Samsung has expanded its Galaxy S25 lineup with the launch of the Galaxy S25 FE, a new Fan Edition starting at ₹59,999. Positioned as the more affordable entry in the series, the Galaxy S25 FE brings signature highlights like a triple-camera setup, AI-powered features, and a long-lasting battery, wrapped in a design that closely mirrors its premium siblings. However, there are other phones like the OnePlus 13s, Vivo X200 FE, and Pixel 10 to some extent offering better propositions. With Apple’s iPhone 16e arriving at a similar price point, the question is: Does the Galaxy S25 FE deliver enough to stand out within its own series and against the other rivals?
Design
The phone is big in size, but feels surprisingly light in hand at just 190 grams. The 7.4 mm slim frame makes it the thinnest FE device Samsung has made, and the moment I picked up the navy variant, the matte haze finish instantly impressed. It balances sophistication with practicality, resisting fingerprints better than the glossy finishes we’ve seen in some mid-premium phones. The silver sides with a bi-colour frame add contrast, a design cue that makes the FE stand apart within the S25 lineup while still carrying the floating camera array seen on the flagships.
Samsung has gone for durable construction here. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both sides, paired with an Armor Aluminium frame, gives a reassuring feel of sturdiness without making the phone bulky. The buttons are tactile, ports neatly aligned, and the stereo speaker sits at the bottom. The IP68 certification adds confidence, whether you’re caught in the rain or accidentally spill water on it. For a phone at this price, durability matters, and Samsung ticks that box convincingly.
Flip the device to the front, and you see why Samsung talks up the bezels. They’re slimmer than the S24 FE’s, making room for a more immersive viewing experience. The flat 6.7-inch panel looks uninterrupted and balanced; without the chunky forehead-and-chin effect some rivals still struggle with. In hand, it feels refined, like a smaller sibling of the Galaxy S25+ rather than a cut-down compromise.
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Display
Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel remains a class act. The 6.7-inch FHD+ screen supports up to 120 Hz refresh rate, making animations fluid and scrolling effortless. With Vision Booster in play, outdoor brightness feels notably improved from the S24 FE. I had no issues reading emails under harsh sunlight, and videos popped with richer contrast and sharp details. For anyone used to Samsung displays, this feels like home, vivid yet not over-saturated.
Compared with Apple’s iPhone 16e, the S25 FE pulls ahead in refresh rate and HDR handling, as the iPhone sticks with a 90 Hz display. Against the S24 FE, the jump is more subtle, but brightness and bezel refinement are tangible upgrades. Gamers and binge-watchers alike will appreciate the smoother transitions and deeper blacks. This is the kind of display that makes you linger on content longer than planned.
OS and AI
Running Android 16 with Samsung’s One UI 8 on top, the Galaxy S25 FE feels modern and polished. Samsung leans heavily on AI here, and the integration shows. From smarter gallery search that can identify objects in images, to live transcription and translation, the phone brings features that go beyond cosmetic tweaks. The AI ProVisual engine works across apps, boosting visual clarity in real time whether you’re editing photos or streaming videos.
Compared with the S24 FE, this feels like a generational leap. Last year’s model had Samsung’s early AI additions, but the S25 FE makes them practical and less gimmicky. Tasks like summarising notes or extracting text from screenshots feel faster and more reliable.
Performance
The Galaxy S25 FE runs on Samsung’s Exynos 2400, a deca-core processor with peak speeds of 3.2 GHz. It’s a significant bump from the S24 FE’s Exynos 2200, and the difference is immediately noticeable. In daily use, the phone never stuttered , whether it was juggling social media apps, streaming 4K video, or editing photos. Paired with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage on the review unit, it feels more than enough for everyday tasks.
Gaming is where the Exynos 2400 flexes its muscle. Hardware-based ray tracing and a larger vapour chamber keep graphics crisp without overheating the device. I tried playing Call of Duty: Mobile and Genshin Impact at high settings, and both ran consistently smooth, holding their frame rates without dips. The GPU score of 13415 on benchmarks reflects this stability.
Speaking of benchmarks, the S25 FE posted strong numbers: 2109 single-core, 6843 multi-core, and an Antutu score of 2008232. Compared to other competitors like the OnePlus 13s, Vivo X200 FE, Pixel 10, the phone seems to come across as costly in terms of performance and power. Within its own family, the S25 FE is a step below the Galaxy S25 Ultra but far from underpowered, it delivers more than enough for most power users.
What impressed me most was consistency. The phone held performance even during extended gaming sessions. Samsung’s thermal management has clearly improved over the S24 FE, which tended to heat up faster. For anyone worried about throttling, this FE model offers reassurance.
Camera
Samsung has given the S25 FE its best Fan Edition camera system yet. The triple rear setup: a 50 MP wide, a 12 MP ultrawide, and an 8 MP telephoto, covers all bases, and the results are consistently excellent. Daylight shots came out sharp, with natural colours that avoided the over-processing trap. AI involvement is subtle; it fine-tunes colour and sharpness without distorting reality. What you see is what you get, only clearer.
Galaxy S25 FE camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan
Night photography stood out as well. The larger sensor combined with AI processing delivered bright, detailed images without the excessive grain you’d expect. Streetlights and neon signs were captured with accurate exposure, and shadows maintained depth without being crushed. It feels like a big leap over the S24 FE’s night mode, which sometimes struggled with light flare.
Galaxy S25 FE camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan
Portrait shots came through with creamy bokeh and precise edge detection, even with challenging subjects like hair strands. Samsung has clearly refined its depth mapping, and the results feel closer to the S25 and S25+ flagships. Compared with the iPhone 16e, the S25 FE offers more flexibility thanks to the telephoto lens, something Apple’s entry model skips.
Galaxy S25 FE camera sample
| Photo Credit:
Haider Ali Khan
The front 12 MP camera deserves praise too. Selfies came out crisp with accurate skin tones, even in mixed lighting. It doesn’t oversoften textures, which makes the images more authentic. Video recording at up to 8K 30fps is available, though I found 4K 60fps to be the sweet spot for both quality and stability.
If I had to pick one highlight of the S25 FE, it would be the camera system. It doesn’t just perform well, it consistently impresses, making it the star feature of the phone.
Battery
The Galaxy S25 FE packs a 4,900 mAh battery, which is a healthy step up from last year’s 4,500 mAh unit. In real-world use, it lasted a full day and a half with moderate use, and even with heavy gaming and camera use, I comfortably got through a day. Samsung’s optimization clearly helps, especially with the Exynos 2400 running more efficiently than its predecessor.
Charging is capped at 45W wired, enough to get the phone from 0 to 65% in about 30 minutes. It isn’t industry-leading, but it’s practical and reliable. Compared to the iPhone 16e’s slower charging, Samsung offers an edge here. Wireless charging support rounds out the experience, making the battery setup one of the most balanced in this segment.
Verdict
Priced at ₹59,999, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE stands strong on AI integration, refined performance, and a stellar camera system. It feels premium in design, delivers smooth gaming, and offers one of the best camera experiences in its price class. But for Samsung, convincing users at this price will be a challenge. The mid-premium segment has become fiercely competitive, with several brands offering compelling options at lower prices. While the S25 FE lives up to the Fan Edition promise of flagship features in a more affordable package, the value equation isn’t as clear-cut this year. Samsung delivers quality, but to win over more buyers, a sharper price would have made the case stronger.