Samsung Galaxy S24 FE SM-S721UZKAXAA Graphite 128GB

A flagship experience at a fraction of the cost, as long as you can live with slow charging. Find it for under $450 and you've basically won.

The Exynos 2400e chip is the most interesting part of this phone. It's not a Snapdragon, and in our database, it lands in the 81st percentile for performance. That means it's well above average and handles everyday tasks and gaming without breaking a sweat, but it's not going to top the charts against a dedicated gaming phone or the latest iPhone Pro. What surprised us is how cool it runs. Samsung's vapor chamber does real work here, keeping the phone from turning into a hand warmer during a long Genshin Impact session. The 8GB of RAM is plenty for multitasking, though power users might feel the pinch a couple of years down the line.

The S24 FE's biggest headache is the Google Pixel 10a. The Pixel usually wins on camera processing and gets updates even faster, but the Samsung fights back with a more versatile zoom lens and a brighter display. Against the OnePlus 15, the S24 FE feels more polished and has a better software commitment, though the OnePlus will smoke it on charging speed. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is in a different tax bracket, but if you're even cross-shopping them, just know the Samsung's screen is just as good for daily use, even if the video recording isn't quite on the same level.

This is where the S24 FE gets interesting. The price spread across vendors is a wild $311, from $330 to $641. At the high end, you're flirting with used flagship territory, and it's a tougher sell. But at the low end, especially for a refurbished unit from Best Buy, this is an absolute steal. You're getting 90% of the flagship experience for half the price. Just make sure you're buying from a place with a solid return policy, and don't overpay. The sweet spot is anything under $450.

The Galaxy S24 FE is Samsung doing what it does best: taking the stuff people actually care about from the flagship S24 and putting it in a phone that doesn't cost a grand. You get a big, bright 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, a solid camera system with a proper 3x telephoto lens, and that classic IP68 build quality. The real headline here is value. This thing feels way more expensive than it is, especially if you snag it from a refurbished deal. Just don't expect the absolute fastest chip on the block, and you'll be very happy.

If you're a spec hound who needs the absolute fastest processor or you can't stand waiting over an hour for a full charge, this isn't your phone. Go get a OnePlus 15 with its insane 100W charging instead. And if you take a ton of video and want the best point-and-shoot experience, the Pixel 10a's video processing is still the one to beat.

Buy it if you find a good deal. The Galaxy S24 FE is the sensible choice for anyone who wants a premium phone without the premium price tag. The screen is fantastic, the camera is versatile, and the build quality is top-notch. The slow charging and base storage are annoying, but they're easy to forgive when you're saving hundreds of dollars. This is the phone to get for most people who just want something that works great and lasts a long time.