The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has a lot going for it — including a bright AMOLED display, four promised Android upgrades, fast wireless charging, and a competitive price. And yet the Android landscape is littered with excellent alternatives, many of which are even more compelling buys. With that in mind, we’d recommend shopping around for a while before pulling the trigger on an S23 FE.
The following alternatives have different features that make them suitable replacements for the Galaxy S23 FE. Some are cheaper, some offer more features, and some are newer. With that in mind, here are a few phones that I think you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE.
Samsung Galaxy S24
The Galaxy S24 is an excellent alternative to the Galaxy S23 FE. The base model of the Galaxy S24 is equipped with Qualcomm’s latest chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, making it faster and more efficient than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the S23 FE.
The Galaxy S24 features a premium build with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and armored aluminum. Additionally, the phone has a 6.2-inch display that offers a brighter and more customizable experience with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits and a 120Hz refresh rate. Another notable difference between the Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S23 FE is their weight. The Galaxy S24 is significantly lighter than the S23 FE, a factor that may be a crucial consideration for many buyers.
Meanwhile, both phones have a 50MP primary camera and a 10MP telephoto camera. The Galaxy S24 also packs a 12MP ultra-wide camera, while the Galaxy S23 FE has a 10MP lens for its ultra-wide camera. Both models support Galaxy AI. And while both phones offer fast and Qi wireless charging, only the Galaxy S24 includes reverse wireless charging technology.
Storage upgrades are another reason to consider the Galaxy S24 over the Galaxy S23 FE. Samsung promises seven Android upgrades for the S24, but only four are offered on the S23 FE. That’s especially important if you plan on keeping your phone for a long time. There are some things that are better on the older phone, though. The Galaxy S23 FE does offer a slightly larger 6.4-inch display, for example, and a larger battery.
Of all the advantages the Galaxy S24 has over the Galaxy S23 FE, the difference in chip and the premium build are probably the two biggest reasons to pick this device.
OnePlus 12R
Like the Galaxy S24, the OnePlus 12R is one of the best Android phones available right now. The latter is also one of the best values, making it another great Galaxy S23 FE alternative.
It’s important to note that the OnePlus 12R has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor with either 8GB or 16GB of RAM, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor only have 8GB of RAM. The OnePlus 12R has a stunning 6.78-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and an impressive 2780 x 1264 resolution.
The OnePlus 12R has a triple-lens rear camera with a 50MP primary sensor, an ultra-wide sensor, and a macro sensor. The front-facing camera is 16MP. It’s not the best camera system in the world, but for the price and other specs you’re getting, it’s a very respectable package.
Additionally, the OnePlus 12R offers longer battery life and faster charging. It supports 80W wired charging speeds and includes an 80W charger. In contrast, the Galaxy S23 FE has a maximum charging speed of 25W, but also features 15W wireless charging, which the OnePlus 12R lacks. The lack of wireless charging is a bummer, but when you can charge your phone from 0-100% in about 30 minutes, it’s a pretty fair trade-off.
Finally, let’s look at the price. The OnePlus 12R starts at $500, while the Galaxy S23 FE, without discounts, starts at $630. This significant price difference should not be overlooked, especially since the OnePlus model has a larger display, a better chip, and more.
Google Pixel 8a
The Google Pixel 8a is a strong competitor to the Galaxy S23 FE. Released in May, the phone is the successor to the Pixel 7a and shares many key features with its more expensive counterparts (the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro). These features include a Tensor G3 chipset, various AI capabilities, and a 120Hz display.
The Pixel 8a has several strong points, including its compact and lightweight design, its vibrant camera, and its easy-to-use Android software. Like the other Pixel 8 models, Google will offer seven years of software updates for the Pixel 8a. In contrast, the Galaxy S23 FE only gets four years of updates, while the OnePlus 12R gets three.
The Pixel 8a features a 6.1-inch display that uses Actua OLED technology. It offers a vibrant display with rich colors and deep blacks. While the display is slightly smaller than the Galaxy S23 FE, the Pixel 8a excels in the camera department.
The Google Pixel 8a offers better photo quality, despite lacking a telephoto lens like the Galaxy S23 FE. Google’s phone has a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10.5MP selfie camera. Photos come out beautifully, and with powerful AI photo editing tools, it’s an impressive setup for the price.
Additionally, the Google Pixel 8a shares several similarities with the Galaxy S23 FE: it offers 8GB of RAM, 128GB or 256GB of storage options, and comes with Android 14.
The Pixel 8a comes with either 128GB or 256GB of storage and starts at $499.
Samsung Galaxy A35
There’s another Samsung phone worth considering instead of the Galaxy S23 FE: the Galaxy A35. It’s a little cheaper, but still offers an excellent user experience.
The Galaxy A35 offers a vibrant 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display that delivers sharp and crisp visuals with a high 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and transitions. The Samsung Exynos 1380 chipset, an octa-core processor with an enhanced GPU and NPU, powers the device and improves overall performance.
The phone offers flexibility with options of 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage, allowing users to choose the configuration that best suits their needs.
On the back, the Galaxy A35 has a versatile triple-lens camera system, with a 50MP primary sensor for high-resolution photos, an ultra-wide sensor for capturing expansive scenes, and a macro sensor for detailed close-up photos. There’s also a 13MP front-facing camera for bright, sharp selfies. While the ultra-wide and macro cameras leave a lot to be desired, the main camera is a lot of fun to shoot with.
Starting at just $400, the Galaxy A35 presents an affordable alternative to the Galaxy S23 FE. Like the Galaxy S23 FE, the Galaxy A35 also benefits from a four-year warranty on Android updates, ensuring a persistent and up-to-date user experience.
Nothing Phone 2
The Nothing Phone 2 is a solid alternative to the Galaxy S23 FE. It sports a striking appearance with a larger 6.7-inch PTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Powered by an improved Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, it offers a choice of 8GB or 12GB of RAM, catering to users with different performance needs.
The phone’s camera setup includes a 50MP primary sensor, an ultra-wide-angle sensor, and a 32MP front-facing camera, making for versatile photography options. Further, the device houses a 4,700mAh battery with 45W fast charging capability, offering a nice balance between long battery life and fast charging.
In our 2023 review, we highlighted the Nothing Phone 2 as the “phone to beat.” It stands out for its modern design, practical and visually appealing Glyph lights, vibrant display, and impressive daytime camera performance.
At a starting price of $600, the Nothing Phone 2 is an attractive option for users considering the Galaxy S23 FE. And despite being over a year old, it’s still one of the most unique smartphones on the market.