Another week, another contradictory rumor regarding the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE. The latest word is that the phone is still in the pipeline for launch later this year. The Korean firm reportedly plans to release the new Fan Edition (FE) device in the fourth quarter of 2023, i.e. between October and December. But it may ship the device with a two-generation old Exynos processor. SamMobile exclusively reports that the Galaxy S23 FE will be powered by the Exynos 2200, the same chipset that powered the Galaxy S22 series last year.
Samsung’s Fan Edition lineup may live on
Samsung introduced a new FE lineup of affordable flagship smartphones in late 2020 with the launch of the Galaxy S20 FE. The phone was a massive hit and the company followed up with the Galaxy S21 FE in January 2022. A semiconductor shortage in 2021 delayed the latter’s launch, affecting the business. It arrived with a higher price tag and debuted too close to the Galaxy S22 flagships. Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy S21 FE failed to replicate the success of its predecessor.
Soon, rumors were rife that Samsung will shelve the FE project less than two years after its inception. Following months of contradicting reports, the Galaxy S22 FE did end up canceled. Now, rumors about the Galaxy S23 FE are following a similar course. Some say the phone doesn’t exist while others say it will happen in late 2023. The latest report suggests the Korean tech behemoth’s FE lineup of low-cost flagships is still alive and kicking.
The Galaxy S23 FE may not be as attractive as the first-gen FE model, though. That’s because Samsung will reportedly ship it with the Exynos 2200 processor globally, including in the US. As said earlier, this chipset powered the Galaxy S22 series in some markets early last year. By the end of 2023, it will be almost two generations old. Worst yet, the chipset has had power efficiency and performance issues. Big enough for Samsung’s mobile division to go all in with Qualcommm’s snapdragon processors for the Galaxy S23 series this year.
This is at least the fifth different rumor about the Galaxy S23 FE’s chipset, though. Firstly, we heard that Samsung will use a MediaTek Processor inside this phone. Then rumors pointed to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Some even went on to claim that Samsung is readying the Exynos 2300 for the new phone. The gist of the story is that nothing is set in stone just yet. The very existence of the Galaxy S23 FE is still a point of contention. But if it materializes, below are some early specs of the phone.
Galaxy S23 FE rumored specs
According to the new report, the Galaxy S23 FE will bear the model number SM-S711x. It will feature a 50MP primary rear camera, which should be the same sensor found on the back of the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+. The chipset will be paired with 6GB and 8GB of RAM options, with 128GB and 256GB of storage variants. Last but not least, a 4,500mAh battery will reportedly fuel this phone with support for 25W fast charging. Stay tuned for more information about the Galaxy S23 FE.
2023-04-04 15:08:17