Samsung is back with its 2023 lineup of Fan Edition devices, and the lineup is now broader than ever. The much-hyped Galaxy S23 FE aside, you can also get your hands on a tablet and a pair of TWS earbuds that share the same philosophy: offer most of the features of Samsung’s flagships without breaking the bank.
(Image: Zohaib Ahmed/The Indian Express)
Take the Galaxy S23 FE, for example. This phone has a premium design that borrows heavily from the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+, but with a 6.4-inch screen size that carves its own spot between the two. You might have a hard time telling them apart from a distance, thanks to Samsung’s now-signature “floating camera” design at the back and minimalist aesthetic.
But the Galaxy S23 FE is the closest thing you can get to a flagship Samsung phone without paying a flagship price. For instance, unlike the very similar-looking Galaxy A series, the S23 FE features a Gorilla Glass 5 back that gives it a solid feel in the hand, and an aluminium frame that adds some flair with its cool-looking antenna lines.
(Image: Zohaib Ahmed/The Indian Express)
But while the Exynos 2200-powered phone looks and feels premium, it is not very comfortable to hold. The aluminium frame does have a slight curve, but it does not blend very well with the glass on either side. The edges are sharp and dig into your palm, which can be annoying after a while so slapping a case onto this phone’s back makes even more sense than usual.
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Upfront, the Galaxy S23 FE seems to have slightly thicker bezels than its predecessor – the Galaxy S21 FE – and since they aren’t symmetric, it doesn’t help with classiness. However, the phone makes up for that with an upgraded display panel that can now go all the way up to 1450 nits, which is very impressive for any phone, let alone a mid-range one.
(Image: Zohaib Ahmed/The Indian Express)
The camera department is another area where the Galaxy S23 FE shines. It has a 50% larger sensor than the Galaxy S21 FE, which means it can capture more detail. It also has an 8MP 3x telephoto lens, which is surprisingly good for zooming in on distant subjects. I was impressed by the results I got from my brief testing of the phone’s camera where I also figured that it favours natural colour tones, but don’t expect it to match the quality of the S23 series.
(Image: Zohaib Ahmed/The Indian Express)
Of course, these are just my first impressions from using the phone for about 10 minutes. There is much more to explore and test with this device, so stay tuned for our full review to get the complete picture.
