Unleash the Full Potential of Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: An Underwhelming Yet Still Impressive Mid-Range Flagship

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: A Fan’s Dilemma

I’ve been staring at the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, and something’s been bugging me about it. At $649, it’s a fine device – its battery life is impressive, it can handle demanding games, and it’s reasonably priced. Yet, I’m left wondering: what’s the point of this "Fan Edition" phone in 2024?

To understand, let’s take a step back. The FE phone series was born as a pandemic project in 2020, a lower-cost alternative to Samsung’s higher-end flagships. It was a great idea at the time, offering a top-notch Qualcomm processor and plenty of color options at a friendlier price. The S20 FE, for instance, was a deal. Fast-forward to 2024, and I’m left scratching my head. Why does the FE still exist?

The S24 FE needs to define itself. It’s not like it’s significantly better than the S25 series will be, and the Pixel 8A, a more affordable option, does most of the same things. The S24 FE only serves as a stopgap. Samsung fans, if you’re onboard with this, what’s the benefit of choosing the S24 FE instead of waiting for the S25 or grabbing the Pixel 8A?

If you’re in the market for a new phone and your carrier is offering a great deal on the S24 FE, by all means, go for it. But if you’re not under pressure, it’s hard to see a compelling reason to choose this phone. Save yourself some cash and grab the Pixel 8A or hold out for the S25.

The Good:

Price is reasonable
Has a dedicated telephoto camera
Big screen

The Bad:

Screen isn’t as sharp as it could be
Telephoto camera is so-so in dim light
Doesn’t offer much over a $500 midrange phone

Agree to Continue: Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24, and S24 FE

To use the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, S24+, S24, or S24 FE, you must agree to:

Samsung’s Terms and Conditions
Samsung’s Privacy Policy
Google’s Terms of Service (including Privacy Policy)
Google Play’s Terms of Service
Automatic installs (including from Google, Samsung, and your carrier)

There are many optional agreements. For example, if you use a carrier-specific version, there will be more of them. Here are just a few:

Sending diagnostic data to Samsung
Samsung services, including customization for personalized ads, continuity service, nearby device scanning, and smart suggestions
Google Drive backup, location services, Wi-Fi scanning, diagnostic data
Bixby privacy policy (required to use Bixby), plus optional for Bixby options like personalized content, data access, and audio recording review
Weather app’s privacy policy, which may include sharing information with Weather.com

The final tally: there are five mandatory agreements and at least 10 optional ones.