Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S23+

Samsung has plenty of higher-end devices to offer. The Galaxy S23+ is one of the company’s flagships for 2023, and the Galaxy S23 FE is… well, it’s an odd product. It’s supposed to be a budget flagship, but it’s not really. In any case, in this article, we’ll compare those two phones, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S23+. They are very similar in size, and design, plus their software builds are also rather similar. There are differences here, worthy of comparing, though.

There is a reason the Galaxy S23+ is a more expensive phone, of course. We’ll first list their specifications, and will then move to compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance. That being said, let’s get to it, shall we?

Specs

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S23+, respectively

– Screen size:
6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (120Hz, HDR10+, 1,450 nits max)
6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (120Hz, HDR10+, 1,750 nits max)
– Display resolution:
2340 x 1080
– SoC:
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
– RAM:
8GB (LPDDR5)
8GB (LPDDR5X)
– Storage:
128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1)
256GB/512GB (UFS 4.0)
– Rear cameras:
50MP (f/1.8 aperture, PDAF, OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 123-degree FoV), 8MP (telephoto, f/2.4 aperture, PDAF, 3x optical zoom)
50MP (f/1.8 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV), 10MP (telephoto, f/2.4 aperture, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom)
– Front cameras:
10MP (f/2.4 aperture)
12MP (f/2.2 aperture)
– Battery:
4,500mAh
4,700mAh
– Charging:
25W wired, 15W wireless (charger not included)
45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless (charger not included)
– Dimensions:
158 x 76.5 x 8.2mm
157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6mm
– Weight:
209 grams
196 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3
– Security:
In-display fingerprint scanner & facial scanning
– OS:
Android 13 with One UI 5.1 (upgradable)
Android 13 with One UI 6 (upgradable)
– Price:
$599+ (often discounted)
$999.99+ (often discounted)
– Buy:
Amazon
Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S23+: Design

When you first lay your eyes on these two phones, you’ll notice a lot of similarities between them. They basically have the same design language. Both phones not only have the same general shape, but they also include a centered display camera hole, and basically the same design on the back side. You’ll notice three vertically-aligned cameras on both phones, which are located in the top-left corner of the back. Each of those cameras is basically its own camera island.

The Galaxy S23+ does have a larger display, and yet it’s somehow both shorter, narrower, and thinner than the Galaxy S23 FE. How’s that possible? Well, the phone has thinner bezels all around, noticeably thinner bezels. That’s one of the cost-cutting moves from Samsung for the Galaxy S23 FE. Another differentiating factor is the position of the LED flash, it’s placed higher up on the back of the Galaxy S23+.

Not only is it a bit more compact, but the Galaxy S23+ is also lighter than the Galaxy S23 FE. It weighs 196 grams, compared to 209 grams of the Galaxy S23 FE. Both phones have that hefty premium feeling, but the Galaxy S23+ is definitely a more pleasant phone to operate. Both of them do come with IP68 certification for water and dust resistance, and both feel like well-built smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S23+: Display

The Galaxy S23 FE features a 6.4-inch fullHD+ (2340 x 1080) Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. That panel supports HDR10+ content, and it goes up to 1,450 nits of peak brightness. It has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass 5 from Corning. This display is flat, in case you were wondering.

The Galaxy S23+, on the other hand, also has a flat display. That panel measures 6.6 inches, and it’s a fullHD+ (2340 x 1080) display. This is also a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, and it also offers a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support. This panel does have a slightly higher peak brightness at 1,750 nits. The display aspect ratio is the same as on the Galaxy S23 FE, but the protection is better. It features the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection.

There’s really not much to complain about here, display-wise. Both smartphones are really good in that regard. The displays provide vivid colors, with great viewing angles, and the blacks are also deep. They are both quite sharp, and more than bright enough. Truth be said, the Galaxy S23+ does have the advantage there, but the Galaxy S23 FE’s panel is also very bright, so chances are you won’t have any complaints.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S23+: Performance

The Galaxy S23 FE is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC. It also includes 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and UFS 3.1 flash storage. The Galaxy S23+, on the flip side, is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor. It includes 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and UFS 4.0 flash storage. The Galaxy S23+ is more powerful on paper, no matter how you spin it. Not only does it have a more powerful processor, but it has faster and more power efficient RAM and storage modules.

In regular, everyday tasks, both perform admirably. The Galaxy S23+ is a bit faster in direct comparison, which becomes more obvious when it comes to launching apps and multitasking. Both are fairly fast, though, and perform really well. Where you’ll see the difference is in gaming. The Galaxy S23 FE does get very hot during gaming, even when it comes to more casual games. Our unit did get too hot even, to the point it was not as comfortable to hold. That’s not the case with the Galaxy S23+. That handset can handle even the most demanding of games, and not get too hot to handle.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S23+: Battery

There is a 4,500mAh battery included inside the Galaxy S23 FE, while a 4,700mAh pack sits inside the Galaxy S23+. The Galaxy S23+ does include a larger display, hence the higher battery capacity. The end result is very similar, though. In fact, from what we’ve seen, the Galaxy S23 FE can provide even better battery life than the Galaxy S23+, though not by much. They’re on the same playing field.

The Galaxy S23 FE was able to go over the 8-hour screen-on-time mark, even with a bit of gaming thrown into the mix. The Galaxy S23+ lingered around 7-7.5 hours of screen-on-time before it shut down. Your mileage may vary, though, of course. There are simply too many factors to consider, ranging from different signal strengths, to different usage patterns, and different apps being used.

The Galaxy S23+ has the advantage in the charging department. It supports 45W wired charging, in addition to 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The Galaxy S23 FE, on the other hand, supports 25W wired charging, and 15W wireless charging. The Galaxy S23+ does charge a bit faster via a wire. Neither phone comes with a charger in the box, though.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S23+: Cameras

These two phones seemingly have the same main and ultrawide cameras, but that’s not the case. Different sensors are being used here, the Galaxy S23+ does have the advantage from the hardware standpoint. The Galaxy S23 FE includes a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (123-degree FoV), and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom). On the flip side, the Galaxy S23+ features a 50-megapixel main unit, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (120-degree FoV), and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom).

While both phones are capable of providing really good shots in good lighting, the Galaxy S23+’s advantage becomes obvious in lower light. It provides brighter and more detailed images, in basically every such scenario. The same goes for its ultrawide camera too, as it trumps the Galaxy S23 FE’s offering basically every single time. The color science is similar, though, and both phones do perform well in HDR conditions.

What about the telephoto cameras? Well, that’s something the Galaxy S23+ does better too. The images do end up looking a bit sharper, while we’ve also noticed that the exposure is a bit better on top of it. Don’t get me wrong, though, the Galaxy S23 FE can do a good job, camera-wise, but the Galaxy S23+ is simply better in pretty much every way.

Audio

Both smartphones do include stereo speakers. What was quite surprising for us was the fact that the Galaxy S23 FE speakers are louder in comparison. The difference is not big, but it’s noticeable. The quality of the output is fairly similar, across the spectrum.

Neither of the two phones includes an audio jack. You can always use their Type-C ports, but you’ll need a dongle. Alternatively, Bluetooth 5.3 is available on both phones for wireless audio connections.