A confusing addition to the lineup

Samsung’s managed to confound me for the second straight year. The Galaxy S25 FE occupies an odd spot in the company’s smartphone lineup.

It’s not an easy device to recommend on launch, yet it’ll be an excellent choice for many people later in the year.

The Galaxy S25 FE is a bizarre mix of premium hardware and obvious compromises, wedging itself between the Galaxy A56 and the Galaxy S25+.

Samsung’s midrange lineup is already confusing enough, even without the addition of the Galaxy S25 FE.

I struggle to understand who the device targets and which need it fills in the marketplace.

Is it for people who want the premium feel of the Galaxy S25+ without spending a few dollars more? Is it for people who like the Galaxy A56, but need a touch more power?

Neither one of these makes sense for most people. I may like the Galaxy S25 FE, but Samsung makes it impossible to buy one.

Specs that don’t belong on either side of the fence

The OnePlus 13R does it better

Samsung powering the Galaxy S25 FE with an Exynos 2400 makes more sense than I originally thought.

It’s already featured in the equally bizarre Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. And putting an Exynos 2500 chipset would raise the price even further.

Samsung is pushing Exynos chipsets wherever it can, and it’s the equivalent of OnePlus putting a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the OnePlus 13R.

Unfortunately for Samsung, the OnePlus 13R is a better device.

We can argue over software, and I’ll concede that One UI is still better than OxygenOS. However, that’s where the advantages stop.

I’ll take the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset over the Exynos 2400, and the OnePlus 13R features 12 or 16GB of RAM compared to 8GB in the Galaxy S25 FE.

The OnePlus 13R also features a massive 6,000mAh battery and 80W wired charging, figures Samsung can’t match.

The company talked about increasing the battery size of the Galaxy S25 FE to 4,900mAh, but that seems insignificant by comparison.

If you’re a gamer or heavy user on a budget, the OnePlus 13R is your choice.

Pricing makes the Galaxy S25 FE a difficult choice

Even if you love Samsung, there are other options

I mentioned that the OnePlus 13R is cheaper than the Galaxy S25 FE, but I admit that OnePlus devices aren’t for everyone.

Even Samsung’s lineup offers attractive alternatives. The Galaxy S25+ is routinely on sale for $750 to $800, with carrier deals making those prices even more attractive.

It’s an objectively better phone than the Galaxy S25 FE, with more power and improved cameras.

It’s not fair to compare the initial MSRP of the Galaxy S25 FE to the price of a phone that’s been out for eight months, but practical buying advice suggests people should consider picking up a Galaxy S25+.

There’s also a device below the Galaxy S25 FE that makes sense — the Galaxy A56.

For all the complaints I’ve had about Samsung this year, I love the Galaxy A56. It’s a fantastic blend of performance and value, and depending on how you use your phone, it’s a more enticing deal than the Galaxy S25 FE.

Its Exynos 1580 chipset provides smooth performance, and the Galaxy A56 has a gorgeous display.

I easily get two days of mixed use from a single charge, and it has a premium feel in the hand — everything you’d want from the Galaxy S25 FE, but for $150 less.

Galaxy AI isn’t ready for prime time

Stop telling me it adds value to phones

I praised Google for its Gemini improvements on the Pixel 10 series. The company has changed its AI philosophy, so I no longer need to decide which tools to use to get the benefits.

Features like Magic Cue work in the background, and I love the more passive approach to AI. More importantly, it works. Google actually shipped the enhancements it promised.

Galaxy AI is in a much different state. I recently got a demo of some new features on the Galaxy Tab S11 devices with Galaxy AI, and yes, there are legitimately impressive functions that work well.

However, those still aren’t reasons why you’d pick one up, and absolutely not a justification for charging more for a device.

Like last year, Samsung’s presentation of the Galaxy S25 FE focused heavily on its full suite of Galaxy AI capabilities. That’s fantastic, but that shouldn’t be why the phone costs $650.

Yes, it does include more AI functionality than the Galaxy A56, but I don’t notice the difference.

Galaxy AI hasn’t proven its worth in filling a role in my life, and until Samsung can demonstrate that, I’m not paying more for it.

The Galaxy S25 FE is a phone without a home

None of what I’m saying means the Galaxy S25 FE is a bad phone. The Galaxy S24 FE was an excellent device, with smooth performance and a gorgeous display — I expect more of the same from the Galaxy S25 FE.

However, there are better options that make more sense for the money, even in Samsung’s lineup.

Unless you’re getting one on a fantastic sale, Samsung makes it impossible to buy the Galaxy S25 FE.

SoC

Exynos 2400 Deca-Core (4nm)

RAM

8GB

Storage

128GB

Battery

4,900mAh

Operating System

Android

Dimensions

161.3 x 76.6 x 7.4mm

The SE25 FE offers an affordable alternative to the main flagship line, offering the same beautiful display for less.