Firmware updates are generally awesome, especially when they don’t break features or negatively impact performance. Thankfully, Samsung has become very good at improving the user experience with firmware updates, but even then, hard limitations exist.
The Galaxy S23 FE has one more major update in the works, Android 17, but it’s becoming a perfect example of a phone that is being left behind by the times. Even if it had more than one update in the works, the Fan Edition phone from 2023 would never be able to enjoy all the latest features.
Two features the Galaxy S23 FE will never get
No amount of firmware updates can bring Super HDR and Photo Ambient to the Galaxy S23 FE due to hardware limitations.
The good news is that these features aren’t necessarily game-changers. They’re more like the cherry on top of the One UI cake. You can probably live without them, but still, they’re nice to have.
Super HDR is available on newer premium models equipped with better cameras and screens. It captures photos and videos with extra color data and brightness, and phones supporting Super HDR can render that content on the display as it was meant to be.
As for Photo Ambient, some might call it a gimmick, but it’s a fun Galaxy AI feature that changes the mood of the user’s custom wallpaper according to the weather. If it’s snowing outside, it’s also snowing on the Photo Ambient wallpaper on your phone.
The Galaxy S23 FE is limited by its display and chipset, and given that it hasn’t received Super HDR and/or Photo Ambient already, it most likely never will.
Samsung will release One UI 8.5 for the S23 FE next year, and then, it will eventually bring Android 17 to the device. After Android 17, the Fan Edition phone from 2023 will be supported with security patches until 2028, but it will no longer get any significant Android or One UI changes and features.
