Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: latest news, rumors, and everything we know so far

You might understandably have thought that the Galaxy FE line was dead. After all, we never got a Galaxy S22 FE, but there are numerous leaks suggesting that we will get a Samsung Galaxy S23 FE – and that it’s coming soon, sometime this year.

So in this article we’ve collected all of those leaks and rumors, which include details not just of the release date, but also of the phone’s possible specs and features.

You’ll find all of that below, and we’ll update this article whenever we hear anything credible about the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, so check back soon.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The next mid-range Galaxy S model
• When is it out? Probably sometime in the second half of 2023
• How much will it cost? Unknown, but likely at least $699 / £699 / AU$999

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE release date and price

• Might launch sometime between July and September
• Likely to cost at least $699 / £699 / AU$999

First of all, some questions remain over whether we actually will see a Samsung Galaxy S23 FE at all. While it has leaked a number of times, some other sources claim it’s not coming. For example, Yogesh Brar tweeted in late March 2023 that “there is no Galaxy S23 FE in the development chain unlike what the recent rumors have been pointing.”

Still, we wouldn’t give up hope, because South Korean publication Hankooki claimed in February 2023 that there will be a Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, and that it will land in August or September of this year. They added that apparently it will land in place of the Samsung Galaxy A74, so we might still get one less Samsung phone this year, it just might not be the FE that’s in line for the chopping block.

Since then, we’ve heard from another source that the Galaxy S23 FE will land in July, August, or September, but only in select regions, with other places getting it later in the year or even in early 2024. So there’s slight disagreement on when the phone will land, but multiple sources point to a launch sometime in the second half of 2023. Though one source suggests it could slip into early 2024.

There’s no news yet on what the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE might cost, but the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE started at $699 / £699 / AU$999, so pricing for the new model might be similar. We’d be surprised if it was any less than that though.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE design and display

• Design will probably be similar to the Samsung Galaxy S23
• Likely to have a larger screen than the S23

We've now seen leaked Samsung Galaxy S23 FE renders – some of which you can see below – showing the possible design of the phone, and it looks a lot like the Samsung Galaxy S23, as you might expect.

But it actually looks even more like the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, complete with quite large bezels, and apparently around the same dimensions (of 158 x 76.3 x 8.2mm), along with the same 6.4-inch screen size.

Beyond that we're guessing, but based on past form the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE will probably have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning you can submerge it up to 1.5 meters deep in fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

However, it’s possible it will have a plastic back. The S21 FE did, but then so did the standard Samsung Galaxy S21, whereas the Galaxy S23 uses glass. So we’re uncertain whether Samsung will cut costs by switching to plastic or whether it will mirror the standard S23 here.

For the display, we’re almost certain that it will use AMOLED and have a 120Hz refresh rate, as there are no likely alternatives to that which wouldn’t be a step down from the S21 FE.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE cameras and battery

• Could have the same 50MP main camera as the Galaxy S23
• 12MP ultra-wide and 8MP telephoto (with 3x zoom) are also rumored
• Battery could be 4,500mAh with 25W charging

One early Samsung Galaxy S23 FE leak pointed to it having a 50MP main camera, which is likely to be the same 50MP sensor as the standard Galaxy S23 has.

Since then, we’ve heard the same spec from another source, while a third (leaker @Tech_Reve) also claimed the same, but added that it will have a 12MP ultra-wide camera, an 8MP telephoto (with 3x optical zoom), and a 12MP front-facing camera.

Those are similar camera specs to the standard Samsung Galaxy S23, but that phone’s telephoto camera uses a 10MP sensor.

As for the battery, we’ve only heard from one source with regards to capacity, but they claim that the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE will have a 4,500mAh battery, likely with 25W charging. That would be the same size and charging speed as the Galaxy S21 FE, and a larger capacity than the Samsung Galaxy S23. It’s likely to also support wireless charging, but there’s no news on that yet.

A subsequent posting on a South Korean certification website also shows off the supposed battery (as the model number aligns that the one thought to be associated with the S23 FE), although it doesn't verify the capacity. This development does, at least, add fuel to the fire surrounding the phone's impending release.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE specs and features

• Might use the same Exynos 2200 chipset as the Galaxy S22
• Could have 128GB/256GB of storage
• RAM is rumored to be a choice of 6GB and 8GB

If you were hoping the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE would have the same chipset as the Galaxy S23 then you might be out of luck, and this could be one of the biggest disappointments with this phone.

We’ve heard from both leaker @Tech_Reve and from SamMobile that it will have an Exynos 2200 chipset, and that every region will get that same chipset.

That’s the chipset used in some places by the Samsung Galaxy S22, so it’s getting on a bit now, and is significantly worse than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 found in the standard Galaxy S23. Though perhaps if Samsung uses this it will also help the company keep the price down.

Beyond that, both of these sources have also said the S23 FE will come with a choice of 128GB or 256GB of storage, and 6GB or 8GB of RAM.

It’s likely based on the S21 FE that the available combinations will be 6GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB, but no details on that have been leaked yet. It’s also a safe bet that the phone will support 5G, and have an under-display fingerprint sensor.