A good upgrade for fans and newcomers

The Galaxy S20 FE marked the debut of the Fan Version for Samsung, and it was a sensation upon its launch again in 2020. It was a real flagship-tier Android cellphone that didn’t break the financial institution. I’ve lengthy felt like subsequent releases have didn’t dwell as much as that preliminary gadget, because the Galaxy maker selected penny-pinching conservatism over a really thrilling product.

Samsung has just lately launched the Galaxy S25 FE ($549.99 at Amazon), and I’ve spent simply over two weeks with it. The excellent news is that the corporate is stepping up its sport with a few long-overdue upgrades. However is that this sufficient to make the cellphone price shopping for? Let’s dive into our Galaxy S25 FE overview.

Upon unboxing the cellphone, I’ve to confess that I had a troublesome time telling this aside from the Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy S23 FE. That’s not essentially an issue, as you’ve nonetheless received a glass again that received’t appeal to fingerprints, together with a flat aluminum body and rounded corners. The rear cowl additionally has particular person digital camera cutouts, very like the earlier two telephones. Luckily, the cellphone is a bit of lighter and thinner than its predecessor. It’s not one thing I instantly observed upon holding the cellphone, nevertheless it undoubtedly grew on me as I’ve used the gadget, and I’ve come to understand this trimmer design.

Samsung has additionally opted for an IP68 ranking together with Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on the back and front, so it ought to be effectively protected, even when that isn’t Corning’s very high glass.

Activate the cellphone and also you’ll see a 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED display screen that’s successfully the identical panel seen on final 12 months’s cellphone. It’s even received the identical 1,900 nits of peak brightness because the S24 FE, though I had no points with outside viewing. This seems to be an LTPS panel slightly than an LTPO display screen, which suggests the cellphone isn’t able to dropping all the way down to 1Hz and even 10Hz. As a substitute, the display screen typically dropped all the way down to 60Hz, though I did discover a 30Hz refresh charge when watching a recorded video. I additionally observed that the display screen seems to easily not refresh at instances (e.g., after just a few seconds with out touching the display screen), ostensibly in a bid to avoid wasting battery life. That’s not a foul technique in lieu of extra granular refresh charge choices.

One other notable funds trapping is the selection to stay with an optical in-display fingerprint sensor for one more 12 months. Luckily, I had no downside with this scanner throughout my time with the cellphone, as I discovered it to be quick and correct. So whereas I’d’ve preferred to lastly see an ultrasonic scanner (which additionally works with moist fingers), I didn’t actually really feel this cutback in on a regular basis utilization.

Charging and battery get a lift, however what about efficiency?

Ever because the unique Galaxy S20 FE, Samsung has stubbornly caught to a 4,500mAh battery and 25W wired charging speeds. So I used to be deeply skeptical after I first heard rumors of an even bigger battery and quicker charging. Fortunately, the rumors turned out to be true.

The Galaxy S25 FE ships with a 4,900mAh battery, which is on par with the Galaxy S25 Plus. Samsung put this elevated capability to good use, and I used to be capable of repeatedly get simply over eight hours of screen-on time with on a regular basis utilization (WhatsApp, Reddit, and the odd YouTube video through loudspeaker). It’s price noting that my overview unit is seemingly caught on pre-release or preliminary firmware, so Samsung could have improved battery life with subsequent updates. However I used to be undoubtedly pleased with the cellphone’s endurance.

I’m additionally happy to report that 45W wired charging makes a noticeable distinction to charging instances. We beforehand reported that the S24 FE took 75 minutes to achieve 100% capability through 25W charging. In contrast, the Galaxy S25 FE hit 100% in roughly an hour through my ZTE 65W PPS charger. That’s not as quick as different manufacturers in the marketplace, however this can be a important enchancment over the Galaxy S24 FE, and it’s price noting that the S24 FE had a smaller battery. Both method, I’m glad to see this improve, even when 45W charging isn’t best-in-class. Samsung additionally states that the cellphone is “Qi2-Prepared,” which means you need to use magnetic equipment with the help of a suitable case.

The unhealthy information is that Samsung has caught with what’s successfully the identical chipset as final 12 months’s mannequin. All fashions globally ship with the Eyxnos 2400 chipset, which is a barely quicker model of the Exynos 2400e seen within the S24 FE. Samsung has elevated the vapor chamber measurement this time, although, which ought to theoretically lead to higher sustained efficiency and diminished temperatures. So what does this all imply for efficiency?

Geekbench 6 CPU benchmarks present that the Galaxy S25 FE is unsurprisingly behind the S25 Plus in each single- and multi-core exams. It’s barely quicker than the S24 FE when it comes to single-core efficiency, probably as a result of small increase to peak clock velocity, and noticeably quicker for multi-core efficiency.

Switching to GPU stress exams reveals that the S25 FE throttles greater than final 12 months’s cellphone, sustaining 59-66% of its efficiency versus the S24 FE’s 71-72% stability. The gadget additionally options considerably greater peak and common temperatures. Bear in mind, it’s speculated to have a bigger vapor chamber. Both method, the S25 FE begins typically begins out with a efficiency benefit, however attracts stage with its predecessor after seven to 10 minutes. The truth is, the S24 FE ended every stress check with a really slim benefit over the brand new gadget. Once more, there’s the caveat that my cellphone is caught on preliminary firmware, so it’s potential Samsung could have tweaked the S25 FE’s efficiency. Nonetheless, these outcomes recommend that you just may be upset with efficiency throughout lengthy gaming periods, or should you dwell in a scorching local weather. What about real-world efficiency, although?

Luckily, the cellphone handles demanding video games simply effective. I did discover an odd bout of judder whereas taking part in GRID Legends, nevertheless it was a really easy expertise more often than not, particularly with HD textures. I used to be additionally capable of crank up the graphics and ray tracing to most in Conflict Thunder Cellular whereas operating at largely easy 60fps. The cellphone solely received very heat at worst, slightly than scorching, when operating both sport. So I think about that demanding cell video games and console ports ought to run effective for some time but.

I’ve to notice that the most cost effective S25 FE ships with simply 8GB of RAM and 128GB of mounted storage. I perceive that that is an FE mannequin and that compromises shall be made someplace, however I want the corporate provided extra RAM or extra storage in any case this time. I lean in the direction of extra storage as that’s extra sensible for on a regular basis life, however extra RAM means the cellphone may theoretically profit from extra superior AI options down the road. It is also a should if you need higher-quality visuals in some video games, as GRID Legends truly requires 8GB of RAM for HD textures.

It wouldn’t be a Galaxy flagship cellphone with out Galaxy AI capabilities, wouldn’t it? The FE mannequin is usually a step behind mainline telephones in relation to receiving superior options, however the S25 FE brings loads of welcome additions out of the field. A few of the most distinguished options this time are Audio Eraser, Finest Face, Now Transient, and Now Bar.

Audio Eraser, as seen on Galaxy S25 telephones, lets you decrease distracting sounds in any video clip in your cellphone. However as colleague Ryan Haines revealed in his Audio Eraser versus Audio Magic Eraser comparability, there are limitations in some conditions. So it received’t allow you to really remove that off-key individual standing subsequent to you at a live performance. In the meantime, Finest Face is just like Google’s Finest Take and allows you to change somebody’s expression in a photograph (so long as Movement Photographs are enabled). Now Transient and Now Bar are two different high-profile Galaxy S25 sequence options, with the previous providing morning/afternoon/night summaries whereas the latter shows contextually related data and controls in your lock display screen. Fortunately, Now Transient has advanced because the S25 sequence launch and positively feels extra polished than Google’s Day by day Hub function.

These options be part of current sensible capabilities like Instantaneous Sluggish Mo, name recording/translation/summaries, webpage summaries, Writing Help instruments, the Reimagine instrument for generative photograph modifying, and extra. And if you need much more options, the corporate nonetheless affords the Good Lock suite of downloadable apps. I want to see all of the Good Lock apps launched broadly, although, as some apps nonetheless aren’t accessible in my market. I’d additionally wish to see much less bloatware, as I may do with out the pre-installed Spotify, Netflix, and Microsoft apps.

Samsung additionally affords seven years of OS and safety updates, matching Google for the perfect replace coverage amongst main producers.

I really like a superb digital camera cellphone with a flexible set of shooters, nevertheless it’s clear that the S25 FE’s rear cameras are exceedingly lengthy within the tooth. The 50MP main digital camera, 8MP 3x telephoto shooter, and 12MP ultrawide lens are all successfully the identical cameras we’ve seen for years now. And the world has moved on in some ways since then.

These cameras typically take photographs with nice colours, however I discovered that even 1x pictures taken in daytime circumstances are flat and notably mushy. It’s just like the cellphone’s cameras have a light-weight coating of Vaseline. I additionally encountered shade fringing at instances, and it wasn’t one thing I used to be actively in search of, both. In the meantime, photographs taken with the ultrawide digital camera proceed the pattern of softness, but in addition are likely to exhibit mushy corners and visual noise — verify the wall and curtains within the final pattern picture.

Maybe my largest annoyance is that Samsung nonetheless hasn’t upgraded the 8MP 3x telephoto digital camera. In the meantime, a model like Nothing is providing a mid-ranger with a 50MP telephoto digital camera. I perceive Samsung has a balancing act to observe with the S25 FE and base S25, however even a 12MP sensor can be a notable improve. You’ll be able to nonetheless take usable if flat 10x photographs in best circumstances, and these are appropriate for Instagram Tales. Nonetheless, you don’t must zoom in to see the watercolor impact and blown highlights.

There may be one digital camera change, although, and that’s the transfer from a 10MP selfie digital camera to a 12MP sensor. It nonetheless lacks autofocus, in contrast to mainline Galaxy S telephones, however this digital camera captures strong pictures in most circumstances.

It’s potential Samsung has mounted a few of my digital camera complaints with subsequent firmware releases, however there’s solely thus far software program can go. At the very least the corporate affords a superb number of options and instruments. Finest Take joins different established Samsung digital camera options comparable to Single Take, Twin Recording, object/reflection/shadow erasing, and Generative Edit. That is along with downloadable instruments like Digicam Assistant and the Skilled RAW app.

I’m additionally a bit of upset that, in contrast to the principle digital camera, I can’t shoot 4K/60fps video through the ultrawide. Samsung doesn’t allow you to shoot 4K/60fps video through the telephoto digital camera, both. That’s not a shock because the telephoto digital camera is simply too low-res to assist 4K video within the first place, so Samsung crops in from the 1x digital camera for 4K/30fps seize. However once more, that is extra proof that the FE line wants upgraded digital camera {hardware}. You’ll be able to view full-resolution photograph samples through our Google Drive folder.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE actually appears like two steps ahead and one step again for Samsung’s pseudo-flagship line. The bigger battery and quicker charging speeds are overdue enhancements that each repay in real-world utilization, whereas placing the bottom Galaxy S25 to disgrace. The slimmer and lighter design is one other determination that I more and more appreciated throughout my time with the cellphone. Throw within the array of software program options and the seven-year replace dedication, and this definitely looks as if a welcome launch.

Nonetheless, Samsung nonetheless refuses to supply significant upgrades to efficiency, cameras, and/or the show. That makes it a tough promote you probably have a current Galaxy FE cellphone. Everybody else ought to undoubtedly hold the S25 FE in thoughts, because it nonetheless affords a pseudo-flagship expertise and top-notch software program at a lovely worth.

There are just a few Galaxy S25 FE alternate options price contemplating, although, and the Google Pixel 10 ($799 at Amazon) is definitely one of many higher decisions. Each telephones supply related efficiency, near-identical battery capability, an IP68 ranking, a ton of AI options, and 7 years of updates. Nonetheless, the Pixel additionally brings quite a lot of unique options (like Now Taking part in and Add Me) and a 5x periscope digital camera. It even options native Qi2 MPP assist, permitting you to make use of magnetic equipment with no case. However you’ll must pay $150 extra for this cellphone.

Maybe the perfect Galaxy S25 FE various in its worth bracket is the OnePlus 13R ($549.99 at Amazon). The OnePlus cellphone lacks full water resistance, wi-fi charging, and a best-in-class replace pledge (solely 4+6 years), nevertheless it beats the S25 FE in most different classes. Count on a extra highly effective Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a 6,000mAh battery with 80W wired speeds, a single 12GB/256GB mannequin, and a 50MP 2x tele digital camera.

Lastly, the Galaxy S25 Plus ($999.99 at Amazon) can be price contemplating if you need a Samsung cellphone and don’t thoughts spending extra money. The 2 telephones have the identical battery capability and charging velocity, however the S25 Plus has a brighter display screen with higher protecting glass, a considerably extra highly effective processor, extra RAM and base storage, and a barely higher telephoto digital camera. I don’t suppose these options are price ~$300 further, however it is best to nonetheless take into account the S25 Plus should you discover an excellent deal.