Samsung’s Galaxy S series has long been admired for its balance of premium features and sleek design, primarily targeting the high-end market. However, with the launch of the Galaxy S24 FE (Fan Edition), Samsung aims to bring some of the flagship experience to a more budget-conscious audience. This review will delve into the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, exploring how it manages to pack flagship-level features into a more affordable package, its performance, design, camera capabilities, and whether it lives up to the expectations set by its pricier siblings.
Design and Build
The Galaxy S24 FE maintains Samsung’s signature aesthetic with a modern twist. The phone sports a sleek, minimalist design with a glass back and an aluminum frame, which gives it a premium feel despite its more accessible price point. The rear of the phone features a vertical triple-camera setup, reminiscent of the flagship models, housed within a slightly raised, but not overly large, camera module.
This year’s FE model comes in a refreshing palette of colors: Blue, Graphite, Gray, and Mint, providing options to suit various tastes. The use of Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back offers robust protection against drops and scratches, aligning with the durability expectations of a Samsung device.
The phone’s dimensions are 162 x 77.3 x 7.6 mm, making it slightly larger than the standard S24 but smaller than the Plus and Ultra models, offering a comfortable grip while still providing a substantial screen size. It’s also IP68 certified, ensuring resistance to dust and water, which is a welcome feature at this price point.
Display
One of the standout features of the Galaxy S24 FE is its 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. With a Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080), it delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast ratios that we’ve come to expect from Samsung’s AMOLED panels. The screen supports a 120Hz refresh rate, making interactions smooth and gaming fluid.
While the peak brightness reaches up to 1,900 nits, it’s slightly less than the flagship models but still bright enough for outdoor use. The bezels are minimal, although not as thin as the S24 series’ top-tier models, yet they remain unobtrusive, enhancing the immersive viewing experience.
Performance
At the heart of the Galaxy S24 FE is the Exynos 2400e processor, a variant designed to offer performance close to its Snapdragon counterparts while keeping costs down. This chip, combined with 8GB of RAM, provides a snappy user experience, handling everyday tasks with ease. From multitasking between apps to streaming high-definition video, the S24 FE performs admirably, though it might not match the raw power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 found in the higher-end models.
Gaming performance is also commendable, with most games running smoothly at medium to high settings. However, during extended gaming sessions or when running multiple heavy apps, you might notice some thermal management kicking in, slightly throttling performance to manage heat.
Camera System
The camera setup on the Galaxy S24 FE includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide, and an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. This combination allows for versatile photography, capturing detailed images with good color reproduction and dynamic range. The main sensor uses pixel-binning technology to produce 12.5MP images by default, but you can shoot in full 50MP if you desire more detail for cropping or large prints.
-
Main Camera: In well-lit conditions, photos are sharp with accurate colors. However, in low light, while the image quality holds up well thanks to Night Mode, there’s a noticeable step down in detail compared to the flagship S24 series.
-
Ultra-Wide: Offers a broad field of view, useful for landscapes and group photos, though it does introduce some distortion at the edges.
-
Telephoto: The 3x optical zoom is a significant advantage at this price point, providing decent optical quality up to 10x digital zoom.
The front-facing 10MP camera captures selfies with good detail and color, although it struggles a bit with overexposure in bright settings.
Software and AI Features
Running on Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6.1, the Galaxy S24 FE benefits from the latest software optimizations and UI enhancements. Samsung promises seven years of software updates, which is a substantial commitment to longevity, matching its flagship counterparts.
The real magic, however, lies in the integration of Galaxy AI features. Features like Live Translate for real-time language translation, Circle to Search for quick Google searches from within any app, and AI-powered photo editing tools (like object removal and generative fill) are all available. While these features are impressive, they do consume battery if used frequently, and the performance might not be as seamless as on the higher-end models due to hardware differences.
Battery Life and Charging
Equipped with a 4,700mAh battery, the Galaxy S24 FE provides solid battery life. Users can expect to get through a day of heavy use, including gaming, streaming, and photography. With more moderate use, it’s not uncommon to stretch into a second day.
Charging speeds are decent with 25W wired charging, though not as fast as some competitors or the flagship models. Wireless charging is supported at up to 15W, and there’s also reverse wireless charging, which is handy for charging accessories like earbuds or another phone.
Connectivity
The S24 FE includes all the modern connectivity options one would expect: 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC. The phone also supports UWB (Ultra-Wideband) for enhanced device interaction, like precise location tracking, which is a feature not commonly found at this price point.
User Experience
The user experience on the Galaxy S24 FE is largely positive. One UI continues to evolve, offering a clean, intuitive interface with plenty of customization options. The integration of Google services and Samsung’s own apps is seamless, providing a cohesive ecosystem for those invested in Samsung’s product line.
However, Samsung’s software, while feature-rich, can sometimes overwhelm with its depth, and the FE model inherits this trait, which might not appeal to everyone looking for a simpler interface.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE successfully bridges the gap between Samsung’s premium offerings and the mid-range segment. It delivers a lot of what makes the Galaxy S series special – from the vibrant AMOLED display to a versatile camera system and AI enhancements – but at a more palatable price.
For those who don’t need the bleeding-edge performance or the extra camera versatility of the S24 Ultra but still want a taste of Samsung’s flagship experience, the S24 FE is a compelling choice. It’s particularly well-suited for users who value battery life, screen quality, and AI features while being mindful of budget.
Should You Buy It?
-
Yes, if you’re looking for a phone that offers a near-flagship experience without the flagship price.
-
Yes, if you prioritize battery life and screen quality over top-end processing power.
-
Consider, if you’re heavily into mobile gaming or require the absolute best in camera technology, where the slight compromises of the FE might be noticeable.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE isn’t just about cutting costs; it’s about smart sacrifices that result in a device that’s genuinely appealing to a broad audience, offering a lot for a little less.