Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Graphite 128GB

A near-flagship camera and build in a phone that's allergic to heavy gaming. Buy it for the photos, not the frame rates.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a chip with a reputation, and not a great one. It's snappy enough for everyday tasks, but push it with a demanding game and you'll feel the phone heat up while the frame rate dips. Our database puts its gaming chops at a mediocre 54.4 out of 100, which is a real weak spot. For everything else, the 8GB of RAM keeps things smooth. Just don't expect it to be a cool-running gaming beast, because it's not.

The S23 FE sits in a weird spot. The Google Pixel 10a will likely beat it on camera consistency and software updates, while the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro offers a cleaner, more unique software experience. If you're after raw power, the realme GT 7 Pro with its newer chip smokes the FE in gaming. The S23 FE's main selling point is that it feels more premium in the hand than any of those, with a level of polish and water resistance the others often skip. You're trading peak performance for a more luxurious in-hand feel.

Pricing for this phone is all over the map, with a wild spread from $237 to an absurd $9481 across vendors. Ignore the crazy high end. If you can snag one in the $400-$500 range, it's a solid deal for the camera and build quality alone. The real value sweet spot is finding a "like new" unit from a reputable seller, which gets you a near-flagship experience for mid-range money.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is the phone you buy when you want 90% of the flagship experience without selling a kidney. It's got the same fresh design language as the main S23 line, a genuinely great camera system, and an IP68 rating that means it'll survive a dunk in the sink. The big compromise is the processor. Samsung stuck a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in here, and while it's fine for daily scrolling, it runs warm and chews through the 4500mAh battery faster than we'd like. Think of it as a camera and build quality champ that asks you to be a little patient with its battery life.

If you're a mobile gamer or someone who constantly pushes their phone to the limit, this isn't it. The chip runs hot and the gaming performance is a real weak spot. Go get a realme GT 7 Pro or a dedicated gaming phone instead.

The Galaxy S23 FE is a charming phone with a split personality. It has a brilliant camera and a truly premium build that makes it a joy to hold, but it's held back by a hot-running processor and battery life that's merely average. If your priority is a great camera and a phone that feels expensive, and you don't game much, this is a fantastic choice. If you're a power user or gamer, look elsewhere.