Samsung stunned the world again in 2020 when it unveiled a Fan Version model of its Galaxy S20. This featured a barely decreased spec sheet in comparison with its full-fat sibling, however introduced the general flavour of a Galaxy gadget to those that didn’t need to spend the ever-increasing quantities that it prices to bag a flagship cellphone nowadays.
This was adopted by the Galaxy S21 FE a 12 months or so later, and we have been wanting ahead to the Samsung Galaxy S22 FE too, nevertheless it by no means launched. That made us sceptical about whether or not we’d see the S23 FE or not, however the newest leaks counsel Samsung could also be resurrecting the Fan Version for 2023.
Right here’s what it is advisable to know.
When will the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE be launched?
That is exhausting to foretell on condition that the S22 FE by no means launched in any respect. We had anticipated Samsung to launch that cellphone a while round October 2022, shortly after the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4, however that clearly didn’t occur, and it seems to be doubtless that it gained’t launch in any respect now because the Galaxy S23 line has now arrived.
Korean publication Hankooki means that there will probably be an FE cellphone this 12 months, however it will likely be branded the S23 FE, and can launch in August or September. Including weight to that report, it means that the Galaxy A74 has been scrapped to stop the 2 telephones from cannibalising one another’s gross sales – which appears to be true, since we’ve since seen the A34 and A54 launch with no signal of the A74.
SamMobile says related, however thinks the cellphone will launch initially in Q3 2023 – so July, August, or September – in “choose markets.” A wider launch will then observe in This fall 2023 and Q1 2024, which strains up neatly with GalaxyClub‘s warning that it could’t rule out a launch as late as early 2024.
GalaxyClub additionally noticed that Samsung solely started testing European firmware for the cellphone in late Might, which the positioning says is proof that the cellphone itself continues to be months away, and can doubtless launch after the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. The cellphone has acquired its battery certification in South Korea no less than, so is clearly on the best way.
For reference, right here’s when the earlier FE telephones made their debuts:
As you'll be able to see, there was just a little greater than a 12 months between the 2 gadgets, however this was primarily all the way down to the S21 FE being closely delayed because of a mix of Covid-related disruptions to manufacturing and the worldwide scarcity of processor chips.
Has the S23 FE been cancelled?
Now that the majority leakers have accepted that the S22 FE isn’t coming, hypothesis has turned as to whether the S23 FE is admittedly on the best way or not. Whereas websites together with Hankooki (above) have reported that the cellphone is on the best way, not everybody agrees.
Beforehand SamMobile reported primarily based on “a number of sources” that not solely was the S22 FE cancelled, however that it’s truly canned the FE line solely.
The often dependable leaker Yogesh Brar has additionally tweeted that “there isn't a Galaxy S23 FE within the growth chain,” casting doubt on hopes for an additional Fan Version.
Korean web site The Elec reviews barely otherwise. It confirmed that the S22 FE has been cancelled, blaming that on the success of the S22 Extremely – that cellphone offered higher than anticipated, and so Samsung is reallocating parts to extend manufacturing. Then again the positioning reviews that that is solely a short lived setback for the FE, and that Samsung will launch a Galaxy S23 FE this 12 months as deliberate, with an expectation to supply 3 million items.
How a lot will the Samsung S23 FE value?
The cellphone doubtless isn’t launching, however we are able to use the earlier fashions as a baseline of what to anticipate if the S22 FE one way or the other does nonetheless launch. So, right here’s the pricing we’ve seen thus far:
Samsung S20 FE:
- 4G: £599/€649
- 5G: $699/£699/€749
Samsung S21 FE (5G):
- 6GB + 128GB: $699/£699/€749
- 8GB + 256GB: $769/£749/€819
Whereas the S20 FE provided each 4G and 5G variations, this settled into the extra commonplace 5G platform for the S21 FE and due to this fact the S22 FE. Hopefully Samsung will maintain its costs for the brand new mannequin, which means it's best to anticipate shelling out round £699/$699/€749 for the entry-level configuration.
What specs and options will we see within the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE?
Because the S23 FE will get nearer to launch, we’re starting to get a way of what to anticipate.
First up, we predict we all know what it is going to appear to be due to the leaker OnLeaks, who shared renders he made with SmartPrix:
Unsurprisingly, the design language intently matches Samsung’s different current handsets, however the mixture of a flat show and rounded edges means it most intently resembles the mid-range Galaxy A54.
OnLeaks even reviews that the cellphone will measure round 158 x 76.3 x 8.2mm, with a 6.4in display screen, which is an virtually precise match for the scale of the Galaxy A54 – there’s an opportunity Samsung is even reusing the very same chassis right here.
As for inner specs, one of the best info now we have proper now all comes from one supply: a SamMobile report in April 2023, with the This fall launch date talked about above and a surprisingly full specs checklist.
The largest twist is the declare that the S23 FE will probably be powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2200 chip in each market. That is the chipset discovered contained in the Galaxy S22 flagship in Europe, however with Samsung shifting to make use of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 worldwide in the primary S23 line, it’s just a little sudden that it would step again to Exynos for the FE cellphone.
The Exynos 2200 has made an look on Geekbench within the S23 FE, however since then so has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Primarily based on the differing mannequin numbers, the present expectation is that in actual fact the Snapdragon will energy the cellphone within the US, however the Exynos will probably be used in every single place else it goes on sale – similar to occurred within the S22 line final 12 months.
Past the chip, SamMobile reviews that the S23 FE will ship with both 128GB or 256GB of storage, and sure an analogous alternative of 6GB or 8GB of RAM. The battery would be the similar 4500mAh capability because the earlier FE telephones, and a return of 25W wired charging is probably going too, since seen within the cellphone’s Chinese language 3C certification.
There may be yet one more change reported although: an improve to a 50Mp principal rear digicam. This was reported by SamMobile and later corroborated by GalaxyClub, the latter including that it will likely be the identical 50Mp shooter discovered within the Galaxy S23 and S23+
We’ll replace this text as extra particulars grow to be obtainable, so be sure you examine again periodically. If you wish to see telephones that you just can truly purchase, try our guides to the finest Android telephones and finest Samsung Galaxy telephones.