The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE reflects the brand’s continued effort to make flagship-grade features more accessible to its wider user base. While the Galaxy S series is often seen as the pinnacle of Android premium smartphones, it has typically remained out of reach for many loyal Samsung fans. The FE (Fan Edition) lineup was introduced to change that. It offers core high-end experiences while trimming some of the bells and whistles.
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
Rs 59,999
What Is Good?
- Dependable cameras in ample lighting
- Striking, lightweight design
- Perfect performance for convenient usage
- Seamless app-opening animations and nifty AI-powered features
- Bright, vibrant display
- Stereo speakers produce loud, rich music
What Is Bad?
- Better options in the market for performance-centric users
- Low-light camera performance needs adjustments
The Galaxy S25 FE stays true to this philosophy. It brings a balanced mix of performance and value by using the Exynos 2400 chipset from last year, a toned-down camera system, and a more affordable display panel. All without completely losing the essence of the Galaxy S experience.
That said, the mid-range flagship space is evolving fast. With Chinese manufacturers offering aggressive pricing and top-tier specs, the question is no longer whether the Galaxy S25 FE offers enough, but whether it offers something different. Can it still stand tall in a sea of lookalike contenders? Or is it time for Samsung to rethink what the “Fan Edition” truly stands for? Let’s find out what the device gets right in my review
Design and Build Quality
I’ve often assumed that expensive products, especially smartphones and watches, would feel heavier than their budget counterparts. That’s why the Galaxy S25 FE caught me off guard the moment I picked it up.
With its large screen and a price tag of ₹59,999, I expected a bit more heft, but it felt surprisingly light in the hand. Its slim profile only added to this impression, giving it a sense of lightness that I didn’t quite expect from a phone in this segment.
- Colour Options: Navy (reviewed), Black, and White
- Weight: 190g
- Thickness: 7.43mm
- IP Rating: IP68
- Port and Button Placements
- Bottom: Primary microphone, SIM Card tray, USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, and speaker grille
- Top: Secondary microphone and speaker
- Right side: Power button and volume button
However, I admit that using the Galaxy S25 FE for days has made me come around my age-old belief. Given that the device weighs 190 grams, it is convenient to use for hours. That said, the key player in changing my opinion was its polished aluminium frame, which lent it a luxurious feel. What it also does is it makes this handset feel sturdy to hold in my hand.
Another job well done on the list is the smartphone’s appearance. The brand has retained the same design language it had adopted for the Galaxy S23 series, and it is a smart move. If it isn’t broken, why fix it? The individual camera island with metallic bezels on the coloured, blank rear still looks as premium as before. However, I have a minor bone to pick with Samsung. The Navy variant, which I received, sneakily preserves substantial smudges and reveals them only when the light reflects on it. This whole oddity does sully the look of the Galaxy S25 FE. I hope Samsung addresses this issue and refines it in the subsequent generation, which I believe will truly enable them to take this timeless design to a new level.
Display and Audio Quality
Aside from the Galaxy S25 FE’s design, the display is undoubtedly the other essential aspect where the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” theory fits perfectly. In any video or movie I watched, I was consistently delighted by such detailed imagery. I could easily pick out the texture of someone’s face in certain videos.
Making this even perfect is the fact that each frame of an anime series like Dandadan appeared with such beautiful, saturated colours. I do want to highlight that the screen’s bezels are uneven on the Galaxy S25 FE, particularly the thicker chin. However, the spectacular picture quality effortlessly hides its presence away from the periphery.
- Size: 6.73-inch
- Type: Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolution: 1080×2340 pixels
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz
- Display Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
- Peak Brightness
- Claimed: 1900 nits
- Tested: 1610 nits
The display also gets quite bright when taken outdoors for a spin. So, anyone can get their fix of social media scrolling comfortably even when the sun is right above their heads.
However, what truly takes me by surprise about the Galaxy S25 FE is its stereo speakers. I play Sirra on this smartphone, and it sounds so rich. The music is loud, I can easily make out most instruments, and most importantly, I feel the vibe the music director intends to deliver. I listen to the same song on the OnePlus 13, but it struggles to produce a similar experience.
Performance and Software
So far, the Galaxy S25 FE achieves impressive streaks in the sections above. However, performance is where it unfortunately struggles to maintain them. The Exynos 2400, which first appeared in the Galaxy S24 lineup, continues to exhibit noticeable thermal behaviour in the Galaxy S25 FE. Day-to-day activities like browsing Instagram or streaming videos were handled effortlessly, but the device did start to heat up slightly under more demanding workloads.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| RAM | Up to 8GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | Up to 512GB UFS 4.0 |
| Storage Test | 65383 |
| CPU Throttling Test | 72 per cent of its max performance |
| Software Version | One UI 8, based on Android 16 |
| Connectivity Details | Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and Wi-Fi 6E |
| Number of Software Updates | Seven years of software updates and security patches |
I played BGMI on its lowest setting, expecting a 60fps smooth experience. On a sidenote, the Galaxy S25 FE is capable of running BGMI at 90+ fps, but currently, that option is not available. Coming back to the main topic, it delivered a smooth performance with no major frame drops. Even in an air-conditioned room, the Galaxy S25 FE began to warm up after around 20 minutes of gameplay. The temperature climbed further during the initial loading screen of Wuthering Waves, which was more noticeable than expected. Similarly, leaving the camera app open for over a minute also caused the phone to heat up noticeably.
In terms of benchmark numbers, the Galaxy S25 FE does fall short compared to similarly priced competitors.
On paper, it’s not the best pick for power users. That said, based on real-world usage, the phone holds up well for everyday tasks, making it a solid option for mainstream users who prioritise reliability over raw performance.
While performance leaves room for improvement, the software experience helps balance things out. One UI 8 on the Galaxy S25 FE feels responsive, loads apps quickly, and delivers smooth animations. It also offers a clean, visually appealing interface with plenty of useful features baked in.
If you have been keeping up with our reviews, you may be aware of how good our AI-powered image editing tools are. As reported in our Galaxy S25 Ultra review, it can instantly recreate a person’s face even when it is half-covered.
Even a simple “Erase Shadow” feature works flawlessly in eliminating one from any image. Moreover, the UI also offers the Good Lock app for those who want to customise every minute detail of the software based on their preference.
Camera
The Galaxy S25 FE features three cameras on the back, led by the 50-megapixel primary one. Among the entire setup, the primary and telephoto duo instantly charmed me with how good they photographed various scenarios in daylight.
Whether it was the haughty Roger Clown or a drowsy dog, they both captured such detailed images that I could effortlessly see stuff like individual hair strands or minor paint chips without putting much effort. Moreover, all photographs mostly retained their original, pleasant colours, albeit the Roger one slightly had boosted colours. They both maintained the balance between the darker and brighter parts of the image well.
| Cameras | Specifications |
| Primary camera | 50-megapixel, f/1.8 (OIS) |
| Secondary camera | 8-megapixel, ultra-wide, f/2.2 |
| Tertiary camera | 12-megapixel, telephoto, 3x optical zoom |
| Selfie camera | 12-megapixel, f/2.2 |
| Video capabilities | Up to 8K at 30fps for the primary camera, and up to 4K at 60fps for the front camera |
Portrait photos are not far behind in quality. Background separation and subject detection were consistently spot-on. Most importantly, the captured human skin tones were consistent with the original ones.
The ultra-wide lens delivers a colour profile that closely matches its two siblings, maintaining consistency across shots. However, its lower megapixel count does limit the level of detail, especially in more texture-heavy scenes.
At night, both the primary and telephoto cameras continue to perform well in well-lit environments, capturing sharp and pleasing images.
However, as lighting conditions drop, image quality takes a noticeable hit. Human subjects tend to appear slightly washed out, and finer details, such as fabric textures on shirts, often get lost in low light.
The front camera has a knack for capturing beautiful selfies rich in detail when there is ample lighting. However, it produces photos with somewhat reduced quality in low light.
Battery and Charging
Samsung has fitted a 4,900mAh battery inside the 7.4mm-thick Galaxy S25 FE. While this may seem like an impressive feat, Vivo has gone one step further and packed a 5,500mAh battery in a similarly thick T4 Ultra. However, what is remarkable about the Galaxy S25 FE is that it managed to outclass the latter by a huge margin in our PCMark Battery test.
It offered a satisfactory battery life during my time with the device. This was when I was constantly taking photos, watching videos, and playing rounds of BGMI. I got around seven hours of screen-on time with moderate use, but that dropped to about five hours when I pushed the phone with heavier tasks.Once depleted, I used a 120W PD charger to charge its battery in an hour and five minutes.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE shows that the brand has checked nearly all the right boxes in crafting a well-rounded smartphone at ₹59,999. Its display is vibrant and immersive, and the stereo speakers deliver rich, full-bodied sound. The software feels fast, visually clean, and loaded with useful features. The design also deserves praise for its sleek, familiar appeal that continues to stand out. However, a few minor shortcomings prevent the Galaxy S25 FE from truly dominating its segment.
While the Galaxy S25 FE handles everyday tasks with ease, even a slight increase in workload is enough to make it warm up. The cameras perform beautifully in daylight, delivering detailed and vibrant photos. However, when the lighting drops, their output takes a noticeable hit, with softer textures and reduced clarity.
Samsung comes close to delivering a flagship-like experience with the Galaxy S25 FE. However, alternatives like the Vivo X200 FE and last year’s Realme GT 7 Pro offer better overall value, whether you’re looking for a compact phone with standout cameras or one built purely for performance. That said, Samsung is known for offering strong deals on its devices, and once the Galaxy S25 FE sees a price cut, it is likely to become a compelling option for many buyers.
