There’s one thing bugging me about Samsung’s “Fan Edition” cellphone line.
Is there something incorrect with the Galaxy S24 FE sitting in entrance of me — at $649, to be exact? No. It’s fantastic. Its battery goes all day. It performs demanding video games. It’s moderately priced. These are all good issues.
It’s that Samsung’s definition of a “Fan Edition” cellphone, in 2024, doesn’t fairly make sense.
It didn’t begin that means. This FE cellphone collection was initially a pandemic mission for Samsung, launched in late 2020 as a low-cost different to its pricier flagships. It was a high-end gadget, stripped all the way down to the necessities at a friendlier value — and it labored. It additionally made lots of sense on the time, when a $1,000 cellphone felt greater than ever like a luxurious and midrange telephones had been extra underpowered than they’re as we speak. The S20 FE got here with a top-notch Qualcomm processor together with loads of enjoyable shade choices. It was a deal.
In 2024, the idea doesn’t work as nicely. Lower-cost midrange telephones are significantly better, together with Samsung’s personal choices. When the Google Pixel 8A exists and prices $499, a full-specced $600 cellphone simply doesn’t hit the best way it used to. Maybe that’s why the S24 FE feels extra like an train in retail positioning than a cellphone for “followers.”
The Galaxy S24 FE makes use of a Samsung-made Exynos 2400e chipset relatively than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 within the S24 collection, which is a step down in processing energy relying on who you ask. In my expertise, the Exynos chip carried out simply fantastic with out getting too heat throughout an prolonged Pocket City 2 gaming session. It’s additionally able to working all of the AI options because the Qualcomm fashions — together with dwell language translations for cellphone calls, notice summarization, and a startlingly good solution to physician your images — that are fascinating at instances however don’t really feel important. But if Galaxy AI actually does arrive in an enormous means, the S24 FE will probably be prepared, as is final yr’s mannequin.
The FE’s 6.7-inch display is similar dimension because the one within the S24 Plus, nevertheless it comes with a decrease 1080p decision, which isn’t fairly sufficient for a panel this dimension to stay crisp. It comes with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM as customary, together with three rear cameras: a 50-megapixel primary, an 8-megapixel 3x telephoto, and a 12-megapixel telephoto.
There’s 15W wi-fi charging, 25W wired charging, and a large 4,700mAh battery. Seven years of OS updates are promised for the S24 FE, which is nice. All advised, not too shabby for an upper-midrange cellphone, notably the 3x zoom lens, which is tough to search out for lower than $800.
That digicam system is simply fantastic, prefer it was on final yr’s mannequin, too. It’s not so good that you just really feel such as you’re getting away with one thing by choosing the cheaper cellphone, nevertheless it’s not so dangerous as to disqualify it from consideration. The primary 50-megapixel sensor is succesful, nevertheless it rattling nicely higher be at $649.
To its credit score, the 3x telephoto isn’t too keen handy over zoom to the primary sensor in dim indoor lighting, however I can see fairly a little bit of noise, even in photographs at ISO 200. Autofocus with the primary digicam is unusually indecisive and flutters between topics, and the dwell view in portrait mode is noticeably laggy. The digicam system will get the job executed, however I stay unconvinced that the S24 FE’s devoted telephoto lens is the standout function it seems to be.
If you contemplate the above towards the equally sized S24 Plus and its $999 beginning value, the S24 FE seems like an awfully whole lot. The smaller S24 begins at $799, however its display is way smaller, one thing just a few of us uncommon people favor. But if we’re evaluating to smaller telephones, the apparent competitor is the Pixel 8A — palms down one of the best midrange cellphone you should buy within the US proper now.
There are a couple of compromises in the event you go together with the Pixel. The Pixel 8A comes with a smaller, 6.1-inch display, it lacks a devoted telephoto digicam, and its water resistance ranking is rather less sturdy. But that’s form of it so far as variations go. Wireless charging? An excellent digicam? Software help for seven years? The 8A’s bought all that coated. When you may get that checklist of options for $499, a $649 cellphone must work fairly onerous to justify its value.
The S24 FE doesn’t really feel prefer it brings sufficient high-end options all the way down to the midrange. I can’t fairly pinpoint it, however this cellphone simply feels noticeably cheaper than the primary S24 collection. It has Gorilla Glass on the back and front panels, plus an aluminum body. Maybe it’s the marginally larger bezels or that the seams on the cellphone’s edges aren’t fairly as tidy as on the higher-end telephones. Maybe it’s the 1080p display, which isn’t fairly as razor sharp because it may very well be. And I imply, the S24 FE feels cheaper as a result of it is cheaper. I get that. But it feels extra like utilizing a pleasant midrange Galaxy A-series cellphone than a flagship.
There’s a query bugging me as I contemplate the S24 FE: why does this cellphone exist? The reply may need extra to do with carriers than any “fan” attraction. Right now, Verizon and T-Mobile are providing the S24 FE for $0, assuming you signal onto expensive limitless plans and keep locked in for the following two years. This cellphone makes much more sense in the event you contemplate its primary clients to be wi-fi retailers and never Galaxy superfans.
There’s the Apple issue, too: Samsung can’t let these new iPhones sitting on the shelf this vacation buying season go unchallenged. The Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra launched means again in January — an eternity in the past! So the S24 FE enters the chat, presenting a “new” cellphone with a value conveniently decrease than the bottom mannequin iPhone. ’Tis the season to satisfy your year-end gross sales targets.
If, for some purpose, you want a brand new Samsung cellphone proper now and your service is making you an incredible provide on the S24 FE, then by all means! But in the event you don’t match into that class, I don’t see an incredible purpose to decide on this cellphone. The Pixel 8A does many of the similar issues and is way more wallet-friendly. The S25 collection will arrive ahead of later, little question, together with Samsung’s usually beneficiant trade-in presents. Save your self a bit of money and go together with the Pixel or maintain off and get a deal on the S25. But Galaxy followers already know that.
Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge