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We Got Our Hands On The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE. Here Are Our First Impressions

The fan edition of Samsung's flagship Galaxy S23 series starts from RM2,999.

Cover image via Calvin Khor/SAYS

The Samsung Galaxy FE series recently made a return with the S23 FE, much to the delight of fans

For those unfamiliar, the FE lineup — standing for 'fan edition' — is a series of devices that offer Samsung's flagship features at a more affordable price point. Although Samsung usually releases a new FE device every year, the FE version for last year's S22 was notably missing.

That's why Samsung fans were thrilled with the arrival of the all-new Galaxy S23 FE, which we had the opportunity to test out firsthand.

Here are our initial thoughts on the phone:

Taking design cues from the flagship Samsung Galaxy S23 series, the S23 FE is available in four colours: Mint, Purple, Graphite, and Cream

The Mint variant of our test unit, with its glass back, lends the S23 FE the premium finish it deserves, especially when compared to the plastic back of the previous S21 FE. However, we weren't as fond of the silver aluminium frame, which is standard across all variants except for the Graphite.

Next, its triple camera system and features are comparable to those of its flagship counterparts, offering functionalities such as the 3x optical zoom

Despite slight differences in the camera specs, most, if not all, camera features can be found in the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE. During our brief testing, we were particularly impressed by the telephoto lens and the level of detail it managed to capture. Of course, the 50-megapixel main camera is undoubtedly the highlight of the S23 FE.

The phone's Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is vibrant and crisp, boasting a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz

Similar to its predecessor, the S23 FE inherits the display from the S23 series. Although not as bright, it still delivers a smooth user experience, whether you're casually browsing or engrossed in an intense gaming session.

Performance-wise, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE sports the Exynos 2200, the same processor found in the S22 Ultra

Last year's flagship processor, the Exynos 2200, is now considered "mid-range" chip, but it still outperforms within the S23 FE's price range. In our brief gameplay test, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ran smoothly on the S23 FE.

The S23 FE comes with 8GB RAM and is available in two storage configurations: 128GB and 256GB, priced at RM2,999 and RM3,299 respectively.

These are our first impressions of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE. Stay tuned for our full review

For those interested in getting this device, you can purchase it now on Samsung's website.

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