Galaxy S25 FE vs Galaxy S24 FE: What’s new and should you upgrade?
It’s not a reinvention, but the Fan Edition formula might be getting just enough polish to stay relevant.
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase from the links on this page.
Intro
Samsung’s Fan Edition phones have always walked the line between flagship and midrange, offering a premium feel without the ultra-premium price. Last year’s Galaxy S24 FE was already one of the best $649 phones around. Now, the Galaxy S25 FE comes in at the exact same price — but it’s slimmer, lighter, and faster, with a bigger battery, quicker charging, and a sharper selfie camera.
It doesn’t reinvent the FE formula, but after five years of iteration, it feels like Samsung has finally perfected it. The S25 FE is designed to take on the Pixel 9a and iPhone 16e, while staying just far enough from the Galaxy A-series to keep its edge. So how does it compare to its predecessor, and is it worth upgrading?
Galaxy S25 FE vs Galaxy S24 FE differences:
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy S24 FE |
|---|---|
| Slimmer, lighter body: 190 g | Bulkier: 213 g |
| Exynos 2400: Faster and more efficient chip | Exynos 2400e |
| 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| 12 MP selfie camera | 10 MP selfie |
| 6.7" AMOLED, 60/120Hz | 6.7" AMOLED, 60/120Hz |
| ~1900 nits peak brightness | 1900 nits peak brightness |
| 45W wired charging | 25W wired charging |
| 25W wireless charging | 15W wireless charging |
| $649 | $649 |
Table of Contents:
Design and Size
Slimmer, lighter, more polished
The Galaxy S25 FE looks nearly identical to the S24 FE at first, but in-hand it feels somewhat different. Samsung shaved the thickness down to 7.4 mm (from 8 mm), but what makes a bigger difference is the trimmed weight, which is just 190 g, making it far easier to carry around than last year’s hefty 213 g model.
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy S24 FE |
|---|---|
| Thickness 7.4 mm | Thickness 8 mm |
| Dimensions 161.3 x 76.6 | Dimensions 162 x 77.3 |
| Weight 190 grams | Weight 213 grams |
The bezels are a hair thinner, the camera rings are larger, and the overall look feels more in line with the rest of the Galaxy S25 family. Materials are the same: armored aluminum frame + Gorilla Glass Victus+, with IP68 protection. It feels premium, very close to the Galaxy S25+.
Colors this year are Icyblue, Jetblack, Navy, and White, with Icyblue standing out as the most striking.
As always, there’s no charger in the box — just a USB-C cable, SIM tool, and paperwork.
Colors this year are Icyblue, Jetblack, Navy, and White, with Icyblue standing out as the most striking.
As always, there’s no charger in the box — just a USB-C cable, SIM tool, and paperwork.
Display Differences
Image by PhoneArena
Samsung is sticking with a 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel, capable of either 60 Hz or 120 Hz refresh. It’s not LTPO, so no adaptive scaling like you’ll find on Galaxy S25 or Ultra models, but the performance feels smooth in daily use.
Brightness appears unchanged at around 1900 nits peak, which is still strong for the price point, even if it doesn’t move the bar higher than last year.
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy S24 FE |
|---|---|
| Size 6.7" | Size 6.7" |
| Brightness 1900 nits (peak) | Brightness 1900 nits (peak) |
Colors are vivid, contrast is excellent, and outdoor visibility is good, though we’ll wait for our lab tests to see if calibration has improved from the S24 FE, which sometimes skewed too warm.
Biometrics remain unchanged: fast in-display fingerprint scanner and basic face unlock.
Biometrics remain unchanged: fast in-display fingerprint scanner and basic face unlock.
Performance and Software
Upgrade to Exynos 2400 + more RAM
This is where the S25 FE pulls away. The Exynos 2400e inside the S24 FE was already solid, but the new phone gets the full Exynos 2400 with a larger vapor chamber for better sustained performance. Benchmarks in our hands-on show it beating both the Pixel 9a’s Tensor G4, while also staying cooler than before.
RAM is still 8 GB standard across all models, and storage options remain 128 / 256 / 512 GB with UFS 4.0.
RAM is still 8 GB standard across all models, and storage options remain 128 / 256 / 512 GB with UFS 4.0.
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy S24 FE |
|---|---|
| Chip Samsung Exynos 2400 | Chip Samsung Exynos 2400e |
| Process 4nm | Process 4nm |
| RAM, Storage 8/128 GB 8/256 GB 8/512 GB LPDDRX5 RAM UFS 4.0 storage | RAM, Storage 8/128 GB 8/256 GB 8/512 GB LPDDRX5 RAM UFS 4.0 storage |
The S25 FE launches with Android 16 and One UI 8, which brings Galaxy AI into the fold. Features include:
And of course, 7 years of software support — updates until 2032.
- Now Bar: live lock screen hub with notifications, music, routines
- Now Brief: daily summary (traffic, calendar, fitness)
- Circle to Search integration
- Gemini Live + 6 months Google AI Pro plan
And of course, 7 years of software support — updates until 2032.
Also read: Galaxy S25 FE vs Galaxy S23 FE
Camera
Same triple system, but with sharper selfies
Image by PhoneArena
Samsung has kept the same rear camera hardware for the back of the phone, so performance should be nearly identical to the S24 FE: sharp, colorful shots from the main, solid 3x zoom, weaker ultra-wide detail.
The upgrade comes at the front, where there is a new 12 MP selfie camera that replaces the 10 MP one from the S24 FE. We expect to see sharper, clearer shots and better low-light performance.
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy S24 FE |
|---|---|
| Main 50 MP, f/1.7 24 mm 1/1.57" sensor size | Main 50 MP, f/1.7 24 mm 1/1.57" sensor size |
| Ultrawide 12 MP, f/2.4 13 mm 123 FOV 1/3.0" sensor size | Ultrawide 12 MP, f/2.4 13 mm 123 FOV 1/3.0" sensor size |
| Telephoto 8 MP, f/2.4 75 mm 3X zoom 1/4.4" sensor size | Telephoto 8 MP, f/2.4 75 mm 3X zoom 1/4.4" sensor size |
Main Camera
Ultra-Wide Camera
Zoom Quality
Selfie
Battery Life and Charging
More juice, faster charging
Image by PhoneArena
The S25 FE adds 200 mAh more battery for a total of 4,900 mAh. That doesn’t sound like much, but combined with efficiency gains from the full Exynos 2400, it could push the battery life past the S24 FE’s already decent 6h 20m we got during our tests.
Charging is the real leap, though. Wired charging has jumped from 25W to 45W, while wireless from 15W to 25W. Samsung says you’ll get 65% in 30 minutes, which is a big deal considering the previous generation.
Charging is the real leap, though. Wired charging has jumped from 25W to 45W, while wireless from 15W to 25W. Samsung says you’ll get 65% in 30 minutes, which is a big deal considering the previous generation.
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy S24 FE |
|---|---|
| Battery size 4,900 mAh | Battery size 4,700 mAh |
Charging speeds 45W wired 25W wireless charging USB-C 3.2 | Charging speeds 25W wired 15W wireless charging USB-C 3.2 |
Specs Comparison
Here's a quick overview of the Galaxy S25 FE vs Galaxy S24 FE specs:
| Galaxy S25 FE | Galaxy S24 FE |
|---|---|
| Size, weight 161.3 × 76.6 × 7.4 mm, 190 g | Size, weight 162 x 77.3 x 8 mm, 213g |
| Screen 6.7" OLED 120Hz | Screen 6.7" OLED 120Hz |
| Processor Exynos 2400 4nm | Processor Exynos 2400e 4nm |
| Versions: 12/128 GB 12/256 GB 8/512 GB LPDDR5X | Versions: 8/128 GB 8/256 GB 8/512 GB LPDDR5X |
| Cameras: 50 MP main 12 MP ultra-wide 8 MP 3x zoom 12 MP front | Cameras: 50 MP main 12 MP ultra-wide 8 MP 3x zoom 10 MP front |
| Battery: 4900 mAh | Battery: 4700 mAh |
| Charging: USB-C 45W wired 25W wireless | Charging: USB-C 25W wired 15W wireless |
Summary
The Galaxy S25 FE doesn’t look dramatically different from the S24 FE, but Samsung has smoothed out the rough edges. It’s lighter, faster, charges much quicker, and takes better selfies, all while keeping the same $649 price. The Exynos 2400 chip adds extra performance headroom, while the bigger 4,900 mAh battery with 45W wired charging makes the phone more convenient and modern.
If you already own the S24 FE, you don’t need to upgrade — the core experience is very similar, at least not judging by the specs and our short time with the phone. But things might change when we get to do our battery life tests on the new model. If it gets more than 30 minutes of estimated battery life, that just might be enough for those who value that aspect.
Besides the faster charging and potentially longer battery life, though, my favorite change is that the phone is much lighter than its predecessor now. Weight is an underrated part when it comes to picking your phone, as it matters a lot if you spend a good amount of time on it. I often watch video content but also read occasionally on my phone, so a lighter body does have a positive effect on my experience.
Stay tuned for detailed test result comparisons and sample photos from both phones!
Follow us on Google News
![If you woke up to SOS mode on your Verizon phone, you weren't alone [UPDATED]](https://m-cdn.phonearena.com/images/article/174761-wide-two_350/If-you-woke-up-to-SOS-mode-on-your-Verizon-phone-you-werent-alone-UPDATED.webp)
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: