REVIEW: Galaxy S23 FE goes far with performance 46u4m

Announced during the first week of October 2023 and arriving in Brazil three weeks later, the Galaxy S23FE, with its own processor Samsung, has the concept of being an option that unifies all of the company's best offerings at a price that is not as high as the line launched at the beginning of the year. But did this mix work? Check out our review complete right now. 4rv3z

Design 145g70

Launched in Brazil in four colors (white, black, green and blue), the Galaxy S23 FE looks more like a Galaxy A54. This was the first perception I had of the device as soon as I took it out of the box. And in addition to the external appearance, the devices are similar in having a screen over six inches, in addition to weighing, on average, 200 grams.

Personally, I am a person who likes models with displays above 6 inches due to a large hand. Day-to-day handling is much calmer and more comfortable, not to mention the visual experience. See the fitting:

With the back made of protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 5, it has a set of three lenses and another LED flash that delivers that category elegance that we have known from the Galaxy S line for a long time. Its edge is made of aluminum, which complements the style.

As expected, here we only have a USB-C connection for charging, without the P2 input. There are three buttons: one to turn the screen on and off and two more to increase or decrease the volume. Finally, it has a fingerprint sensor under the screen that facilitates access to the operating system. I recommend that you at least two fingerprints (one from each hand) to be able to use your smartphone Android dynamically.

I define the size of Galaxy S23FE as ideal for my type of . Its variety of colors also allows a wide choice that will bring that complement of style to your everyday life. A Samsung It doesn't ship a protective cover for the device in its box, but I recommend you buy it so it stays looking like new for a long time.

It's true that yes, it resembles the Galaxy A54, but what's the problem with that? Both are beautiful devices with a look that attracts attention wherever they go. One of the concepts of the Fan Edition (FE) line is precisely this: bringing together the best specifications of the Samsung 2023 on a single device.

Fabric 3c653a

Measuring 6,4 inches and AMOLED 2X, the display resolution is FHD+ (2220 x 1080 pixels), in addition to having a variable refresh rate from 60Hz to 120Hz, which adapts depending on the activity displayed. In practice, instead of having a fixed refresh rate, the operating system is able to deliver the exact amount of heartz so that the battery lasts longer and longer.

Using the device outdoors actually works well: with its peak brightness of 1750 nits, it avoids that mirror effect, which practically forces you to cover the screen or go to a place with low natural lighting. When playing Asphalt 9 and access the Twitter (or X, call it what you want) in dark mode, I was able to play and read the tweets no problem. This is also due to the ambient light sensor, which works very well, something already seen in all smartphones Samsung Galaxy.

I only have one negative comment which is actually more personal: the Samsung made the decision to avoid full screen on the device and you will be able to see black borders around the screen. This isn't a huge problem, but if you have a device with infinite edges (like my Realme 9 Pro+), you'll notice the difference right away.

Other than that, I had a good experience using the screen Galaxy S23FE. Even outdoors, I was able to see all the information from the applications. There's always room for improvement: perhaps a higher resolution screen would fit this model better, especially since it's part of the category, but the final set might be enough for it to be your partner throughout the day.

Battery 554u5p

Test the battery Galaxy S23FE It was quite an experience. Before that, it is important to that the Samsung is not known for delivering smartphones with the long lifespan of companies like Oppo e Xiaomi, but has been trying to get close to its competitors. In my first two days with the device, I repeated everyday use: using it to listen to music in the background and use the internet via Wi-Fi. The result was a maximum of 03:27 and 03:47 of screen time, respectively. See below:

In the test above, it spent most of the day with the screen off and, when necessary, it managed to last for up to 23pm on the same day. It's important to that I picked up the model at 10am on the same day, recording a total duration of around 13 hours, considering use in the background and with the screen on.

Moving on to intense use, it even managed to do better by keeping its screen activated for 05:11 am, when I played games of Asphalt 9, Fortnite e Mortal Kombat. The total duration, in this intense use, was 16h44, with internet use only via Wi-Fi. See:

I would say that it will be necessary to recharge the device at least once a day, either before going to sleep or at bedtime. An interesting point is that the 4.500 mAh battery has machine learning, which understands how you use it to deliver the best performance on a daily basis. That said, the battery life pleased me in both modes I tested.

A Samsung sends a 45W charging source that can be a salvation before leaving home or needing more energy until the end of the day: it managed to reach from 1% to 100% in just an hour when plugged in. The charging time is close to what I have on my personal cell phone, so I hardly noticed much of a difference.

Performance 58a2u

The big question is: what is the high temperature like? During the smartphone launch event in Brazil, Renato Citrini, Senior Product Manager of Mobile Experience at Samsung Brazil, highlighted that Samsung's own manufactured processor has a vapor chamber to push hot air out and prevent the device from crashing or getting too hot.

In practice, there is no denying that it got a little hotter than expected. On the first day with the device, when installing Fortnite, he had a heat that was even worrying, but, despite this, the performance was not affected. On the second day, it received a system update that managed to balance the temperature when the processor is turned to maximum power.

The 1250MHz GPU work is done through a partnership with AMD and we've already talked more about this in a special article about the processor. Practical use allows good viewing of games in high quality, without loading errors or problems with the device's performance. And there are also Ray Tracing to provide in darker scenes.

The third day with the device was just about finding out how far it could go: I spent 3 hours playing Asphalt 9 and, despite him getting a little warmed up, he managed to play all the games. The same happened with Fortnite: despite warming up, as expected, it did not freeze or close running applications.

I would even say that the “high” temperature is the same as that seen in other devices I tested this year. See the processor's Geekbench 6 score below. For comparison, the Galaxy S22+ it reached 1170 points in the single core test and 3328 points in the Muliti-Core test.

The model sent to showmetech It has 256 GB of internal storage and 8 GB of RAM, but it was also launched with 12 GB of RAM for those who need more performance. And you can also use up to 8 GB of storage as RAM to run more applications simultaneously.

I would say the Galaxy S23FE arrives to deliver high performance for those who like to play and also need a device for creating content, as well as wanting a device for simpler activities, such as accessing social networks and taking photos without the need to manage RAM memory and have to worry about possible crashes.

System and interface e174s

equipped with the Android 13 via One UI 5.1 from the factory, to Samsung promised four years of system updates for the Galaxy S23FE (that is, it will receive up to Android 17). The company also guarantees that your smartphone will receive another five years of security updates at no additional cost.

A One UI 5.1 arrives to make everything even more special: in addition to new features such as Modes of Use, Device It can show basic information and optimize the device completely.

But what I liked most was the addition to the Gallery: the Object Eraser, what makes it Samsung one of the first companies with a tool like this, directly on your smartphone. See the before and after photo:

The interface is also well optimized for different types of s and there is no denying that Samsung got it right when developing One UI 5.1 with some special features that can only be seen on its smartphones. And the best of all is that it runs on a processor also developed by Samsung.

Finally, if you have other devices in the ecosystem Galaxy, like a Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Tab or Galaxy Book, the integration will be more than perfect. When testing the Galaxy Buds FE, the headphones were automatically detected by the Galaxy S23 FE, which makes use even more dynamic as the devices are able to work together effortlessly.

Frontal camera 1m5k5l

To justify the “low price”, it is clear that some losses had to occur on the device. Compared to the regular Galaxy S23 which has a 12 MP lens, the version FE It has a 10 MP lens. Photos taken during the day provide interesting clarity even for those who don't know much about photography.

There are two ways to take portrait mode photos: for groups or just yourself. The night mode of the front camera struggles, but we will certainly have higher quality photos with the rear lenses.

It is possible to change the background of photos in portrait mode in up to nine options, directly from the Samsung gallery. In this same application, you can also use the Object Eraser and other tools to have that perfect photo to use on different channels.

Video recording with the front lens can be done in HD quality (at 30 frames per second), FHD and UHD (both at 30 or 60 frames per second). It is interesting to that the super stable mode, a big highlight of the Galaxy S line, also does not work on the front lens. The stability of videos taken with the 10 MP lens is not bad, but of course they will be better with the device's rear lenses.

Filters applied in real time to selfies they provide that , but the camera working autonomously can take clear photos during the day. And you may also realize that it's time to go back to the dermatologist.

Night mode for selfies It requires you to hold your phone for four seconds to capture the most light. It's not perfect, but it can handle photos taken in low-light locations. See this Selfie:

Rear cameras 3h5yq

The device has camera features that make it easy to capture photos and videos from a main lens. 50 SM e 3X optical zoom, a lens 8 MP telephoto (reduced from 10 MP of the original version) and also a ultrawide with 12 MP.

In zoom tests, the device reaches up to 30x in photos, but I would say that the 10x zoom is more than enough. Above that, the results become too artificial and you will have more pixelated photos. See the images below with 0.6x, 1x, 2.0x, 3.0x, 10x and 20x:

In videos, the rear cameras have the interesting video stabilization mode (VDIS): it is possible to obtain stable photos, even in movement, due to the rear camera's optical image stabilization (OIS) angle. However, it only works in FHD quality at 60 or 30 frames per second.

Just as it worked on the Galaxy S23, the nightography is available here to add that extra boost to the content recorded overnight. When taking photos with the mode on and off, you notice the clear difference and how it makes a difference. When using zoom and night mode, the results are good up to a maximum of 3x and, above that, you will see noise. But the 1x mode delivers great results, see:

In addition to recording videos in 8K quality at 24 frames per second, the Galaxy S23FE It can record videos in UHD and FHD (at 60 or 30 seconds) and also in HD at 30 frames seconds. I prefer to record videos in UHD quality, but recording a Story for Instagram in 8K quality is an addictive activity that guarantees more likes of your followers. In any case, there is no denying that the Galaxy S line experience could be seen here.

Just like in Galaxy z flip5, I was unable to install the Expert Raw app via Galaxy Store on the S23 FE. This isn't a huge loss, but it would be another way to take advantage of the cameras. This can be reduced due to the Pro Mode, which lets you manually adjust controls like shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and more to your preferences.

The application Camera Assistant lets you take personalized photos by choosing which automated features to use for a completely personalized photography experience. Additionally, the smartphone camera offers editing tools with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve your creations.

Other special camera features are in the Director's Vision, which allows the use of all cameras at the same time (already seen on the Galaxy S line).

The way Super Slow-Motion is also available here, and it is also possible to record videos with the background blurred, both on the front and rear cameras. See them all:

Audio 3n1j5g

the smartphone of Samsung arrives with a pair of AKG speakers with for the Dolby Atmos standard that adapts the sound emitted according to the media. I'm a person who mostly uses my cell phone with a wireless headset, but when testing the sound of the Galaxy S23FE, he managed to fill my entire room.

In fact, I have a small complaint: it is important to be careful not to cover the microphone, which is also located close to the speakers. When sending audios on WhatsApp, I noticed that some of them were muffled. It's not a big problem, but you'll have to adapt to avoid sending audio that can't be heard.

Price and availability 1s705x

O Galaxy S23 FE was launched in Brazil with a suggested price starting at R$3.999. Despite this, it shouldn't take long for the device to start to see its price drop and it shouldn't be surprising if it is found at around R$2.500.

Until the completion of this review, it can already be found by BRL 3.599 at Magazine Luiza, if payment is made via Pix. It is an interesting device to monitor the price at times like Black Friday or the end of the year.

Conclusion 60664y

Despite some losses compared to the original Galaxy S23, I would say that Samsung's FE edition for 2023 arrives as a good combination and can bring great benefits to its owners.

It has an interesting battery that adapts depending on use and cameras that attract attention. The design, despite ing that of an intermediate model, is beautiful and its color options can make it that essential accessory for your cool day to day.

Perhaps the model really has a high initial launch price for some people, but this value should certainly decrease over time and it will become an interesting value for money that can be purchased for less than R$3.

It is also worth ing that buyers of this model get one year of the solution Secure Padlock, which allows remote blocking in the event of theft or loss.

comparisons 1y4c16

change the Galaxy S22 or S22+ by the S23FE	It's not worth it, little changes
change the Galaxy S21 or S21+ by the S23FE	yes it's worth it
change the Galaxy s22 ultra by the S23FE	It's not worth it, the Galaxy S22 Ultra can deliver better photos, as well as having a better screen and more memory

Technical specifications 292m5w

Brand	Samsung
Córdoba	Galaxy S23FE
Fabric	6,4-inch FHD+ screen Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen 120Hz Adaptive Super Smooth Refresh Rate (60~120Hz) Dimensions and weight: 76,5 x 158 x 8,2 mm, 209 g
Camera	12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, F2.2, FOV 123˚ 50MP wide-angle camera, F1.8, FOV 84˚ Adaptive Pixel 8 MP telephoto camera, 3x optical zoom, F2.4, FOV 32˚ 10 MP front camera, F2.4, FOV 80˚
Processor (AP)	Exynos 2200 (Up to 2,2 GHz)
Memory and Storage	Memory options: 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB
Battery	Capacity: 4.500 mAh Wired charging: Up to 50% charge in about 30 minutes with 25W adapter Fast wireless charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare
Operating System (OS)	Android 13
Network and Connectivity	5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth v5.3 Requires optimal 5G network connection, available in select markets. LTE model availability varies by market and operator. Wi-Fi 6E network availability may vary depending on market, network provider and environment.
Safety	Samsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault
Water Resistance	IP68 Rating: Water resistant in up to 1,5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes and protected against dust, dirt and sand. Not recommended for use on the beach or pool. Your device's water and dust resistance is not permanent and may decrease over time.
Price	8 GB + 128 GB: R$ 3.999 8 GB + 256 GB: R$ 4.499
Availability in Brazil	As of October 27, 2023

See also other features

REVIEW: Galaxy S23 Ultra maintains design but improves functions

Check out our review of the Galaxy S23 Ultra and decide which device is best for you

Text proofread by: Pedro Bomfim (6 / 11 / 23)