You know that feeling when the underdog finally delivers a knockout punch? That’s the vibe with the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE.
For years, Samsung’s FE lineup has been the more affordable sibling. But with the S24 FE, it feels like Samsung finally decided to let it sit at the grown-up table.
This phone serves up a buffet of flagship-level features. It’s got the same sleek design, a brilliant AMOLED screen, and those delightful Galaxy AI perks that debuted on the pricier S24 models.
Yet, it costs slightly less than the base S24. So, here’s the question: Is the S24 FE Samsung’s secret weapon?
familiar yet refined design.
At first glance, the Galaxy S24 FE mirrors its flagship siblings almost perfectly. Glass and metal construction? Check. IP68 water and dust resistance? Check. The triple camera setup? Yep, that too.
While the design language is undeniably premium, I’d argue it plays it safe. If the Pixel 9 is a bold splash of modern art, the S24 FE is a finely tailored suit.
Samsung delivers with three colour options: blue, graphite, and mint. My review unit came in graphite, a subtle shade that catches the light in just the right way. It’s not the most daring, but at least it’s not another black slab.
a display that dazzles.
Samsung knows how to wow here. The S24 FE packs a 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with colours that are vibrant, blacks inky, and 120Hz animations that glide like butter.
In fact, this “budget” phone somehow manages to outshine its pricier siblings in peak brightness, clocking in at 1,516 nits compared to the S24 Plus’s 1,396 nits. Watching 4K HDR videos on this thing outdoors is child’s play.
The contrast and detail pop in ways that even some flagship phones struggle to match.
surprisingly capable cameras.
For the photographers out there, the S24 FE holds its own with a triple camera setup: a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. The front houses a 10MP selfie camera tucked into a tiny punch hole.
A quick photo walk around the neighbourhood provided crisp, vibrant, and surprisingly nuanced photos.
Even in low light, the S24 FE holds its ground, though it occasionally struggles with motion blur. The telephoto lens is solid for casual zooming, though you’ll want to stop at 3x. Anything beyond that is impressionistic at best.
it’s got the juice… mostly.
Under the hood, the S24 FE swaps the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for an Exynos 2400e. Now, don’t roll your eyes just yet. Geekbench scores might show a slight dip compared to its Snapdragon siblings, but in everyday use, you’ll hardly notice. Apps launch quickly, gaming is smooth, and multitasking feels effortless.
Under heavy loads, the phone does heat up quite a fair bit, but it still performs much better than Exynos chips of old. The S24 FE also supports ray tracing, a rare feature at this price point.
Samsung’s One UI 6.1 on Android 14 is as polished as ever, but it’s the AI features that elevate the experience. Tools like Interpreter Mode and Circle to Search make this phone feel smarter than your average Android. Then there’s Antelope Genie, Samsung’s generative AI tool, which can sketch designs or edit photos like a pro.
Samsung DeX is still around, turning your phone into a desktop workstation. The Exynos won’t run as smoothly as a full flagship S24, but it’s still decent for light tasks.
battery life is a mixed bag.
Here’s where the S24 FE shows its mid-tier roots. The 4,700mAh battery is decent, but it won’t blow you away.
For heavy users, you’ll likely need a mid-afternoon top-up. Thankfully, it charges quickly, hitting 53% in 30 minutes with a 25W adapter. And yes, it supports 15W wireless charging, a nice bonus for the price.
the best ‘FE’ yet.
Let’s be real: the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE could make you question why you’d pay more for the S24 or S24 Plus. It delivers nearly everything those phones do but at a fraction of the cost.
Sure, the battery life could be better, and the design isn’t groundbreaking, but these are minor quibbles in an otherwise stellar package.
If you want flagship performance without the flagship price tag, the Galaxy S24 FE is a no-brainer. It’s the first time I can confidently say that a Fan Edition might just steal the show from its pricier siblings.
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