Samsung Galaxy S24 FE Debuts, Still Struggles with Same Familiar Flaws

Samsung’s Latest ‘Fan Edition’ Smartphone: A Mixed Bag

Samsung’s latest "Fan Edition" smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, has finally arrived, bringing with it a host of changes. While it’s not a bad phone by any means, it still struggles with the same old problem that has plagued its predecessors: its high price tag.

Upgrades Galore

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of the new Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. It offers a significant upgrade over last year’s model, including a larger 6.7-inch screen, slimmer bezels, and a higher maximum brightness of 1900nits, making it easier to use in bright daylight. Additionally, it comes with the same 2024 flagship Exynos 2400e processor, which is a two-year jump in processing power.

Battery Life and Galaxy AI Features

The phone also boasts a larger 4700mAh battery, which Samsung claims will boost battery life by a few hours. It also comes with the same Galaxy AI features as the flagship S24 range, including recent additions like Sketch to Image introduced on Samsung’s foldables in July.

The Catch

So, what’s the issue? It’s the £649/$649 asking price. While that’s a good price for a premium phone with great processing power, Galaxy AI smarts, and a trio of cameras, including the same main sensor as the flagship Galaxy S24, it’s still a tough sell.

The Competition

The problem is that you can get the full-fat Samsung Galaxy S24 for less right now, having been on the market for nearly 10 months. At the time of writing, the regular Samsung Galaxy S24 can be found on Amazon for under £600 in the UK, which is not only a huge saving compared to its £799 RRP but also cheaper than the Galaxy S24 FE.

The Verdict

In fact, I wrote something similar about the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE a little under a year ago, and it seems that Samsung really hasn’t learned its lesson. It’s not a simple fix either; releasing the phone sooner might cannibalize sales of the flagship Galaxy S24 range, but releasing it later means that the flagships have dropped massively in price, even if they still have high RRPs.

The Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is not a bad phone, but it’s still a tough sell at its current price. If Samsung wants to make the FE a viable option, it needs to either release it sooner or make it cheaper. As it stands, the regular Galaxy S24 would be the better buy, and a cheaper one at that.

Key Features:

• 6.7-inch screen
• Slimmer bezels
• Higher maximum brightness of 1900nits
• 2024 flagship Exynos 2400e processor
• Larger 4700mAh battery
• Galaxy AI features
• Trio of cameras, including the same main sensor as the flagship Galaxy S24

Price: £649/$649