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There was a moment in time when the Samsung ‘Fan Edition’ model of the Galaxy series was considered dead and done. “Oh, it must be as part of a more positive sustainability action plan,” I had mused, in light of how many great Galaxy flagships are already in the lineup, year after year.

However, that turns out not to be the case, as evidenced by the latest Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, which I’m reviewing here after two weeks of personal use, continuing Samsung’s latent release cycle – and the direct follow-up to its S23 FE predecessor.

The FE offers a robust feature set at an affordable price, but in a package that’s marginally different from any other S24 model in the range. However, the price is its real appeal, as one of the best affordable phonesthough context might not be its best friend given the shrunken price of other Samsung Galaxy phones launched months earlier.

If you’ve come here wondering if the Galaxy S24 FE is worth buying, then you’re in good company – because in this review I’m going to get to the bottom of whether Samsung’s Galaxy release still makes sense.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Price and Availability

From a price perspective alone, though, you can immediately think “yeah, that makes sense” – as the FE is much cheaper than any other S24 model was at launch.

One can be yours, in a range of stylish color options, for just £649/$649/AU$1099. I have the ‘blue’ model on review (which is actually sky blue), but you can also choose from graphite, grey, mint or yellow – all of which are available now.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review: Features and what’s new?

I’m not actually going to compare the S24 FE to its S23 FE predecessor, as I doubt many will see it as a must-have upgrade phone. Instead, I watch S24 Plus instead that is where so many similarities are clear to see.

It’s a reasonable comparison, as both the S24 FE and S24 Plus have 6.7-inch panels. It’s just that FE is lower in resolution and close to a third less light. That’s about it though, as both are OLED panel types, so deep blacks are rich and inky, and both can do 120Hz fast refresh rates for smooth images (Plus is dynamic, the FE doesn’t have an LTPO screen type and so can only switch between 120Hz and 60Hz instead of something in between).

The big difference in the FE is that it uses Samsung’s silicon, the Exynos 2400e, which isn’t as powerful as the S24 Plus’ Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and has a question mark over power consumption reliability based on the performance of previous Exynos mid-range chips. There’s also less RAM in FE, so multitasking has a potential additional barrier to contend with.

But that’s about it. Sure, the cameras are slightly different – ​​the 3x zoom drops from 10MP to 8MP, while the 50MP main and 12MP wide remain the same – and the FE also has slightly lower battery capacity.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review: Design & Display

Samsung has hit its stride with the S24 series and, having handled every device in the range, I think it’s safe to say that the Fan Edition looks a lot like the others. That’s not a bad thing, of course, because this is a proven design that works.

There is no over-engineered curved display, no unwanted giant camera array, instead the S24 FE is checked and measured to every degree. It feels really comfortable to hold too, which might sound obvious – but it’s the subtlety of the design to ensure the edges roll off for comfort that shows the care and attention.

Whether you like the look of the simple form factor and the exposed triple camera ‘dots’ on the back is of course a matter of personal taste. I think it has become almost iconic, a visual staple of Samsung that is easily recognizable. I know from other phone calls in recent weeks that it stands out.

The screen is in the sweetspot in terms of scale too, the 6.7-inch diagonal measurement being the best for most flagship devices these days. Not too high, not too wide, it’s just right. That it’s not the brightest in the range isn’t saying much, as it’s still very powerful and looks great in my eyes. I think the frame could do with a bit of a trim though.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review: Performance and battery

In my two weeks of use, I found the Galaxy S24 FE to perform well in most tasks. The Exynos 2400e seems to me to be plentiful in its functionality – and while the battery life isn’t as amazing as I’d hoped, it’s enough to get you through a long work day without too much trouble. The 25W charge means that half the battery can be topped up in just half an hour.

I’ve noticed some slight downgrades (aside from the battery) in having the Exynos under the hood compared to a Qualcomm flagship processor. But nothing so strong that you will be held back. Mobile gaming here is no hassle, with apps that work smoothly.

It’s a very welcome push from Samsung’s silicon, as I’ve found that previous iterations have been unable to reproduce the door-knocking performance of the flagship. The phone can get a little warm, but I’ve noticed that mostly when charging compared to a longer gaming session.

Samsung’s software is familiar and engaging too, with OneUI not adding obstacles like some other competitors’ systems. There’s plenty of continued support for security and feature reductions, while AI features remain here as in all of Samsung’s flagship range – so you can do Circle to Search or use Photo Assist features for cloud-based advanced edits.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review: Cameras

While the S24 FE’s camera setup may look pretty much the same as the S24 or S24 Plus, there are a few differences to keep in mind. The main camera, the 50-megapixel camera, is basically the same, which is great.

However, the 3x optical zoom has dropped to an 8MP sensor. While handy for getting subjects to fill up the frame, I haven’t been particularly impressed with what this optical snapper can do. From image graininess to smoothness, this is one of the clear trade-offs when choosing the FE model.

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That said, I’d rather have all three lenses than not, as I’ve used the full array during a work trip overseas. The wide angle doesn’t quite have the magical sharpness I’d like, but at least the results look consistent between lenses – something not all of Samsung’s competitors can do.

The shots have a natural look, with the color punchy without being too oversaturated. The main camera is also adept when it comes to low-light shots (the same can’t be said for wide-angle and zoom), plus there’s various AI features from Samsung’s suite of tools – fun enhancements work well, while on-device editing has its limits.

Judgment

There is no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is a great phone. Taken in isolation, I can wax lyrical about its solid feature set – from the decent screen to ample performance from the Exynos chip here – and the sensible price.

The thing is, since the Galaxy S24 series has dropped in price around the time of FE’s launch, there’s a question mark over whether it really needs to exist – because aren’t there enough Galaxy flagships to choose from already? The S24 Plus would be a natural alternative, at the right price.

It might not matter, but if you’re going to find yourself staring an S24 FE deal in the face, it’s a proven style of phone that’s hard to be hugely critical of, save for the zoom camera.

Also consider

One problem with the Galaxy S24 FE is its proximity to other theoretically “better” phones that used to be more expensive – but are now priced similarly. The Galaxy S24 Plusfor example, should be found for about the same money – which would make it the more obvious choice.

If, however, you prioritize spending less, then of the latest affordable phones with a touch of luxury, Motorola Edge 50 Neo is truly impressive. It will cost you about half as much as the Samsung, while delivering plenty of features and a great finish in some vibrant color options.