Samsung S25 FE Review: Lighter Build, Bigger Battery, Better Value

When Samsung introduced the new Fan Edition this year, many people wondered whether it would truly justify its existence in a crowded lineup. After spending over 100 hours with the Samsung S25 FE, I can confidently say this is the most polished FE device Samsung has released so far. It feels like the company has finally found the sweet spot between premium design, powerful performance, and user-focused features, while still keeping the cost below its flagship siblings.

In this review, I’ll break down my experience with the phone from its lighter design to performance, display quality, cameras, and software. If you’re wondering whether this is worth upgrading from the S24 FE or even worth buying over the more expensive S25 models, stay with me until the end.

Design and Build Quality

At first glance, you immediately know this is a Samsung phone. The clean glass and metal sandwich design with three vertical camera rings is instantly recognizable. But the real surprise is how much lighter and slimmer it feels compared to its predecessor.

The S24 FE weighed 215 grams and had an 8mm thickness, which often made it feel bulky. The S25 FE trims that down to 190 grams and just 7.4mm thick. Holding it in hand, the difference is instantly noticeable. Despite the slimmer build, Samsung has not compromised on durability. You still get Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on both sides and an aluminum frame that feels solid. Add in an IP68 rating, and this device can withstand daily challenges easily.

Interestingly, the slim profile hides a bigger battery. Samsung has managed to fit in a 4900mAh cell, an upgrade of 200mAh over last year. And for the first time in the FE series, wireless charging is included as a welcome addition that makes the phone feel closer to the flagship experience.

Display Experience

Samsung’s display quality has always been top-tier, and the S25 FE is no exception. It sports a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. While it’s technically the same display as the S24 FE, Samsung has made some refinements.

The bezels are now 26% slimmer, making the phone feel more immersive when watching videos or gaming. Peak brightness reaches 1,900 nits, which means the screen is clearly visible even under direct sunlight. HDR support for Netflix and YouTube is excellent, and colors are punchy in vivid mode while looking more natural if you switch to the calibrated profile.

Samsung has also included an optical in-display fingerprint scanner, which works reliably, and haptics that, while not on par with the Ultra model, still feel sharp and responsive. Stereo speakers tuned with Dolby Atmos complete the multimedia experience, delivering clear and loud sound for both movies and games.

Performance and Gaming

Performance has always been an area where FE models received mixed reactions, but this year Samsung has made noticeable improvements. The phone runs on the Exynos 2400, a slightly boosted version of last year’s chip, with a higher prime core clock speed.

There are three configurations available: 8GB RAM with 128GB storage, 8GB with 256GB, and 8GB with 512GB. The base model comes with UFS 3.1 storage, while the higher options get the faster UFS 4.0, which makes a difference in app loading and file transfers.

In my testing, benchmarks showed an improvement over the S24 FE, but real-world usage is what matters most. I played Genshin Impact for 30 minutes at the highest settings targeting 60fps. The phone averaged 58fps with no stutters, and surprisingly, it stayed cool at around 43°C thanks to a 13% larger vapor chamber and new liquid thermal materials. Samsung clearly listened to feedback about heating issues.

This combination of stable performance and effective cooling makes the phone reliable not just for casual users but also for gamers who want smooth performance without spending on the Ultra series.

Battery Life and Charging

The 4900mAh battery is one of the highlights of the S25 FE. In daily use, I was easily getting a full day of moderate to heavy use, with enough juice left at night. Samsung claims 28 hours of continuous video playback, and while I didn’t test that exact number, I can say this phone holds up well under long streaming or gaming sessions.

Charging has also been upgraded. The device now supports 45W wired charging, which is a major step up from the 25W speeds of the S24 FE. Wireless charging is capped at 15W, but the fact that it’s finally included is a win for FE fans.

Camera Performance

Samsung didn’t completely redesign the camera system here, but it made subtle and meaningful changes. On the back, you get a 50MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The front camera is upgraded to 12MP, and this makes a big difference in selfies and video calls.

Daylight photos from the main sensor are sharp, detailed, and vibrant, though slightly saturated in classic Samsung style. Low-light performance has improved, with better detail retention and less noise thanks to software optimizations and the Pro Visual Engine. Portraits look more natural now, with good edge detection and pleasing background blur.

The ultra-wide and telephoto sensors continue to deliver reliable results, though not at the same flagship level. The selfie camera, however, is the real star. The jump to 12MP means clearer photos with more accurate skin tones, and night mode selfies look surprisingly good.

For videos, you can shoot up to 8K, but I found 4K at 60fps to be the sweet spot. Stabilization is excellent, and Samsung’s instant slow-motion AI feature adds a fun twist to video editing.

Software and AI Features

Out of the box, the phone runs One UI 8 based on Android 16, and this might be one of its strongest selling points. Samsung has committed to seven years of OS and security updates, which is a level of support usually reserved for flagship devices.

One UI 8 brings plenty of customization features, but what really stands out are the AI tools. You get generative editing for photos, sketch-to-image creation, audio eraser, AI call assist, live translation, and note assist. Google’s Gemini AI is integrated, and Circle to Search is available even while gaming.

Samsung also bundles six months of Google AI Pro subscription and 2TB of free cloud storage, making this package even more attractive.

Final Verdict

After using the Samsung S25 FE extensively, I believe this is the most refined Fan Edition yet. It manages to cut down on unnecessary extras while delivering improvements in the areas that matter most: design, performance, battery, and camera.

The slimmer and lighter build makes it more comfortable to use daily. The upgraded battery with faster charging ensures you spend less time plugged in. Performance is smoother and more reliable, especially for gaming. And the new selfie camera makes this one of the best mid-premium phones for content creators and casual users alike.

Most importantly, you get the full flagship software experience with One UI 8 and years of updates guaranteed. While it won’t completely replace the Ultra or Plus models for power users, for most people this strikes the perfect balance of premium quality at a smarter price.

If you’re coming from the S24 FE, the improvements are enough to justify an upgrade. And if you’re considering your first FE model, this is the one that finally feels like a complete package.

See Also Galaxy S22 vs S24: A Real User’s Perspective

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