Impressive performance and brilliant battery life at an easy-to-stomach price
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is more than just a cheaper option in its product line – it’s a great phone in its own right. It may not offer quite the processing power or camera quality of its more expensive siblings, but the slight downgrades are well-worth the money saved. Not only that, but you get a full suite of Galaxy AI features, a beautiful display and incredible battery life, making this a mid-priced phone that’s absolutely worth considering.
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Pros
- +Excellent battery life
- +Very strong performance for the price
- +Sharp display with vivid colors
Cons
- -AI features not perfectly polished
- -Some nifty features are hidden away
- -iPhone-like design not for everyone
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Two-minute review
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is a shining example of how to do a more budget-friendly phone right. You get a high-quality display, strong performance levels and even beautiful cameras – there’s a lot to love here. But of course, the real focus of the Galaxy S24 FE isn’t on its performance or even its price – it’s on AI.
That’s right, artificial intelligence – or as Samsung says, Advanced Intelligence – plays a starring role for the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. You won’t miss out on the features found on more expensive Galaxy S24 devices (i.e. the best Samsung phones), so you’ll get full access to photo editing, transcription and text-generating tools. But how good are these AI features? Well, it’s a mixed bag.
AI transcription and translation tools work nicely – as does browsing assist, which offers a handy summary of web pages. You can generate AI-made text messages with Chat assist, which, while feeling intrinsically insincere, works effectively.
Like Google, Samsung has leaned into the power of AI with photo editing, more than anything else. Photo assist didn’t work perfectly, with some issues around object removals and blurriness, but there’s plenty of good here. Sketch to Image is a fun inclusion, which lets you add an AI-generated piece to a picture by sketching… well, whatever comes to mind. But despite all of this AI focus, a lot of these features are hidden away in Settings – an odd decision given Samsung’s intense marketing around these new capabilities.
Beyond AI, though, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE hits the right notes in all the crucial areas. For instance, it’s got a sleek, minimalistic design – albeit slightly iPhone-like – with a beautiful, yet more low-key set of color options. The display here is excellent too. Sure, it may not be the sharpest and brightest on the market (with a peak brightness of 1,900 nits), but colors still pop and fine details seamlessly bubble to the surface.
Even though the Galaxy S24 FE has a slightly weaker processor than the classic Samsung Galaxy S24, it still runs fantastically well – even when using resource-intensive applications like video calls or AI features. Also, the combination of a slightly lower-power processor and higher battery capacity means the Galaxy S24 FE can live longer than the standard Galaxy S24 – it can charge at up to 25W too, so it doesn’t take very long to juice it up again.
On top of all of that you’re getting very competent cameras with 3x zoom – a very tasty inclusion for a phone that starts at $649.99. And that’s the beauty of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. You really do get a lot for what you pay without sacrificing much. If you’re an Android/Samsung fan and you’re on the hunt for a new handset, I’d recommend this phone for its top-rate value.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Specs
| Dimensions | 162 x 77.3 x 8mm |
| Weight | 213g |
| Screen | 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X; 1,900 nit peak brightness |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels (FHD+) |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz |
| Chipset | Samsung Exynos 2400e |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB |
| OS | Android 14; One UI 6.1 |
| Rear cameras | 50MP f/1.8 wide; 8MP f/2.4 telephoto (3X zoom); 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide |
| Front camera | 10MP f/2.4 |
| Battery | 4,700 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired; 15W wireless; reverse wireless |
| Colors | Blue, Graphite, Gray (US only), Mint, Yellow (UK only) |
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review: Design
(Image credit: Future)
- Thicker and heavier than the standard Galaxy S24
- iPhone-esque design
- IP68-certified
Let’s cut to the chase here, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE undoubtedly has an iPhone-like appearance. Everything from its smooth, curved corners to its low-key color options feels familiar. Is this a problem? For me, no. I’m a fan of the minimalistic, rounded look of this device, although those seeking out a more angular aesthetic may wish Samsung went down the Galaxy S24 Ultra path.
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At the time of release, a total of five colors were available. Galaxy S24 FE has a blue color; Graphite; Grey; Mint; Or yellow. Gray is only added in the United States and yellow is only available in the United Kingdom. The color choices here have more of a professional than a party vibe, but, if you like a low-key look, this will suit your taste. I tested the blue version and it has a nice soft look – I highly recommend it if you’re interested in this phone.
One aspect that I also liked about the Galaxy S24 FE is the button placements. UnlikeApple’s phones, this has all of its buttons on one side. That’s especially ideal if you’re holding the phone in landscape mode. With this configuration, you’re less likely to accidentally press power or volume up/down when trying to play a game or take photos.
The Galaxy S24 FE uses scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass Victus Plus and Victus 5 on the front and back, as opposed to the Victus 2 glass used for the standard Galaxy S24. During testing, the glass never got scratched or scuffed, but I wasn’t a huge fan of how easily fingerprint marks would manifest on the reverse side of the phone. For durability, this phone also benefits from being IP68-rated and can survive being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for as long as 30 minutes.
So what’s the real difference between the design of this device and the standard Galaxy S24? Well, other than having different color options and glass, the main change is that the Galaxy S24 FE is both heavier and thicker. It weighs in at 213g, so although it isn’t exactly the heaviest, it’s far from the lightest phone on the market – even the standard Galaxy S24 is 46g lighter at 167g. Overall, I felt that it was well-weighted and perfectly-sized (even though I have fairly large hands) – making it a worthy option if you want a more medium-sized handset.
- Design score: 4 / 5
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review: Display
(Image credit: Future)
- Not top-of-the-range, yet still-sharp display
- Bold, beautiful colors, especially in Vivid mode
- Not the brightest screen on the market
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE won’t deliverquitethe same level of sharpness as the Galaxy S24. Sure, the resolution across both devices is the same at 1080 x 2340 pixels, but the FE’s display is actually 0.6 inches larger. The result? An imperfect, yet still attractive display, which will offer more than enough detail for the average user.
Whether I was browsing the web, generating images with Samsung AI or streaming video content, I found that the Galaxy S24 FE’s AMOLED display was beautiful. I headed over toYouTubeand tried watching some videos in 2160pHDRand the colors popped with definition and vibrancy. The default display mode of this phone is Vivid, which adds a bolder edge to bright colors, although a more conservative Natural mode is also there if you want it.
One of the more noticeable changes from the standard Galaxy S24 is a fairly significant brightness downgrade. The Galaxy S24 has 2,600 nit peak brightness, whereas the FE can only reach up to 1,900 nits. This was still a considerable step up for me personally, as I typically carry theSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, which peaks at 1,200 nits. So, if like me, you have a handset that’s a few years old, you’ll still be impressed by the brightness levels on offer.
If you want to play with a handful of display options, you’re in luck too. There are all the expected settings, like Dark Mode and Eye Comfort Shield, which limits blue light for night-time use. However, there’s also the choice to activate Always On Display if you want to have an uninterrupted view of time, date, and music information, even with your device on standby.
In addition, there’s the choice to disable the Edge Panel, which can be handy for swiftly accessing some AI features like Sketch to Image, but can also be an annoyance. I decided to deactivate the Edge Panel on my personal Samsung phone many months ago, having unintentionally swiped it open about 300 times (not that I was counting), so I rapidly took advantage of that here too.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE might not have the brightest, most crisp display on the market, but for the price you pay it’s very strong. Eye-catching color, a 120Hz refresh rate and customizable display options mean you’re sacrificing very little against the standard Galaxy S24.
- Display score: 4.5 / 5
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review: Software
(Image credit: Future)
- Neat Samsung DeX feature
What really makes the Galaxy S24 FE compelling is how it benefits from the same rich experience I’ve already seen with the entire Galaxy S24 line. Samsung’s One UI 6.1 runs on top of Android 14, offering the same level of customization and functionality as its top-of-the-line models.
As you’d expect, it’s big on productivity with similar features such as Edge Panels that lets me run a third app on top of two others running in split-screen mode. But what makes the experience even more satisfying is that it’s accompanied by Galaxy AI features. These consist of Interpreter Mode for quick translation, Circle to Search to Google anything on my screen, Chat Assist to change my writing style, Note Assist to summarize long voice recordings, and the host of photo editing tools at my disposal.
In fact, the Galaxy S24 FE gains the same new Galaxy AI features introduced on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 — like Sketch to Image and Portrait Studio. These are in addition to other staple Galaxy AI features such as Instant Slow-Mo and Generative Edit, which I’ve found to be pretty good at what they do.
There’s certainly a lot to unpack with the Galaxy S24 FE’s software, but what I’m also happy to know is that it’s the cheapest new Galaxy to come with Samsung DeX. I’ve previously ditched my laptop for a couple of weeks using DeX on a Galaxy Z Fold 6, and it’s no different here with the S24 FE. It truly is like having a computer in my pocket because of the desktop-like interface it offers when connected to a monitor.
And to top it all off, the Galaxy S24 FE gets treated to the same 7 years of major software and security updates support that Samsung gives its premier S24 phones. You really won’t find a more functional phone at this price.
- Software score: 4 / 5
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review: Cameras
- Crisp 3x zoom
- Pictures could be sharper in lower light
- Beautiful 8K, 30fps video
It’s good news if you’re a keen photographer, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE offers great camera quality – and you’re not sacrificing much compared to the standard Galaxy S24.
The main alteration Samsung has made versus its flagship phone is that the Galaxy S24 FE uses an 8MP sensor for 3x optical zoom – that’s a slight downgrade from the Galaxy S24, which uses a 10MP sensor. This isn’t a big deal – the 3x zoom quality is still sharp, and getting real zoom in a phone at this price-point is great. Competitors, like the Apple iPhone 15 and Google Pixel 8, pass on 3x optical zoom.
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When we tested the Samsung Galaxy S24, we were very impressed by the camera performance, and I’m happy to report that the Galaxy S24 FE did not disappoint. When taking photos outside during the day, people, buildings and environments looked natural. Photos had rich, defined colors on the Galaxy S24 FE, although they didn’t always lookultraclear in lower-light indoor environments.
You don’t just get strong quality from the Galaxy S24 FE, there are also plenty of options to mess around with. For example, there’s a lineup of additional photo and video modes, including Dual Record for filming with both front and rear cameras and Food for… well, you get the idea.
Videos shot with the Galaxy S24 FE look great. You can even record in phenomenal8K, 30fps quality, which is perfect for capturing unforgettable moments at live sport events or concerts. Video calls fare very well too. I took plenty during my time with the Galaxy S24 FE and although a lot of quality depends on network speed, my personal Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 didn’t have such a sharp picture, even on the same WiFi.
That’s not to mention the AI photo tools, including Photo Assist, which lets you change the size of objects, move them elsewhere in an image, remove them entirely, or transform them into something else with generative AI. There’s also Sketch to Image which lets you doodle anything from a hedgehog to the Eiffel Tower on your existing photos, and an AI generated image will be inserted. These are all fun enough to use, but can ultimately feel a little bit unpolished and gimmicky.
- Cameras score: 4 / 5
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review: Performance
- Only slightly weaker processor than classic Galaxy S24
- Solid 8GB of RAM
- AI load times can be a little long
Given that it’s a considerable $150 less than the Samsung Galaxy S24, the Galaxy S24 FE doesn’t take too much of a dip performance-wise.
The key difference here is that the Galaxy 24 FE adds an ‘e’ onto the end of the Galaxy S24’s Exynos 2400 processor. So what’s the deal with the Exynos 2400e? Well, it’s essentially a weaker chipset that, while offering slightly slower processing speeds, also cuts down on power consumption. Paired with the Galaxy S24 FE’s higher-capacity battery, you’ll get lots of life out of this phone.
In normal use, I found the Samsung Galaxy 24 FE to be a responsive and competent multi-tasker that very rarely left me wanting more in terms of processing speeds. Even when screen sharing on a video call and having multiple other apps open, I didn’t experience any slow-down while scrolling through apps.
The Galaxy 24 FE is packed with 8GB of RAM, which isn’t astonishingly high, but given the price you pay, it’s a very healthy amount. To compare, the brand-new iPhone 16 models all have 8GB of RAM, too. When you combine this with a cool 120Hz refresh rate, you’re getting a super-smooth user experience, even if you’re using more resource-intensive apps.
That 120Hz refresh rate will no doubt be attractive to gamers. There’s even more if you’re in that camp – the Galaxy S24 FE offers ray-tracing, a rendering technology that produces more true-to-life lighting visuals in games that support it. More generally, gaming performance is good here. I tried playing Genshin Impact – a demanding game – and although it wasn’t frame-perfect, it ran very competently on a stable network.
One slight limitation worth noting is that you’re not always going to get perfect load times, especially if you compare this handset to a top-tier performer like the Galaxy S24 Ultra. I discovered that some of the AI features in particular could leave me waiting on loading screens for a while. When using Sketch to Image, for instance, I sometimes had to wait a good 10 seconds before my result would appear. This didn’t bother me, especially for a more budget-friendly handset, but if you want top-level processing, you might want to consider the Galaxy S24 or Galaxy S24 Ultra instead.
- Performance score: 4.5 / 5
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review: Battery life
(Image credit: Future)
- Even better battery life than the classic S24
- Solid charging speed
- Wireless power sharing for charging other devices
When it comes to battery life, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE performs fantastically well. For a handset that has a modest price tag, you’ll certainly be pleased with the usage time you’ll get from a full charge.
I tested the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE intensely. When I wasn’t sleeping, I was constantly using it, whether playing music via Spotify, watching YouTube in 2160p, playing games, taking photos and videos, or playing around with AI. Through it all, this phone stayed alive over the span of more than a day of use – that’s going to be enough for pretty much anyone.
What makes this even tastier is that you’re actually getting considerably more battery capacity from the Galaxy S24 FE than you’d get with an original Galaxy S24. This troublemaker has a 4,700 mAh battery – 700 mAh more than the Galaxy S24.
The Galaxy S24 FE can charge at up to 25W, which is the same as the Galaxy S24. I found that I was able to fully recharge the Galaxy S24 FE in under one hour and 30 minutes. That’s not game-changing, but it’s speedy enough.
The phone is compatible with wireless charging, and there’s a neat little feature called wireless power sharing available, too. This allows you to wirelessly charge another device by placing it against the back of the Galaxy S24 FE. When testing this with my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, it worked perfectly – just don’t expect your device to get juiced up in a flash.
My issue is that the feature is hidden. I knew of it from my own personal use, but it may not be easy to find unless you go on an expedition through the Settings realm.
- Battery life score: 5 / 5
Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE?
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
| Design | Neat, minimalistic look, reminiscent of recent iPhone models. | 4/5 |
| Display | Sharp display with rich colors, though not brightest out there. | 4.5/5 |
| Software | Decent amount of AI features, though not fully refined, UI not the simplest. | 4/5 |
| Cameras | Solid detail, 3x zoom, 8K 30fps video. | 4/5 |
| Performance | Can easily handle more intensive tasks, 120Hz refresh rate, great for gaming. | 4.5/5 |
| Battery life | Excellent battery life with fast charging and wireless power sharing. | 5/5 |
Buy it if…
You want to access Galaxy AI without breaking the bank
Good news – despite being a cheaper alternative to the Galaxy S24, the Galaxy S24 FE is packed full of AI. Photo Assist, Sketch to Image, translation tools and more – it’s all here and you don’t have to pay top dollar.
You want a phone with 3x zoom
A lot of phones in this price range, or even slightly higher – I’m looking at you iPhone 15 and Google Pixel 8 – don’t offer 3x optical zoom. If you want to get impressive clarity from a distance, the Galaxy S24 FE is an awesome option.
Don’t buy it if…
You want S-tier performance
For a more budget-friendly handset, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE offers fantastic performance. However, it’s not going to compete with top devices like the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Bear that in mind if you want the most processing power available.
You want the simplest user experience possible
If you want easily-digestible software, the Galaxy S24 FE might not be for you. iPhone users may take a while to warm to the more complex Settings, in particular, especially with a lot of useful options hidden away in sub-menus.