The Galaxy S23 FE is Samsung's first "Fan Edition" phone since the very start of 2022, representing a new semi-premium option in its portfolio. It's a step down from the best of the best, but a solid improvement over what you'll find in Samsung's A-series.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE plans
The Galaxy S23 FE is available on mobile plans from Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. All three providers offer the choice of 24-month and 36-month repayments. A 24-month term means you own your Galaxy S23 FE faster, while a 36-month term brings down your monthly cost.
24-month Samsung Galaxy S23 FE plans
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Telstra
$84 Essential Upfront Mobile Plan
$115.62/mth
Min. cost $1,072.88
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
$74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$115.62/mth
Min. cost $1,072.88
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$99 Premium Upfront Mobile Plan
$125.62/mth
Min. cost $1,082.88
Link not supplied
|
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G 256GB Plans
|
#1
|
Telstra
$84 Essential Upfront Mobile Plan
$119.79/mth
Min. cost $1,172.96
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
$74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$119.79/mth
Min. cost $1,172.96
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$99 Premium Upfront Mobile Plan
$129.79/mth
Min. cost $1,182.96
Link not supplied
|
36-month Samsung Galaxy S23 FE plans
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Telstra
$84 Essential Upfront Mobile Plan
$101.75/mth
Min. cost $1,073
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
$74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$101.75/mth
Min. cost $1,073
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$99 Premium Upfront Mobile Plan
$111.75/mth
Min. cost $1,083
Link not supplied
|
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G 256GB Plans
|
#1
|
Telstra
$84 Essential Upfront Mobile Plan
$104.52/mth
Min. cost $1,172.72
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
$74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$104.52/mth
Min. cost $1,172.72
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$99 Premium Upfront Mobile Plan
$114.52/mth
Min. cost $1,182.72
Link not supplied
|
How much does the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE cost in Australia?
The Galaxy S23 FE starts at $999 with 128GB of storage, which makes it the same price the Galaxy S21 FE when it first launched at the start of 2022. Samsung never made a Galaxy S22 FE. If you'd prefer a 256GB variant, you'll pay $1,099.
If you're looking to buy your Galaxy S23 FE outright, check out prices on Amazon.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE features
As aforementioned, the Galaxy S23 FE shares most of its DNA with the mainline S23 family. It's not quite budget, but it does represent a more affordable option. That comes with some of its own trade-offs, however.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE design
The Galaxy S23 FE shares its overall aesthetic with the Galaxy S23, but has a larger 6.4-inch display. You still get bells and whistles like a 120Hz refresh rate, but the Galaxy S23 FE has slightly thicker bezels and uses Gorilla Glass 5 rather than the newer more durable Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
You can get the Galaxy S23 FE in a choice of graphite, cream, purple, or mint. If you order directly through the Samsung store, you can also pick from blue and orange.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE camera
The Galaxy S23 FE also seems to use the exact same primary camera as the Galaxy S23, and has the whole suite of night mode photography features. The 12MP ultra-wide also seems the same on paper. There are also differences, however. The 3x zoom lens and selfie camera are both lower resolution.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE battery
The Galaxy S23 FE has a 4,500mAh battery. That's 600mAh than what you get in the standard Galaxy S23, so hopefully that results in a solid battery life.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE processor
The Galaxy S23 FE is powered by a Samsung-made Exynos 2200 processor. This is likely a little bit slower than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset in the mainline Galaxy S23 series, but there shouldn't be too much of a difference in terms of day-to-day usage.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G
The Galaxy S23 FE has 5G connectivity. WhistleOut's coverage checker tool has 5G coverage maps, making it easy to see whether you can get 5G. All you need to do is pop in your address when searching for a new phone plan. After you've done so and hit Search, you can jump straight to the coverage map by tapping See Coverage Map and then tapping Click To Activate Interactive Map.
This map will show you what kind of coverage you have in your area. 5G coverage is highlighted using the darkest shade of purple, but unticking 4G and 3G can help make it clearer. The drop-down menu lets you choose between telcos.
Coverage maps are only approximate, only show outdoor coverage, and may be impacted by local conditions such as buildings.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE eSIM
The Galaxy S23 FE supports eSIM, but still has a physical SIM slot.
eSIM (an electronic SIM or embedded SIM) is a rewritable SIM card that’s built directly into the phone. It never leaves your phone. Instead, you simply download a "software SIM" from your provider of choice.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE plan providers
Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone are all ranging the Galaxy S2 FE. Here's a breakdown of the major benefits each provider offers.
Telstra Samsung Galaxy S23 FE plans
Telstra Galaxy plans are often the priciest on the Australian market, but they do come with a host of perks.
Telstra lets you pay your Galaxy off over 12, 24, or 36 months, and all plans are free from excess data charges. If you go over your cap, your data will simply be slowed to speeds of 1.5Mbps, which is still fast enough to stream video in SD. Speeds may be slower during peak times, however.
Optus Samsung Galaxy S23 FE plans
Optus Galaxy plans come with solid data inclusions, while higher-end options also have unlimited international calls to selected destinations.
All Optus plans are contract-free, and devices can be paid off across 12, 24, or 36 months.
In addition, all Optus postpaid plans are free from excess data charges. If you go over your allowance, you'll be slowed to 1.5Mbps rather than being billed $10 per gigabyte.
Vodafone Samsung Galaxy S23 FE plans
Vodafone Galaxy plans all have bundling bonuses.
If you have a Vodafone mobile plan, you can get most of the telco's internet plans - NBN, 5G home internet, and 4G home internet - at a discounted rate.
Vodafone customers also save when bundling multiple postpaid mobile plans. You'll get a 5% discount on your total mobile bill for each plan on your account after the first. This discount maxes out at 20% and doesn't include handset repayments.
Vodafone postpaid plans are all free from excess data charges. When you go over your plan allowance, you'll be capped at 2Mbps. You'll also get access to Vodafone's famous $5 roaming, which is still easily the best way to travel with your Australian phone number.
How to choose the best Samsung Galaxy S23 FE plan for you
There are a few key factors to keep in mind when picking a Samsung Galaxy S23 FE plan:
- Working out how much mobile data do you use can help you avoid overspending. Don't pay for more data than you need - there's no point choosing a 100GB plan if you can make do with 30GB, for example
- Decide whether you want to pay off your phone shorter on a 24-month plan or get a smaller bill over a longer period of time on a 36-month plan
- If you're a frequent overseas traveller consider what international roaming inclusions your plan comes with
- You may also want to make international phone calls so check if the destinations you may be calling are included in your plan
Alex Choros
Related Articles
