Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs Galaxy S23 FE: What's the difference?

Samsung Galaxy fans, rejoice. The company is back with another entry into its mid-range Fan Edition lineup, but this year, it sits closer to a true flagship than ever. Samsung’s just-announced Galaxy S24 FE might look and even feel like its predecessor, but there’s quite a bit to separate the two this year. Let’s compare the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE to see which might be right for you.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs Galaxy S23 FE: Specs

For the most part, running through the specs of the Galaxy S24 FE to compare them to the Galaxy S23 FE feels like what you’d expect for a generational upgrade. Samsung’s newer in-house chipset is a little bit more powerful and more efficient, while the 25W wired charging is exactly what you’d expect from any device not labeled “Ultra.” Most other components are pretty similar, too, with both Fan Edition devices offering the same RAM and similar storage configurations. However, the Galaxy S24 FE provides a 512GB option on top of the previous model’s 128GB and 256GB versions.

This year, though, all Galaxy S24 FE models will be created equal. Rather than packing one chipset for the US models (previously the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1), all versions will come with Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2400e — which is slightly different from the standard Exynos 2400 — processor onboard. Of course, we’ll have to see how the new chipset benchmarks, but it’s probably safe to say that it’ll run cooler than Qualcomm’s late 2021 flagship offering.

There’s little else to dig into from the spec sheet, so let’s roll along to Samsung’s updated design.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs Galaxy S23 FE: Design, size comparison, and colors

Comparing the size, shape, and style of the Galaxy S23 FE and Galaxy S24 FE is like comparing the Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S24 Plus. The two devices look and feel pretty similar; one just happens to be slightly bigger. Either way, they’re both some of the best budget Android phones to buy — even if they’re not really budget devices. In our case, that bigger device is the Galaxy S24 FE, which measures in with a 6.7-inch display instead of the 6.4-inch panel that Samsung brought to the Galaxy S23 FE in 2023. The new Dynamic 2X AMOLED panel is slightly tougher, too, as it’s made of Gorilla Glass Victus Plus rather than Gorilla Glass 5. Interestingly, both mid-range phones offer the same FHD+ resolution (2,340 x 1,080), which means that the older Galaxy S23 FE packs more pixels per inch.

Outside of the difference in size, the Galaxy S23 FE is almost impossible to tell apart from the Galaxy S24 FE. Neither device fell too far from the flagship tree, combining flat front and rear panels with nearly flat aluminum side rails and individual cutouts for all three cameras. Even the in-display fingerprint readers are reminiscent of the Galaxy S24 series, sitting front and center at the bottom of the respective displays. This time, though, both models pack optical sensors rather than the ultrasonic versions you get at the flagship level.

Also, despite the extra display real estate, larger battery, and slightly different materials, the Galaxy S24 FE weighs just four grams heavier than its predecessor, hitting 213g over the previous 209g. This year’s color options are pretty similar, too, with the Galaxy S24 FE coming in Blue, Graphite, Mint, Gray, and Yellow, as compared to the Mint, Cream, Graphite, Purple, Indigo, and Tangerine of the Galaxy S23 FE.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs Galaxy S23 FE: Features

Although the Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy S23 FE might look and feel similar, the newer model comes equipped to reach into areas of Galaxy AI that the previous model never could. It debuts the dynamic ProVisual Engine at the Fan Edition level, adding Samsung’s AI-powered image processing to a very similar triple-camera setup as the previous model. Samsung specifically called out improvements to Nightography and optical-quality 2x zoom thanks to a sensor crop as highlights of its ProVisual Engine.

Of course, Galaxy AI isn’t just available while you’re in the camera app — some of its best features come out after you take your photo. The Galaxy S24 FE comes ready for features like Generative Edit, Portrait Studio, and Instant Slow-Mo, and will even offer edit suggestions when you don’t have time to do all of the work yourself. The Galaxy S23 FE offered a level of Photo Assist, allowing you to remove a few distractions from your shot, but it was never at the level that Samsung’s Exynos 2400e chipset supports.

Outside of the camera features, the two Fan Edition Galaxy devices are a little bit closer in terms of AI support. Both models can use Circle to Search to find more information about what’s on their screens, and both support Live Translate and Interpreter mode to understand another language.

Perhaps the best news for prospective Galaxy S24 FE buyers is that they’ll benefit from a much better update promise than Galaxy S23 FE owners. It launched with Android 14 and One UI 6.1.1 right out of the box, a generation ahead of the Galaxy S23 FE’s Android 13. Samsung has promised a full seven years of both Android and security updates for its new mid-ranger, while the previous model will get four major Android versions and five years of security support.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs Galaxy S23 FE: Price and availability

Samsung launched its Galaxy S23 FE nearly a year ago, in early October 2023. At launch, it was available either unlocked through several major retailers or on contract from a carrier. If you opted to shop directly from Samsung, you could access all six color options, while most other retailers carried the four base colors of Mint, Cream, Graphite, and Purple.

The Galaxy S24 FE, on the other hand, launched for pre-orders on September 26, 2024, exclusively at Samsung.com. All other retailers will launch the mid-ranger for sales on October 3, 2024, the same day that early Samsung orders should begin to arrive. The Galaxy S24 FE is slightly more expensive than its predecessor, starting at $649 with an optional storage upgrade for $709.

While it’s never fun to see a price increase, it’s important to remember that the Galaxy S24 FE is closer in size to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, which retails for $999. So, factor in the additional real estate, improved AI features, and larger battery, and the price suddenly doesn’t seem so bad.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs Galaxy S23 FE: Should you upgrade?

At the end of the day, you’re probably wondering whether or not you should grab the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE if you already have the Galaxy S23 FE. In my honest opinion, I’d probably say no. Yes, you get a bigger display, larger battery, and longer software support, but it’s hard to recommend spending north of $600 on a new phone two years in a row, no matter what you’re buying. If you’re an avid smartphone photographer, the ProVisual Engine might take your experience to a new level, but if that’s the case, you’re probably not carrying the Galaxy S23 FE in your pocket to begin with.

That said, upgrading if you have an older Fan Edition model or even a higher-level Galaxy A device makes a lot more sense. The leap in Galaxy AI features — photography-focused or not — makes the new mid-ranger feel significantly more capable, while the upgrade in materials helps to further justify the price increase. Factor in what a 6.7-inch smartphone usually costs in the US, and the Galaxy S24 FE looks like a pretty excellent value.