The Galaxy S24 FE might be too pricey to justify skipping the flagship

Prices these days, huh? Everywhere you turn, things are getting more expensive, and smartphones are no exception. Samsung's getting ready to drop its next-gen Fan Edition model, aiming to give consumers those high-end smartphone features without the crazy premium price – at least, that is the idea.

But recent reports are saying the Galaxy S24 FE might actually cost more, with rumors suggesting it could be $50 pricier than last year's Galaxy S23 FE. Now, that might not seem like a big jump, but it brings the FE dangerously close in price to the flagship Galaxy S24. I mean, with the flagship sitting at $800 and the FE potentially at $650, the gap is shrinking.

This got me thinking: Is the Fan Edition even worth it anymore and what is the point of an FE model if the price keeps climbing?

Is the Galaxy S24 FE worth the price hike?

If the Galaxy S24 FE does end up starting at $650 for the 128 GB model and $710 for the 256 GB version, we are looking at a price that is not too far off from its flagship counterpart. As mentioned, the Galaxy S24 starts at $800 and jumps to $860 for more storage.

Now, I know, $150 might feel like a decent gap, but there are almost always deals to be had that knock that flagship price way down. You can typically find the Galaxy S24 for $100 less – and even more during sales like Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day. Plus, Samsung's own store usually throws in some trade-in options, making it even cheaper.

So, with the flagship and the more "budget-friendly" FE being so close in price, why even bother considering the Fan Edition?

For one thing, the Galaxy S24 FE is expected to rock an underclocked version of the Exynos 2400 in some markets, and this time, that might even include the US. Samsung usually goes with Snapdragon in the States, but that might not be the case here.

On top of that, the Galaxy S24 FE will probably stick with the same 50 MP main camera as the Galaxy S23 FE, featuring a 1/1.57" sensor size and 1.0μm pixels. This camera setup is also found in the Galaxy S23 and S24. However, the front-facing camera could be downgraded to 10 MP instead of the 12 MP you get in the Galaxy S24.

When it comes to video, though, the FE model can't compete. Video quality in the FE models has historically lagged behind the flagship series – like last year's S23 FE, where HDR struggles led to "haloing" around the edges of trees and bushes. The Galaxy S23, for example, doesn't have this issue.