The Pros and Cons of Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
In mid-September 2025, Samsung officially released the Galaxy S25 FE. In the Galaxy S family, the FE series is the most affordable version that usually appears toward the end of the year, before the main series arrives early the next year.
FE stands for Fan Edition. It is a variant made for fans who want a flagship experience at a more affordable price. This series has been around for about five years, starting from the Galaxy S20 FE, S21 FE, S23 FE, and the Galaxy S24 FE released in 2024.
So, what does the Galaxy S25 FE offer that is better than the Galaxy S24 FE? Based on the specifications, there are some upgrades, but also a few similarities. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of the Galaxy S25 FE.
Pros of Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
The following is an in-depth explanation of the advantages offered by the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE.
1. Slim, Solid, and Premium Design
One of the biggest improvements in the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is its design and material quality, which now feels close to the flagship level.
Samsung clearly narrows the gap between the FE series and the main series by using more premium materials. The frame is made from Enhanced Armour Aluminium, and the glass uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+.
The phone is more compact at 7.4 mm thick and 190 grams in weight. It feels comfortable to hold and still keeps its IP68 certification for water resistance.
It seems that Samsung doesn’t want the FE series to feel cheap anymore. If we compare it with the Galaxy S24 FE, the older version still used the standard Aluminium Armour frame and Gorilla Glass 5. In terms of durability, the Galaxy S25 FE feels stronger.
The Galaxy S25 FE has a clear upgrade but still keeps its minimalist and elegant look. The matte finish on the back also helps prevent fingerprint marks. This mix of premium materials and a compact body makes the Galaxy S25 FE feel sturdier and gives it a solid, luxurious impression compared to its predecessor.
2. Sharp Visuals with High Brightness
In the FE line, one thing Samsung almost never sacrifices is screen quality. This can be seen again in the Galaxy S25 FE, which has a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with Full HD+ resolution. The screen resolution is really good.
The screen of the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE feels sharp, the colours look rich, and the blacks are deep, typical of AMOLED panels.
Another strength of the screen is its peak brightness that reaches 1900 nits. This makes the display easy to see even under bright sunlight, an important factor that is often a weak point on mid-range phones.
The screen also supports a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The system lowers the refresh rate during static content such as reading to save power. When the user scrolls or plays games, it goes up to 120Hz for smooth and responsive motion.
The screen of this phone feels premium. With its high-quality panel, daily activities such as browsing social media or watching HDR content feel more satisfying.
3. Battery Life is Good
To support its performance and large screen, Samsung equips the Galaxy S25 FE with a 4,900mAh battery, slightly larger than the previous model. Although the capacity is not the biggest in its class, software optimisation and SoC efficiency make it work effectively for daily needs.
For some people who only look at the numbers, a 4,900mAh battery may seem small in 2025. I also felt doubtful when I first saw the capacity, especially since many phones now offer 6,000mAh. However, various tests show that the Galaxy S25 FE’s battery life is actually quite good.
In real use, the phone can easily last from morning to night under heavy use and often still has power left for the next day.
Compared to its competitors, the Galaxy S25 FE usually has a shorter battery life, but its video streaming and gaming endurance are still good. In addition, the call time is quite long. In this part, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE performs well.
4. Selfie Camera Quality Improved
The rear camera on the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE delivers a versatile and reliable photography experience that feels close to flagship phone standards. The phone has a triple camera setup with a 50 MP main lens supported by Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) for sharp and stable photos.
This lens is paired with a 12 MP ultrawide lens for wide landscapes and an 8 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom supported by OIS for detailed shots from a distance. The rear camera setup is actually similar to the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. The camera results are sharp, detailed, and colourful in good lighting conditions.
The most interesting part is the front camera. The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE used a 10 MP front camera, while the Galaxy S25 FE now comes with a 12 MP front camera. This sensor is the same one used on the main Samsung Galaxy S25 line.
The front camera captures good-quality selfies. It produces more detailed photos, has a wide dynamic range, and presents accurate and natural skin tones.
5. Comes with Galaxy AI and Samsung DeX
I like phones that highlight AI features as a real selling point, not just a gimmick. That’s what I see from the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE.
This phone gives a great AI experience through Galaxy AI. Bringing high-end AI features to this more affordable model is an important move since they were previously only available on the Galaxy S series.
With Galaxy AI, the S25 FE delivers not only strong performance but also a smarter and more personal experience for users who want advanced features without paying too much.
One of the highlights is “Generative Edit.” This feature makes it easy to edit photos, such as removing unwanted objects, to create clean and professional-looking results directly from the phone. This powerful editing tool gives users the freedom to experiment and improve their photos without complicated steps.
For productivity, Galaxy AI on the S25 FE includes “Gemini Live,” which adds contextual intelligence. Users can ask questions based on the content on the screen or what the camera sees.
For example, the phone can suggest outfit combinations based on the weather or show quick information about a monument just by pointing the camera. The S25 FE also acts as a smart assistant that responds to different situations. Many reviewers have praised the AI features on the Galaxy S25 FE.
Besides AI, the S25 FE also supports Samsung DeX, a productivity feature that lets the phone deliver a desktop-like experience when connected to a monitor. It’s a feature that deserves to stay on every Galaxy S series phone.
6. Up to 7 Years of Software Update Guarantee
Samsung Galaxy phones from the A, S, and Z series now get long OS updates. For the S series, the update period is clearly longer than some models from the A series. The Galaxy S25 FE is guaranteed to receive 7 generations of Android OS updates and 7 years of security updates.
Launched with Android 16, the Galaxy S25 FE will get updates up to Android 23, most likely until 2032. This is good news because buyers don’t have to worry about app support for 7 years, as long as the phone stays in good condition.
7. Performance is Acceptable and Temperature is Stable During Heavy Use
The Galaxy S25 FE is powered by the Exynos 2400 chipset, the same chip used in the Galaxy S24 and S24+. This means the performance is not a problem.
Some tests also show that the performance of the Galaxy S25 FE is quite good. When playing games like Genshin Impact and Asphalt 9: Legends, the phone can maintain a stable frame rate at high graphics settings without lag.
This happens because the Galaxy S25 FE has a vapor chamber that is larger than the previous model. This upgrade helps the S25 FE keep its temperature more stable when running heavy tasks for a long time. I appreciate Samsung for fixing the heat issue in the FE series, which often became a point of criticism.
Cons of Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
While it offers a lot of advantages, the Galaxy S25 FE is not without some compromises that need to be considered.
1. Only Offers 8 GB RAM
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is priced starting at US$548. The price varies depending on the chosen storage option, 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB.
These storage options are quite interesting. Unfortunately, Samsung only offers 8 GB of RAM. This feels lacking compared to competitors in the same price range, such as the POCO F7 Ultra, which offers 12 GB of RAM at the said price.
2. Charging Speed Not Up to 45 Watts
On paper, the Galaxy S25 FE supports 45 W charging. However, some tests show that the charging speed does not reach 45 watts. This was confirmed by GSMArena. GSMArena used Samsung’s official 45-watt charger and cable to test the Galaxy S25 FE. The result showed that the phone only draws up to 28 watts of power.
As a result, its charging speed shows no improvement over the previous model, which officially supports only 25 watts. The full charging time is completely the same. I think instead of claiming a 45 W charging speed, it’s better to say that it only supports 25 watts.
For those who bought the Galaxy S25 FE and haven’t purchased the charger yet, don’t buy the 45-watt one. Just buy the 25-watt version because the charging time difference is not significant.
3. No Significant Innovation in the Rear Camera
Although the main and selfie cameras are good, the rear camera system of the Galaxy S25 FE shows no improvement, especially on the telephoto lens.
The phone still uses the 8 MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom, the same one used on the Galaxy S24 FE. In fact, this telephoto camera has been used since the Galaxy S20 FE in 2020. That means there has been no innovation in the telephoto camera for five years.
Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is a phone with two sides. On one side, it offers the essentials of a modern flagship phone, such as premium design, great screen quality, and solid performance. Its strength is supported by long software support with 7 years of updates and full access to the Galaxy AI ecosystem.
However, there are still some drawbacks. The 45 W charging claim is not proven in real use, the telephoto lens feels outdated, and 8 GB of RAM seems less competitive for a phone priced at US$549 or more.
I think the Galaxy S25 FE is worth buying once the price drops, usually around 6 months after launch. The reason is that its price is quite close to the standard Galaxy S25, which clearly offers better advantages.