Samsung Galaxy S24 FE hands-on review: A Galaxy AI phone for much less

Samsung’s Fan Edition phones are often overshadowed by how solid the product line is. best Samsung phones It can be from top to bottom. Galaxy S24 FE It looks to be well on its way to following in the footsteps of its predecessors, but after spending some hands-on time with the newest member of the S24 family, I have to say it surprised me in many ways.

I think the hardest thing to convince phone buyers is how much value the Galaxy S24 FE offers, because at $649 it’s a lot more than Samsung’s $399 budget option in the US. Galaxy A35. But on the other hand, it’s also $150 cheaper than the standard Galaxy S24. In fact, the Galaxy S24 FE is more of a Galaxy S24 Plus alternative due to its screen and battery size.

In my Galaxy S24 FE hands-on review, I’ll talk about what it offers against these phones and whether it has enough value squeezed right in the middle of Samsung’s lineup, with the Galaxy S24 flagships on one side and the Galaxy A series on the other. other.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE hands-on review: Technical Specifications

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Header Cell – Column 0	Galaxy S24 FE
starting price	$649
Screen size and resolution	6.7 inch AMOLED 2x, FHD+
Refresh Rate	120Hz
Processor	Exynos 2400e
data store	8GB
to store	128GB, 256GB
rear cameras	50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 8MP telephoto (3x optical zoom)
front camera	10MP
Battery size	4700mAh
Charging speed	25W
Dimensions	6.38×3.04×0.31 inch
Weight	7.51 ounces
Colors	Blue, graphite, grey, mint, yellow

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE hands-on review: Price and release date

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Pre-orders for Galaxy S24 FE Prices currently start at $649.99 for the base model with 128GB, while the one with 256GB of storage is available for $709.99. Galaxy S24 FE will go on sale starting October 3.

The starting price is technically $50 higher than last year’s model, making it a tougher sell now that $150 separates it from the standard Galaxy S24. There are four color options to choose from: blue, graphite, grey, mint and yellow; This wasn’t something I expected for a mid-range phone like this; so it’s great that Samsung is giving people options.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE hands-on review: Design

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Although it shares the same design language with the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus, what attracts me more about the Galaxy S24 FE is its solid construction. With its flat edges and rounded corners, the design looks exactly like the Galaxy S24, including the arrangement of the triple cameras on the back. Fortunately, the S24 FE still receives an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, so it doesn’t compromise its design in any way.

Of course, the S24 FE is a bit big for my liking, but the glossy finish of its case makes it look premium. I briefly held onto the graphite color, which quickly developed smudges and fingerprints, but other colors do a much better job of masking them. Speaking of colors, I love the variety and both the mint and blue shades remind me of recent times Pixel 9 devices. The S24 FE’s glass back casing makes them extra bright in the right lighting conditions.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE hands-on review: Screen

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Seriously, this thing feels pretty full in the hand, thanks to its 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display. But since it’s AMOLED, the Galaxy S24 FE panel shines with a brilliance that display technology is known for, including the deep black color it reproduces, wide viewing angles, and superior clarity in almost every situation.

I blew one 4K HDR video on YouTube The Galaxy S24 FE and the vibrant colors it displays are stunning. compared Galaxy A55s This display is a big step forward, with better contrast and impressive-looking colours. What makes it better than the S24 in my opinion is that this AMOLED panel has a higher contrast look, whereas the S24 display looks a bit washed out.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE hands-on review: Cameras

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At the Galaxy S24 FE announcement event, Samsung noted that its cameras are very similar to the Galaxy S24, including the main 50MP sensor powered by Samsung’s dynamic ProVisual Engine to enhance photos with the help of AI. The rest of the S24 FE camera system consists of a 12 MP ultra-wide angle and an 8 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom.

The latter matches the S24’s 3x optical zoom camera, although the S24 uses a slightly higher 10MP sensor instead. I took a few quick shots with the Galaxy S24 FE, but the indoor setting and viewing the photos on the phone’s screen don’t give me a clear picture of its quality.

Despite these limitations, I really like that the Galaxy s24 FE has all the shooting modes and features that I love on Samsung phones in general, such as full manual controls for photos and videos. Enthusiasts and content creators will certainly enjoy this among others, but Samsung also offers some of my favorite Galaxy AI features.

For example, there is Sketch to Painting A technology that uses generative artificial intelligence to create new things in my photos just by drawing. I quickly tried this out on a selfie I took, and although it didn’t quite recognize my chicken scratches in the drawing, it correctly drew a creepy cat resting on my arm the second time around. Additionally, there’s Instant Slow Motion, which allows me to quickly capture existing videos I’m shooting and slow down a specific part of it as a slow-motion clip.

And yes, the Galaxy S24 FE is capable of shooting video at 8K 30fps, making it one of the few devices that can offer this.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE hands-on review: Performance

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I know how wary some people might be about the Exynos 2400e chip powering the Galaxy S24 FE. Benchmarks will ultimately prove how it compares to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Galaxy S24. Until then, I was at least pleased with the smooth response of the Galaxy S24 FE when I tried the phone.

Again, the display’s 120Hz refresh rate definitely contributes to the instantaneous responses it showed me when navigating the interface and juggling multiple apps at once. It really looks and feels smoother than the Galaxy S24; I’m bold enough to say it even pairs with the Galaxy S24. Pixel 9 Pro And 9ProXL I’m using this.

On the gaming side, I know people will like that the Galaxy S24 FE supports ray tracing to produce better-looking shading and lighting visuals in games that support these features. I imagine the combination of its great-looking display and 120Hz refresh rate will ensure that the games I enjoy playing on other flagship phones look and play just as good here on the Galaxy S24 FE.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE hands-on review: Battery

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Equipped with a 4,700mAh battery, which is actually larger than the one in the Galaxy S24 and slightly smaller than the 4,900mAh battery in the S24 Plus, I suspect power efficiency will play a big role in the Galaxy S24 FE’s battery life. Knowing how well the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus did in our battery benchmark test, I’m hopeful the Exynos 2400e can do the same job with this new phone.

Samsung claims that the S24 FE can charge up to 50% in about 30 minutes with a 25W adapter. This is not a very old figure, but hopefully our tests can confirm this claim.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE hands-on review: Software

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Until now, Galaxy AI has been exclusive to Samsung’s premium phones. Neither Galaxy A35 and A55 have these features Environment to Search It has support, so there’s a compelling argument to get the Galaxy S24 FE. That’s because One UI 6.1 running on Android 14 brings many of my favorite Galaxy AI features. Interpreter Mode, Live Translationand Circle to Call this phone.

These are features that deepen the software over other phones not available in Sammy’s lineup; So much so that I think they add incredible value to the phone. So why is this? You pay less than you would for the Galaxy S24 to have them. Secondly, I’m more surprised that Galaxy s24 FE supports Samsung DeX Because Galaxy Z Flip 6 This is even more surprising considering the foldable phone’s $999 price tag.

Therefore, Galaxy S24 FE does not compromise on productivity and work. I find DeX invaluable because it gives me essentially a desktop computer experience when the phone is connected to a monitor – so it really feels like I’m carrying a computer in my pocket.

Despite the limited time I had to review the software, I’m happy that the Galaxy S24 FE has many of the same features as the rest of the S24 series, including split-screen multitasking between two apps.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE hands-on review: Outlook

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The more I look at the Galaxy S24 FE, the more I think this is what the Galaxy S24 should be. Not only do I prefer its glossy finish and stunning color options, but I’m equally fascinated by its super sharp-looking display, smooth performance, and packing pretty much the same Galaxy AI features that I use in many games. other Samsung phones.

Galaxy AI is a crucial part of the story because at $649, it’s the cheapest new Galaxy phone you can buy with AI capabilities. Perhaps the Galaxy S24 FE could become an even more compelling option if it can exceed my expectations for camera performance and battery life. Obviously if so, it would effectively make the Galaxy S24 irrelevant.