Samsung introduced the Fan Edition (FE) version of its phones with the Galaxy S20 FE back in 2020, offering a slightly pared-down version of the flagship model at a more affordable price.
This trend continued with the Galaxy S21 FE and Galaxy S23 FE, but Samsung skipped the Galaxy S22 FE in 2022. This may mean that the Galaxy S24 FE will also be left out.
Recent leaks, however, suggest that Samsung is indeed working on the next Fan Edition model, and its launch date might not be that far away.
When will the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE be released?
At the moment, we have no official information regarding the release date of the Galaxy S24 FE. Initial report from The Elec suggested a summer 2024 launch, but as the season progresses, this seems less likely. The phone was also not introduced on 10 July along with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6.
Conflicting reports indicate a possible release as late as late 2024 or even early 2025. However, a recent leak (via Android Authority) hints at an October 2024 launch, aligning with Samsung’s typical release pattern.
The phone’s model number has appeared in UK and Indian databases, indicating availability in those regions, with expectations that it will be sold in all markets where the S23 FE was available. According to a report from MySmartPrice, the US version was aslo recently certified by the FCC.
As a reminder, here is when the previous models in the Fan Edition series were released:
How much will the Galaxy S24 FE cost?
There’s no official information on the price either, but we can use the previous models as a baseline of what to expect for the S24 FE.
So, here’s the pricing we’ve seen so far for the base models:
- Galaxy S20 FE 4G: £599/€649 (Not released in the US)
- Galaxy S20 FE 5G: £699/$699
- Galaxy S21 FE: £699/$699
- Galaxy S23 FE: £599/$579.99
Over the past two generations, the price of the Fan Edition model has remained the same. However, with the current Galaxy S23 FE, Samsung decided to lower its price, making even the 256GB model cost less than the 128GB version of the Galaxy S21 FE.
So, we expect the Galaxy S24 FE to be priced at £599/$579.99 for the base 128GB version, the same as its predecessor.
What specs and features will the Galaxy S24 FE have?
The Galaxy FE series phones are designed to offer the most popular features from the latest flagship line at a more affordable price, though it does come with some downgrades to achieve this. While the S24 FE might have similarities to the Galaxy S24, it’s likely to also differ in several key aspects.
Rumours and leaks suggest that while it retains essential features, certain specifications may be reduced to keep the device budget-friendly.
Design & display
Firstly, an X leaker claimed that the yet-to-be-revealed phone will share many features with the Galaxy S24 model. However, we didn’t receive any specific information at the time.
A well-known tipster OnLeaks shared (via Giznext) a new 360-degree render of the Galaxy S23 FE. The device seems to feature a three-camera layout and a larger 6.5-inch screen, which is slightly bigger than the Galaxy S23 FE’s 6.4-inch display and the Galaxy S24’s 6.2-inch screen.
Design elements include a punch-hole front camera, borderless display, volume and power keys on the right side, and a USB-C charging port on the bottom. The back of the phone features a vertically aligned three-camera setup similar to other Galaxy S24 models.
Rumoured specs also suggest that the Galaxy S24 FE will measure approximately 162 x 77.3 x 8mm, marginally larger than its predecessor.
Additionally, according to Ross Young, the S24 FE will come in five colours: gray, black, yellow, light blue and light green, with black being the most prominent.
The final names for these colours and which will be exclusive to retailers and carriers are yet to be confirmed. As a reminder, the Galaxy S23 FE came in Mint, Cream, Purple, Indigo, Graphite and Tangerine.
Leaked promotional materials (via Android Headlines) suggest that the Galaxy S24 FE will feature Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back, upgrading from the Gorilla Glass 5 used in the 2023 model. The phone may also have an aluminum frame with a polished finish, giving it a more premium feel.
Android Headlines
The device is expected to have a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with a 1.99mm bezel, reducing the screen border compared to previous models. The display is rumored to support a 120Hz refresh rate and offer up to 1,900 nits of brightness, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
Android Headlines
Performance
An X leaker Connor Bhai indicates that the S24 FE will be released in two versions, each powered by a different chipset. It means that some markets might receive the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 variant, while others might have the Exynos 2400, which also powers the Galaxy S24 and S24+ in the UK.
On the other hand, both The Elec and Android Headlines say the handset runs on an Exynos 2400e.
The phone was also spotted on Geekbench and the tested model seems to be an international version, powered by the Exynos 2400.
What we learn from the listing is that the Cortex-X4 prime core’s clock speed is slightly lower than usual, running at 3.1GHz instead of the typical 3.2GHz, potentially due to the phone operating in Light Performance Mode.
The S24 FE also seems to retain the 8GB of RAM seen in previous models, though there may be a new 12GB option, according to leaks from British carrier EE (via SamInsider), possibly linked to storage capacities of 128GB (UFS 3.1) or 256GB (UFS 4.0). The leaked model even has nearly the same ‘SM-S721U’ name as the ‘SM-S721B’ from Geekbench.
Cameras
A recent report from a Dutch site GalaxyClub (via PhoneArena), suggests that the upcoming Galaxy S24 FE could feature the same 50Mp main camera as its predecessors, including the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 FE and the Galaxy S24. This camera employs a 1/1.57-inch sensor with 1.0μm pixels, which has been well-regarded in past models for its quality.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The FE series, known for offering cost-effective versions of Samsung’s flagship phones, typically uses older components to reduce expenses. However, Samsung’s advancements in AI for photo enhancement mean that the Galaxy S24 FE’s camera, despite being reused, should still deliver excellent performance.
While details on the other cameras in the Galaxy S24 FE are not specified in the report, it’s likely they will mirror those of the Galaxy S23, including a 12Mp ultrawide (f/2.2) and a 10Mp telephoto (f/2.4) with 3x optical zoom.
Android Headlines
A separate leak (via Android Headlines) has potentially revealed additional details about the Galaxy S24 FE’s camera setup. In addition to the main camera, the phone is rumored to have a 12Mp ultrawide lens and an 8Mp 3x optical zoom lens on the rear. The front-facing camera is expected to be a 10Mp selfie shooter. These details are backed by a marketing render from the same Android Headlines leak that provided information about the phone’s design.
Battery & charging
All of Samsung’s FE phones so far have offered 4,500mAh batteries with wireless charging support, so we don’t expect that to change this time around.
According to a leak from British carrier EE (via SamInsider), the phone will be fueled by a 4,500 mAh battery. However, promo materials shared by Android Headlines suggest that the Galaxy S24 FE will feature a 4,565mAh battery, slightly larger than the 4,500mAh battery in the S23 FE.
A marketing render (below) indicates that this battery could provide up to 78 hours of audio playback and 29 hours of video playback. This battery size places the S24 FE between the Galaxy S24’s 4,000mAh battery and the S24 Plus’s 4,900mAh battery, offering a good balance of power and endurance.
Android Headlines
It has been also revealed (via GizmoChina) that the device will probably support 9W reverse wireless charging and will max out at 25W for wired charging, the same as last year’s model.
Connectivity
As per report from MySmartPrice, the US version of the phone has been certified by the FCC.
This process has confirmed that the device has dual-band Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi 6E support, NFC, Bluetooth and 5G support.
Software
Most likely, the phone will debut with Android 14 and One UI 6.1. Beyond that, we expect all the standard features that Samsung’s Android skin offers.
However, we do not know if Galaxy AI will be available on the Galaxy S24 FE and how long it will be supported by updates. The Galaxy S23 FE will receive four years of OS support and five years of security updates. That’s why it has received an update to One UI 6.1, and with it, access to AI-based features.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
We expect that the Galaxy S24 FE will also receive the same long-term support and access to the Galaxy AI. It is also possible that it will share as much as seven years of support that the S24 series has received, but this is unconfirmed at this point.
This is all we know about the next model in the Fan Edition series from Samsung. If you don’t want to wait, be sure to check out the best mid-range phones or the best Samsung phones you can buy right now.