Months after the release of the Galaxy S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S23 Fan Edition. It offers many of the best features of the original devices, at a lower price. The release has left many wondering how the S23 stacks up against its counterpart and whether the budget-friendly option lives up to the S23 lineup’s hype.
Let’s take a look at the differences between the Galaxy S23 and S23 Fan Edition to help you pick out your new phone!
Dimensions and Build
At first glance, you might find it difficult to distinguish between the S23 and the S23 FE due to how similar they look.
The Galaxy S23 comes in four colors: Lavender, Cream, Green, and Phantom Black. If you purchase it directly from Samsung’s website, you can choose from two more colors, lime and graphite. The S23 FE is also available in four colors: Graphite, Cream, Mint, and Purple. Similarly, you can also choose from two exclusive colors, Tangerine and Indigo.
Both devices have an IP68 rating, meaning they’re dust and water-resistant. The S23 FE’s glass front and back are bothprotected by Gorilla Glass5, with an aluminum frame. On the other hand, the S23’s glass front and back are fortified with the stronger Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The S23 Fan Edition also weighs more than the S23 due to its larger display.
Regardless of how durable the S23 lineup is, we recommend using a sturdycase made for your Galaxy S23to protect it from drop damage.
With a 6.4-inch dynamic AMOLED 2X screen compared to the S23’s 6.1-inch display, the Galaxy S23 FE is slightly larger than its predecessor. Both devices feature a similar hole-punch cutout at the top that houses the front camera.
Another thing you might notice when you hold both devices side-by-side is that the S23 FE’s bezels are thicker, which considerably affects your viewing experience.
While the thicker bezels are not ideal, the AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate just like the S23. All in all, both devices don’t differ much in terms of display since they share the same refresh rate and resolution. The thicker bezels can be a deal-breaker for some people, but the larger screen display definitely makes up for it.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 boasts a maximum brightness of 1200 nits and a peak brightness of 1750 nits, providing excellent outdoor visibility. In contrast, the Galaxy S23 FE offers a display with a peak brightness of 1450 nits.
Although the display and design of both devices don’t differ much, the S23 Fan Edition falls slightly short in terms of processing power. The S23 FE is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, which, while offering commendable power efficiency, is a step down from the S23 trio’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.
However, you’re unlikely to notice any significant performance differences between the two devices in real-time usage.
The Galaxy S23 FE uses Samsung’s own Exynos processor outside the US.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and its Fan Edition both share a triple rear camera setup and have the same primary and ultra-wide sensors. Both devices share the same main 50-megapixel camera, which allows you to capture images with incredible detail, even in low-light conditions.
There are a few slight differences between the other cameras. For instance, the S23 Fan Edition features an 8-megapixel telephoto lens, while its predecessor has a 10-megapixel telephoto lens.
In terms of selfie cameras, there’s a difference between the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the S23 Fan Edition. The S23 features a 12-megapixel selfie camera, while the Fan Edition comes with a slightly less powerful 10-megapixel selfie camera.
Battery Life and Charging
Since the Galaxy S23 FE is slightly larger than the standard S23 model, it packs a larger battery and features a 4500 mAh cell. While the S23 has a 3900 mAh battery, we can’t claim that the S23 FE will last you a longer time without charging it. This is because the standard model uses a more efficient chipset than the Fan Edition, which may give it a slight edge.
When it comes to charging speeds, Samsung claims that both devices charge up to 50% of their battery in just 30 minutes, due to their 25W wired charging support. Both devices support Wireless PowerShare, which enables users to transform their devices into a charging station to fuel up their Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Buds, and even another device.
The S23 and its Fan Edition both supportwireless chargingas well.
Price and Storage Options
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23 FE both come with a base storage of 128GB, starting at $799 and $629 respectively. The S23 and its Fan Edition are available in two different storage configurations: 128GB and 256GB.
Both the S23 and S23 FE come with 8GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and responsive performance.
Galaxy S23 vs. S23 FE: Which Phone Will You Buy?
While both the devices share striking similarities, there is a significant price difference between the two. If you’re looking to purchase a phone to do basic everyday tasks like text and call, the S23 FE is a budget-friendly option that retains the features that make the S23 lineup what it is.
As long as you’re willing to compromise on a powerful and more efficient chipset and a camera with immense detail, you can’t go wrong with the S23 Fan Edition. In fact, you’ll get a slightly larger display, and a larger battery and save a few hundred bucks while you’re at it!
