Samsung has been a leading player in the smartphone industry for years, and its Galaxy series is highly popular among consumers. The company’s FE lineup was introduced in 2020 as a cost-effective alternative to its high-end flagship devices. The first phone in the series, the Galaxy S20 FE, was well-received, offering near-flagship features at a slightly cheaper price point of $699. The phone won many awards from reviewers and brought Samsung’s flagship features to a slightly more affordable price point. In some countries, there were two variations of the phone available: a 4G model powered by the Exynos 990 chip and a 5G version featuring the Snapdragon 865 chip.
The successor to the S20 FE was the S21 FE, which was released in 2021. While it wasn’t the best option in the segment, it was still a solid choice. The S20 FE and S21 FE sold well, but Samsung did not renew the FE lineup for the S22 series. One possible reason for this is that Samsung wants to simplify its product portfolio. The 500-700$ price segment is profitable, but it does not offer the margins that can be achieved at over $1000.
One of the main reasons why the S21 FE did not sell well was its pricing. At $699, customers could get a Pixel 6, iPhone 12, and many other smartphones. As a result, the S21 FE did not stand out in the segment. Additionally, the S21, which was better in some ways, went down in price to nearly the same $699 tag. The S21 FE was too similar to the S21 and only came with the Exynos 2100 SOC.
Rising import/export taxes and the global chip shortage are other possible reasons why Samsung wanted to streamline its product portfolio in 2022. Having too many repetitive phones can also confuse consumers. Samsung wanted to sell more of its S22 lineup, which was released just a few weeks after the S21 FE.
Despite the discontinuation of the FE lineup for the S22 series, it does not necessarily mean that the iconic FE lineup is dead. There may be an S23 FE in 2023. It is worth noting that Samsung has not officially announced the release of an S23 FE, but there are some indications that it might be in the works.
One of the most significant indicators that there will be an S23 FE is the fact that Samsung has a pattern of releasing a new FE model every year. The first FE model, the S20 FE, was released in 2020, followed by the S21 FE in 2021. It is possible that Samsung will continue this pattern and release an S23 FE in 2023.
Another indication is that the S20 FE and S21 FE were both released in the fall, around September or October. If Samsung continues with this pattern, we might see the S23 FE release around the same time in 2023.
In conclusion, while Samsung did not renew the FE lineup for the S22 series, it does not necessarily mean that the lineup is dead. There may be an S23 FE in 2023, although Samsung has not yet announced it. The company’s decision to discontinue the FE lineup for the S22 series was likely due to various factors, including simplifying its product portfolio, rising import/export taxes, and the global chip shortage.
Report suggests Samsung may launch S23 FE in 2023
Samsung has reportedly plans to bring back the Fan Edition (FE) in 2023 after focusing on its S22 lineup and not releasing an S22 FE. The move is not surprising as the existing S20 FE and S21 FE users will not feel that their phones are outdated after just a few years, so there is no point in releasing a new phone with a unique model number. According to a Korean source, Samsung is planning to release an S23 FE and is expecting sales upwards of 3 million units.
At the February 2023 event, Samsung announced a partnership with Qualcomm, and the entire S23 lineup ships with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. The 8 Gen 2 in the S23 series features a slight overclock to the CPU and GPU, which is an exclusive deal to Samsung. Samsung has early access to what we will probably see as the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 later this year.
Samsung still has an Exynos 2300 in the works, according to reliable sources, which uses Samsung’s 4nm process with subtle refinements. That chip could power the upcoming Galaxy S23 FE. Samsung is not ending the Exynos chip line because they still make in-house chips that use their fabrication processes.
The S21 FE did not sell well, with one of the reasons being the pricing. The phone was too similar to the S21 and was not standing out in the 500-700$ segment, where there are many other good options. Also, the S21 went down in price to nearly the same $699 tag. This move was probably due to Samsung’s desire to simplify its lineup and focus on its more profitable high-end segment, which offers better margins than the 500-700$ segment.
Samsung’s FE lineup has proven to be a successful addition, providing top-of-the-line features at a more affordable price point. The initial phone in the series was highly praised by reviewers and showcased Samsung’s flagship capabilities at a more accessible cost. The popularity of the S20 FE and S21 FE models suggests that the FE lineup remains relevant and thriving.
In conclusion, Samsung may release the S23 FE, and it could be powered by the Exynos 2300. Samsung’s partnership with Qualcomm does not signify the end of Exynos because they still make in-house chips that use their fabrication processes. Samsung wanted to simplify its lineup and focus more on the high-end segment that offers better margins. However, the FE lineup was an excellent addition, and the S20 FE and S21 FE sold very well.
The end of the A7X series
Samsung’s A series includes devices ranging from under $200 to $500. However, the Galaxy A73 didn’t perform well compared to the S21 FE. The S series has a better software experience, with timely updates and additional features like DeX and Goodlock modules, while none of the A series phones except the Galaxy A90 5G have the DeX feature. As a result, people choose the FE lineup over the A series flagship phones, especially during sales when they are heavily discounted.
Samsung doesn’t offer heavy discounts on the A7X lineup, as profits aren’t as high in the sub-$500 segment. The A73 uses the 6nm 778G chip and has a 120Hz AMOLED display with a 108MP (OIS) primary sensor, but it was overpriced compared to the S21 FE. As a result, Samsung no longer sees the point in the A7X series and plans to end it in 2023, with the S23 FE expected to replace it.
Samsung’s existing lineup clashes
Samsung did not release an S22 FE in 2022 because there were not many features that could be trimmed down from the S22. The S21 FE had limited differences from the S21, which included a lack of a Snapdragon model and the use of an optical fingerprint scanner instead of an ultrasonic one. However, there were no significant distinctions in the cameras and performance of both models.
Samsung’s Exynos 2200 faced problems with heat management, battery life, and gaming, resulting in poor performance for the S22. Similarly, the Exynos 2100 on the S21 FE was not impressive. Therefore, producing an S22 FE with slightly weaker camera hardware and other minor downgrades would have been redundant.
Samsung chose to simplify its product lines and has discontinued the A7X series. The company plans to continue with its A, M, and F series without the A7X models for the time being. The A73 is one such model in the A series, but the absence of a telephoto camera makes it inferior to the A72.
Samsung may bring back the A7X series in the future when the lines between flagship midrange and entry-level flagship are less blurry. In the meantime, Samsung’s FE lineup may see heavy discounts during festive seasons, and people may choose to purchase an S series Samsung flagship instead of an A or M series due to the former’s better software experience, including timely software updates and Samsung’s best Goodlock modules and extras like DeX.
What could be the specs of the S23 FE?
Samsung’s upcoming S23 FE is expected to come with a FHD+ resolution, similar to the S23+ that costs $999. The device is anticipated to use Samsung’s Exynos 2300 SOC, built on the 4nm processing node. While the chip isn’t as efficient as a 3nm one, many investors are optimistic about Samsung’s upcoming 3nm node, as TSMC’s 3nm chips are facing delays due to a poor yield rate. However, it’s essential for Samsung’s Exynos 2300 to show improvements from its predecessor, the Exynos 2200, which faced thermal problems in 2023.
To make the FE cheaper, Samsung could swap out the glass back for a plastic one, which could reduce the device’s material cost and make it more durable. Although it’s been speculated that the phone will feature a 108MP primary sensor, it’s unclear if it will indeed use Samsung’s HM6 sensor. The device’s name is also uncertain, with sources providing conflicting information on whether it will be called the S23 FE or S22 FE.
There’s a chance that Samsung will leave the 500-799$ price segment blank, and rumors suggest that the S23 FE might be dead. However, there isn’t enough evidence to confirm this, and Samsung might have a replacement device in the works. Despite this, many are looking forward to the S23 FE’s release, which is expected to come with a 120Hz refresh rate and Samsung’s 4nm Exynos 2300 SOC.
S23 FE: Expected Price & Release Date
The Galaxy S23 FE is expected to be released in August 2023, with a speculated price of $599. As there are no reliable leaks on the price and release date, this is mere speculation. The phone was not announced at the February Galaxy Unpacked event to keep the focus on the S23 series. It is also unlikely that the phone will be launched with the foldable phones since it won’t fit with the marketing of the foldable phones.
Samsung may not host a standalone event for the FE, and there’s a possibility that we may see it with the Tab S9 series or the One UI 6 event later in the year, which will feature Samsung’s take on Android 14. With the A7X lineup mostly discontinued, the S23 FE is expected to start at $599, $100 more than what the A7X series usually launches at, but $100 less than what the FE lineup launches at. It is predicted that the phone will be priced at under $650.
