Galaxy S25 FE vs Galaxy S24 FE: What’s new and should you upgrade?

Galaxy S25 FE vs Galaxy S24 FE: What’s new and should you upgrade?

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?

$249
⁹⁹

$709
⁹⁹

$460 off (65%)

Samsung is offering its all-new 256GB Galaxy S25 FE with a free storage upgrade, saving you $60. In addition, you can trade in an eligible device to save up to an extra $400. This is the perfect choice if you want a powerful phone without overspending, so act fast and save now!

This offer is not available in your area.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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

Battery Life and Charging

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.

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

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

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!

View Full Bio

Aleksandar is a tech enthusiast with a broad range of interests, from smartphones to space exploration. His curiosity extends to hands-on DIY experiments with his gadgets, and he enjoys switching between different brands to experience the latest innovations. Prior to joining PhoneArena, Aleksandar worked on the Google Art Project, digitizing valuable artworks and gaining diverse perspectives on technology. When he’s not immersed in tech, Aleksandar is an outdoorsman who enjoys mountain hikes, wildlife photography, and nature conservation. His interests also extend to martial arts, running, and snowboarding, reflecting his dynamic approach to life and technology.

Read the latest from Aleksandar Anastasov

Source link

Galaxy S25 FE vs Galaxy S24 FE: What’s new and should you upgrade?

Galaxy S25 FE vs Galaxy S24 FE: What’s new and should you upgrade?

Intro

Galaxy S25 FE 256GB: Save up to $460 at Samsung!