Samsung’s Latest ‘Fan Editions’ Offer Flagship Features at More Affordable Prices for Galaxy S23, Tab S9, and Buds
Samsung’s FE series returns after a one-year hiatus and introduces some exciting additions to the lineup. The Galaxy S23 FE brings us the expected “flagship value” smartphone specs, now at a more reasonable $599, a welcome change from the $699 of its predecessor, the S21 FE. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE boasts impressive water and dust resistance, though it opts for an LCD panel instead of OLED, all for a wallet-friendly $449, as opposed to the standard S9’s starting price of $799. And the Galaxy Buds FE offers active noise cancellation for just $99.
Samsung seems to have learned from the pricing mistake of the S21 FE, which accurately mirrored the standard price of the S21. This year’s entry retains the core features, including a 6.4-inch 120Hz OLED display and full IP68 water and dust resistance – features not generally found on mid-range Galaxy A devices.
But there’s more to the story this time – the fun is back! The S23 FE is available in various vibrant colors including mint, cream, graphite, and purple. For those who prefer to order directly from Samsung’s website, indigo and tangerine options are also on the table.
Under the hood, the S23 FE packs 8GB of RAM and the previous generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, which, while not known for its battery efficiency, is a generation behind the current 8 Gen 2. The device still boasts wireless charging and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens a complementary 50-megapixel main and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera on the rear panel – features that are rare in mid-range smartphones.
As for the Galaxy Buds FE, their design is reminiscent of Samsung’s earlier Galaxy Buds Plus and offers up to six hours of playback with active noise cancellation. They’re IPX2 rated, similar to the standard Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, making them resistant to minor water exposure, though they’re not designed for heavy rain or submersion. Unfortunately, there is no wireless charging option and the color palette is rather conservative, featuring graphite and white.
The Tab S9 FE comes in two sizes: one with a 10.9-inch screen and the other, the S9 FE Plus, with a 12.4-inch display. Both tablets use LCD technology, unlike the standard S9 series which features OLED panels, and refresh at 90Hz instead of 120Hz. Instead of the Qualcomm processor found in the regular S9, the FE tablets opt for the Exynos 1380 chipset. Still, both models include an S Pen stylus in the box and offer a full IP68 rating. Color options for these tablets include grey, mint, silver, and lavender.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is set to launch on October 26 and will feature 128GB of storage. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Buds FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE, and S9 FE Plus will be available from select carriers from October 5 and through Samsung’s website from October 10.
