Samsung Galaxy S25 FE Review
Samsung’s Fan Edition (FE) lineup has long been a delicate balancing act, aiming to distill the essence of its flagship Galaxy S series into a more accessible and affordable package. For 2025, the company has officially unveiled the Galaxy S25 FE, and from the outset, it’s clear that this device continues the tradition of thoughtful compromises and meaningful upgrades.
The S25 FE arrives with a slimmed-down design, a powerful processor, and the full suite of Galaxy AI features, making it a compelling option for those who want a premium experience without the premium price tag.
From the device marketing images and videos, it is very difficult to tell it apart from its predecessors. The changes are mostly refined. Samsung has adopted a thinner, lighter profile, with the device measuring just 7.4mm thick and weighing 190 grams.
This is a significant improvement over its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 FE at 8mm and 213 grams, making it more comfortable to hold and carry.
It retains the premium feel of the main S25 series with an enhanced Armor Aluminum frame and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back. The camera design remains the signature floating lens style, a subtle but effective way to maintain a cohesive look across the S25 family. The device is also IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, a crucial feature that enhances its durability and value.
The display is a standout feature, as is often the case with Samsung phones. The Galaxy S25 FE features a large 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.
While Samsung official specifications did not mention about the LTPO technology, I am unsure how some reputable websites has been saying the phone has it. Nonetheless, users can decide to switch between 60Hz and 120Hz should they prefer longer battery life or smoother UI experience.
More importantly, the minimal bezels contribute to a more immersive and modern viewing experience.
Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 FE is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2400 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM, delivers more than enough power for day-to-day tasks, demanding games, and intensive multi-tasking. To manage the heat generated by this powerful silicon, the S25 FE reportedly includes a 13% larger vapor chamber, ensuring better sustained performance during extended gaming sessions. While it may not match the raw performance of the Snapdragon 8 Elite found in some S25 flagships, it represents a top-tier experience for its price segment.
The camera system on the S25 FE is a familiar but capable setup, borrowing heavily from its predecessor. It features a triple-camera array on the rear, consisting of a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The software-driven enhancement promises improved image processing, better color accuracy, and reduced noise in low-light conditions.
The selfie camera is getting a resolution bump to 12MP with f/2.2 aperture, which should result in brighter and sharper self-portraits. This configuration provides a versatile photography experience, covering a wide range of use cases from wide landscapes to detailed close-ups with the telephoto lens.
The battery and charging story is another area where the S25 FE offers compelling improvements. It packs a 4,900mAh battery, a slight but welcome increase over the S24 FE’s 4,700mAh cell. More significantly, the S25 FE now supports 45W wired charging, a feature previously reserved for Samsung’s higher-end flagships. This allows the phone to charge to 65% in just 30 minutes, drastically cutting down on downtime. It also retains support for 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging, providing users with convenient, untethered power options.
The device launches with Android 16 and Samsung’s One UI 8, and is promised to receive seven major OS upgrades, bringing it up to Android 23. This extended software support is a major selling point, rivaling the longevity of other flagship devices. Crucially, the S25 FE also includes the full suite of Galaxy AI features, such as Circle to Search with Google, Generative Edit for photos, and Now Brief, bringing advanced, on-device AI capabilities to a more budget-conscious audience.
In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is not a revolutionary phone, but rather an evolution that meticulously refines the Fan Edition formula. It takes the best of what’s available from the Galaxy S25 series—a sleek and durable design, a stunningly bright display, a powerful processor, and comprehensive software support—and packages it into a device that strikes an excellent balance between cost and performance. The inclusion of Galaxy AI features and the significant upgrades to battery charging speed and selfie camera quality make it a very attractive proposition. While some may find the camera hardware to be too similar to its predecessor, the software improvements and overall package position the S25 FE as a top contender for the title of “best value flagship” of the year.
