As good as Samsung’s flagship phones are, the company has a patchy record when it comes to more affordable handsets. 

It’s not for a lack of choice, with a huge number of budget and mid-range Galaxy smartphones launching every single year. However, aside from a few key exceptions, they’re often flawed to the extent that we can’t recommend them.

In recent years, the same criticism can be levelled against Samsung’s ‘FE’ branded phones. In theory, they’re a great alternative to the flagship S series devices for people who don’t have £800/$800 or more to spend on a new phone. In reality, there are far better mid-range phones out there. 

However, that looks set to change with the new Galaxy S25 FE. Based on the impressive spec sheet and my hands-on time, I believe it could essentially make the Galaxy S25+ obsolete. Here are five reasons why, plus one area that’s still a cause for concern.

Top-quality hardware

The S25 FE is a gorgeous phone that looks and feels almost identical to the regular Galaxy S25. It boasts the same durable armour aluminium chassis as the more expensive phone, while Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back should mean it can survive most drops unscathed. 

The display itself is a 6.7-inch, 120Hz AMOLED, just like the Galaxy S25+. The bright lighting of the hands-on area didn’t impact visibility at all, with the 1900 nits of peak brightness coming into its own. As usual, you can expect excellent detail and rich, vibrant colours, making it well-suited to pretty much any app. 

Given the device’s relative lack of grip, I’d still recommend a case, though you might be reluctant to cover its attractive back. I got the chance to try out all four colours – White, Icyblue, Jetblack and Navy – and the last of these is undoubtedly my favourite. 

However, you do get a flagship-level IP68 rating, making it resistant to submersion in freshwater and fully protected against dust. 

Despite all this, the Galaxy S25 FE remains relatively slim and light, clocking in at 7.3mm and 190g. That’s almost identical to the S25+. 

No-compromise cameras

Cameras are often the first thing to be compromised on mid-range phones, but that’s not the case here.  

The Galaxy S25 FE boasts an impressive triple rear setup, consisting of 50Mp main, 12Mp, 3x telephoto and 10Mp ultrawide. On the front, you get a 12Mp selfie lens. 

Do you know which other phone has those camera specs? You guessed it – the Galaxy S25+. As my full review shows, that device takes some truly excellent photos – up there with the very best.

I’m expecting no different from the Galaxy S25 FE, although it’s hard to tell from a few brief test shots in the hands-on area. I look forward to seeing what this phone is like in the real world. 

A big battery AND fast(ish) charging?

This was the area in which I was expecting downgrades from the Galaxy S25+. After all, the base S25 has a 4000mAh cell that charges at just 25W, so it’ll be the same on the S25 FE, right? 

Wrong. Samsung has equipped the phone with the exact same specs – 4900mAh and 45W – as its much more expensive sibling. It’s not world-beating, but it almost matches the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which has just 100mAh extra battery capacity and the same charging speed.

Of course, I wasn’t able to test this during my hands-on time, but I have high hopes. If the S25+ could comfortably last a full day on a single charge, I see no reason why the S25 FE can’t. 

One thing to mention here is that the phone supports Qi2 wireless charging, but only via a case. This is unlike the new Pixel 10 phones, which have the technology built in.

Attractive pricing

One of the Galaxy S25 FE’s big selling points is its price. Despite some nice upgrades, it still starts at just £649/$649 for 128GB of data. You can step up to 256- or 512GB for £699/$709 and £799 respectively, but most people don’t need to. 

Compare that to the Galaxy S25+, which starts at £999/$999. That’s a full 54% more expensive!

Given the price differential, you’d expect a chasm between the two phones on the spec sheet, but that’s not the case. 

No long delays

The timing of Samsung’s FE phones hasn’t always been ideal. A notable recent example was when the Galaxy S21 FE launched in January 2022, just a few weeks before the Galaxy S22 series arrived. Who in their right mind would buy a phone that would go out of date so quickly? 

However, Samsung has clearly learnt its lesson. By launching (and also releasing) the S25 FE on 4 September, it gives consumers a good few months before the expected arrival of the Galaxy S26 series in early 2026. 

If you’re considering buying a Galaxy S25 FE, you don’t need to worry about a new flagship phone launching just around the corner.

Samsung has also built longevity into the device, with a full version of the Android 16-based One UI 8 (including all Galaxy AI features) and seven years of both OS and security updates. That lines up with the very best you’ll find on Android. 

A chipset conundrum

You might’ve noticed that I haven’t mentioned which chipset is powering the Galaxy S25 FE yet. And that’s because I’m concerned. 

Rather than opting for the same Snapdragon 8 Elite found on the other S25 phones, the FE drops down to the Exynos 2400. Samsung’s own silicon isn’t inherently bad, but this isn’t even the latest version – that would be Exynos 2500. 

Compared to the Exynos 2400e found in the S24 FE, it offers only a tiny boost to clock speeds that you almost certainly won’t notice. However, it may be a more significant step down from the rest of the S25 range. 

The device certainly feels fast and snappy when moving through One UI 8, but will that still be the case when using editing software or playing demanding games? 

Ultimately, that could determine its success. If the Galaxy S25 FE performs as well as the specs and early indications suggest, it could be easy to recommend over the S25+ and the vast majority of mid-range phones. 

To find out for sure, look out for my full review, coming to Tech Advisor soon. In the meantime, you can check out why you shouldn’t buy the Tab S11 Ultra, why the boring Tab S11 is a better bet, what we really want Samsung to bring us and what Samsung didn’t announce.