Smartphones & Tablets | October 28, 2023
| Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Fan Edition) | Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus | |
| Screen | 6.4 inches of Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, 19.5:9 format, Full HD+ resolution of 2,340 x 1,080 pixels, 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate (60-120 Hz), 240 Hz touch sampling rate, maximum brightness 1,450 nits and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection | 6.6 inches of Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology with LTPO system, 19.5:9 format, FullHD+ resolution of 2,340 x 1,080 pixels, adaptive refresh rate from 48 to 120 Hz, touch sampling rate of 240 Hz, peak brightness of 1,750 nits, HDR10+ and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection |
| Main camera | – 50 megapixel main sensor with f/1.8 focal aperture with video recording capacity in 8K resolution at 24 frames per second – Secondary sensor with 8 megapixel telephoto lens with f/2.4 focal aperture and 3X optical zoom – Tertiary sensor with 12 megapixel wide-angle lens with f/2.2 focal aperture | – 50 megapixel main sensor with f/1.8 focal aperture with video recording capacity in 8K resolution at 24 frames per second – Secondary sensor with 10 megapixel telephoto lens with f/2.4 focal aperture and 3X optical zoom – Sensor tertiary with 12 megapixel wide-angle lens with f/2.2 focal aperture |
| Selfie camera | 10 megapixel main sensor with f/2.4 focal aperture with video recording capacity in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second | 12 megapixel main sensor with f/2.2 focal aperture with video recording capacity in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second |
| Internal memory | 128 o 256 GB UFS 3,1 | – 128 (UFS 3,1) – 256 o 512 GB (UFS 4,0) |
| Magnification | Not available | Not available |
| Processor and RAM memory | – 4-nanometer, eight-core Exynos 2200 at 2.8 GHz max. (Europe and other regions) – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 4-nanometer eight-core 3.0 GHz max. (United States) – 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM | – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy 4 nanometers and eight cores at 3.36 GHz max. – 8 GB of LPDDR5 type RAM |
| Battery | 4,500 mAh with 25W fast wired charging (charger not included in the box) and wireless charging | 4,700 mAh with 45W wired fast charging, 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging (charger not included in the box) |
| Operating system | Android 13 under One UI 5.1 + four years of OS updates | Android 13 under One UI 5.1 + four years of OS updates |
| Connections | 5G, 4G LTE, dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS, NFC for contactless payments and USB type C input | 5G, 4G LTE, dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS, NFC for contactless payments and USB type C input |
| SIM | Dual nano SIM | Dual nano SIM |
| Design | Aluminum and glass construction Colors: black, mint, cream and purple IP68 protection against dust and water | Aluminum and glass construction Colors: black, white, gray, green, lavender and blue IP68 protection against dust and water |
| Dimensions and weight | 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 millimeters and 209 grams | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 millimeters and 196 grams |
| Featured Features | Under-display optical fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and IP68 water resistance (submergence-proof) | Under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, AKG stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and IP68 waterproof rating (submergence-proof) |
| Release date | Available (currently only in the United States) | Available |
| Price | – From $600 (United States) | From 1,210 euros |
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has just been presented by the South Korean company. Even though it hasn’t arrived yet, one of its main competitors is within the brand’s own catalog; we’re talking about the Samsung S23 Plus. Which one is better between the two? It’s beyond doubt that both are attractive in terms of specifications, but the problem is that they belong to different categories. One is a mid-range device, and the other is one of the company’s flagship models. Nevertheless, they share some similarities and interesting features that make them suitable for different types of users. So, what are the differences between the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and S23 Plus? That’s what we’ll try to answer throughout this article.
The prices mentioned in the article may vary over time, so, in this article, we will analyze the differences based on the publication date. Furthermore, the specifications may vary depending on the market.
Before choosing one model over the other, it’s important to be aware of all the differences between the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and Galaxy S23 Plus. This comparison goes beyond knowing the specifications of each of these devices. What do these features mean in everyday use? That’s the perspective we’ll look at this pair from.
At first glance, we can say that the Samsung Galaxy S23+ and the S23 FE share a similar design, although there are subtle differences. What do we mean by this? The screen bezels on the more affordable model are slightly thicker than those on the S23 Plus—especially the bottom bezel—which affects the screen-to-body ratio. However, in terms of aesthetics, the differences are barely noticeable.
Both phones have flat frames, with a gentle curve for enhanced ergonomics. They are both built with aluminum frames, giving them a premium and robust appearance. Both have a glass back, although the Galaxy S23 FE is larger, thicker, and heavier. Interestingly, its battery has a smaller capacity, and its screen is smaller.
Besides, both phones include stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos technology and offer facial recognition for unlocking. However, the Galaxy S23+ uses an in-screen ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, while the Samsung S23 FE uses an optical sensor, which makes it less secure and potentially slower, at least on paper. They both have dust and water resistance certifications thanks to the IP68 standard.
At least, awaiting official confirmation. On one hand, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE features a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with Full HD+ resolution and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. It also offers a 120Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness that hasn’t been revealed yet by the company but is presumed to be around 1,450 nits. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
On the other hand, the Galaxy S23 FE has a larger 6.6-inch screen with the same Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology. It also includes an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, which can decrease to 48Hz depending on usage to save energy, thanks to LTPO technology. The resolution is the same as the Galaxy S23 FE, Full HD+, but it’s protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and has a peak brightness of about 1,750 nits. Quite impressive.
Consistent with the other sections, there aren’t too many differences between the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and the S23 Plus. Depending on the components used, the more affordable model might come with the Exynos 2200 processor, the same one used in last year’s Galaxy S22. In other markets, it is assumed to arrive with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. On the other hand, the S23 Plus has the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 from Qualcomm, a high-end processor that outperforms the Exynos 2200 by a wide margin, around 65%, according to various Antutu benchmark tests.
This difference translates into a significantly faster and smoother user experience in all tasks, applications, and games in favor of the Galaxy S23 FE. Both devices have 8GB of RAM, although the S23 FE is available in two versions with 128GB and 256GB of storage operating under the UFS 3.1 standard, compared to the 256GB and 512GB versions under the UFS 4.0 standard of its larger sibling. Unfortunately, neither of the devices includes a microSD card slot for expanding storage.
In terms of connectivity, both devices are quite similar: support for 5G networks, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC for mobile payments, GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS, as well as support for Dual SIM and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6E triple-band. And what about the software? Launched with Android 13 under the customized Samsung One UI 5.1 interface, the manufacturer commits to providing at least four years of major Android updates for both devices.
The camera section is another aspect in which the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus outperforms the Galaxy S23 FE, but not by much. The former features a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 50-megapixel main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, a 10-megapixel telephoto with an f/2.4 aperture and 3x optical zoom, both with optical stabilization, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture and a 120° field of view. The main sensor allows for 8K video recording at 24 frames per second.
On the other hand, the Galaxy S23 FE has a 50-megapixel main rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 123° field of view, and a third 8-megapixel telephoto camera with an f/2.4 aperture and 3x optical zoom, also with optical stabilization. Its video capabilities remain unknown, but the processor and camera support are similar to the S23+.
As for the front cameras, the S23 FE has a 12-megapixel front camera with an f/2.2 aperture, which is compatible with HDR10+ to enhance contrast and colors in photos and videos. In fact, it’s the same camera as the one found on its larger sibling. In theory, both cameras can record 4K video at 60 frames per second, but we’ll have to wait for the phone to be released to the public to confirm this.
That’s right. The Galaxy S23 Plus includes a 4,700mAh battery and supports 45W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W wireless reverse charging. Meanwhile, the Samsung S23 FE has a 4,500mAh battery that supports 25W wired fast charging, and it also has wireless charging, but the capacity hasn’t been revealed. As usual, neither of the two devices includes a charger in the box, so you’ll need to purchase one separately.
In terms of battery life, the high-end model is likely to offer longer battery life, as well as faster charging. We’ll have to see if the smaller screen size improves the S23 FE’s figures, but all indications suggest that its processor might be an anchor.
After learning about all the differences between the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and S23 Plus, it’s time to ask yourself if the extra expense for the more expensive model is worth it. Currently, the company’s flagship has a price of around 900 euros, while the S23 FE has not been officially introduced yet but is in the range of 600 and 700 euros. Is it worth spending more than 200 euros extra for the Galaxy S23+?
The answer to this question depends on several factors, especially the available budget and also the screen size. Truth be told, both are quite similar, so opting for the more affordable model would be the most recommended option. Interestingly, the base version of the Galaxy S23 is priced the same as the expected price of the S23 FE, so its purchase might not make sense unless it sees a price drop in the coming months.
