Samsung just did something strange to its newest Android phone

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By Joe Maring October 26, 2023 11:59AM

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE laying face-down connected a table.

Earlier this month, Samsung announced a slew of caller products to extremity 2023 connected a precocious note. Alongside immoderate caller tablets and a brace of earbuds, 1 of those caller products was nan Galaxy S23 FE. It looks a batch for illustration nan different S23 phones released earlier this year, but it has immoderate little specs and a cheaper price. When Samsung announced nan S23 FE connected October 3, it said nan telephone would beryllium disposable for $600.

However, it looks for illustration thing changed betwixt past and now. The Galaxy S23 FE officially went connected waste today, October 26, but it doesn’t costs nan $600 Samsung claimed it would. Instead, you’ll person to salary $630 for nan guidelines exemplary pinch 128GB of retention — a seemingly random summation of $30. Samsung didn’t antecedently corroborate really overmuch nan 256GB version would cost, but it’s presently listed connected Samsung’s tract for $690.

What’s nan origin of this abrupt value increase? We aren’t really sure! Plans alteration each nan clip for smartphone launches, from tweaked specs to different merchandise dates. However, I can’t deliberation of different clip erstwhile a telephone was announced astatine 1 value and past launched astatine a different price, and pinch nary mentation astir why it happened. Interestingly enough, the S23 FE is disposable connected Amazon for nan expected $600, making nan business that overmuch much confusing.

Although a $30 summation isn’t nan extremity of nan world, it does put nan Galaxy S23 FE successful a spot of an awkward spot. There’s now conscionable $70 separating it and nan Google Pixel 8, which is 1 of nan best smartphones we’ve reviewed each year. It besides pushes it ever-so-slightly person to nan regular Galaxy S23‘s $800 unit price. $630 isn’t a horrible value for everything nan Galaxy S23 FE has to connection — for illustration a 120Hz AMOLED display, triple-camera system, and 4,500mAh artillery — but nan worth proposition is simply a spot worse than we’d anticipated.

We’ve reached retired to Samsung for remark connected nan Galaxy S23 FE’s caller price, and we’ll update this accordingly erstwhile we perceive backmost from nan company.

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Joe Maring

Joe Maring is nan Section Editor for Digital Trends' Mobile team, starring nan site's sum for each things smartphones…

There’s a large problem pinch Samsung’s caller Android tablets

The backmost of nan Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.

“Android tablets are a mislaid cause.” I travel crossed this recurring taxable much often than I would like, but there’s immoderate truth to it. As personification who pushes Android tablets arsenic a regular workhorse, I’ve defended connected galore occasions really nan ecosystem has matured complete nan past fewer years aft Android 12L and foldable arrived connected nan scene.

But compared to nan iPad, Android tablets support falling short. With each marque trying to create its ain unsocial package spirit for tablets that alteration dramatically successful position of firepower, nary 2 Android tablets look to connection a azygous experience. iPads, connected nan different hand, do deliver acquisition uniformity irrespective of nan surface size.

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A uBreakiFix master repairing a Samsung telephone Samsung

In 2018, Samsung inked a business pinch uBreakiFix that entailed same-day in-person repairs for Galaxy smartphones. The 2 companies are now building connected that business pinch a fistful of added accommodation for Samsung Galaxy smartphone and tablet owners.

I utilized Motorola and Samsung folding phones. Only 1 gets this characteristic right

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Motorola Razr Plus folded successful hand.

Software plays a important domiciled successful immoderate device, but it becomes moreover much important erstwhile you person a constricted magnitude of surface abstraction to interact pinch nan personification interface. The Motorola Razr bid has ever been amended than nan Galaxy Z Flip lineup successful position of usability erstwhile folded. This year, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 closes nan spread betwixt nan 2 clamshell foldables by offering a large screen screen.

But sporting a large outer show doesn’t instantly make a flip telephone foldable a full batch much useful; lawsuit successful constituent – nan Oppo Find N2 Flip, wherever Oppo gave america six widgets (and added a mates much later) to play astir pinch and called it a day. While Samsung brings 13 widgets to nan table, nan screen surface package is still not connected par pinch nan Motorola Razr Plus.