Galaxy S25 FE: In summary
- Samsung’s mid-range ‘Fan Edition’ alternative to Galaxy S25 flagships
- Launched on 4 September with new tablets
- Price remains the same as last model
- Lots of AI and some hardware upgrades, too
To coincide with IFA 2025, Samsung held a Galaxy Event to launch a range of new mobile products, including the rumoured Galaxy S25 FE smartphone.
The handset is the latest in a long line of ‘Fan Edition’ models, which come along many months after their flagship counterparts as a cheaper option.
Samsung is calling it “The gateway to the Galaxy AI and flagship essentials” which actually sums it up fairly well.
There’s lots to talk about for the Galaxy S25 FE so here’s what you need to know about its key upgrades, release date and prices.
Opinion: I’ve tried the Galaxy S25 FE, and it might make the S25+ obsolete .
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: Key upgrades
In summary
- One UI 8 and Android 16 with AI features
- A slimmed-down and more durable design in new colours
- A new processor, bigger battery and faster wired charging
A focus on AI
For the Galaxy S25 FE, Samsung has put a big focus on AI and it’s one of the key reasons to buy the phone. It makes sense, the stuff (can I call AI ‘stuff’?) is everywhere right now.
The Fan Edition is a way of getting access to the Galaxy AI suite without having to splash out on one of the full-on S25 flagships – the usual caveat being that those phones are now discounted, having been on the market for many months.
Galaxy AI is free (though it may not be forever), if you have a compatible phone, and give you access to tools like Generative Edit, Now Bar, Now Brief, Writing Assistant, Auto Trim, Portrait Studio and lots more.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The S25 FE also includes Google Gemini (including Gemini Live), Circle to Search and users get 6-months free Google AI Pro for access to features like NotebookLM and Flow.
While we’re on software, the phone gets Samsung’s excellent seven-year promise for OS updates and security patches. It comes out-the-box with Android 16 and One UI 8.
Thinner, lighter and new colours
Moving onto hardware and the Galaxy S25 FE has been on a diet, though can’t make any brags like the wafer-thin Galaxy S25 Edge.
It’s now 7.4mm and 190g, meaning its lost 0.6mm and 23g, which is a noticeable amount. This is despite getting some internal upgrades, such as a larger battery which I’ll cover below.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The phone comes in four colours – Icyblue, Jetblack, Navy and White – plus has a new Armor Aluminum frame for improved durability. It’s still IP68 like its predecessor.
More powerful
That bigger battery comes in at 4900mAh (up 200mAh) and charging is also much faster at 45W, finally upgraded from Samsung’s previous standard 25W.
Wireless charging remains at 15W and there’s also Wireless PowerShare for topping up other Samsung devices.
Under the hood, the S25 FE is powered by a new Exynos 2400 chipset and there’s a 10% larger vapour cooling chamber to help keep things cool and running smoothly.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
When is the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE release date?
In summary
- Announced at Samsung’s Galaxy Event on 4 September
- Available straight away
Tech rumours are often spot on and so it was no big surprise that Samsung announced the Galaxy S25 FE at the September Galaxy Event alongside the Galaxy Tab S11 range.
It’s on sale straight away, giving it a release date of 4 September .
This means Samsung has gone a little earlier than the usual October refresh cycle for the FE edition of the Galaxy S-series.
Here’s when previous FE phones launched:
- Galaxy S24 FE – October 2024
- Galaxy S23 FE – October 2023
- Galaxy S22 FE – Cancelled
- Galaxy S21 FE – January 2022
- Galaxy S20 FE – October 2020
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
How much does the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE cost?
In summary
- Pricing stays the same as the S24 FE
- Starts at £649/$649
- Free storage upgrade in the US
- Free Galaxy Watch 7 in the UK
Rumour mill predictions about pricing also turned out to be true and Samsung has kept the Galaxy S25 FE price the same as its predecessor, the S24 FE .
That means you can buy one starting at £649/$649 if 128GB of storage is enough. Full prices are below.
Note that in the US, the phone doesn’t come in a 512GB capacity; however, you can get 256GB for the price of 128GB, saving you $60 .
In the UK, a free Galaxy Watch 7 (£239) is on offer as well as 6 months of Google AI Pro worth £113.
Galaxy S25 FE prices
- 128GB – £649/$649.99
- 256GB – £699/$709.99
- 512GB – £799
Key rivals at this price include the iPhone 16e , OnePlus 13R and Xiaomi 14T Pro .
For context, here are previous FE prices:
- S24 FE – from £649/$649.99
- S23 FE – from £599/$579.99
- S21 FE – from £699/$699
- S20 FE – from £699/$699 (5G)
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE specs
If you’re looking for a detailed spec sheet for the Galaxy S25 FE, then here you go.
We’ll be reviewing the Galaxy S25 FE soon, but until then, here’s the best mid-range phones it will have to compete with.
Author: Chris Martin, Managing Editor, Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor Managing Editor Chris got his break as a reporter at infamous site The Inquirer and has been with us for more than 12 years. With a BA degree in Music Technology, audio is his specialism, but over the years he has reviewed all kinds of gadgets, from smartwatches to mesh Wi-Fi to coffee machines.
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