Samsung’s latest “Fan Edition” smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, is perhaps its most competitive mid-ranger yet, with a price tag to match. Priced at $650, it ranks above the Google Pixel 8a and OnePlus 12R, both of which cost $500. The flagship Samsung Galaxy S24 regularly goes on sale for about the same price as the Galaxy S24 FE, so it’s natural to wonder if the latter even needs to exist.
After comparing the Pixel 8a and OnePlus 12R for a few months, I’ll admit I was skeptical about Samsung’s latest FE smartphone. The previous two phones are such affordable Android smartphones that it’s hard to believe that the Galaxy S24 FE is worth an extra $150. But now that I’ve spent the last few weeks using it, I’m officially a convert.
With these five reasons, there’s certainly a case for choosing this Samsung phone as your next midranger, especially if you find it on sale.
read our review
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is one step away from greatness
facing stiff competition
1 Galaxy S24 FE has a faster processor
It may not matter today, but it could make a difference in the future.
After years of telling consumers that a smartphone’s processor doesn’t really matter, I think it might be time for tech pundits like me to change our minds.
Many smartphones suffer from chipset-related overheating issues, such as the Tensor G2 in the Pixel Fold and the A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro series. Additionally, operating systems now run on-device AI and offer new upgrades for up to seven years, further increasing performance demands.
That’s why we’re happy to see that the Galaxy S24 FE offers excellent performance for its class. Samsung has ditched the older Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor that powered the Galaxy S23 FE and replaced it with its own Exynos 2400 chipset. The move paid off. In benchmark tests, this midranger outperforms the Pixel 8a and OnePlus 12R, and approaches the performance of the base model Galaxy S24.
|
Geekbench 6 (single/multi) |
price |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE (Exynos 2400e) |
1,896 / 4,820 |
$650 |
|
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1) |
1,552 / 4,015 |
600 dollars |
|
Samsung Galaxy S24 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy) |
2,228 / 6,656 |
800 dollars |
|
OnePlus 12R (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) |
1,563 / 5,153 |
500 dollars |
|
Google Pixel 8a (Tensor G3) |
1,683 / 4,340 |
500 dollars |
|
iPhone 16 (Apple A18) |
3,190 / 7,734 |
800 dollars |
Of course, benchmarks aren’t everything, but the Galaxy S24 FE handled all my daily needs with ease. Recent phones I’ve used include a Pixel 9, iPhone 16 Pro, and Galaxy Z Fold 6, but I had no problems switching to the cheaper Galaxy S24 FE.
2 Galaxy S24 FE has a telephoto camera
No other midranger offers this important hardware feature
The Galaxy S24 FE features a capable rear camera system with a telephoto camera, which is unusual for a mid-ranger. This 8MP lens supports 3x optical zoom, allowing you to get closer to the action and take better photos from a distance. Below are sample photos taken with the Galaxy S24 FE using 1x (left) and 3x (right) zoom.
Neither the Pixel 8a nor the OnePlus 12R has a telephoto lens for optical zoom, so users will be left with digital zoom and sensor crop. With digital zoom on either device, you might get a decent image at 2x, but the image quality drops significantly above that. I’ll never buy a phone without a telephoto camera again, so this is a standout feature of the Galaxy S24 FE in my book.
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Zoom required for photos
3 Mobile phone manufacturing quality meets higher standards
You won’t notice until you see all three phones together
While build quality is largely subjective, stylistic trends usually influence smartphone design and change over time. The Galaxy S24 FE is built in line with the current trend of a flat, rectangular chassis with slightly beveled edges. The new Galaxy S24 FE fits perfectly next to the Pixel 9, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and iPhone 16.
Unfortunately, both the Pixel 8a and OnePlus 12R have strong curves that simply make them outdated. Compared to the Pixel 8a’s plastic back and the OnePlus 12R’s curved glass, we think the Galaxy S24 FE’s design looks premium and attractive.
4 I like the display on the Galaxy S24 FE
Not the brightest, but might look the best anyway
When I first started using these phones together, I was surprised at how bright the OnePlus 12R was in tricky outdoor environments. Even though you won’t see OnePlus’ claimed 4,500 nit peak brightness rating in daily use, it’s still plenty bright and vibrant. Over time, my stance changed. We were captivated by the vibrant colors and flat design of the Galaxy S24 FE’s 6.8-inch AMOLED panel. It’s beautiful, reliable, and has a 120Hz refresh rate.
Unsurprisingly, the displays on these three phones are very similar in terms of specifications. However, the Pixel 8a’s 6.1-inch screen is smaller, and the OnePlus 12R’s 6.78-inch screen is curved. Both could be great deals for those looking for a large, flat AMOLED panel.
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5 Galaxy S24 FE features Galaxy AI and long-term software support
With a faster processor, it could last longer than the Pixel 8a
Software could be the differentiating factor between midrangers that are this close in terms of actual specs. We understand that some Android Police readers only consider Galaxy or Pixel devices for software reasons. Some people choose the Galaxy S24 FE for its superior software support. Samsung has promised seven years of software support, and it’s loaded with great Galaxy AI features.
This easily beats the OnePlus 12R, which doesn’t have the software support or AI tools to compete with Samsung and Google. This is very similar to what Google is offering with the Pixel 8a, but there’s one important reason I’m giving the Galaxy S24 FE the edge here.
You see, the Tensor G3 chip and the Pixel 8a’s limited memory were already causing problems for Google when porting its on-device language model, Gemini Nano, to smartphones. I believe that the Exynos chipset in the Galaxy S24 FE increases its chances of getting powerful One UI and AI features that you won’t get on the Pixel 8a or OnePlus 12R in the future.
Which good Android midranger should you buy?
I don’t know if there was ever a time when Samsung, Google, and OnePlus offered midrangers as competitive as the Galaxy S24 FE, Pixel 8a, and OnePlus 12R at the same time. These are all excellent value phones, but after spending time using all of them as daily drivers, I think the Galaxy S24 FE might be worth paying the higher price.
If you’re thinking about buying one, look for Galaxy S24 FE sales and promotions to find the best price. There are already some sales available.
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my choice
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 FE aims to bring the experience of its 2024 flagship lineup to a more affordable smartphone. With a 6.7-inch display, triple camera lineup, and all the AI features you’d expect, it’s effectively two-thirds the price of the Galaxy S24+.
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Great hardware alternative
One Plus 12R
The OnePlus 12R is the cheaper sibling of the OnePlus 12, offering almost the same experience as the flagship at a lower price. This is made possible using a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, a 6.78-inch FHD+ OLED display, and a powerful 5,500mAh battery.
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Good alternative software
google pixel 8a
With several key upgrades over its predecessor, including a brighter display, faster processor, and bigger battery, Google’s latest midrange smartphone is the perfect combination of speed and AI smarts. And with seven years of OS upgrades, it’s the longest-lasting $500 smartphone available today.
