Samsung is perhaps dropping the worth plot

Samsung has been progressively constructing its Galaxy AI portfolio into its rising catalog of units. The Galaxy S24 FE is the newest smartphone to supply an array of AI options and perks. First launched within the core Galaxy S24 series, customers can now decide up the entry-level Galaxy S24 FE with out worry of forgoing any of Samsung’s marquee AI options.

With the Galaxy S24 Extremely and the Galaxy Z Flip 6, I have been toying round with lots of Galaxy AI’s core options, like Google’s Circle to Search and Picture Help. Nonetheless, in lots of instances, customers are anticipated to fork over a minimum of $800 or extra to purchase into this 12 months’s catalog of smartphones earlier than attempting Galaxy AI. Whereas Samsung helps Galaxy AI on final 12 months’s units, I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Galaxy S24 FE to see if it will possibly bridge the hole between affordability, up to date specs, and the mixing of Galaxy AI.

The Galaxy S24 FE takes on the qualities of the Galaxy S24+

This mid-range machine does its greatest to face among the many core S24 household

When you simply look on the Galaxy S24 FE, you’d possible mistake it for the Galaxy S24+. Like final 12 months, Samsung took the design, measurement, and general aesthetic of the bigger plus-sized mannequin of the present collection and used it as the muse for the Galaxy S24 FE. Conserving parity with the Galaxy S24+, this 12 months’s FE contains a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x show, a 0.3-inch improve from its predecessor. The show is paired with a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Plus and helps 1,900 nits of peak brightness. Galaxy S24 FE launches at $650.

Galaxy S24 FE

The Galaxy S24 FE is newest mid-range machine in Samsung’s smartphone portfolio. Impressed by the Galaxy S24 Plus, the newest FE provides all the firm’s marquee Galaxy AI options at a less expensive worth.

Model

Samsung

Show

6.7-inch

RAM

8GB

Storage

128/256GB

Battery

4,700mAh

Ports

USB-C

Entrance digicam

10-megapixel f/2.2

Rear digicam

f/1.8 50-megapixel broad, f/2.2 12-megapixel ultra-wide, and f/2.4 8-megapixel 3x optical zoom

Dimensions

3.04 x 6.3 x .3 inches

Colours

Graphite, Blue, Mint, Gray

Show kind

Dynamic AMOLED 2x

Weight

7.5oz

Cost pace

25W quick charging

Launch date

October 3, 2024

Develop

The general really feel of the Galaxy S24 FE is extremely acquainted. Measuring 3.04 x 6.3 x 0.3-inches (77.3 x 162 x 8mm) and weighing 7.5oz (213g), it feels the identical because the Galaxy S24+ when it is in your hand, although it’s kind of heavier. The show appears to be like nice and options ample brightness. One difficulty I famous throughout my temporary hands-on time with the cellphone is that some contact capabilities, like swiping, did not all the time register. Hopefully, this would possibly not be a problem when the cellphone launches.

Wanting on the different specs, the Galaxy S24 FE is powered by the Exynos 2400e processor, which, on paper, will probably be hard-pressed to take care of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 featured within the Galaxy S24+. The machine additionally contains 8GB of RAM, storage choices between 128GB and 256GB, and a large 4,700mAh battery. All that is to say that whereas processing energy could not attain the facility of its different Galaxy S24 counterparts, the Exynos 2400e comes with ten CPU cores, making it highly effective sufficient to help Galaxy AI and any onboard productiveness apps and gaming.

Wanting on the digicam array, Samsung is holding it easy this 12 months. Mimicking the format of the Galaxy S24+, the Galaxy S24 FE options the identical format. There is not any digicam bump or design quirks on the rear aspect of the Galaxy S24 FE. As an alternative, we’re supplied with an f/1.8 50-megapixel broad lens and an f/2.2 8-megapixel telephoto lens with a 3x optical zoom. Becoming a member of it is a 12-megapixel ultrawide shooter with an f/2.2 aperture. Until you desperately hoped to see the 200-megapixel digicam from the Galaxy S24 Extremely within the Galaxy S24 FE, you possible will not be disillusioned by the smartphone’s cameras.

Samsung’s deal with Galaxy AI continues throughout S24 FE

If you wish to avoid wasting money however nonetheless use Galaxy AI, now’s your likelihood

Unsurprisingly, throughout my in-person preview of the Galaxy S24 FE, Samsung assured me that every one flagship options of Galaxy AI could be accessible on the machine. That implies that for customers selecting up the entry-level cellphone, they’re going to acquire entry to productiveness and creativity options like “Circle to Search,” which helps you to circle an merchandise inside a photograph or a phrase and have Google Search pull up related outcomes. Picture Help enables you to make generative edits to your pictures, edit the location of individuals and objects, reframe your photograph, and zoom in utilizing the facility of AI. One other snappy private favourite of mine is Word Help, which is a approach to report and auto-transcribe audio recordings, just like the newly added function on iOS 18.

My largest query from my time with the Galaxy S24 FE is how the Exynos 2400e will deal with onboard generative AI capabilities. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has been the powerhouse behind Galaxy AI because of its spectacular eight-core CPU, which has 30 % sooner efficiency than Qualcomm’s Gen 2 chipset. With the Exynos 2400e underneath the hood of the brand new FE, I am fascinated with the way it’ll have an effect on efficiency.

The Exynos 2400e seems to be a modest step down from the flagship Exynos 2400, which is already clocked to be slower than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Whereas I’ve but to spend a considerable period of time with the Galaxy S24 FE, I fear using Exynos 2400e may have an effect on that fluid response from Galaxy AI. To be clear, my hesitation with Exynos 2400e is only speculative — it is one of many key points of the machine I will spend extra time with after I get my palms on a evaluation machine.

Is Galaxy S24 FE nonetheless the king for affordability?

Galaxy S24 FE’s worth level is a little bit of a tricky capsule to swallow

For years, Samsung has boasted the Galaxy FE as an inexpensive companion to its flagship fashions. Like clockwork, prospects that need all the newest options can wait six months to get a brand new machine at a decrease entry level. The Galaxy S24 FE is an oddity, nonetheless. It retains the identical idea of bringing over some compelling design and spec qualities from the Galaxy S24+, however nothing particularly concerning the Galaxy S24 FE screams premium, and but, the worth tag says in any other case.

The closest comparability to the Galaxy S24 FE is the newest iPhone SE and Pixel 8a. Each units will be bought within the vary of $500. In fact, neither is on the market with cutting-edge specs, however they each symbolize budget-friendly choices in Apple and Google’s respective portfolios. On condition that Samsung is positioning the Galaxy S24 FE at $650, its worth is just a modest lower from that of the Galaxy S24. With this in thoughts, it looks like Samsung is beginning to lose the plot with its FE line.