If you’re looking for a Samsung phone that won’t break your budget, there’s a strong chance that you’ve come across Samsung’s Fan Edition lineup.
First launched almost a decade ago, Samsung’s Fan Edition (FE) lineup is designed to offer a curated version of the flagship lineup without the flagship price tag that usually accompanies it. The latest in the lineup — the Galaxy S25 FE — also follows this mold, and it’s surprisingly accomplished as a phone.
I’ve been using the Galaxy S25 FE for a few days over the past few weeks, and Samsung’s latest FE phone has surprised me with just how capable it is. Here’s why it’s worth considering if you’re looking for a new smartphone.
A Galaxy S25 Plus without the price tag
The Galaxy S25 FE is every inch a Galaxy smartphone, and in many ways, it’s indistinguishable from the Galaxy S25 Plus.
Both phones feature the same 6.7-inch OLED display, although the Galaxy S25 FE gains LTPO and a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The Galaxy S25 FE features a lower 1,900 nits peak brightness — compared to 2,600 nits on the Galaxy S25 Plus — but aside from this, the screen experience is virtually identical between both phones. Yes, the Galaxy S25 FE has a slightly lower resolution, but this doesn’t affect day-to-day usage in any meaningful way.
Both phones share the same 50MP main and 12MP ultrawide cameras. While the Galaxy S25 FE has a slightly lower resolution telephoto camera, it still offers the same optical zoom capabilities. The Galaxy S25 FE also features 8K recording at 30 frames per second and 4k resolution at up to 120 frames per second, with the latter often being reserved for the best Samsung phones.
There are some other differences in the camera and the performance, but the Galaxy S25 FE offers a near-identical experience to the Galaxy S25 Plus for $350 less. The result is that the Galaxy S25 FE is ostensibly a Galaxy S25 Plus in disguise, and even the blue colorway is reminiscent of Samsung’s middle flagship.
Solid cameras, but average performance
The 50MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide camera on the Galaxy S25 FE are the same as found on many of Samsung’s best phones. The 50MP main camera offers f/1.8 aperture and OIS for better low-light imaging, and for the most part, this camera delivers comparable photos.
Then there’s the 8MP telephoto, a slight reduction over the 10MP telephoto found on the Galaxy S25 Plus. The telephoto on the Galaxy S25 FE has a slightly longer focal length at 75mm — compared to 67 mm on the Galaxy S25 Plus — but it does offer the same 3x optical zoom. This camera won’t win any awards, but it is a great all-around smartphone.
To achieve a lower price, Samsung had to make some changes to the Galaxy S25 Plus, with the biggest change being the processor. Instead of the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, the Galaxy S25 FE is powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 2400 processor, which is paired with 8GB of RAM (a drop from the 12GB in the Galaxy S25 Plus).
Despite the processor change, the Galaxy S25 FE delivers solid-but-not-spectacular performance. However, this doesn’t impact day-to-day performance, and aside from some lag under heavy usage, it still offers a slightly above-average performance.
Excellent battery life and superfast charging
This is where the Galaxy S25 FE truly surprised me: the battery life is superb. It features the same 4,900 mAh battery as the Galaxy S25 Plus, delivering all-day battery life with some to spare. However, the Galaxy S25 Plus battery life is better overall, but the Galaxy S25 FE comes within a few hours of overall usage.
The charging is also impressive; despite the lower price, it features the same superfast 45W charging as the Galaxy S25 Plus. However, the 200 mAh larger battery in the Galaxy S25 FE means it takes the same time to charge as last year’s Galaxy S24 FE. A full charge takes around one hour and 15 minutes, while a 15-minute charge takes you to 30% and a 30-minute charge can boost the battery to just over 50%.
Overall, the Galaxy S25 FE is worth considering as your next phone because it offers most of the Galaxy S25 Plus experience at a lower price. This makes the Galaxy S25 Plus harder to recommend, but it does mean the Galaxy S25 FE also offers a better experience overall than the smaller Galaxy S25.
If you want one of the best Samsung phones, look no further. Yes, the Galaxy S25 FE isn’t perfect, but it’s an excellent all-around smartphone that is second only to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, at least amongst non-folding smartphones.
