Execs
- Massive display and loud audio system
- Telephoto lens
- Samsung’s full function suite for much less cash
Cons
- Battery life
- Slower optical fingerprint sensor vs
- Galaxy S24
- Galaxy AI feels gimmicky
Samsung’s $650 Galaxy S24 FE is such a consolation to make use of that at moments it felt like I used to be testing a scaled-back model of the $1,000 Galaxy S24 Plus. The S24 FE’s giant 6.7-inch 120Hz refresh-rate show made it straightforward for me to get pleasure from streaming exhibits, taking part in video games and taking video calls all through the day. And it contains practically each software program perk from the dearer Galaxy S24 line.
With the S24 FE, you may get a succesful telephone that incorporates a telephoto digital camera — which you aren’t getting on cheaper gadgets — together with entry to all of Samsung’s Galaxy AI options alongside Google’s Circle to Search. Whether or not these AI options are helpful will probably be as much as you, however the entry permits the Galaxy S24 FE to really feel like a full-fledged Samsung flagship with out having to spend extra money.
The Galaxy S24 FE nails many components that almost all of us need from a great telephone, particularly at a $650 worth that almost all different flagship telephone makers are presently ignoring. Since Google’s Pixel 9 now begins on the identical $800 worth because the Galaxy S24, the Galaxy S24 FE is now a major telephone for somebody that want to step up from a mid-range machine like Samsung’s Galaxy A telephones or Google’s Pixel 6A with out paying for a premium telephone worth.
For those who’re in search of a less expensive model of the Galaxy S24 Plus, the S24 FE ought to suit your wants fairly effectively. Although pay an additional $60 to get the $710 Galaxy S24 FE mannequin with 256GB of storage: mirroring the S24 Plus’ baseline configuration (which remains to be $290 extra).
Nevertheless it’s a special story when evaluating the S24 FE with the $800 Galaxy S24. For those who do not thoughts having a barely smaller telephone (the S24 has a 6.2-inch display) and paying $150 extra, you get numerous noticeable upgrades together with a greater digital camera, longer battery life, a quicker fingerprint sensor and a speedier processor. However should you do not want absolutely the high of the road, then save $150 and get the FE mannequin.
Watch this: Samsung Galaxy S24 FE Assessment: A Cheaper Strategy to Get Galaxy AI
Galaxy S24 FE’s design
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 FE has a barely taller design to accommodate its 6.7-inch show, but it surely’s in any other case just like final 12 months’s Galaxy S23 FE, other than the $50 worth enhance. The S24 FE has aluminum sides and pastel backs — this time out there in blue, mint, grey and graphite. I discover each the blue and grey fashions to skew nearer to a white underneath some lighting, whereas the mint and graphite variations have bolder colours.
The S24 FE’s display and audio system are a pleasure to make use of. I had no issues watching YouTube movies and taking part in We Love Katamari by Xbox Recreation Cross, which regarded and sounded nice. The S24 FE’s measurement and form additionally made it straightforward to make use of one-handed for telephone calls and scrolling by texts.
One draw back is the inclusion of an under-screen optical fingerprint reader on the Galaxy S24 FE in contrast with the quicker, hypersonic, under-screen fingerprint scanner discovered on the pricier S24 telephones. It took a second longer to unlock in contrast with the common S24. I do not discover the optical reader to intervene with the S24 FE’s usefulness as I may nonetheless unlock the telephone straight from its lock display.
Galaxy S24 FE’s battery and efficiency
The S24 FE’s has a 4,700-mAh battery in contrast with the S23 FE’s 4,500-mAh battery. Battery life on the S23 FE was my chief criticism once I reviewed it. Luckily the S24 FE’s bigger battery does enhance issues as I ended most days at 30% in contrast with the S23 FE, which regularly had between 12% and 20% left.
For those who do want a lift, the S24 FE helps 25-watt wired charging velocity, which refilled the battery in my testing from empty to 56% in half-hour. The FE additionally helps 15-watt wi-fi charging and PowerShare which helps you to flip the telephone right into a Qi wi-fi charger for different gadgets, prefer to high off your wi-fi earbuds case.
Learn extra: Samsung Breaks Down How Bixby Will Evolve Alongside Galaxy AI
Samsung’s Exynos 2400E processor powers the US version of the Galaxy S24 FE, which is attention-grabbing because the telephone maker has all the time used Qualcomm Snapdragon chips for Galaxy S telephones offered within the US. For instance, final 12 months’s S23 FE ran on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 within the US, whereas the worldwide mannequin opted for an Exynos processor.
This is not actually a problem for the telephone’s efficiency although, because the Exynos 2400E outperformed the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor used on the 2023 Galaxy S23 in my benchmark testing. The S24 FE even scored only a hair slower than the dearer Galaxy S24 and S24 Extremely, which run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. It is value declaring that the S24 FE would not absolutely measure as much as the common Galaxy S24’s efficiency, however for most individuals the S24 FE will probably be positive when it comes to dealing with on a regular basis duties and nonetheless operating quick for years to return.
Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy AI
Samsung’s largest push for the S24 FE stays its Galaxy AI suite: numerous software program instruments aimed toward bettering writing, photographs, translation and extra. What’s good is that the telephone will get entry to each function that’s out there on the dearer S24 telephones — although final 12 months’s S23 FE additionally has these identical AI options.
I discovered Samsung’s generative AI Sketch to Picture software to be a enjoyable method to flip on a regular basis objects into coloring books. The function makes use of AI to generate a photo-realistic model of one thing you draw or doodle on a picture within the Gallery app. For example, I took a photograph of a Dunkin’ espresso cup, used the Sketch software to attract a coronary heart on it and watched Galaxy AI flip my sketch into an precise brand. It saved the colours of the Dunkin’ brand whereas morphing my form right into a design that regarded as if it was printed on the cup.
I observed that some phrases in photographs would turn out to be a jumbled mess. For example, once I drew a star on a picture of a Celsius can, the AI added letters and descriptors to the picture in locations that did not make sense. The Sketch to Picture software is a neat trick that I would contemplate to be a enjoyable recreation.
There’s additionally Samsung’s Interpreter app that may be set to Listening mode and provide a translation primarily based on what the telephone can hear. It is a bit totally different from Galaxy AI’s Dwell Translation function for telephone calls and texting apps, which might turn out to be useful for multilingual chats, however as my colleagues who’ve examined iterations of those on different Galaxy telephones discovered, the outcomes are combined for the way effectively these translations end up.
I opened the Interpreter app and put the telephone into Listening mode whereas watching an Italian-language movie. And whereas this is not the supposed function, the outcomes weren’t all the time correct. I do not really feel comfy to really use Galaxy AI for a reside dialog, however should you’re curious how the Interpreter app does in that situation learn this story from my CNET colleague Patrick Holland who examined it in Paris.
Then there’s Google’s Circle to Search function, which helps you to draw a circle round one thing being proven in your show to run a seek for it. The function is not a part of Galaxy AI and is out there on different telephones just like the Pixel sequence and the Galaxy S and Z sequence. Circle to Search was essentially the most helpful AI function for my on a regular basis wants. For example, without having to take a photograph, I can open up the Digital camera app after which press and maintain the house button to scan flowers, animals and websites like Manhattan’s Little Island.
Presently, Galaxy AI capabilities finest for creativity, transcription and translation, however I would prefer it to assist me with duties like discovering the most cost effective scorching lunch possibility close to my workplace or set up my communications with a single level of contact. Different AI choices like Google’s Gemini and Apple Intelligence have introduced comparable plans for organizing our information with synthetic intelligence, but it surely’s nonetheless early days for these options.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE cameras
The Galaxy S24 FE’s cameras did a good job taking photographs in each well-lit and low-light environments. The telephone has a trio of lenses: broad, ultrawide and telephoto. The primary digital camera has a 50-megapixel picture sensor, the ultrawide a 12-megapixel sensor and the telephoto an 8-megapixel one.
Taking the cameras to New York’s Excessive Line park turned out to be a fantastic method to take a look at out these cameras, as my photographs taken on each the principle lens and when zoomed in with the telephoto lens captured a number of element for the varied vegetation seen on the park. The primary picture suffers a bit from the shadows being boosted which supplies it an HDR-look.
Utilizing the telephone’s 10-megapixel front-facing digital camera additionally takes a balanced picture that captures my hair strands and pores and skin tones whereas exterior on a Manhattan rooftop.
When inside, particularly in nighttime environments, the Galaxy S24 FE’s picture take a success in relation to picture noise. I took the Galaxy S24 FE, the S23 FE and the common S24 to a dimly lit bar. Regardless of there being solely hint lighting, all three telephones did an OK job capturing my bowl of pasta and beer. There may be noticeable picture noise throughout all three photographs when zooming in, however the noise discount every telephone utilized made the pictures look extra like a drawing than a photograph.
Once I switched to the front-facing cameras in the identical bar, nevertheless, there was a noticeable distinction between every telephone’s selfies. The S23 FE’s picture is comfortable and has a blurry look. The S24 FE’s picture captures extra element in my facial hair. However the S24’s picture was the very best and took the extra step of brightening up my face. Whereas the S24 is ready to put in that extra work it prices extra.
I additionally took comparability photographs with simply the S24 and S24 FE at a well-lit location of The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility. Each photographs of a Bloody Mary have loads of sharp clear particulars. Discover the water droplets on the tomato garnish and the spices used within the drink itself.
All in all, I discover the S24 FE’s cameras to check fairly favorably to the S24’s, even when the dearer telephone has a bit extra energy for cleansing up photographs in difficult situations.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Backside line
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is a good value-option for somebody who’s in search of a telephone that may deal with just about something you need to throw at it, however is not as involved about having the newest and best specs. The Galaxy S24 FE is a stable handset with a pleasant huge display, loud audio system, first rate cameras and is straightforward to make use of with one hand. You additionally get full entry to Samsung’s Galaxy AI options and a promise of seven years of software program and safety help that can offer you new telephone options for a substantial period of time.
Whereas you may get extra processing energy and higher images by choosing the dearer Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus telephones, for most individuals this telephone is a simple suggestion if you simply desire a good Samsung telephone that does not skimp on options to hit a lower cost. However those that want to get essentially the most attainable energy on your telephone buy ought to nonetheless contemplate the Galaxy S24 or wait a number of extra months till subsequent 12 months once we count on Samsung to announce its Galaxy S25 line at first of 2025.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE specs vs. Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, Google Pixel 9
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE | Samsung Galaxy S24 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus | Google Pixel 9 | |
Show measurement, decision | 6.7-inch AMOLED FHD+; 120Hz adaptive refresh charge | 6.4-inch AMOLED show; 2,340 x 1,080 pixels; adaptive 120Hz refresh charge (60-120Hz) | 6.2-inch AMOLED; 2,340×1,080 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh charge | 6.7-inch AMOLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh charge | 6.3-inch OLED; 2,424×1,080 pixels; 60-120 Hz variable refresh charge |
Pixel density | 385 ppi | 466 ppi | 416 ppi | 509 ppi | 422 ppi |
Dimensions (inches) | 3×6.4×0.3 inches | 6.22 x 3.01 x 0.32 in | 5.79 x 2.78 x 0.3 in. | 6.24 x 3 x 0.3 in. | 6×2.8×0.3 inches |
Dimensions (millimeters) | 77.3 X 162.0 X 8.0mm | 157.9 x 76.4 x 8.1 mm | 147 x 71 x 7.6 mm | 158 x 76 x 7.6 mm | 152.8x72x8.5 mm |
Weight (ounces, grams) | 213g | 209 g (7.4 oz) | 168g (5.93 oz.) | 197g (6.95 oz.) | 198g (7 oz.) |
Cellular software program | Android 14 | Android 13 | Android 14 | Android 14 | Android 14 |
Digital camera | 50-megapixel (broad), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 8-megapixel telephoto (3x optical zoom) | 50-megapixel (broad), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 8-megapixel (telephoto) | 50-megapixel (broad), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto) | 50-megapixel (broad), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto) | 50-megapixel (broad), 48-megapixel (ultrawide) |
Entrance-facing digital camera | 10-megapixel | 10-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel | 10.5-megapixel |
Video seize | 8K at 30fps; 4K at 60/30fps | 8K | 8K | 4K | |
Processor | Samsung Exynos 2400e | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Google Tensor G4 |
RAM/Storage | 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, 8GB + 512GB | 8GB + 128GB, 256GB | 8GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB | 12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB | 12GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB |
Expandable storage | None | No | None | None | None |
Battery/Charger | 4,700 mAh | 4,500 mAh (25W wired charging) | 4,000 mAh | 4,900 mAh | 4,700 mAh |
Fingerprint sensor | Below show | In-display | Below show | Below show | Below show |
Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
Headphone jack | None | No | None | None | None |
Particular options | 7 years of OS and safety updates; 5G; IP68 water and mud resistance; wi-fi PowerShare to cost different gadgets; 25W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-fi PowerShare, Quick Wi-fi Charging 2.0, Samsung Knox with Samsung Knox Vault, IP68 water resistance | 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and safety updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and mud resistance; wi-fi PowerShare to cost different gadgets; 25W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 6E | 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and safety updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and mud resistance; wi-fi PowerShare to cost different gadgets; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 6E | Satellite tv for pc SOS; 7 years of OS, safety and Pixel function drops; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cowl glass; IP68 mud and water resistance; 2,700-nit peak brightness; 45W quick charging (charger not included); 15W wi-fi charging with Google Pixel Stand (second gen); 12W wi-fi Qi-charging; Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (eSIM + nano SIM); Add Me; Greatest Take; Magic Eraser; Magic Editor |
Value off-contract (USD) | $650 (128GB), $719 (256GB) | $600 | $800 (128GB) | $1,000 (256GB) | $799 (128GB) |
Value (GBP) | £649 (128GB), £699 (256GB) | £599 | £799 (128GB) | £999 (256GB) | Converts to £640 (128GB) |
Value (AUD) | AU$1,099 (128GB), AU$1,199 (256GB) | AU$1,099 | AU$1,399 (256GB) | AU$1,699 (256GB) | Converts to AU$1,210 (128GB) |
How we take a look at telephones
Each telephone examined by CNET’s opinions crew was really utilized in the actual world. We take a look at a telephone’s options, play video games and take photographs. We look at the show to see if it is vibrant, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and construct to see how it’s to carry and whether or not it has an IP-rating for water resistance. We push the processor’s efficiency to the extremes utilizing standardized benchmark instruments like GeekBench and 3DMark, together with our personal anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution movies and taking part in graphically intense video games at excessive refresh charges.
All of the cameras are examined in quite a lot of situations from vibrant daylight to darkish indoor scenes. We check out particular options like evening mode and portrait mode and evaluate our findings in opposition to equally priced competing telephones. We additionally try the battery life by utilizing it each day in addition to operating a sequence of battery drain assessments.
We have in mind extra options like help for 5G, satellite tv for pc connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus help, quick charging speeds and foldable shows, amongst others that may be helpful. We stability all of this in opposition to the worth to provide the verdict on whether or not that telephone, no matter worth it’s, really represents good worth. Whereas these assessments could not all the time be mirrored in CNET’s preliminary assessment, we conduct follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.