Samsung Galaxy S25 FE review

Design

The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE mirrors the polished design of the S24 FE, but don’t be fooled; this updated model is lighter and faster, with the added benefit of a larger battery and better charging capabilities.

Samsung’s FE series are renowned for fitting flagship-grade features into a lighter, cheaper package and the S25 FE is no different. At just 7.4mm thick and weighing 190g, it looks sleek and sturdy on first impressions - it’s housed in Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Plus and Enhanced Armor Aluminium for a refined and robust feel. There’s the familiar elegant, rounded corners and vertical camera bar of the S24 FE to enjoy.

That elegance is reflected in the Navy, Jetblack, Icyblue and White colourways - although we were slightly disappointed not to see any bold and bright tones available too, like the Mint and Yellow colourways on offer with the S24 FE. That being said, Apple’s more affordable contender has also plunged for more neutral black and white tones with the iPhone 16e, so monochromatic tones are clearly having a moment.

In keeping with this more utilitarian feel, the matte finish on those neutral tones is there to improve grip – that's a nice update in contrast to the glossy finish of the S24 FE, which feels slightly less secure in your hand.

Aesthetics aside, this model comes with the same IP68 rating as its predecessors, which means it is fully dust-proof and can survive submersion in water of up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes.

Display

Bold and bright with a real sense of depth, the S25 FE has a premium-quality 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen that comes to life with the lightest touch of the responsive display. The non-obtrusive camera placement and the minimal bezels help maximise screen space, while rounded corners give the handset a touch of extra polish, while a bicolour enhanced aluminium frame works to make that big display feel more durable. Whether you’re scrolling social media or catching up on your favourite series on your commute, vibrant and clear visuals come as standard thanks to Vision Booster, which automatically adjusts your screen brightness depending on the environment you’re in. Paired with a peak brightness of 1,900 nits, we found it easy to text and switch between apps, even in direct sunlight.

Performance

The Samsung S25 FE boasts power and flagship performance that competes with much pricier models, making it excellent value if you want a phone made with multitasking and gaming in mind. Powered by the Exynos 2400 processor, the S25 FE delivers impressive thermal control and a smooth and responsive experience. It’s worth noting that this is the only phone in the S25 lineup to run on an Exynos 2400 processor, while the rest of the series uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite. This is where the savings have been made to make the S25 FE a more affordable device – but we didn’t notice any pitfalls in performance, and unless you’re a serial gamer running multiple apps, you’re unlikely to pick up on any issues day to day.

Samsung have squeezed in an adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate, too – an ingenious feature that lets you enjoy peak performance for the apps that need it without running down your battery. Text and scroll back through your photos with an automatically lowered refresh rate, and your device will intuitively amp it up when you’re doing more hardcore tasks like gaming or video calling.

Software and AI

Running on Android 16, the S25 FE can easily manage everything from intense gameplay to day-to-day video calls. Most impressively in our book, though, Android 16 greases the wheels to let Galaxy AI shine.

Samsung have gone all in on AI features in the S25 FE – we were impressed that the full range of tools are on offer in this more affordable model. Cleverly delivered via the brand-new One UI 8 interface, Galaxy AI now feels like a truly integral part of the Samsung S series line-up.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Samsung is unmatched when it comes to thoughtful AI features that genuinely make your life easier. The latest iteration is more intelligent still, even helping with tasks like offering advice on how to wash your clothes when you snap a photo of the label. There’s real-time transcription and note-taking assistance features to play with, as well as now-familiar favourites like Circle to Search that let you browse without leaving your current app. As a nice bonus, you’ll also get six-month access to the Google AI Pro Plan that comes with a host of clever Gemini features. Find out more in our Galaxy AI review.

Battery

One of our favourite features, the S25 FE’s 4,900mAh battery is a real contender for the all-day (and then some) battery life that much more expensive flagship phones include. There's quicker charging on offer too, with 65% battery in 30 minutes available with a wired charger. If you prefer a wireless boost, you can power up to 15W. Just bear in mind that this option will take you longer to get to a full charge.

Security

As usual, Samsung’s security features quietly pack a punch in the background. The S25 FE comes with an added layer of on-device security (Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection, otherwise known as KEEP) that makes sure your personal data stays personal. You also get access to a Secure Folder where you can store sensitive data behind a unique PIN. Any documents, photos or apps you want to keep to yourself are safely hidden behind closed doors.

The in-display optical fingerprint sensor is a reliable option if you’re paying by Samsung Wallet, and Face Unlock is fast and easy via the selfie camera. Extended security updates are on offer too, with 7 years of updates from launch.

Cameras

Samsung handsets – especially the latest releases like the Samsung S25 Ultra - are known for their excellent camera capabilities, and the S25 FE is no different. The triple-camera system makes it easy to take realistic, sharp and bright photos. A notable upgrade from the S24 FE, the 12MP selfie camera is a real highlight, capturing vivid shots with minimal effort on the photographer’s side. On top of this, you get an 8MP telephoto camera and a 12MP ultra-wide, with an excellently balanced 50MP main camera to boot.

We liked experimenting with automatic tweaks to colour balance and exposure – creating much more realistic shots than traditional editing techniques. Improved gyro EIS stabilisation means it’s easier to get a non-blurry shot as standard, even at night time or against those grey English skies. Get to the editing suite – easy to find thanks to the FE’s easy-to-use One UI 8 interface – and the excellent ProVisual Engine is there to work more magic, too. Generative Edit lets you remove any unwanted objects in your shot, while Generative AI handles straightening, resizing and post-processing for you. You’ll be left with beautifully bright, rich images that really can compete with professional cameras.

Summary

With an upgraded 12 MP front camera, a bigger battery and lighter design, the S25 FE is a great all-rounder that delivers a premium experience at an excellent price point. Want to learn more about Samsung’s latest offerings? Browse our Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 reviews.

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE FAQs