Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: An All-Around Mid-Range Powerhouse – Full Review

Samsung’s Fan Edition (FE) series has always aimed to balance flagship features and affordable pricing. With the release of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, the Korean giant has continued this tradition. The Galaxy S24 FE offers key upgrades over its predecessor while keeping many features from the flagship S24 series, making it an attractive option for those looking for performance without the high price tag.

This review dives deep into the design, performance, camera quality, battery life, software features, and more to help you decide whether this is the right phone.

1. Unboxing Experience: A Simple and Eco-Friendly Package

Samsung has fully embraced eco-friendly packaging for its phones, and the Galaxy S24 FE continues this trend. Inside the box, you will find:

• Samsung Galaxy S24 FE handset
• SIM ejector tool
• USB-C to USB-C cable
• Warranty card and quick start guide

However, as expected, there is no charger included in the box, a move Samsung introduced with previous Galaxy models. This is part of their initiative to reduce e-waste, and while it’s a commendable effort, some users may feel inconvenienced by the need to buy a separate charger, especially those upgrading from older phones that used USB-A chargers.

This minimalist packaging may seem lacking, but it reflects Samsung’s effort to be more environmentally conscious, making the Galaxy S24 FE an eco-friendly choice from the moment you open the box.

2. Design and Build Quality: Premium in Feel, but Not Price

At first glance, the Galaxy S24 FE borrows heavily from its flagship siblings, especially in terms of design. With its smooth, rounded corners and polished aesthetics, it’s clear that Samsung aims to offer a premium feel without the high price tag.

Key Design Highlights:

• Dimensions: 158 x 76 x 8.2 mm (thicker than the flagship S24, but barely noticeable in hand).
• Weight: 202g, giving it a solid, substantial feel.
• Colors: Blue, Graphite, Mint, Yellow – a fun variety for all preferences.
• Build: The phone comes with a plastic back, which may feel like a downgrade from the flagship S24’s glass back, but the matte finish gives it a premium look.
• IP68 Water and Dust Resistance: This ensures that the Galaxy S24 FE can withstand up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, adding durability for users on the go.

The Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front provides excellent protection against drops and scratches, making it a more durable option compared to cheaper alternatives.

The overall design is sleek, and though the plastic back is a cost-saving measure, it still feels premium in hand, offering excellent durability against drops and scratches.

Comfort and Usability

At 202g, it is slightly heavier than its predecessor, the S23 FE, but the weight distribution is excellent, giving the phone a balanced feel. The rounded edges make it easy to hold, and the slight increase in thickness provides more space for the larger battery.

3. Display and Visual Experience: AMOLED Brilliance at a Lower Price

One of the standout features of the Galaxy S24 FE is its display. Samsung has always excelled in this department, and the S24 FE benefits from the company’s top-tier screen technology, despite being a more affordable option.

Display Specifications:

• Size: 6.4 inches, a great balance between screen real estate and usability.
• Resolution: Full HD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels).
• Refresh Rate: 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, offering smooth scrolling and fluid animations.
• Brightness: Peaks at 1900 nits, which is impressive for a phone in this price range.
• AMOLED Technology: Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with excellent contrast, vivid colors, and deep blacks.
• HDR10+ Support: This makes watching content on Netflix, YouTube, or other streaming services an enjoyable experience, delivering more depth and detail in dark scenes.

With its 120Hz refresh rate, navigating the interface feels incredibly smooth, and the display adapts intelligently based on what you’re doing, conserving battery when you don’t need a high refresh rate.

Samsung’s Vision Booster technology also enhances the viewing experience by dynamically adjusting the brightness and contrast based on the surrounding environment, ensuring the screen remains visible even under direct sunlight.

Display Performance:

• Gaming: With the high refresh rate and fast touch response, games look and feel fluid. The Exynos 2400/Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset (depending on the region) ensures that even the most demanding games run smoothly without frame drops.
• Media Consumption: Thanks to the HDR10+ support, watching movies and TV shows is a visual treat. Whether you’re watching the latest blockbuster or scrolling through your Instagram feed, colors pop, and blacks are inky deep.

Despite the plastic back and slightly thicker bezels than the flagship models, the display experience feels top-notch, especially considering the lower price point.

4. Camera System: Versatile and Capable

The Galaxy S24 FE is equipped with a triple camera system that borrows a lot from the flagship S24, but with some compromises to keep the price down. However, with Samsung’s software enhancements, the camera performance is still stellar.

Rear Camera Setup:

• 50MP Primary Camera: Equipped with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), the main shooter delivers sharp and vibrant images even in challenging lighting conditions.
• 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera: With a 123-degree field of view, this lens allows for dramatic landscape shots and group photos.
• 8MP Telephoto Camera: Offers 3x optical zoom and 30x Space Zoom, allowing for clear and detailed zoomed-in photos.

Front Camera:

• 12MP Selfie Camera: Placed in the punch-hole cutout, this lens delivers excellent selfies with good detail and accurate colors. Thanks to Samsung’s AI beautification features, you can fine-tune your selfies without losing the natural look.

Camera Performance in Different Scenarios:

• Daylight Photography: The 50MP primary sensor captures sharp, vibrant, and detailed shots. The colors are true to life, and the dynamic range is wide, ensuring that both the highlights and shadows are well-exposed.
• Low-Light Performance: Thanks to Night Mode 2.0, the S24 FE excels in low-light conditions. The camera system manages to pull in a lot of light, delivering bright and detailed images even when the lighting is less than ideal.
• Portrait Mode: The AI-powered Portrait Mode accurately detects edges, delivering a pleasing bokeh effect that rivals more expensive flagship devices.
• Zoom Capabilities: The 3x optical zoom is handy for getting closer to your subject without losing detail, and even at 30x digital zoom, the results are surprisingly good.

The addition of AI scene recognition helps optimize shots for various scenarios, making it easier for users to capture high-quality images without needing to manually adjust settings.

5. AI and Software Enhancements: Smarter than Ever

The Galaxy S24 FE runs on Samsung’s One UI 6.1 layered over Android 14, and it’s packed with AI-driven features that improve usability and productivity. Samsung’s AI features are designed to make daily tasks more efficient and enjoyable.

Key AI Features:

• Circle to Search: By simply circling an object in an image, you can search for it online, making it easier to find similar products, information, or reviews.
• Call Assist: Real-time translation during phone calls allows you to communicate with people in different languages seamlessly.
• Browsing Assist: When browsing long articles or web pages, the AI can summarize the content, saving you time and helping you focus on the important information.
• Transcript Assist: This feature can convert voice recordings into text, with the added option of summarizing the conversation.

One of the most exciting things about these AI features is that they will be free until 2026, offering excellent value to users who want cutting-edge technology without an additional cost.

Samsung’s One UI 6.1 continues to be one of the most polished and user-friendly skins in the Android ecosystem, with smooth animations and intuitive controls. It’s also packed with customization options, allowing you to tweak the look and feel of your phone to suit your preferences.

6. Performance and Chipset Breakdown: Flagship-Level Power

Performance is where the Galaxy S24 FE shines, making it a powerhouse despite its mid-range label. Depending on the region, you’ll either get the Exynos 2400 or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, both of which deliver flagship-level performance.

Performance Benchmarks:

• Exynos 2400/Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: With both processors being built on 4nm technology, expect stellar performance in day-to-day tasks as well as power-hungry activities like gaming and video editing.
• RAM: The device comes with 8GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking, whether you’re switching between multiple apps or running intensive games.
• Storage: You can choose between 128GB and 256GB of internal storage, with the option to expand via microSD.

In real-world use, the S24 FE performs smoothly, with no noticeable lag or stutter. Apps load quickly, and gaming performance is particularly impressive, with demanding games like Genshin Impact running without any frame drops.

7. Battery Life, Charging, and Power Efficiency

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S24 FE with a 4500mAh battery, which is slightly smaller than the 5000mAh found in many flagship models, but the efficient chipset and software optimizations make up for the difference.

Battery Life:

• Screen-On Time: On average, you can expect around 6-7 hours of screen-on time with moderate usage, which includes web browsing, media consumption, and light gaming.
• Standby Time: The phone can easily last through a full day with mixed usage, and if you’re a light user, you may be able to stretch it to two days.

Charging:

• Fast Charging: The phone supports 25W fast charging, which can take the phone from 0 to 50% in just 30 minutes.
• Wireless Charging: It also supports 15W wireless charging, and while not as fast as the wired option, it’s a convenient feature for those who prefer a wireless setup.
• Reverse Wireless Charging: The 4.5W reverse wireless charging feature lets you charge your wireless earbuds or other compatible devices using your phone.

With Samsung’s adaptive power-saving mode, the phone intelligently adjusts the performance based on your usage, helping to conserve battery when needed.

8. Pricing and Availability: Competitive for Its Features

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is positioned as a mid-range device, and its pricing reflects that. It is expected to launch for $599 in the US and around ₹49,999 in India, which places it slightly above other mid-range competitors but still significantly cheaper than Samsung’s flagship models.

Regional Variations:

• In some regions, the phone will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while others will get the Exynos 2400 variant, but performance differences are minimal between the two.
• Launch Offers: Samsung often offers deals like trade-ins, carrier discounts, and bundles, so it’s worth checking these offers during the launch period.

The S24 FE also comes with Samsung’s 4-year OS updates and 5-year security updates, ensuring that you’ll get the latest software features and security patches for years to come.

9. Competition Comparison: How Does it Stack Up?

In the crowded mid-range market, the Galaxy S24 FE faces stiff competition. Here’s how it compares to some of the top contenders in this price segment:

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs Google Pixel 8a:

• Camera: The Pixel 8a’s software prowess gives it an edge in computational photography, but the S24 FE’s hardware offers more versatility with its triple camera setup.
• Software: While Google’s stock Android is more lightweight and smooth, Samsung’s One UI provides more customization and features.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs OnePlus Nord 3:

• Display: The Nord 3 boasts a larger screen at 6.7 inches, but the S24 FE’s AMOLED panel has better peak brightness and HDR support.
• Performance: While the Dimensity 9000 in the Nord 3 is no slouch, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Exynos 2400 in the S24 FE provides more horsepower for demanding apps and games.

10. Should You Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE?

If you’re looking for a phone that delivers flagship-level performance at a mid-range price, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is a strong contender. With its fantastic display, versatile camera system, and solid battery life, it ticks most of the boxes for an excellent all-around smartphone.

11. Final Verdict: A Worthy Upgrade for Galaxy FE Fans

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is a solid upgrade over its predecessor, delivering premium features at a reasonable price. Whether you’re an existing Galaxy FE user or someone looking to dip their toes into Samsung’s ecosystem without breaking the bank, this phone offers a lot of value.

The S24 FE balances design, performance, and battery life beautifully, with a great display and camera rounding out the package. Samsung has crafted a phone that caters to a wide range of users, from gamers to casual users, making it one of the best mid-range phones of the year.

Pros:

• High-quality AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate.
• Versatile triple camera setup with excellent low-light performance.
• Flagship-level chipset for smooth performance.
• IP68 water and dust resistance.
• Long-term software support (4 years of updates).

Cons:

• Plastic back lacks the premium feel of a glass back.
• No charger in the box.

For anyone who wants a reliable phone that offers more than most mid-range competitors, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE should be on your radar.