Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Galaxy Buds FE: Samsung’s new Fan Edition

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On Samsung, the FE suffix previously stood for “Fan Edition”. The Koreans no longer use this term, but rather left it with two letters. The Galaxy S23 FE smartphone, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9+ FE tablets, and the Galaxy Buds FE headphones are still trying to please Samsung fans.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, with its 6.4-inch display, falls right between the 6.1-inch S23 and the 6.6-inch Galaxy S23+. Samsung did not mention the name of the processor, but it only talks about a powerful octa-core chip with a 4nm design. This may not be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for the Galaxy, which sets the pace for the S23 series, but rather the self-developed Exynos 2200 from last year. In addition to 8GB of RAM, there is 128 or 256GB of non-expandable memory, depending on the variant.

Samsung has also slimmed down the camera somewhat compared to its namesake. The main and ultra-wide-angle cameras are identical on paper at 50 and 12 MP respectively, and the triple telephoto resolution is just 8 MP instead of the usual 10 MP. The Galaxy S23 FE’s battery capacity is 4,500 mAh, which again falls between the Galaxy S23 and S23+. The FE is protected against dust and water according to IP68.

Two new Galaxy tablets

Samsung has two sizes in its range for the Galaxy Tab S9 FE. The Galaxy Tab S9 FE has a 10.9-inch screen, while the S9+ FE has a 12.4-inch screen. The most significant downgrade compared to regular S9 tablets: These are LCD displays, not OLED displays. As with the S23 FE, Samsung does not mention the name of the processor on the tablets, but leaves it as “Octa-Core.” The Galaxy Tab S9 FE comes in 6/128 and 8/256 GB memory versions, while the Tab S9+ FE has 8/128 and 12/256 GB. The smaller Samsung tablet has a battery capacity of 8,000 mAh, while the larger one has a battery capacity of 10,090 mAh. Both Galaxy tablets are optionally available with a 5G modem, and as with the S23 FE, they are protected against dust and water according to IP68 standards.

Both the tablet and smartphone come with Android 13. As with all current Android devices, Samsung is promising four major upgrades to Android and five years of security patches.

In-ear headphones with ANC feature

The third FE device in the lineup is the Galaxy Buds FE. The in-ear headphones feature active noise cancellation (Active Noise Cancellation, ANC) and a Transparency mode that intentionally redirects sounds from the environment to your ear. With a single battery charge, up to eight and a half hours of playback without ANC or six hours with ANC can be possible. The three microphones on the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are paired via beamforming when taking calls to enable better communication. The package includes silicone gaskets in three sizes as well as two wing tips of different sizes for a more stable fit while exercising.

Initially, Samsung did not provide any information about when and at what prices the new devices would arrive in Germany. We will provide these as soon as possible. In the past, FE smartphones were slightly cheaper than their counterparts without the name suffix, and that is likely to be the case this time as well.

(sht)