Samsung Galaxy S24 FE Review: The Best Fan Edition Yet, Right On Par With the Rest of the Lineup

With its Fan Edition models, Samsung aims to make its high-end devices more accessible. To achieve this, the company naturally needs to make some compromises to reduce the price. The new Galaxy S24 FE adheres to this approach, delivering results that are surprisingly close to its more premium counterparts.

I currently use a Galaxy S24 Ultra as my main phone, so I was eager to see how the transition to the FE model would feel. Moving from one extreme to another within Samsung’s S series represents a significant difference in both price and key features. However, my experience has shown that the Galaxy S24 FE is packed with impressive qualities.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE Specs

SAMSUNG Galaxy S24 FE AI Phone, 256GB Unlocked Android Smartphone, High-Res 50MP Camera, Long Battery Life, Brighter Display Screen, US Version, 2024, US 1 Yr Manufacturer Warranty, Blue

Today on Amazon — $679.91

* Some prices may have changed since the last update

Design, Display, and Sound: Almost Identical to Its Larger Counterparts at First Glance

Samsung released the first Fan Edition, the Galaxy S20 FE, in 2020. The model’s design prominently used plastic, which was logical because it helped lower the device’s price. However, that is now a thing of the past. At first glance, the current FE model’s design could easily be mistaken for the Galaxy S24+.

This year’s FE model boasts the premium aesthetic you might expect from a high-end Samsung phone. The South Korean company has opted for an aluminum frame with sharp, straight lines. I personally prefer a bit of curvature for better grip, although this is subjective.

One surprising detail is its weight. At 7.51 ounces, it’s significant, especially considering that its battery isn’t overly large. For comparison, the Plus model weighs 6.91 ounces and features a battery that’s 200 mAh larger battery. However, while the weight initially surprised me, it became less of an issue in practice. The device is still comfortable to hold and can be operated with one hand, even by someone with smaller hands.

The placement of the buttons contributes to the phone’s overall comfort. All buttons are located on the right side in an intuitive arrangement, making it easy to move your thumb from one to another without awkward hand gestures.

I have mixed feelings about the back of the phone, which is made of glass. It looks stunning in pictures, and the available colors (blue, graphite, yellow, and mint, the last of which was my test sample) are visually striking. However, it tends to attract fingerprints easily and feels somewhat slippery to the touch.

On the back, you’ll find three camera modules arranged in a straight line. These cameras protrude slightly, which means the phone doesn’t sit completely flat when placed on a table with the screen facing up. Using a case can address this issue. It can also provide protection for the glass. However, thanks to the use of Gorilla Glass Victus+, it’s not absolutely necessary unless you’re specifically looking to guard against bumps and scratches. The glass is also present on the front of the device. Combined with its IP68 rating, this results in a very durable phone.

Turning the device around reveals one of the standout features of the Galaxy S24 FE: its display. It boasts a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with an adaptive refresh rate of 120 Hz and a Full HD+ resolution. This is a notable upgrade compared to the 6.4-inch display of the S23 FE.

Samsung consistently excels in screen technology, and the S24 FE is no exception. In practice, the display delivers vibrant colors, excellent contrast, and wide viewing angles. I was particularly impressed by its brightness level. With a maximum peak of 1,900 nits, the screen performs superbly even under direct sunlight. Additionally, the automatic brightness sensor works exceptionally well.

The display also delivers a fluid experience. However, it’s not an LTPO panel, which means it supports only 60 Hz and 120 Hz refresh rates. Two motion smoothness modes are available: a Standard mode that saves battery by using the lower refresh rate and an Adaptive mode that offers the best visual experience.

Additionally, there are two color configuration modes. By default, the screen is set to Vivid, which saturates colors for a more vibrant look. You can switch to Natural mode, which, while not as bright, provides a more realistic appearance. Choosing between these modes is a matter of personal preference.

There’s no change regarding the notch. Samsung continues to use a front camera positioned above the display rather than implementing an under-display camera. If there’s one minor criticism I have about the display, it’s the bezels, which are somewhat large for a premium phone. While they don’t significantly detract from the experience, they’re quite noticeable, especially at the bottom.

On another note, the sound quality of the Galaxy S24 FE is impressive. It features dual speakers, and the volume is quite good. Even when playing bass-heavy songs, the sound quality remains strong, providing an enjoyable experience for music and gaming alike. Additionally, it supports Dolby Atmos.

Performance, Software, and Battery Life: One UI and Galaxy AI Are a Winning Combo

This year, Samsung’s custom processor, the Exynos 2400, is used in the Galaxy S24 and S24+. While it performs adequately, it lags behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 found in the Ultra model. The Fan Edition features a variant, the Exynos 2400e, which operates at a lower frequency.

Samsung’s decision to use its own chip seems aimed at enhancing battery life, sacrificing a bit of performance in the process. I was surprised to find that the Exynos 2400e allows me to play games like Call of Duty and Genshin Impact smoothly, although it does tend to get quite hot at full performance.

However, I have concerns about the RAM in the S24 FE. While there are two storage options (128 GB and 256 GB), the S24 FE only comes with 8 GB of RAM. This is more than enough for everyday tasks like social media and web browsing. However, the issue arises when considering heavier tasks that involve artificial intelligence, which requires more memory.

In terms of the phone’s software. Samsung’s custom interface, One UI, is currently one of the best options available. The Galaxy S24 FE comes with One UI 6.1, which is based on Android 14. To upgrade to Android 15, users will have to wait until next year. The silver lining is that Samsung guarantees up to 7 years of software updates.

One UI operates very smoothly, although it comes preloaded with a fair amount of Samsung bloatware. However, I don’t see this as a major issue. In fact, some apps merit a chance, such as Samsung’s browser, which integrates Galaxy AI.

Initially, I was skeptical about the impact of artificial intelligence in our daily lives. However, Samsung has impressed me with its AI offerings, which prove useful in several scenarios. One of the standout features is Circle to Search. I also appreciate how well the summarization feature works within the browser, along with its real-time translation capabilities.

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The battery could be one of this device’s weak points. As I’ve said earlier, there have to be sacrifices if Samsung wants to keep the price of this smartphone low. The Galaxy S24 FE comes with a 4,700 mAh battery, slightly larger than the Galaxy S23 FE’s 4,500 mAh.

With light usage—social media platforms, email, and minimal app activity—the phone can nearly achieve two days of battery life. However, incorporating apps like Spotify, Waze, or mobile gaming significantly reduces this lifespan. On average, users can expect to end a busy day with about 20% battery remaining.

One downside is the phone’s charging capability. While it supports 15 W wireless and reverse wireless charging, the wired fast charging maxes out at 25 W. For a device in this price range, faster charging would be a welcome addition. Testing with an official Samsung charger, which must be purchased separately, yielded the following results:

• 5 minutes: 10%
• 10 minutes: 18%
• 20 minutes: 38%
• 30 minutes: 58%
• 40 minutes: 72%
• 50 minutes: 84%
• Total: 74 minutes for a full charge.

Biometrics

Samsung continues to improve its biometric features. The S24 FE includes an under-display optical fingerprint sensor. While not as advanced as the ultrasonic sensors in higher-end models, it performs well, with nearly instantaneous unlocking. Its placement is convenient, though a slightly larger sensor area would improve usability.

Unlocking it with facial recognition doesn’t offer the same result. The feature performs well in favorable lighting but struggles in dim conditions, making alternative unlocking methods necessary.

Camera: Very Good at (Almost) Everything

As with the design, when Samsung has something it knows works well, it doesn’t change it. The Galaxy S24 FE features a camera system nearly identical to its predecessor. This isn’t a bad thing, given that this is a set made up of three sensors that knows how to work very well in practically any scenario. The front camera has only 10 megapixels, although its results are quite surprising.

Camera specs:

• 50 MP main camera (f/1.8, dual-pixel PDAF, OIS)
• 12 MP ultra-wide camera (f/2.2)
• 8 MP telephoto camera (f/2.4, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom, 30x hybrid zoom)
• 10 MP front camera (f/2.4)

The software that powers the One UI camera is very intuitive and probably one of the best on Android phones. I think it works very well both for the user who wants to shoot and go (i.e., take a picture without worrying) and for the one who wants to stop and choose what they want to do, customizing each shot to the millimeter.

Main Camera

The main sensor is the standout feature of the Galaxy S24 FE’s photography suite, identical to the one found in other devices in the lineup. It excels in daylight conditions, capturing vibrant, true-to-life images with minimal processing.

Indoor shots are equally impressive, retaining color accuracy and sharpness. Even with moving subjects (I tested it with two hyperactive cats), the optical stabilization ensures crisp details, making it an excellent choice for capturing dynamic scenes.

Night photography also excels, with the main sensor producing clear, detailed shots in both brightly lit and darker environments. Whether you’re looking for a scene with a lot of lighting (now that it’s Christmas, you’ll find this most often in the city center) or without, the result is very good. The Night Mode further enhances these results with minimal noise and balanced exposure.

Ultra-Wide and Telephoto

​​The ultra-wide camera doesn’t quite match the quality of the main camera, but it still performs admirably. Under good lighting conditions, it captures detailed images with minimal edge noise. However, in low-light scenarios, its performance diminishes, and the main sensor becomes a more reliable option.

The telephoto lens is the weakest link in the Galaxy S24 FE’s camera setup. While the x3 zoom produces decent results without much to criticize, pushing beyond that starts to compromise image quality. It can be useful in certain situations, but it’s not ideal for consistent use at higher zoom levels.

Portraits and Selfies

One of the things I liked most about taking photos with this smartphone is how well the Portrait Mode works. Cropping complicated elements like hair works great, even at night.

The same goes for the selfie, both with and without Portrait Mode. You could ask Samsung for a better front camera for a high-end phone, but the result is still remarkable.

Video Recording

If you like to shoot video, you’ll have a great time with this Fan Edition. The S24 FE supports 4K video recording at 60 fps and offers 8K at 30 fps. Video stabilization and color accuracy are commendable, and the front camera can also record in 4K/60 fps, making it a versatile option for content creators.

Galaxy S24 FE: Xataka’s Opinion

The primary goal of the Fan Edition, as highlighted earlier in this review, is to make Samsung’s flagships more accessible to a broader audience. Naturally, this requires some compromises, yet the Galaxy S24 FE manages to retain the core strengths of the S series. The challenge lies in its starting price, which is noticeably higher than that of the S23 FE and brings it uncomfortably close to the premium models in the lineup.

For instance, during recent Black Friday sales, the Galaxy S24+ (256 GB version) was available at heavily discounted prices. These were limited-time offers for a device that has been on the market longer, but they highlighted the issue: When prices are comparable, the S24+ is the clear winner, outperforming the S24 FE in every aspect.

That said, if you consider the standard price of the Plus model, which starts at $999.99, the Galaxy S24 FE presents a strong value proposition. It offers the best of Samsung’s software (including timely updates and AI features), a sleek premium design, a vibrant display, and a capable camera system—all at a considerably lower price point.

SAMSUNG Galaxy S24 FE AI Phone, 256GB Unlocked Android Smartphone, High-Res 50MP Camera, Long Battery Life, Brighter Display Screen, US Version, 2024, US 1 Yr Manufacturer Warranty, Blue

Today on Amazon — $679.91

* Some prices may have changed since the last update

The device has been loaned for testing by Samsung. You can check how we test new products at Xataka On and our Corporate Relations Policy.

Images | Xataka On

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