Galaxy S24 FE Review: The best Fan Edition yet
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Galaxy S24 FE Intro
The Galaxy S24 FE is shaping up to be one of the best mid-range smartphones for 2024, offering a near-flagship experience at a much more accessible price. Priced at $649.99 for the 8/128GB variant in the U.S., it’s just $15 more than last year’s model. This makes it $150 cheaper than Samsung’s base flagship, the Galaxy S24, all while delivering a very similar user experience.
With upgrades that elevate it beyond its predecessor, the S24 FE features a stunning 6.7-inch display with improved brightness, a more powerful Exynos 2400e chip, and a larger 4,700mAh battery—making it a solid contender for those looking for premium features at a lower cost. Samsung has also upped its game with AI integration, introducing advanced features like Photo Assist, Sketch to Image, and real-time translation, although not all of them are flawless.
The 50MP main camera, borrowed from the flagship Galaxy S24, provides exceptional photo quality, and the addition of a dedicated telephoto lens enhances its appeal, especially at this price point. With a sleek design, thinner bezels, and a more durable Gorilla Glass Victus Plus display, the S24 FE not only feels premium but looks the part as well. So, is it worth the investment? Let’s dive into how the Galaxy S24 FE stacks up against the competition and see if it truly delivers on its promise of value.
You can tell from the scores above that the Galaxy S24 FE excels in the camera and performance segments, offering much more at this price point than what we usually see in other phones. You can check out more about our scoring in our PhoneArena Review Ratings page.
Table of Contents:
Galaxy S24 FE Specs
A Samsung-made chip for all regions
So, what's different with the Galaxy S24 FE specs? Let's compare the new Fan Edition against its predecessor and see what's been improved this year.
| Specs | Galaxy S24 FE | Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Size and Weight | 162 x 77.3 x 8 mm, 213 g | 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm, 209 g |
| Display | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1900 nits peak brightness | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1450 nits brightness |
| Processor | Exynos 2400e (4 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) in the U.S. |
| Memory | 8GB RAM 128/256GB storage | 8GB RAM 128/256GB storage |
| Software | Android 14, 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1 |
| Cameras | 50 MP main 12 MP ultrawide 8 MP telephoto 10 MP selfie | 50 MP main 12 MP ultrawide 8 MP telephoto 10 MP selfie |
| Battery Size | 4,700 mAh | 4,500 mAh |
| Charging Speeds | 25W wired 15 wireless Reverse wireless | 25W wired 15 wireless Reverse wireless |
| Prices | 8GB/128GB: $649 8GB/256GB: $709 | 8GB/128GB: $629 8GB/256GB: $689 |
Galaxy S24 FE Design and Display
Much brighter display and a slicker design
The S24 FE is larger but it feels even more comfortable. (Image by PhoneArena)
Samsung has made some slight alterations with the Galaxy S24 FE, which, when combined, make up for a noticeable improvement. Compared to its predecessor, the frame has less of a curve, so the sides are flatter. The phone does not lose any of its ergonomics though. In fact, we would say it felt more secure in the hand compared to the S23 FE.
The back side is probably the one that has received the least amount of visual changes. One small detail that some users might notice are the less reflective metal of the three protruding lenses.
We all know flat sides is the new trend, and so does Samsung. (Image by PhoneArena)
The S24 FE's dimensions remain similar to what we are used to from previous generations, although it is taller and slightly wider at 6.38 x 3.04 x 0.31 in. It's also a bit heavier at 7.51 oz, but it is not noticeable.
Colors-wise, Samsung has gone with Blue, Graphite, Gray, Mint, and Yellow this year.
The display on the S24 FE feels much nicer than before thanks to those thinner bezels. (Image by PhoneArena)
The display is much larger this year, measuring at 6.7 inches compared to the 6.4 inches of the predecessor. On top of that, the bezels are thinner now, and that truly makes the new Fan Edition look more in with the times. Even though the bezels are still not uniform, we think the S24 FE's front side still looks great.
This year the peak brightness is 1,900 nits, increased from 1,450 nits on the S23 FE. The glass protecting the display has also been upgraded from Gorilla Glass 5 to Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, which is supposed to be more durable against scratches and drops. You also get the expected IP68 dust and water resistance rating.
The actual brightness of the S24 FE's display is around 1,100 nits, at least according to our display lab tests. This makes the new FE about 200 nits brighter than its predecessor and only a little dimmer than the flagship S24 Plus.
The color accuracy of our S24 FE was quite off, although this tends to vary between different units, so yours might not be as bad. Our advice is to use a color checker and try to manually adjust the colors in Settings if you want to get the most accurate colors possible.
Galaxy S24 FE Camera
Arguably the best camera system in its class
The same main camera as on the Galaxy S24. (Image by PhoneArena)
Samsung did say that the S24 FE comes with the same main camera as the flagship Galaxy S24, but we were still pleasantly shocked when we saw the phone's score in our camera tests. Besides the main camera, the selfie snapper also scored very high both for photo and video.
The FE is also supposed to have the same ProVisual engine as the S24, which improves image quality when zooming in more than the 3X optical zoom of the 8 MP telephoto camera. Of course, apart from the main and telephoto, you also have a 12 MP ultra-wide camera to play around with.
Galaxy S24 FE Camera Sample Photos
The 50MP main camera of the S24 FE provides absolutely superb image quality for a phone at this price point. But that is hardly surprising given that it is the same camera found on the more expensive Galaxy S24 flagship models. The dynamic range is high, which means the camera can capture large amounts of information in the bright and dark areas in a single shot. Colors look a more toned down and realistic than ever before on a Galaxy phone, and there is ample detail without oversharpening.
As for the other cameras, the 8MP telephoto does a good job for the small amount of resolution it has. The Visual Engine Samsung referenced to us during our hands-on experience with the phone seems to also help with the digital zoom quality, although photos shot at anything more than the optical 3x aren't anything to write home about.
The 12MP ultra-wide is somewhat the achilles heel of the S24 FE camera system. If you give it ample amount of light like in our sample images above, it can produce good results. But even in such a perfect scenario the images look somewhat soft.
Video Quality
Interesting to see is how smooth the transition is when you switch from one camera to another during video recording. As far as quality goes, the main camera's amazing performance also comes into play here, while the softer image coming out of the ultra-wide feels more pronounced compared to when you are snapping photos with it. Image stabilizations feels solid, which is great to see.
Galaxy S24 FE Performance & Benchmarks
More powerful ray-tracing and almost double the performance
The Exynos 2400e is almost as powerful as its flagship version inside the S24 flagships. (Image by PhoneArena)
The Galaxy S24 FE comes with Samsung's new Exynos 2400e chipset, which Samsung stated has a 2X faster processing power. There is also an 18% improvement in ray tracing compared to the predecessor, which allows users to play games like Diablo Immortal with ray tracing enabled.
This new chip is also what allows the S24 FE to be the first Galaxy Fan Edition phone with Samsung's Instant Slo-mo feature. Instant Slo-mo allows the user to create a slow motion video out of any recording by artificially adding more frames. It is a neat trick, but since it typically ends up looking a bit weird, we would say that it is more of a gimmick.
What's more exciting to see is the 11% larger vapor chamber, which we expect to help the phone keep lower temperatures during heavy loads. This results in more sustained performance, making the phone even better suited for gaming or any other intensive tasks.
As you can see, the Exynos 2400e performed very similarly to its flagship counterpart, with the main difference being that the latter is slightly better when it comes to 3D Graphics. Compared to the previous Fan Edition, the new chipset inside the S24 FE offers a substantial jump in horsepower.
The phone comes with 8GB of RAM, which leads us to think there is no on-device AI happening. Storage-wise, you can pick from 128GB or 256GB.
Galaxy S24 FE Software
7 years of software support and new AI features for the FE
Despite Samsung's aggressive AI marketing of AI with the S24 FE, the phone's AI features feel somewhat superficial.
One of the standout features is Photo Assist, which allows for object manipulation similar to Google's Magic Editor. However, it struggles with removing objects that have shadows, often replacing them with blurry or unrealistic generated images.
We also got to try the new Sketch to Image tool, which can be quite fun when it works. The phone generates an AI image based on your scribbles on top of a photo, combining the two as best as it can. It definitely created good results when one of the Samsung employees did a demo for us, but when we tried it out we didn't get such great results.
Other AI-powered tools like Chat Assist, Call Assist, and Interpreter work well but require manual language pack downloads, which can be inconvenient for travelers.
The Galaxy S24 FE runs Android 14 and is supported by seven years of OS updates, which is in line with the rest of Samsung's non-budget phones. That's also three years more than we got with the S23 FE last year.
One of the standout features is Photo Assist, which allows for object manipulation similar to Google's Magic Editor. However, it struggles with removing objects that have shadows, often replacing them with blurry or unrealistic generated images.
We also got to try the new Sketch to Image tool, which can be quite fun when it works. The phone generates an AI image based on your scribbles on top of a photo, combining the two as best as it can. It definitely created good results when one of the Samsung employees did a demo for us, but when we tried it out we didn't get such great results.
Other AI-powered tools like Chat Assist, Call Assist, and Interpreter work well but require manual language pack downloads, which can be inconvenient for travelers.
The Galaxy S24 FE runs Android 14 and is supported by seven years of OS updates, which is in line with the rest of Samsung's non-budget phones. That's also three years more than we got with the S23 FE last year.
Galaxy S24 FE Battery
Battery life could be much better than before
The S24 FE comes with a slightly larger battery capacity at 4,700mAh. Samsung says that the new Fan Edition lasts longer than its predecessor, and that is indeed the case.
Even with the new, much more powerful chipset inside, the S24 FE still manages to give us a better result during our battery life tests. In fact, the one area where it excels the most, graphics-related tasks, is where it's better at preserving battery. This, of course, is thanks to the small increase in battery capacity, but also because of the new chipset.
This is the one area where the S24 FE needs to do well to become a complete package. (Image by PhoneArena)
Charging, however, remains the same at 25W of wired and 15W of wireless. Given the slightly larger battery, we expect the S24 FE to take a bit longer to charge compared to last year's model.
Galaxy S24 FE Audio Quality and Haptics
Just like its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 FE comes with dual speakers. Both are capable of producing great audio quality, with richness and clarity, and no weird distortion no matter the volume level. Speaking of volume, the speakers also get pretty loud, so you will be able to hear your podcast even in noisy environments.
For haptics, as long as you are in the camp of people that like to use them, you will be more than satisfied by the vibration accuracy and strength.
Should you buy it?
A solid premium mid-ranger that's more than worth its price. (Image by PhoneArena)
The Galaxy S24 FE truly shines as one of the best mid-range smartphones available today. Its Exynos 2400e chipset offers outstanding performance, handling everything from gaming to multitasking with ease. Combined with a beautiful, vibrant 6.7-inch display, enhanced cooling, and solid gaming capabilities, it’s clear that Samsung has crafted a device that can go toe-to-toe with more expensive flagship phones in many areas.
The fact that you’re getting the same 50MP main camera as the flagship Galaxy S24 further elevates its value. It provides impressive photo quality and the added bonus of a dedicated telephoto lens—a rarity in this price range. For gaming enthusiasts, the improved ray tracing and larger vapor chamber ensure smoother, longer gaming sessions, making the S24 FE a great gaming phone at an affordable price.
However, the S24 FE isn’t perfect. While its battery life is good, it doesn’t quite match the best in its class. Additionally, the AI features, though innovative, still need refinement. That said, the phone excels where it matters most—performance, camera quality, and display—making it an exceptional deal at $649.99.
If you’re looking for one of the best mid-range phones of the year, the Galaxy S24 FE is certainly worth considering. It offers near-flagship performance at a fraction of the price, making it a fantastic choice for those who want power, versatility, and value in their next smartphone.
However, the S24 FE isn’t perfect. While its battery life is good, it doesn’t quite match the best in its class. Additionally, the AI features, though innovative, still need refinement. That said, the phone excels where it matters most—performance, camera quality, and display—making it an exceptional deal at $649.99.
If you’re looking for one of the best mid-range phones of the year, the Galaxy S24 FE is certainly worth considering. It offers near-flagship performance at a fraction of the price, making it a fantastic choice for those who want power, versatility, and value in their next smartphone.
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