The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE — short for “Fan Edition” — aims to deliver the company’s premium feel at a more approachable price. Does it succeed? For the most part, yes.
Samsung introduced the FE line several years ago, and the formula hasn’t changed much. The idea is simple: take last year’s Galaxy S flagship, tone down the camera or processor slightly, and sell it for about 15% to 25% less. This year, Samsung seems to have put in even less effort — the new S25 FE is nearly a copy-paste of last year’s S24 FE, with only a few minor tweaks.
What’s new this time?
The first thing you notice about the S25 FE is its size, design, and display. Like Samsung’s premium models, it feels high-end, with a sturdy aluminum frame (Armor Aluminum) borrowed from the S24 and Gorilla Glass Victus Plus protection.
The device is large, featuring a 6.7-inch screen — roughly the same as the pricier “Plus” model. That means plenty of space and an excellent viewing experience, though it might feel bulky for those who prefer compact phones. Despite its size, the S25 FE is thinner (7.4 mm compared with 8 mm) and lighter (190 grams versus 213 grams) than its predecessor. Build quality is excellent, with IP68 water and dust resistance.
The display refreshes at 120Hz and, as expected from Samsung, is a visual delight: bright, colorful, and easily among the best in its price range. However, it’s the same screen used in the S24 FE, so there’s nothing new here. The optical fingerprint sensor is less accurate than the ultrasonic version in the flagship models, but brightness reaches 1,900 nits — enough for clear visibility under Israel’s sun.
Performance and battery
Under the hood is Samsung’s Exynos 2400 processor, built on 4-nanometer technology. It’s not the latest (flagships now use 3nm chips), but it still delivers solid performance for most apps and games. It’s the same processor found in the regular S24 models — not a cut-down version like last year’s FE — so users can expect smooth performance for years to come, unless they’re heavy gamers.
Battery life has improved thanks to a larger 4,900 mAh cell, easily lasting a full day and sometimes more. Fast charging finally reaches 45W, a long-overdue upgrade for the FE line. Bluetooth has also been updated to version 5.4 from 5.3.
Cameras and software
To keep costs down, Samsung reused the same triple camera setup as the S24 FE: a 50-megapixel main lens, 12MP ultrawide, and 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. Daytime photos look great, but in low light or when zooming in, sharpness drops noticeably.
On the plus side, the selfie camera now uses the same 12MP sensor as Samsung’s flagship models, offering better results for selfies and TikTok videos. Overall, the camera setup gets the job done but won’t satisfy photography enthusiasts.
Out of the box, the S25 FE runs Android 16 with Samsung’s One UI 8.0. The interface remains polished and feature-rich, though juggling between Samsung and Google apps can still be annoying. The good news: some preinstalled apps can now be deleted.
Samsung promises seven years of software updates — a major selling point. The device also supports all of Samsung’s AI features, though Hebrew language support is still missing. Stability and localization are strong, with no awkward translations or glitches in the Israeli market.
Verdict: premium feel at a friendly price
The official Israeli retail price for the Galaxy S25 FE is around 2,550 shekels. For that, you get a large, sleek device with flagship-like performance, an excellent screen, long-term support, and a premium design — all at a slightly lower price. It’s easily Samsung’s best value pick for 2025.
Competition in this price range, however, is fiercer than ever. Xiaomi’s Poco F7 Ultra, available for roughly the same price through parallel import, offers stronger performance, a larger battery, and faster charging — though its software lags behind Samsung’s.
Another contender is Xiaomi’s 15T Pro, launched around the same time, which boasts better specs for a similar parallel import price. OnePlus’s 12R also rivals the FE with comparable performance, a slightly older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and a somewhat better camera.
Surprisingly, Samsung’s own Galaxy S24 Plus from last year is also a serious rival. It uses the same processor but delivers far superior camera quality, and can often be found for about 2,500 shekels via parallel import.
In the end, the S25 FE stands out for its reliability, long-term software updates, and easy servicing — advantages that come with owning a Samsung device in Israel. For those seeking a well-built, familiar phone with local support, it’s a safe bet. But if you’re chasing performance or camera innovation, the competition might tempt you elsewhere.