Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy S25 FE (Fan Edition), the latest addition to its Galaxy S25 series. Staying true to the Fan Edition tradition, the new device brings premium Galaxy experiences—including the much-hyped Galaxy AI—to a more affordable price point. Starting at just $649.99, the S25 FE promises a balanced mix of performance, design, and features, making it a tempting option for anyone who wants flagship-like capabilities without breaking the bank.
In this in-depth review, we’ll cover every aspect of the Galaxy S25 FE—from its sleek design and display quality to performance, camera system, AI features, and long-term software support. By the end, you’ll know exactly whether this device is worth considering over Samsung’s flagship models or its mid-range competitors.
Compact Design With Premium Build Quality
Samsung has refined the Fan Edition design to closely resemble its flagship siblings, while trimming down weight and size for everyday comfort. Compared to last year’s Galaxy S24 FE, the S25 FE is slimmer, lighter, and easier to handle.
- Dimensions: 6.35 x 3.02 x 0.29 inches
- Weight: 6.70 ounces (down from 7.51 ounces on the S24 FE)
The device features Armor Aluminum framing combined with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on both sides, ensuring durability against accidental drops and scratches. While the overall build feels sturdy, sharp-eyed users may notice a subtle lip where the matte glass back meets the metal frame—a minor detail but one that design perfectionists might find distracting.
Like Samsung’s flagship S25 models, the Galaxy S25 FE is IP68-rated, making it resistant to dust and water immersion up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. All essential controls—USB-C port, SIM tray, power button, and volume rocker—are neatly placed for intuitive use.
Available Colors
Samsung offers the S25 FE in four elegant shades:
- Icyblue
- Jetblack
- Navy
- White
The color palette emphasizes minimalism and modern appeal, giving the device a sophisticated look despite its lower price.
Display: Large, Smooth, and Vivid
The Galaxy S25 FE features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, the same size and specification as its predecessor. It’s built for immersive media viewing and smooth app navigation.
- Resolution: 2,340 x 1,080 pixels (Full HD+)
- Refresh Rate: Adaptive 60Hz–120Hz
- Peak Brightness: 1,900 nits
The panel supports HDR10+, ensuring vibrant color reproduction and excellent contrast when streaming movies or scrolling through photos. While the display is excellent indoors, it doesn’t quite match the peak brightness levels of the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra or even the base S25, which can cross 2,600 nits. Under harsh sunlight, visibility takes a small hit, though it remains more than adequate for most users.
In everyday usage, scrolling feels buttery smooth thanks to the adaptive refresh rate, while the large screen size makes it ideal for multitasking, gaming, and video streaming.
Hardware and Performance: Balanced for Everyday Use
To keep costs down, Samsung has opted for its in-house Exynos 2400 chipset in the S25 FE, the same processor powering international variants of the Galaxy S24 and S24+.
Core Specifications:
- Processor: Exynos 2400 (4nm)
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage Options:
- 128GB ($649.99)
- 256GB ($709.99)
- Battery: 4,900 mAh
- Charging: 45W wired (65% in 30 minutes), 15W wireless, reverse wireless charging supported
While the Exynos 2400 doesn’t match the raw power of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite found in the flagship S25 Ultra, it handles daily tasks with ease. Apps open quickly, multitasking is fluid, and casual gaming runs smoothly. However, heavy 3D gaming or prolonged video editing may reveal some performance limitations.
Connectivity:
- 5G Support: Sub-6GHz only (no C-band or mmWave)
- Wi-Fi: 6E
- Bluetooth: 5.4
- SIM: Dual SIM support (1 physical + 1 eSIM)
The restricted 5G support means it won’t reach the blazing-fast speeds available on the premium S25 lineup, but sub-6GHz 5G still delivers reliable coverage and performance for most users worldwide.
Cameras: Familiar Setup, Sharper Selfies
Samsung has chosen to stick with a tried-and-tested rear camera system, mirroring the Galaxy S24 FE hardware.
- Main Camera: 50MP (f/1.8)
- Ultra-Wide Camera: 12MP (f/2.2)
- Telephoto Camera: 8MP (f/2.4) with 3x optical zoom
These cameras are versatile enough for everyday photography, offering good dynamic range and detail. Low-light performance is decent, though not on par with the flagship S25 Ultra. Improvements in image processing algorithms may help squeeze out slightly better results than the S24 FE.
Front Camera Upgrade
The big change comes with the front-facing camera, now upgraded from 10MP to 12MP (f/2.2). This improvement translates to sharper selfies and clearer video calls. It also supports 4K recording at 60 fps, making it a solid option for vloggers and content creators who rely on front-camera video quality.
Galaxy AI Comes to the Fan Edition
One of the headline features of the Galaxy S25 FE is the inclusion of Galaxy AI, Samsung’s suite of artificial intelligence tools previously exclusive to flagship devices.
Key AI Features on the S25 FE:
- Call Assist: Real-time translation during voice calls, perfect for international conversations.
- Writing Assist: AI-powered suggestions for grammar, tone, and formatting in messages and documents.
- Photo Editing Tools: Advanced image manipulation, background removal, and AI-generated edits.
The big question is whether the Exynos 2400 chip can handle AI features as efficiently as Snapdragon-powered flagships. While some tasks may process slightly slower, early impressions suggest Galaxy AI runs smoothly on the S25 FE, making advanced productivity and creativity tools accessible to more users.
Software and Long-Term Support
Out of the box, the Galaxy S25 FE ships with Android 16 layered with One UI 7. Samsung has committed to providing seven years of major OS upgrades and security patches, matching the support window of its flagship models.
This extended support makes the S25 FE a future-proof choice, ensuring users won’t need to upgrade devices prematurely just to stay secure or access new features.
Battery Life: Reliable All-Day Performance
With its 4,900 mAh battery, the Galaxy S25 FE offers solid endurance. Samsung claims it can easily last a full day of heavy use or up to two days with moderate usage.
Fast charging at 45W fills the battery to 65% in just 30 minutes, while wireless charging and reverse wireless charging add versatility for users with multiple devices, such as Galaxy Buds or smartwatches.
Pricing and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE officially launched on September 4, with pricing as follows:
- 128GB model: $649.99
- 256GB model: $709.99
This pricing makes the S25 FE around $150 cheaper than the standard Galaxy S25, while still offering Galaxy AI, premium design, and long-term support.
Final Verdict: Is the Galaxy S25 FE Worth It?
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE strikes an impressive balance between cost and capability. It may not deliver the blistering performance of the Galaxy S25 Ultra or the ultra-bright display of the S25 Pro, but it nails the essentials:
- Premium build and sleek design
- Large, smooth AMOLED display
- Reliable triple-camera system with upgraded selfies
- Galaxy AI tools previously locked to flagships
- Long-lasting battery with fast charging
- Seven years of software support
By sacrificing a bit of raw power and limiting 5G connectivity, Samsung has managed to bring flagship-level experiences to a mid-range price point. For users who want the best of Samsung’s ecosystem and Galaxy AI without paying over $1,000, the S25 FE is arguably the most practical choice in the Galaxy S25 family.
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