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Samsung’s “Fan Edition” (FE) phones have always been a tricky balancing act. The promise is simple: deliver the core flagship experience—the big screen, the fast processor, the great camera—for a lot less money. The new Galaxy S25 FE lands in a brutally competitive market, armed with a slim new design, a massive battery, and “Galaxy AI” as its main weapon.
Does it nail the brief, or is it a compromise too far? We’ve dug into the official specs and, crucially, the first wave of user reviews to see if this is the new mid-range king.
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, AI Smartphone, Slim 7.4mm Frame, 6.7" FHD Display, 50MP Camera, Exynos 2400, 256GB Storage, 8GB Memory, 4900 mAh Battery, JetBlack, 3…
Galaxy AI & 7-Year Updates: Features a full suite of “Galaxy AI” tools (like Photo Assist, Circle to Search, and Browsing Assist) and is backed by an industry-leading 7 years of OS and security updates.
Premium Slim Design: The thinnest and lightest “Fan Edition” model to date at just 7.4mm and 190g, built with premium materials including Gorilla Glass Victus+ and an Armor Aluminum frame.
6.7″ 120Hz AMOLED 2X Display: A large, flagship-grade 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with “super slim bezels” and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate for an immersive and smooth viewing experience.
Versatile Triple Camera System: A high-resolution 50MP main camera (with OIS), an 8MP 3x optical zoom telephoto lens (also with OIS) for detailed zoom shots, and an upgraded 12MP front-facing selfie camera.
Large 4,900 mAh Battery with Fast Charging: A massive all-day 4,900 mAh battery supported by 45W wired fast charging (capable of 0-65% in 30 minutes) and 15W wireless charging.
In Detail: The Flagship Ticked-Box-List
On paper, the S25 FE looks like 90% of a top-tier flagship for 70% of the price. You get a huge 6.7-inch, 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED screen, a versatile 50MP main camera system, and a beefy 4,900mAh battery. Samsung has wrapped all this in a premium 7.4mm thin aluminium and glass body, making it the “slimmest and lightest FE yet.”
The headline feature, though, is the full-fat Galaxy AI suite, powered by the same Exynos 2400 chip found in its pricier S-series siblings. It’s an impressive package that promises industry-leading software support for a launch price of just £549.
Core Feature Analysis
Design and Display: Genuinely “Flagship Feel”?
- The Claim: Samsung calls this the “slimmest and lightest FE yet” at just 7.4mm and 190g. It boasts a premium build with Gorilla Glass Victus+ and an Armor Aluminum frame, all fronted by “super slim bezels.”
- The Reality: User feedback absolutely backs this up. Owners describe it as “easy to use light on weight” and confirm that it “feels like a flagship.” The 190g weight is impressive for a 6.7-inch phone (about the same as an iPhone 15 Plus, but noticeably thinner). The 6.7-inch, 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen is a genuine premium feature that you’d normally pay much more for.
- Verdict: It delivers. This is not a cheap plastic spin-off. It looks and feels like a top-tier handset, and the IP68 water resistance provides peace of mind that’s rare at this price.
Performance and “Galaxy AI”: Smart Chip, Dumb Bugs?
- The Claim: The S25 FE runs on the Exynos 2400 (a 4nm flagship chip), which promises “smooth gameplay” and powers a full suite of AI features like Photo Assist, Browsing Assist, and Circle to Search. A 14% larger vapour chamber (vs. the S24 FE) is there to keep it cool.
- The Reality: General performance gets a big thumbs-up, with one user upgrading from an S21 noting the “quicker processor.” Another specifically bought it for the “Good AI features.” However, it’s not all rosy. One highly detailed user review slams the software, summarising it as “Decent hardware, lousy software.” They report a very specific and frustrating bug where the “phone resets my background image to the factory setting every morning!” What’s worse, they found this bug has apparently been around since the S23 FE. This kind of basic software flaw seriously undermines the “smart” AI pitch.
- Verdict: A mixed bag. The hardware is undeniably powerful. But Samsung’s One UI 8.0, while feature-packed, clearly has some annoying, unfixed bugs lurking beneath the shiny AI surface.
Cameras: The AI ProVisual Engine
- The Claim: Samsung promises the “best camera quality ever on an FE,” led by a 50MP main lens (with OIS), an 8MP 3x optical zoom telephoto lens (also with OIS), and an upgraded 12MP selfie camera. The new “AI ProVisual Engine” is meant to boost colour, sharpness, and contrast in real-time.
- The Reality: The hardware specs are incredibly strong for this price. Getting optical image stabilisation (OIS) on both the main and telephoto lenses is a huge win for sharp, stable shots. While the 8MP telephoto lens won’t compete with an S25 Ultra, the fact it has proper 3x optical zoom at all gives it a versatility that rivals like the Pixel 8 lack. The 12MP front camera is a welcome upgrade from last year’s 10MP sensor, too.
- Verdict: Very promising. This is a versatile, “do-it-all” camera setup. While users haven’t yet provided detailed photo analysis, the hardware gives it all the tools it needs to be the best camera in its class.
Battery and Charging: All-Day-and-Then-Some Power
- The Claim: A massive 4,900 mAh battery “powers you all day.” It’s paired with 45W wired fast charging (0-65% in just 30 minutes) and 15W wireless charging.
- The Reality: This is a clear highlight for owners. One user upgrading from an older model praised the “way better battery life.” A 4,900 mAh cell is huge, especially when paired with an efficient 4nm chip and an advanced AMOLED screen. The 45W charging is fast, and adding 15W wireless charging is a premium extra.
- Verdict: A huge win. This is a genuine two-day phone for light users and will comfortably see even the heaviest scrollers through a full day. Just remember, as is standard now, you’ll need to buy your own 45W charging brick—there isn’t one in the box.
The S25 FE vs. The Competition
So, how does the S25 FE stack up against its main rivals in the UK market?
| Feature | Samsung S25 FE | Google Pixel 8 | Nothing Phone (2) | Samsung S24 FE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7″ 120Hz AMOLED 2X | 6.2″ 120Hz “Actua” | 6.7″ 120Hz LTPO AMOLED | 6.4″ 120Hz AMOLED 2X |
| Processor | Exynos 2400 | Google Tensor G3 | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | Exynos 2200 |
| Main Camera | 50MP Wide (OIS) | 50MP Wide (OIS) | 50MP Wide (OIS) | 50MP Wide (OIS) |
| Other Cameras | 12MP Ultra, 8MP 3x Tele (OIS) | 12MP Ultra-Wide | 50MP Ultra-Wide | 12MP Ultra, 8MP 3x Tele (OIS) |
| Battery | 4,900 mAh | 4,575 mAh | 4,700 mAh | 4,500 mAh |
| Wired Charging | 45W | 27W | 45W | 25W |
| Wireless Charge | 15W | 18W | 15W | 15W |
| Software | 7 OS Upgrades | 7 OS Upgrades | 3 OS Upgrades | 4 OS Upgrades |
This table makes the S25 FE’s value proposition crystal clear. It absolutely trounces its predecessor, the S24 FE, with a better chip, much bigger battery, faster charging, and a longer software promise.
Against the Google Pixel 8, it’s a battle of philosophies. Samsung gives you more hardware for your money: a much bigger screen, a versatile telephoto lens, and significantly faster charging. The Pixel, however, offers a cleaner, smarter (and bug-free) software experience and arguably better point-and-shoot photos from its main lens.
Against the Nothing Phone (2), it’s a style-vs-substance fight. The Nothing has the unique Glyph design, but the S25 FE has a more powerful processor, a telephoto lens, and a vastly superior software support promise (7 years vs. 3).
Our Verdict
The Samsung S25 FE absolutely nails the “Fan Edition” brief. It delivers a genuine flagship-grade screen, a marathon battery, and a versatile camera system for hundreds of pounds less than its premium siblings. The promise of seven years of OS and security updates is class-leading and a massive draw for value-conscious buyers who are (rightfully) sick of their phones becoming obsolete in three years.
It’s not perfect. The reported software bugs are a genuine annoyance that Samsung needs to fix, fast. And its “revolutionary” AI features feel more like a “nice-to-have” than a must-have… for now.
But for the money—£549 at launch, and as one user noted, available for just £529 with a bundle—it’s arguably the best all-round Android package you can buy in the UK today. It’s the smart-money choice for anyone who wants a flagship experience without the flagship price tag.
Final Rating: 4.5 / 5
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Genuine flagship-feel screen and build | Reports of frustrating software bugs |
| Excellent 4,900 mAh battery life | “Galaxy AI” features aren’t essential yet |
| Versatile triple-camera with 3x optical zoom | No charger included in the box |
| Industry-leading 7 years of OS updates | 8MP telephoto lens will struggle in low light |
| Premium extras: 15W wireless charging, IP68 |
Additional Information
- Manufacturer: Samsung
- First Available: ~October 2025
- ASIN: B0FJSNV2MM
- Dimensions: 161.3 x 76.6 x 7.4 mm (190g)
- Model: S25 FE, UK Version
Further Reading
For more perspectives on the S25 FE, why not check out Samsung, PC Mag, Uswitch, or GSM Arena?