samsung promotions. But surely, at that price, the S23 FE is missing some features which differentiate it from the more expensive, full S-series experience, yes?

Right you are! As mentioned earlier, the overall build of the FE does lack the high-end feel of the normal S23, S23+ and of course, the S23 Ultra devices. The screen isn’t as bright, peaking at 1450 nits compared to 1750 nits found on the other models. The camera on the FE, while respectable, does appear lacking when comparing them on the specs sheet, and put side by side. Where it suffers the most is during low-light conditions and videos, especially when recording while in motion. The front-facing camera also takes a hit, shooting a ‘measly’ 10MP instead of the 12MP selfie shooters found in more expensive models. Add with the absence of reverse wireless charging, the S23 FE does feel like an entry-class Mercedes-Benz. But hey. A Mercedes-Benz is still a Benz.

Where the FE sacrificed in features, it made up with the overall experience and Samsung overall ecosystem. It goes without saying that the S23 FE isn’t a device catered for power users. Instead, it serves as a gateway for new adopters, or those upgrading from A or M-series devices in the past.

Fulsome Experience

In short, nothing encapsulates the S23 FE experience better than being the ‘Premium Economy’ of Samsung smartphone devices. Sure the free-flow champagne throughout the flight would be snazzy but at the end of the day, are you more concerned about getting to your destination, foregoing some life comforts while still experiencing an above-average experience?

Pros:

• An affordable & core S-series experience
• Respectable battery performance
• Solid build gives heft & premium vibe

Cons:

• All-glass screen setup are fingerprints magnets
• Relatively underwhelming camera for photographers

Final Score: 70/100

Vital Statistics

Platform: Android 13, One UI 5.1
Body: 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 3.01 x 0.32 in)~209g
Frame: Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame with IP68 water resistant
Chipset: Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU: Octa-core (1×3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3×2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
GPU: Adreno 730
Display: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1450 nits (peak)
Memory (Internal): 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide); 8 MP, f/2.4, 75mm (telephoto) 3x Optical Zoom; 12 MP, f/2.2, 123? (ultrawide); Front- 10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide)
Video: 8K@24fps, 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@960fps;
Sound: Stereo speakers, no jacks given
Battery: Li-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable
Price: Starts from RM 2,999 (128GB/ 8GB)

A review unit of the Samsung S23 FE was sent to us for review. For more details and best deals for the phone, head over to Samsung Malaysia’s official website.