Samsung’s FE (Fan Edition) series has consistently been a highly anticipated release, aimed at providing flagship-like features at a more accessible price point. The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is no different. Offering a mix of high-end performance, powerful camera features, and robust battery life at a reduced cost, it seeks to strike the balance between premium experience and affordability. In this comprehensive review, we will dive into the key aspects of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, from its design and display to its performance, camera capabilities, battery life, software experience, and price value comparison.
Design and Build Quality
The Galaxy S24 FE carries forward the design language that Samsung has perfected over the years, with a clean and minimalistic aesthetic. It boasts a sleek, premium look despite being marketed as a more affordable option in Samsung’s lineup. While it shares many visual cues with the flagship Galaxy S24 series, there are subtle differences that set it apart.
Materials and Build
One of the most noticeable differences is the material used. While the flagship models use a glass back, the Galaxy S24 FE features a high-quality plastic back that mimics the feel of glass. This helps to cut down on costs without sacrificing much in terms of build quality. The phone’s frame is aluminum, lending it a solid feel in the hand, and the edges have been slightly curved to make it more ergonomic.
Color Options
Samsung is known for offering its FE models in a range of vibrant colors to appeal to a broad audience, and the Galaxy S24 FE continues this tradition. It comes in several eye-catching colors, including Mint Green, Lavender Purple, Graphite Black, and a classic White. These options allow users to personalize their devices according to their style preferences.
Durability
The Galaxy S24 FE is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance, ensuring that it can handle accidental spills and splashes without issue. It also feels robust enough to withstand daily wear and tear, though the plastic back may be slightly more prone to scratches compared to its glass counterparts.
Display: A Near-Flagship Experience
One of the highlights of the Galaxy S24 FE is its display. Samsung has always been a leader in smartphone display technology, and the S24 FE benefits from this expertise, delivering a visual experience that rivals more expensive models.
Screen Quality
The device features a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, which is slightly smaller than the flagship Galaxy S24’s 6.6-inch display but still large enough for immersive content consumption. With a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, it provides crisp, detailed images and videos. The display supports HDR10+ and offers a peak brightness of 1200 nits, making it ideal for viewing in bright conditions, such as outdoors.
Refresh Rate and Responsiveness
One feature that FE models often compromise on is the refresh rate, but this isn’t the case with the S24 FE. It offers a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling, animations, and transitions. Whether you’re gaming or simply navigating through apps, the fluidity is on par with more expensive flagships. The display is also responsive, with excellent touch sensitivity, which is crucial for tasks like gaming or precision typing.
Eye Comfort Features
Samsung has also included eye comfort features such as Eye Comfort Shield, which reduces blue light emission to make viewing more comfortable during extended use. This feature, combined with the display’s high-quality output, makes the Galaxy S24 FE suitable for prolonged media consumption, reading, and gaming sessions without causing excessive eye strain.
Performance: Power Meets Efficiency
Under the hood, the Galaxy S24 FE packs impressive hardware that offers near-flagship performance. Samsung has ensured that this device can handle everything from everyday tasks to more demanding applications like gaming and multitasking.
Processor
The Galaxy S24 FE is powered by either the Exynos 2400 or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, depending on the region. Both chipsets are high-end, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 version offering slightly better overall performance in benchmarks. These processors ensure fast, efficient performance whether you’re browsing the web, running multiple apps simultaneously, or playing graphics-intensive games.
RAM and Storage Options
The phone comes with two RAM options: 6GB and 8GB, depending on the variant. While 6GB is sufficient for most users, the 8GB variant offers more headroom for power users who frequently multitask between several apps. Storage options include 128GB and 256GB, which should be enough for most users, though the absence of a microSD card slot means storage isn’t expandable.
Gaming Performance
For gamers, the Galaxy S24 FE performs admirably. With its powerful processor and 120Hz refresh rate, gaming is smooth, with minimal lag or frame drops. The phone handles popular titles like “Call of Duty: Mobile” and “Genshin Impact” without breaking a sweat, even at higher graphics settings. Samsung’s Game Booster also helps optimize performance during gameplay by adjusting various settings to ensure the best experience.
Heat Management
One concern with high-performance phones is heat buildup, but the Galaxy S24 FE manages heat well. Samsung has implemented an improved cooling system, which helps dissipate heat during extended gaming sessions or intensive multitasking, keeping the device comfortably cool in most situations.
Camera: Flagship-Level Photography
The camera system on the Galaxy S24 FE is one of its standout features, as it borrows heavily from the flagship Galaxy S24 series. This makes it an excellent option for photography enthusiasts who don’t want to spend on a top-tier flagship device but still expect premium results.
Triple Camera Setup
The Galaxy S24 FE features a versatile triple camera setup, including:
- Main Camera: 50MP wide-angle lens with an f/1.8 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF, and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization).
- Ultra-Wide Camera: 12MP sensor with a 123-degree field of view.
- Telephoto Camera: 8MP sensor with 3x optical zoom and OIS.
This setup allows users to capture a variety of shots, from wide landscapes to detailed close-ups and zoomed-in photos.
Image Quality
In good lighting, the Galaxy S24 FE produces sharp, vibrant images with excellent dynamic range. The 50MP main camera captures a great deal of detail, with accurate color reproduction and little noise. Samsung’s AI-based Scene Optimizer also does a great job at adjusting settings automatically based on the subject, whether you’re photographing landscapes, food, or people.
In low-light conditions, the phone’s Night Mode kicks in to enhance brightness and clarity. Thanks to OIS, the main camera can capture sharp images even in dim settings, though there is still some noise in extremely low-light situations. The ultra-wide camera is also impressive, with minimal distortion around the edges and good detail retention, even in less-than-ideal lighting.
Zoom Capabilities
The 3x optical zoom allows for high-quality close-ups without significant loss in detail. Digital zoom can be pushed further, but as with most smartphones, image quality degrades at higher zoom levels. However, for casual use, the 3x zoom is more than adequate.
Front Camera
The 10MP front-facing camera is ideal for selfies and video calls. It captures detailed and well-lit photos, even in indoor settings, and Samsung’s portrait mode works well to add depth to selfie shots, producing natural-looking bokeh effects.
Video Recording
In terms of video capabilities, the Galaxy S24 FE supports 4K video recording at 30 or 60fps, and the results are impressive. Video stabilization is excellent, thanks to OIS and EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization), making handheld video recording smooth and professional-looking. The ultra-wide lens can also be used for video, offering a dynamic perspective for vlogging or action shots.
Battery Life: Built to Last
Battery life is a crucial consideration for any smartphone user, and the Galaxy S24 FE doesn’t disappoint. Equipped with a 4,500mAh battery, it offers reliable, all-day performance, even for heavy users.
Daily Usage
In real-world usage, the Galaxy S24 FE can easily last a full day with moderate use, including web browsing, social media, gaming, and media consumption. Even with the 120Hz refresh rate enabled, the phone manages power efficiently. For those who use their phones more conservatively, the battery can stretch into a second day.
Charging
The Galaxy S24 FE supports 25W fast charging, which, while not as fast as some competitors’ 65W or 100W charging speeds, is sufficient to top up the battery relatively quickly. It takes around an hour and a half to fully charge the device from 0% to 100%. Additionally, the phone supports 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, allowing you to charge other devices like wireless earbuds using the phone’s battery.
Software and Features: One UI 6 and Android 14
The Galaxy S24 FE runs Samsung’s One UI 6 on top of Android 14, providing a feature-rich and user-friendly interface. Samsung’s software is known for being customizable, and One UI 6 continues this tradition, offering a plethora of options for users to tweak their experience.
User Interface
One UI 6 is clean and intuitive, with smooth animations and a layout that makes one-handed use easy, even on a larger display. The interface is packed with features, including a system-wide dark mode, customizable Always On Display, and various gestures for quick access to functions like the camera and notifications.
Software Features
Samsung’s software is filled with productivity features, such as DeX mode, which allows users to connect their phone to a monitor and use it like a desktop computer. This is a unique feature that few other smartphone brands offer. Additionally, there are enhanced multitasking options, such as split-screen mode and pop-up windows, allowing users to run multiple apps simultaneously.
Software Support
Samsung has committed to providing the Galaxy S24 FE with four years of major Android updates and five years of security updates, ensuring that the phone will remain up to date with the latest features and security patches for years to come. This level of software support is unmatched by most competitors in the mid-range segment.
Pricing and Value Proposition
The Galaxy S24 FE is positioned as a more affordable alternative to the flagship Galaxy S24 series, with a price tag that makes it highly competitive in the mid-range market. Given its premium design, excellent display, flagship-level performance, and versatile camera system, it offers fantastic value for money. While it does make some compromises in areas like material choice and charging speed, these are minor trade-offs considering the overall package.
For users who want a near-flagship experience without the flagship price tag, the Galaxy S24 FE is an excellent choice. It strikes a balance between high performance, modern features, and affordability, making it a standout in the crowded mid-range smartphone market.
Conclusion: A Stellar Option for the Price-Conscious User
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE delivers on its promise of providing a flagship-like experience at a more accessible price. With its high-quality display, powerful performance, versatile camera system, and robust battery life, it checks nearly all the boxes for users who want a premium smartphone without paying premium prices. While there are a few compromises, such as the use of plastic in the design and slower charging speeds compared to some competitors, these are relatively minor concerns in the grand scheme of things.
Overall, the Galaxy S24 FE stands out as one of the best options in the mid-range segment, offering tremendous value for its price and providing a polished, refined smartphone experience. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast, a gamer, or someone who just needs a reliable, high-performing phone for daily use, the Galaxy S24 FE is more than up to the task.