The brand new $600 Galaxy S23 FE looks bad next to the Pixel 8 and Nothing Phone 2 right now, but you should buy it for this reason (only).
Galaxy S23The S23 FE is a bizarre mix between Samsung’s Galaxy S22 flagship (from last year) and the mid-range Galaxy A54, yet it still carries the “S23” name, and perhaps the easiest argument against it would indeed be the Galaxy S22, which runs on the same chip; has a pretty identical camera setup, and looks far more premium thanks to the thinner display borders.
, I’ve learned my lesson since the launch of the Galaxy S21 FE, and I’m not going to tell you the Galaxy S23 FE is “a pointless phone”, because it isn’t. And if you know and to pull the trigger and buy one, you might just be getting one of the best smartphone deals of the year!
Samsung’s affordable Galaxy S23 FE flagship doesn’t look great next to the closest competition from Google and Nothing right now
Disclaimer: This isn’t meant to be a detailed comparison between the and its closest competitors, but there’s no way I can judge the S23 FE in isolation, so let’s see how it stacks up against the Google Pixel 8, and Nothing Phone 2 in my opinion…If you’re in a hurry, here’s the quick summary:
The Pixel 8 will have a better display than both the Galaxy S23 FE and Nothing Phone 2 (if you don’t mind the smaller size)
Day-to-day performance should be pretty identical across all phones, since all of them offer roughly the same raw power; the Nothing Phone 2 should be the most reliable phone for heavier tasks, like gaming
Battery life should also be more or less similar, but will vary depending on your usage; our tests show the Nothing Phone 2 should give you an extra hour of use overall
Camera performance should go to the Pixel 8, with the Galaxy S23 FE in second place and the Nothing Phone 2 in third; unsurprisingly, Google’s expert image processing helps the Pixel excel in the camera department despite only having two cameras
Pixel 8 leaves the Galaxy S23 FE and Nothing Phone 2 far behind in terms of software support with pretty much double the amount of updates you’ll get (if you keep the phone for seven years, and if Google does indeed deliver on its promise)
Galaxy S23 FE: Why Samsung’s most bizarre smartphone release in 2023 might turn out to be one of the best deals of the year (if you’re patient) The makes you wonder… If Samsung isn’t trying to make the best phone in the “affordable flagship” segment… What is the company trying to achieve? Recycle old parts? Keep the Galaxy hype going until the Galaxy S24 is out? Or simply put out a new phone for the holiday season?All/none of the above can be true, but I’m still glad the exists, and that’s because it’s going to be the perfect affordable flagship to buy on sale! Just like the .
