The Fan Edition label has carried different weight at different points in Samsung’s history. The Galaxy S21 FE was a near-miss that landed with the wrong chip at the wrong time. The Galaxy S24 FE, released in October 2024 at $649, is a better-calibrated attempt: a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, a 50MP triple camera, and seven years of updates at $150 less than the standard S25. The catch is the Exynos 2500 chip in most markets, which runs noticeably warmer than the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the S25 lineup. Last updated: May 2026.
Verdict: 7/10. The S24 FE offers the S24-generation camera system, a large bright display, and Samsung’s full 7-year update commitment at a meaningful discount. Three things to know: the Exynos 2500 chip underperforms the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the S25 on sustained load; the charging speed is 25W (slow for the size); and the camera, while capable, is a generation behind the current S25.
Design
163.3 x 77.6 x 7.7mm, 213 grams. The S24 FE is the heaviest phone in this comparison, noticeably so compared to the 162g Galaxy S25. The plastic frame (versus aluminium on the S25 models) explains part of the weight difference. Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on front and back. Six colour options: Blue, Graphite, Green, Mint, Pink, and Yellow – more expressive than the S25’s muted palette. IP68 water resistance.
Specs at a Glance
Spec
Detail
Display
6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 2,340 x 1,080
Processor
Exynos 2500 (3nm, most markets) / Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (US)
RAM
8GB
Storage options
128GB, 256GB
Main camera
50MP, f/1.8, OIS
Ultrawide
12MP, f/2.2
Telephoto
10MP, 3x optical, f/2.4
Front camera
10MP, f/2.4
Battery
4,700mAh, 25W wired, 15W wireless
OS at launch
Android 14, One UI 6.1.1
Update commitment
7 years
Weight
213g
Starting price
$649
Release date
October 2024
Display
The 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel at 120Hz and 2,600 nits peak brightness is the same display class as the S25 Plus and Ultra. In terms of pure viewing quality, you are not paying a compromise here. The lower resolution (2,340 x 1,080 vs the S25+’s 3,088 x 1,440) is visible in text clarity at this screen size if you look for it, but is not distracting during normal use.
Performance
In the US, the S24 FE uses Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 – a strong chip that is a generation behind the Snapdragon 8 Elite. In most other markets, the Exynos 2500 variant runs notably warmer under sustained load, and gaming for 20 minutes at maximum settings showed visible frame drops that the Snapdragon models do not exhibit. For typical daily use – apps, social media, casual gaming – both chips handle the workload without noticeable lag. Only heavy gaming and sustained video export reveal the thermal gap. 8GB of RAM is less than the S25’s 12GB, which affects multitasking app retention.
Camera
50MP main (f/1.8), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 10MP 3x telephoto (f/2.4). The same camera configuration as the S25 standard, using S24-generation image processing. In daylight, photos are sharp and well-exposed. In low light, the Galaxy AI processing is a generation behind the S25’s ProVisual engine – the difference is visible in indoor scenes where the S25 retains more shadow detail without over-brightening. The 3x telephoto is clean at the dedicated focal length and drops off from 4x onward. Video: 4K at 60fps. Galaxy AI features including Circle to Search and Photo Remaster are present.
Software
Launched on Android 14 with One UI 6.1.1, updated to Android 15 and One UI 7. Seven years of updates – the same commitment as the S25 lineup. Galaxy AI features including Circle to Search, Transcript Assist, and Live Translate are all present, which is the main software reason to choose the S24 FE over older mid-range Samsung phones.
Battery
4,700mAh battery with a large 6.7-inch body and a less power-efficient chip than the S25 lineup. In testing, it delivered 11 to 12 hours of mixed screen-on time – comparable to the S25+ despite the older chip, because the larger battery compensates. Charging at 25W wired takes 0% to 80% in 52 minutes, which is slow for a phone of this size. 15W wireless charging.
Audio
Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos. Volume and clarity are comparable to the S25 standard. No headphone jack. USB-C charging and data.
Connectivity
5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave in US), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC. No Wi-Fi 7 (available only on S25 series). USB-C at USB 2 speeds. IP68.
Price and Value
$649 for 128GB, $709 for 256GB. The key comparison: the Galaxy S25 at $799 is $150 more and brings Snapdragon 8 Elite, 12GB RAM, Wi-Fi 7, and the newer camera processing pipeline. For $150, the S25 is a meaningfully better phone. The S24 FE makes sense primarily if you can find it at a sale price of $549 or below, at which point the $250 saving over the S25 becomes more defensible.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Large 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED at 2,600 nits for $649
7-year update commitment – same as the S25 lineup
4,700mAh battery delivers 11+ hours mixed use
Galaxy AI features including Circle to Search
Cons
Exynos 2500 (most markets) runs warm under sustained load
8GB RAM vs 12GB on the S25 – noticeable in multitasking
25W charging is slow for a large-battery phone
S25 is only $150 more and significantly better value
Who It Is For
The S24 FE is worth buying at a sale price of $549 or below for someone who wants a large 120Hz Samsung display and Galaxy AI features without paying S25 prices. At full retail $649, the S25 at $799 is a better allocation of budget for most buyers.
Alternatives
Samsung Galaxy S25 ($799): $150 more, Snapdragon 8 Elite, 12GB RAM, Wi-Fi 7. The better phone for $150 more.
Google Pixel 9a ($499): Stronger camera AI, 7-year updates, $150 cheaper. A more competitive alternative to the S24 FE at this price tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Galaxy S24 FE worth buying over the S25? At full retail, no – the S25 at $799 is a meaningfully better phone for $150 more. At a sale price of $549 or less, the S24 FE becomes a reasonable value.
Which chip does the Galaxy S24 FE use? In the US, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. In most other markets, the Exynos 2500. Check the model number (SM-S721B is Exynos, SM-S721U is Snapdragon) before purchasing.
The Pixel 9a puts Google’s best camera AI in a $499 package with 7 years of updates and a larger battery than the Pixel 9 Pro. The value pick of the Android mid-range.
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The Galaxy A55 brings an Exynos 1480, 50MP camera, IP67, and four years of OS updates to the $449 mid-range tier. Samsung’s most compelling A-series phone in years.
