Samsung Galaxy S25 FE first impressions

S25FE

Galaxy S25 FE has arrived, and Samsung has made enough changes and updates to make it a good affordable premium smartphone. Not only that, the phone continues to carry the brand's mission of delivering a flagship-like experience at a more accessible price point. The Fan Edition, first introduced in 2020, sits between Samsung’s premium S-series and its upper mid-range Galaxy A lineup. The question is whether Samsung has refined the formula enough to still hold that value-for-money proposition.

Galaxy S25FE Design and display

First look, well, the Galaxy S25 FE looks much like its predecessor, the S24 FE, though Samsung has made small refinements. The device is now thinner and lighter, lending it a more comfortable in-hand feel. It carries an armoured aluminium frame and Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on both sides, design traits that bring it closer to the Galaxy S25+.

S25FE

The 6.7-inch AMOLED display offers Full HD+ resolution and supports refresh rates of 60Hz or 120Hz. Unlike Samsung’s premium S25 and S25+ models, it does not feature an LTPO panel, so variable refresh scaling isn’t available. Peak brightness hasn’t been officially confirmed, but it is expected to be in the same 1,900-nit range as the Galaxy S24 FE. Color options include Icyblue, Jetblack, Navy, and White, giving buyers a balanced set of choices.

Galaxy S25FE Performance

Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 FE runs on Samsung’s Exynos 2400 processor, a 4nm, 10-core chip. The little time that I spent with the phone, the S25FE felt smooth and snappy. The overall performance also feels on point.

The improved chip also allows the S25 FE to handle navigation, multitasking, and app performance smoothly.

Galaxy S25FE Software and updates

The phone ships with Android 16 out of the box, layered with One UI 8. Samsung has also packed in several AI-driven features. These include the Now Bar and Now Brief for context-driven shortcuts, Circle to Search for intuitive lookups, and Gemini Live for AI assistance. Buyers will also get six months of Google’s AI Pro subscription, covering services such as Gemini, Flow, and NotebookLM.

Samsung is promising seven years of OS and security updates, extending software support until 2032. This matches the policy for its flagship models and places the S25 FE among the best-supported smartphones in its category.

The Galaxy S25 FE features stereo speakers that produce loud and clear sound with minimal distortion, even at high volumes. Haptic feedback is consistent, strong, and precise, a trait Samsung has steadily refined across its flagship models. These additions contribute to a more polished user experience, particularly in gaming and multimedia playback.

Galaxy S25FE Cameras

Samsung continues its three-lens approach on the rear. The primary 50MP wide-angle camera with optical image stabilisation is paired with a 12MP ultra-wide sensor offering a 123-degree field of view, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The telephoto lens remains a differentiating factor compared to rivals like the Pixel 9a, which skip this feature.

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The front camera has received an upgrade from 10MP to 12MP, promising sharper selfies and improved video calls. It is not that we’ve not seen this camera setup before and while I captured a couple of photos and the quality is right what I expected. However, this is something that needs to be discussed in the full review. So stay turned for that.Galaxy S25FE Battery and charging

Samsung has bumped the battery capacity to 4,900 mAh, up from 4,700 mAh on the Galaxy S24 FE. Charging gets a welcome upgrade, with 45W wired charging capable of filling the battery to around 65 percent in 30 minutes. Wireless charging is supported up to 25W. Actual endurance figures are still being tested, but the combination of a slightly larger battery and faster charging should give users more flexibility.

Impressions

The Galaxy S25 FE continues Samsung’s strategy of offering a flagship-adjacent experience without the highest-tier price. The refinements in design, performance, and charging, along with its long update promise, make it a reliable, affordable flagship option in the current smartphone market.