Samsung’s Fan Edition phones have carved out a special place in many people’s hearts. They offer that premium Samsung experience without the premium price tag. If you’re currently using a Galaxy S23 FE or thinking about getting one, you’re probably wondering whether the upcoming S25 FE is worth waiting for.
Let’s dive into what makes each phone special and help you figure out which one deserves your hard-earned money.
What Makes the Fan Edition Series Special?
Before we jump into comparisons, it’s worth remembering why people love Samsung’s FE phones. These devices bring flagship features to a more affordable price point. The S23 FE proved this formula works beautifully, offering excellent performance, a solid camera system, and that gorgeous Samsung display quality we’ve come to expect.
The question isn’t whether these phones are good – they both are. It’s about whether the improvements in the S25 FE justify waiting and potentially spending more.
Design and Build: Slimmer Profile Meets Better Comfort
Physical Differences That Matter
The S23 FE weighs 209 grams and measures 8.2mm thick. While that’s not exactly heavy, it can feel substantial during long phone sessions. The upcoming S25 FE promises to slim down to 7.4mm and drop to 190 grams.
That 19-gram difference might not sound like much, but you’ll definitely notice it. More importantly, Samsung appears to be softening those sharp edges that some S23 FE users found uncomfortable during extended use.
The S25 FE will also feature a larger 6.7-inch display compared to the S23 FE’s 6.4-inch screen, yet it maintains similar overall dimensions. That’s some impressive engineering right there.
Color Options and Accessories
The S23 FE launched with eye-catching colors like Purple, Mint, and Cream. We expect Samsung to continue this trend with the S25 FE, though specific colors haven’t been confirmed yet. Both phones skip the charger in the box, so factor that into your budget if you don’t already have a compatible fast charger.
Display Quality: Brightness Makes All the Difference
Screen Size and Technology
Here’s where things get interesting. The S23 FE’s 6.4-inch AMOLED display is genuinely excellent – vibrant colors, deep blacks, and that smooth 120Hz refresh rate that makes everything feel responsive. It supports HDR10+ and delivers great color accuracy.
But the S25 FE takes things up a notch with its 6.7-inch panel and a massive brightness boost. We’re talking about jumping from 1450 nits peak brightness on the S23 FE to an expected 2600 nits on the S25 FE.
Real-World Impact
That brightness increase isn’t just about numbers on a spec sheet. If you’ve ever struggled to see your phone screen clearly on a sunny day, you’ll appreciate this upgrade. The S25 FE should remain perfectly readable even in harsh outdoor lighting conditions.
Both phones feature the same reliable in-display fingerprint scanner and basic face unlock for convenience (though you shouldn’t rely on face unlock for sensitive apps).
Performance: Power Where It Counts
Processor and Memory Upgrades
The S23 FE launched with either the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200, depending on your region. Both chips handle daily tasks smoothly, though they can struggle with intensive gaming or multitasking sessions.
The S25 FE steps up with the Exynos 2400 – the same processor found in the regular Galaxy S24. This should deliver noticeably better sustained performance and improved power efficiency. Pair that with a jump from 8GB to 12GB of RAM, and you’ve got a phone that should handle anything you throw at it.
Gaming and Heavy Apps
If you’re someone who plays demanding mobile games or runs multiple apps simultaneously, this performance boost matters. The extra RAM means apps stay in memory longer, reducing those annoying reload times when switching between tasks.
Camera System: Same Hardware, Potentially Better Results
What Stays the Same
Samsung isn’t changing the camera hardware much between these two phones. Both feature a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, and 8MP telephoto with 3x zoom. The S23 FE already takes excellent photos in good lighting and decent shots in challenging conditions.
The only hardware upgrade is the front-facing camera, jumping from 10MP to 12MP on the S25 FE.
Where Improvements Might Happen
Here’s where it gets interesting – sometimes the same camera hardware can produce better results with improved processing. Samsung has been continuously refining their image processing algorithms, particularly for HDR and skin tone accuracy.
If you’re happy with your current phone’s camera performance, the S25 FE might not revolutionize your photography experience. But if you’ve noticed some inconsistencies with HDR or portrait shots, the newer phone could address these issues.
Battery Life and Charging: Meaningful Improvements
Capacity and Efficiency
The S23 FE’s 4,500mAh battery already delivers impressive results – over 16 hours of web browsing and nearly 9 hours of gaming in testing. The S25 FE bumps this up to 4,900mAh, which should translate to even longer usage times.
Combined with the more efficient Exynos 2400 processor, you’re looking at a phone that could easily last a full day of heavy use with battery to spare.
Charging Speed Matters
Here’s a significant upgrade: the S25 FE supports 45W wired charging compared to the S23 FE’s 25W. That means significantly faster charging times – potentially cutting your charging duration by 20-30 minutes.
Both phones support 15W wireless charging, though the larger battery on the S25 FE means wireless charging will take longer to reach 100%.
Software and Future Support
Long-Term Value
The S23 FE launched with Android 13 and receives four major OS updates plus five years of security patches. That’s solid support, but the S25 FE raises the bar with seven years of updates.
If you’re someone who keeps phones for several years, this extended support timeline adds real value to your purchase. Your phone will stay secure and receive new features much longer.
AI Features and One UI
Both phones support Galaxy AI features like object erasing and intelligent photo editing. However, the S25 FE’s more powerful processor should handle these AI tasks more smoothly and potentially unlock additional features as Samsung continues developing their AI capabilities.
Making Your Decision: S23 FE vs S25 FE
Stick with S23 FE If:
- You already own one and it meets your needs
- You want to save money and can find a good deal
- Camera quality is your main priority
- You don’t mind slightly shorter battery life
Wait for S25 FE If:
- You want the latest performance improvements
- Outdoor screen visibility is important to you
- Faster charging would improve your daily routine
- Long-term software support matters
- You prefer larger displays
The Bottom Line
The Galaxy S25 FE doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it makes meaningful improvements where they count most. Better performance, brighter display, longer battery life, and faster charging all add up to a more refined daily experience.
However, the S23 FE remains an excellent phone that still competes well in its price range. If you can find it at a significant discount, it might offer better value depending on your priorities.
For new buyers, the S25 FE appears to be the smarter long-term choice, assuming Samsung keeps pricing reasonable. But if you’re happy with your current S23 FE, there’s no urgent need to upgrade unless specific improvements appeal to you.