Samsung Galaxy S25 FE review — Iterative update that struggles to stand out

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE arrives largely as a modest, iterative update rather than a reinvention. The phone brings only small design tweaks, a slightly larger 4,900mAh battery, and a few software perks — but compared with fresh midrange challengers like the Nothing Phone 3a Pro and Google Pixel 10, the S25 FE feels conservative.

Hardware & display

The S25 FE keeps Samsung’s familiar brushed aluminum frame and a 6.7-inch AMOLED 120Hz display with 1080p resolution and up to 1,900 nits peak brightness. Physical differences from the S24 FE are minor: the new model is a bit shorter, wider and thinner, and notably lighter (6.7 oz vs 7.51 oz).

• Dimensions: 6.35 x 3.02 x 0.29 in
• Battery: 4,900mAh (slightly larger than S24 FE)
• Display: 6.7″ AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10

The phone uses a matte back finish this time, which reduces fingerprints, but color options are limited to white, icy blue, jet black and navy. One ergonomic complaint: the in-display fingerprint sensor sits very low, which can feel awkward, especially for some users.

Cameras

Camera hardware is largely unchanged: a 50MP main shooter with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP 3x telephoto lens. The S25 FE does add a higher-resolution 12MP front camera, improving selfies slightly.

However, the telephoto remains a weak point compared with competitors: it lacks 5x optical or high-resolution periscope options found in rival midrange phones. Image editing features are improved thanks to Samsung’s generative photo tools — object removal works well — but overall the camera package feels like last-generation flagship quality rather than a standout midrange offering.

Performance & battery

Powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2400, the S25 FE performs smoothly in daily use and handles gaming well. Benchmarks show modest gains over last year’s cut-down chipset, but real-world differences versus the S24 FE are limited.

The slightly larger battery delivers roughly a full day of use for most users, but charging speeds are only a touch better despite Samsung listing a 45W capability; in testing the phone still took over an hour to fully charge from low levels with a powerful GaN charger.

Software & updates

The S25 FE ships with Android 16 and One UI 8 and promises seven years of platform updates — a major selling point for long-term value. It also includes six months of Google AI Pro access, which brings advanced Gemini models and extra cloud storage to users for a trial period.

Verdict

For buyers on a budget, the S25 FE offers solid performance, a great display and long-term software support. But with only marginal upgrades over the S24 FE and stronger, more innovative midrange competitors available, the S25 FE struggles to justify a full-price purchase. If you can find it discounted or prioritize Samsung’s update policy, it could still be worth considering.

See Samsung’s product page for specs and availability. For the original review coverage, see Engadget’s review.

Discussion: Do you prefer iterative updates with long software support or bolder midrange designs with better specs? Share your thoughts below.