Reviewed by Corey Noles
When Samsung unexpectedly upgraded the Galaxy S25 FE to 45W charging, it wasn't just a numbers bump—it was a statement. Here's a phone that's supposed to be the "affordable flagship," yet it's matching the charging speeds of the $1,299 Galaxy S25 Ultra while leaving the base Galaxy S25's measly 25W in the dust.
What you need to know:
Power boost: 45W charging matches Galaxy S25 Ultra, doubles the base Galaxy S25
Display upgrade: Peak brightness jumps to 2600 nits from 1450 nits on S23 FE
Processor reality check: Still running Exynos 2400e, not the latest silicon
Enhanced selfie game: 12MP front camera upgrade from 10MP predecessor
Slimmer profile: 7.4mm thickness and 190g weight—lighter than you'd expect
Why the charging upgrade matters more than you think
Let's break down what 45W charging actually means in the real world. When we tested the Galaxy S25 Ultra with its 5,000 mAh battery, it reached 71% in 30 minutes using a 45W charger. The S25 FE's expected 4,500-4,900 mAh battery should charge even faster.
Compare that to the base Galaxy S25's 25W charging and suddenly the "budget" phone doesn't feel so budget. Samsung's essentially saying: "Want flagship charging speeds? Skip the $799 Galaxy S25 and wait for the $599-649 FE."
This charging advantage becomes crucial for power users who juggle multiple devices throughout their workday. While traveling, that 30-minute airport layover becomes enough to power through a full day of presentations, video calls, and heavy app usage—something the slower-charging base S25 simply can't match.
The wireless charging stays consistent at 15W across the lineup, but honestly, who's complaining when you can plug in for 30 minutes and get most of your day back?
Display and design: where Samsung actually splurged
Here's where the S25 FE gets interesting—and where Samsung made some smart choices. The 6.7-inch display jumps from the S23 FE's 1450 nits peak brightness to a blazing 2600 nits—the same as Samsung's flagship phones.
That's not just a spec sheet win; it means your phone stays readable in direct sunlight without you squinting and tilting the screen like you're deciphering hieroglyphics. During our six-month evaluation of the S24 FE, we found that outdoor visibility remained the biggest limitation for productivity work—something this brightness upgrade should finally address. The 120Hz refresh rate carries over, so scrolling stays buttery smooth.
Samsung also managed to slim things down to 7.4mm thick and 190g—a notable improvement from the chunky S24 FE that weighs 213g. This weight reduction matters for extended use scenarios—whether you're conducting lengthy video calls or navigating with GPS during long drives.
The processor situation: not exactly cutting-edge
Let's be blunt: the Exynos 2400e isn't Samsung's latest and greatest. While the Galaxy S25 series rocks the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the FE carries forward the same Exynos 2400e from its predecessor—multiple sources confirm this isn't the full Exynos 2400, but the slightly dialed-back "e" variant.
Performance benchmarks put this somewhere around Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 territory, with Geekbench 6 scores hovering around 2000 points single-core and 6500 multi-core. Is it flagship-fast? Not quite. Will it handle everything you throw at it? Absolutely.
The reality is most people won't notice the difference between "really fast" and "stupidly fast" in daily use. Your Instagram still scrolls, your games still play, and your apps still launch instantly. Based on our hands-on testing with Samsung's FE series since 2020, the Exynos 2400e handles ray tracing and high-end gaming just fine. More importantly, it enables the aggressive pricing that makes the FE compelling in the first place.
Camera upgrades: small but meaningful improvements
The camera situation is classic Samsung: mostly carry over the good stuff, sprinkle in one meaningful upgrade. The main 50MP sensor stays put, along with the 12MP ultrawide and 8MP telephoto with 3x zoom.
The real upgrade? That front-facing camera jumps from 10MP to 12MP. This matters more than you'd think in our increasingly video-first world. Whether you're conducting client presentations over Teams, streaming to social platforms, or just trying to nail that perfect selfie in challenging lighting, those extra megapixels deliver noticeably sharper detail and improved low-light performance.
The 8K video recording at 30fps capability remains, though let's be honest—you'll probably stick with 4K for actual usability and storage sanity. The camera system maintains the versatility that made previous FE phones appealing to content creators on a budget.
What this means for your wallet
Here's where Samsung's strategy gets clever. The S24 FE launched at $649, up from the S23 FE's $599. But street prices quickly dropped to around $500-550 within months.
The S25 FE will likely follow the same pattern, starting around $599-649 and settling into that sweet $500-550 range by the holidays. Compare that to the base Galaxy S25's $799 price, and you're getting a larger screen, bigger battery, and the same charging speed for significantly less money.
Expected launch window sits somewhere between September and October 2025, with Samsung confirming an earlier release than the S24 FE's late September debut. The timing positions it perfectly against Google's Pixel 9a and Apple's potential iPhone SE refresh, creating a compelling three-way battle in the premium-but-affordable space.
By the time Android 16 and One UI 8 launch alongside the phone, you'll get seven years of software updates—meaning this device could theoretically serve you until 2032. That longevity, combined with meaningful hardware improvements where they matter most, makes the Galaxy S25 FE less about cutting corners and more about cutting through the noise to deliver what actually enhances your daily experience.
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