Samsung Galaxy S24 FE has arrived: Specs, pricing, availability, colors, and more

One of the most predictably solid recommendations for a great new smartphone that won’t break the bank is going with the budget version of a recent Android flagship. It’s hard to go wrong with Google’s latest Pixel A-series model, and that’s just as true when we’re talking about Samsung’s Galaxy S FE phones. Last year’s Galaxy S23 FE represented a decent value for shoppers who still wanted some of that Samsung polish, and we’ve been eager to check out its follow-up ever since. Here’s all you need to know about Samsung’s latest entry, the Galaxy S24 FE.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Release date, price, availability

Samsung may have let the beans slip with an early pre-order page a few days ahead of schedule, but the Galaxy S24 FE formally debuted on September 26, 2024. While last year’s S23 FE started at just $599.99, this year Samsung’s bumping that up to $649.99 for 128GB. Orders placed right now can hope to get their phones by October 3.

Upgrading to 256GB storage? Considering there’s no microSD expansion here, that might be a smart move, and will mean you’re paying $709.99 in the US. Unfortunately, it looks like the 512GB option is reserved for international markets.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE specs

This year we’ve been anticipating some shake-ups to Samsung’s approach to building its next FE model, and maybe the most impactful one there could be the move to go with Samsung Exynos chips in all markets, instead of a Qualcomm Snapdragon for the US.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE features

The great thing about phones like this one is that Samsung still gives you a taste of a lot of the same advanced features you’d normally turn to a flagship for — only here, available at a much more affordable price point. And right now, that means serving up a whole bunch of AI — Galaxy AI, at that. This includes functionality like the ever-useful Circle to Search, which got its start on Samsung phones.

Cameras

There’s a lot to like about the camera package on the Galaxy S24 FE — assuming you aren’t upgrading straight from last year’s model. Because while the S23 FE at least marked the move to a 50MP sensor for the camera’s primary wide-angle lens, that’s just what Samsung’s back with this time around. In fact, the whole camera setup here is largely unchanged from our last go-round.

That includes a 12MP ultra-wide lens, as well as an 8MP 3x telephoto camera making up the rest of the rear assembly. And up front, we see the return of a 10MP selfie cam. Features like Night Portrait promise to make the most of that hardware, optimizing capture performance in even challenging lighting conditions.

During our Galaxy S24 FE review, we found camera performance to be good if not spectacular. The main camera is excellent, but the tertiary snappers do leave some details on the table. You get Samsung’s generally reliable output, but nothing more.

Performance

Maybe the biggest question hanging over the S24 FE’s head concerns the fallout of Samsung’s decision to skip Qualcomm silicon in the US and use its own Exynos chips in all markets. While Exynos chips can excel in some specific areas, and are occasionally praised for the battery life they deliver, Qualcomm tends to have a performance edge. That’s less of a big deal when we’re not talking about the full-blow Galaxy S24 flagship, but still something that shoppers are likely to find themselves second-guessing.

The experience is completely different on paper. The Exynos 2400e performs almost as well as the Exynos 2400 in the pricier S24 models. It performed well across our various benchmarks, coming surprisingly close to the base S24 in single- and multi-core Geekbench 6 runs. You won’t be left wanting here.

Going all-in on Exynos may be new, but 8GB of RAM is par for the course — and should be plenty sufficient for a phone like this. Samsung’s also back with 128GB and 256GB storage options, but we’d love if it that price difference were a little more sensible. There’s a 512GB option, too, but not in the US.

Look for the Galaxy S24 FE to arrive running Android 14. Samsung’s been dragging its feet about a One UI 7 beta based on Android 15, but when it does get here, you had better believe that the S24 FE will be supported. Until then One UI 6.1 will have to do.

Screen quality and size

This year, Samsung breaks from the trend, and finally moves the Galaxy S24 FE up to a 6.7-inch screen, unlike the 6.4-inch panel it’s been using for generations. While bigger, it’s keeping the same FHD+ (2,340 x 1,080) resolution, which should look just great on this AMOLED panel refreshing at 120Hz. Shrinking the bezel down to 1.9mm this year really makes the screen feel like a good size for the hardware.

Though the display may be new, Samsung’s sticking with its same approach to biometrics, hooking the Galaxy S24 FE up with an in-display optical fingerprint scanner.

Design and build quality

With the overall shape and construction of the Galaxy S24 FE, Samsung is sticking with what it knows. And while that means a relatively uninspired look, this is also one that’s known and works. A flat-edged aluminum frame with rounded corners gives the phone its strength, while Gorilla Glass Victus+ helps the front and rear glass maintain their finish. Basically, if you were a fan of how last year’s model looked and felt, this year’s not going to leave you with any complaints.

As you should expect, the phone offers IP68 dust and water resistance. Samsung’s selling the hardware in your choice of Blue, Graphite, Gray, or Mint — Yellow, too, depending on market.

Battery life and charging speed

Another minor upgrade this year sees the Galaxy S24 FE arriving with a slightly larger battery, clocking in at 4,700mAh. That’s only 200mAh more than last time around, which doesn’t sound like a ton, but combined with the move to Exynos silicon, it’s definitely possible that we could see a noticeable change in the phone’s endurance.

Samsung has made some pretty boastful claims, like being able to handle 28 hours of video playback on a charge, and we’re looking forward to putting that to the test. When you finally run low on juice, the S24 FE supports 25W charging — nothing super-fast, but pretty much what we expect from this series. There’s also wireless support, with 15W Qi charging available.

In our experience so far, the S24 FE’s battery is adequate for a day of use. You may get a little more out of the phone if you’re a frugal user, but you’ll need to budget 75 minutes to charge it up again from empty to full.

Where can you buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE?

Feeling excited about Samsung’s latest budget flagship? We don’t blame you, and the good news is that you shouldn’t have any problem bringing one home. In addition to sales through Samsung directly, you can grab the S24 FE from Amazon. We’re also seeing strong carrier support, so there’s a solid chance you can pick one up right from your network provider. While you may be able to find some discounts or incentives, expect a base price of $649.99 for 128GB and $709.99 for 256GB.

Of course, Samsung’s got plenty of other very nice phones out there, and with the S24 FE landing, you might be able to score a very attractive price on last year’s model — or maybe even a full-blown Galaxy S23. Samsung’s even got Certified Re-Newed versions you can find at a discount.