UP
Our takeEditorialThe Fan Edition compromise: a year-old Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 traded for a $249.99 price tag and a 4,500 mAh battery.
Silver Shadow, Yellow, Blue, Mint, Crafted Black, White, Peach
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
7.5/10 UpPhone score
Samsung's Fan Edition take on the S23 — bigger 6.4-inch screen, last-generation chip, $249.99 outright on Verizon.
Storage
Screen
6.4"
Chip
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SM8450 (4 nm)
Camera
50 MP
The verdict, & two little voices
Should you actually get the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“$249.99 buys a Samsung 120 Hz AMOLED, IP68, and 4,500 mAh — the chip compromise pays for the rest.”
“$249.99 also buys 2022's thermal-throttling chip — the one Samsung quietly skipped on the next FE.”
Our take
Samsung's Fan Edition take on the S23 — bigger 6.4-inch screen, last-generation chip, $249.99 outright on Verizon.
The S23 FE is Samsung's Fan Edition take on the 2023 flagship — same family, lower price, last-generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in place of the Gen 2 the regular S23 ran. The trade is real: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 was the chip with the well-documented thermal-throttling reputation in 2022, and by 2026 it sits three generations behind the current Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. What you get for the cheaper chip is a bigger 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel at 120 Hz, a 4,500 mAh battery — comfortably one-day, often two on light use — and the same IP68 rating as the regular S23. At $249.99 outright on Verizon, the FE prices like a budget Android but carries flagship-adjacent hardware: 1450 nits peak brightness lands it in the readable-in-bright-outdoor-sun band, the 50 MP main and 12 MP ultrawide are the same sensor family as the regular S23, and 5G sub-6 covers most of the country. The thermal story is the catch — sustained heavy gaming and long camera sessions warm the chassis up. For a $249.99 phone, that's a fair compromise.
What we love
- $249.99 outright on Verizon — flagship-adjacent hardware at budget pricing
- 4,500 mAh — comfortably one-day, often two on light use
- 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 120 Hz — flagship-tier motion on a bigger frame
- 1450 nits peak brightness — readable in bright outdoor sun
- IP68 — handles rain, sinks, pool splashes
- 50 MP main and 12 MP ultrawide — Samsung's standard 2023 imaging pipeline
- 5G sub-6 covers most of the country
- Dual SIM with eSIM support
What we don't
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 was already a year old at the FE's launch — three generations behind the current Snapdragon 8 Gen 4
- The 8 Gen 1 had the well-known thermal-throttling reputation; sustained load warms the chassis
- 8 GB RAM is the floor for comfortable Android in 2026
- 25W wired charging is slow next to current fast-charging Androids
- 209g is heavy for a 6.4-inch phone
- No 5G mmWave — the fastest urban speeds aren't on the menu
Full specifications
Display
Size6.4"
TypeDynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution2340 x 1080 px
PPI403
Performance
ChipSnapdragon 8 Gen 1 SM8450 (4 nm)
RAM8 GB
Storage128 GB
OSAndroid 14, 13
Camera
Rear camera50 MP
Rear camera 212 MP
Front camera10 MP
VideoYes
Battery
Wireless charging15W wireless
Design
Dimensions158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm
ColorsSilver Shadow, Yellow, Blue, Mint, Crafted Black, White, Peach
Form factorSlate
Connectivity
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6E
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3
USBUSB 3.2
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE on individual carriers
All 4 plans with Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Carrier: Any ▾Lines: 1 ▾Sort: Lowest ▾
CarrierPlanDataTermMonthly
10 GB
24-mo term
$25.00/mo
total $67.50 over term
Unlimited
24-mo term
$25.00/mo
total $90.00 over term
Frequently asked questions about the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
What kind of display does the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE have?
The 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel runs at 120 Hz with 1450 nits peak and a 2340 x 1080 resolution. The 120 Hz delivers the smooth-scrolling, smooth-animation feel of the flagship tier, and 1450 nits peak puts it in the readable-in-bright-outdoor-sun band — slightly behind the regular S23's 1750 nits, but still well above what most Androids near this price ship with. The bigger frame is the FE's pitch over the compact regular S23.
What kind of camera does the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE have?
50 MP main and 12 MP ultrawide rear, with 3× optical zoom and a 10 MP front camera. The main sensor is from the same family as the regular S23 and shoots clean daylight stills with Samsung's punchy color and aggressive sharpening pipeline. At $249.99 the imaging kit is well above the single-lens approach of entry-tier phones.
What is the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE?
4,500 mAh — comfortably one-day, often two on light use. Larger than the regular S23's 3,900 mAh, which partially offsets the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1's lower efficiency. 25W wired charging is lunch-break top-up speed; 15W wireless is present, but no reverse wireless on the FE.
What processor does the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE use?
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 — the chip that ran in 2022 flagships and was already a year old at the FE's October 2023 launch. It's the chip with the well-documented thermal-throttling reputation, and three generations later it's behind the current Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. App-opening and scrolling still feel fast. Sustained heavy gaming and long camera sessions warm the chassis up. Paired with 8 GB RAM — the floor for comfortable Android in 2026.
How much storage does the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE have?
128 GB internal storage is the floor — fine for messaging and casual photos, tight if you record 4K video or hoard apps. No microSD slot. The S23 FE also shipped in 256 GB and 512 GB trims; the 128 GB unit is the cheapest entry.
What kind of speakers does the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE have?
Stereo speakers — bottom-firing main plus the earpiece tweeter. Loud and clear enough for podcasts and calls; not a substitute for a Bluetooth speaker outdoors.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE support fingerprint or face unlock?
In-display optical fingerprint sensor and 2D face unlock. The optical reader is a step down from the ultrasonic sensor on the regular S23 — reliable but slightly slower, and can be confused by some screen protectors. Face unlock is camera-based — convenient, not bank-grade.
Is the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE water-resistant?
IP68 — handles rain, sinks, pool splashes; saltwater and prolonged dives still aren't ideal. Same rating as the regular S23 and the current Galaxy S26 line.
