A polished contender that masterfully plays the hits, yet occasionally fumbles the ballad. It is a truth universally acknowledged that after the confetti settles on a Samsung flagship launch, a second, more pragmatic act is waiting in the wings. This is the Fan Edition, the annual encore to the main S-series spectacle. Think of it not as a diluted formula but as a thoughtfully curated director’s cut, released a few months after the cinematic run. It retains the same artistic DNA but with trimmed scenes and a sharper focus on the narrative that matters most to its audience. The FE philosophy is one of intelligent compromise: it cherry-picks the traits that define a flagship experience—a premium chassis, a luminous AMOLED screen, the quiet utility of a proper telephoto lens, and the promise of a long, supported life—and marries them to more pragmatic component choices, like the in-house Exynos chipset for markets such as India. Its mission, therefore, is deceptively simple: distil the essence of the Galaxy S25 family, make it financially more palatable, and in doing so, try not to drop the microphone.
Design & Build: A Study in Understated Confidence
My grand tour with the Galaxy S25 FE was a trial by travel, a journey from the organised chaos of Delhi to the cool professionalism of San Francisco, across the sun-drenched shores of Maui and through the searing heat of Phoenix. Through it all, the hardware presented itself as a proper flagship, one that eschews flamboyant peacocking for quiet competence. In hand, the frosted Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back felt less like a fragile pane and more like the reassuring cover of a well-loved hardback book: resistant to the minor indignities of a cluttered backpack and unbothered by the scuffs of a hastily chosen café table. The Armour Aluminium frame, cool and solid, feels akin to a Stratocaster’s well-worn fretboard—familiar, sturdy, and utterly devoid of flash. After a fortnight of being subjected to the whims of trains, planes, and the back seats of Ubers, it betrayed no creaks or flex. To my eye, Samsung’s decision to slim the phone to a svelte 7.4 millimetres and a manageable 190 grams makes it decidedly more pocketable for all-day carry than its predecessor. The narrower bezels are not merely an aesthetic tweak; they allow the screen to properly take centre stage, creating a more immersive canvas. The IP68 rating, once a luxury, now feels like essential insurance. It provided tangible peace of mind when a sudden Maui drizzle began its dramatic audition for a disaster movie during my morning constitutional; the phone, as it should, simply shrugged it off and carried on.
Display: A Luminous Canvas for the Everyday
The midday sun over Delhi is the ultimate truth serum for a mobile display, and the S25 FE passed its interrogation with flying colours. On a fiercely bright afternoon in Lutyens' Delhi, I could comfortably parse email threads and adjust notes without squinting like a man who has misplaced his prescription sunglasses. The 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel proved itself to be reliably brilliant outdoors and impossibly lush indoors. Its adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate lends a liquid smoothness to every interaction, transforming the drudgery of scrolling through endless WhatsApp threads during an airport layover into something approaching a satisfying experience. On both the Delhi Metro and the San Francisco Muni, I came to appreciate the seamless choreography between One UI’s animations and the high refresh rate; transitions felt crisp and immediate, never syrupy or laboured. Streaming HDR10+ content in a darkened hotel room was a genuinely cinematic affair; colours were rendered with a rich fidelity, avoiding the radioactive oversaturation that plagues lesser screens. Samsung quotes a lofty peak brightness figure, and while I lack the instruments to verify the number, my real-world testing confirmed its claim: daylight visibility was superb, with none of the frustrating dimming spirals that can occur when a device warms up during a prolonged photography session.
Software & AI: Intelligence That Genuinely Assists
While shuttling between meetings and coffee shops in San Francisco's SoMa district, I relied on the S25 FE as my sole device, and One UI 8, layered atop Android 16, felt reassuringly mature. My tolerance for software gimmicks is vanishingly low; I seek features that demonstrably reduce friction in my day. In this, Samsung delivered. The new Now Bar and Now Brief widgets evolved from novelties into genuinely indispensable tools, offering at-a-glance information for flight gates, hotel addresses, and calendar nudges precisely when I needed them. The suite of on-board AI tools felt less like a science experiment and more like a set of well-honed implements. Generative Edit allowed me to effortlessly excise a stray photobomber from an otherwise perfect shot near Connaught Place. Audio Eraser salvaged a recording of a street performance by intelligently dialling down the intrusive wind noise. Instant Slow-mo transformed a mundane clip of a Maui shore break into something that felt storyboarded by a BBC Earth cinematographer. Yet, the feature I suspect will become the most ingrained new habit is Circle to Search; I casually circled a gig poster in Hauz Khas and was instantly presented with venue listings and ticket information, all without breaking my stride. Crucially, managing the on-device processing and privacy toggles did not require a doctorate in digital consent forms. On two separate evenings, Samsung DeX proved to be the unsung hero of my trip. By pairing the phone with the hotel television and a Bluetooth keyboard, I created a surprisingly capable desktop environment, allowing me to draft this very review in Chrome and Google Docs while my laptop recharged. And then there is the promise, a commitment so significant it reshapes the value equation entirely: seven years of major OS and security patch updates. It means I can recommend this device to an Indian consumer, who often keeps a phone for the long haul, without crossing my fingers behind my back.
Performance & Thermals: A Sprinter, Not a Marathon Runner
Let us be precise about the performance of the Exynos 2400 chipset: it is flagship-lite. In the course of my extensive testing, the daily churn of tasks—flicking between the camera, messaging apps, document edits, Slack, Maps, and music streaming, with a few chess games idling in the background—was handled with fluid grace. There were no stutters, no hesitations of note. Application installations over patchy hotel Wi-Fi felt brisk, and export times for short video clips in VN were in the 'sip-your-cappuccino' range rather than the 'finish-your-novel' category. Where the silicon's limits became apparent was during intense, sustained loads. Following a thirty-minute burst of night photography immediately followed by social media uploads, the phone grew noticeably warm to the touch, and I observed a mild but measurable drop in sustained performance as it cached and processed the data. It never became uncomfortable to hold, but I certainly would not recommend an extended session of Call Of Duty Mobile in a Phoenix park during a summer afternoon. This is a device that handles demanding tasks in energetic sprints, not gruelling marathons. If your workflow involves a constant churn of 4K video editing and high-fidelity gaming, the raw power of Apple's latest silicon or a top-tier Snapdragon-powered flagship will still outpace it. For the vast majority of users, however, including a travelling journalist like myself, its capabilities are perfectly sufficient—and the improved vapour chamber cooling system does its job. Just do not mistake it for a furnace-proof speed demon.
Technical Fact Sheet
Specification
| Details
| System-on-Chip (SoC)
| Samsung Exynos 2400 for Galaxy
| Memory & Storage
| 8 GB LPDDR5X RAM; 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB UFS 4.0 Storage
| Display
| 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, FHD+ (2340 × 1080), 1-120 Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate
| Rear Cameras
| 50 MP Main (f/1.8, OIS) + 12 MP Ultra-wide (f/2.2) + 8 MP 3× Telephoto (f/2.4, OIS)
| Front Camera
| 12 MP (f/2.2)
| Battery & Charging
| 4,900 mAh; 45 W Super Fast Charging (wired); 15 W Fast Wireless Charging 2.0
| Operating System
| Android 16 with One UI 8; Samsung DeX Supported
| Build & Durability
| Gorilla Glass Victus+ (Front & Back), Armour Aluminium Frame, IP68 Water & Dust Resistance
| Connectivity
| 5G (SA/NSA), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, USB Type-C 3.2
| Dimensions & Weight
| 161.3 × 76.6 × 7.4 mm; 190 g
| Colourways
| Icy Blue, Jet Black, Navy, Cream White
|
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Cameras: A Talented Trio with One Moody Member
I judge a phone’s camera not by pixel-peeping charts but by the images I feel compelled to keep. By that metric, the S25 FE is a resounding success. The 50-megapixel main sensor is a dependable daily driver, producing images with punchy, vibrant colours that stop just short of going nuclear, preserving a pleasing amount of detail and texture. The optical stabilisation proved its worth when I had to jog (late, as usual) across a crosswalk near Union Square to capture a shot; the result was impressively steady. However, the 3× optical telephoto is the secret sauce in this recipe, the feature that elevates the S25 FE above its mid-range peers. I found it indispensable for isolating architectural details on downtown buildings and for compressing the dramatic inclines of San Francisco’s hills, delivering a "movie still" aesthetic that eludes the over-processed mush of digital zoom. The ultrawide lens is the one I would describe as mercurial: brilliant in daylight, but requiring tethered expectations after dark.
Capturing a Maui sunset, it delivered all the requisite drama; in a dimly lit Phoenix bar, its output looked as though it had skipped dinner. The 12-megapixel selfie camera is a marked improvement over FEs of old, rendering my jet-lagged face with a strange presentability for a remote television appearance. Video is where Samsung maintains the clear hierarchy between the FE and its premium siblings. 4K recording at 60 frames per second is limited to the main and selfie cameras, and if you wish to switch between lenses while recording, you must drop the resolution to 4K30. This is not a deal-breaker for the casual creator, but it is a critical limitation for anyone who tells stories with dynamic movement. If this camera suite were a band, the main and telephoto lenses are the charismatic headliners, the ultrawide is the talented drummer who occasionally misses a beat, and the stabilisation is the dependable bass line, holding the entire groove together.
Battery & Charging: The All-Day Workhorse
I boarded my long-haul flight with the S25 FE as my designated movie companion and note-taker. Upon touchdown, I still had enough battery reserves to book a ride and navigate to my hotel. On a typical day of roaming—a heavy mix of Maps, camera use, Spotify, Slack, email, and contactless payments—I would consistently arrive at bedtime with between 15 and 25 per cent of the battery remaining. On more demanding days spent on Maui's beaches, with the screen brightness pushed to its maximum, a top-up was required by sunset. The 45 W wired charging is brisk enough; in my tests, it took the device from near-empty to the "back-to-work zone" in the time it took for a cappuccino to cool to a drinkable temperature. The 15 W wireless charging is a convenience for the bedside table, nothing more. As is the modern custom, there is no charging brick in the box. While I have aged out of the moral outrage phase of this industry trend, new buyers should budget for a reliable 45 W adapter to unlock the phone's full charging speed. The bottom line: it is an all-day phone for those with sane usage patterns and an almost-all-day phone for the travel-photography-obsessed. The battery is more Bruce Wayne on a school night than Batman on patrol until dawn.
Security & Updates: The Seven-Year Itch, Cured
In a device that holds the keys to my digital life, I value two things above all else: longevity and control. Samsung’s seven-year commitment to OS and security updates is not merely generous at this price point; it is transformative. On a practical level, it means the phone you purchase today will still be receiving vital updates when the new Metro lines being built across Delhi, the ones you have not even ridden yet, start to feel old hat. This is a profound statement of confidence in the hardware. On the security front, the Knox Vault platform keeps your most sensitive credentials and data isolated in a hardware-level secure enclave. Paired with One UI’s granular, on-device AI processing options and clear per-app permissions, I felt I had proper agency over what data left the device. For a journalist, a student, or anyone living out of a backpack for weeks at a time, that combination of long-term support and serious security provides a tangible sense of peace of mind. Your photos will not be held hostage by a calendar; your updates will not tap out after the second monsoon.
Price & Value: The Mithai Box Proposition
In India, the Galaxy S25 FE makes its debut at Rs 59,999 for the 8 GB/128 GB model, rising to Rs 65,999 for the 256 GB variant, and topping out at Rs 77,999 for the 512 GB configuration. My counsel is this: most buyers should consider the 256 GB version as the default, thereby avoiding the "why is my phone nagging me about storage?" moment six months down the line. The 512 GB tier is an indulgence, but one that future-proofs the device for creators who hoard 4K video clips. The FE performs the old Google Nexus trick—delivering the essentials with excellence while trimming the superfluous bells—but adds Samsung’s distinctive layer of grown-up polish and ecosystem integration. It is the proverbial mithai box with fewer laddoos, but the ones included are of the highest quality.
The Competitive Landscape: A War of Philosophies
The S25 FE does not exist in a vacuum. Against the formidable iPhone 16, Apple’s supremacy in single-threaded silicon fluidity and the sheer polish of its video capture remains unmatched. If your digital life is built upon the foundations of iMessage, AirDrop, and ProRes aspirations, the iPhone is the self-recommending choice, though you will pay a premium for storage headroom. The S25 FE fights back on the grounds of value and versatility: features like DeX, the seven-year Android update promise, and a true 3× telephoto lens at this price are not trivial advantages. If iOS is Hogwarts for you, then fair enough; the FE is the impeccably run Muggle institution that quietly helps you achieve top grades.
Then there is the OnePlus 13, a perennial rival in the speed stakes. In my experience, OxygenOS feels marginally snappier in transitions, and its charging speed is borderline comedic—plug it in, blink, and you are ready to go. Aggressive street pricing can also undercut Samsung on paper. Yet, the camera is where philosophies diverge. I still favour Samsung's tuning for more natural skin tones and telephoto consistency, whereas the OnePlus counters with raw processing speed and superior battery brawn. Choose OnePlus if haste is your religion; choose Samsung if you prize steadiness and software longevity.
Finally, the Vivo X200 enters the fray as the low-light specialist. Its camera system is a party trick that often becomes the main event, producing night shots that lean into drama and portraits that look editorial straight out of the camera. If your primary motivation is camera experimentation, its appeal is undeniable. That said, I found Samsung’s overall UI polish and the concrete promise of extended updates to be the safer wager for long-term ownership. Vivo’s camera is the neon-lit alleyway, full of intrigue and atmosphere; Samsung’s is the well-lit boulevard, complete with a zebra crossing.
Buying Advice For The Discerning Indian Consumer
If you are in the market for a premium-feeling Android device that will not feel obsolete in two years, the Galaxy S25 FE is a commendably easy recommendation. It is for the user who desires a reliable main camera paired with a genuinely useful 3× telephoto, a clean and fluid 120 Hz display, AI tools that actually save time, and the unique utility of DeX for the occasional hotel-room work session. However, if your day is dominated by graphically intensive gaming, or if you are a videographer who demands seamless multi-lens 4K60 recording, you would be better served looking elsewhere. If you crave the fastest charging speeds and the absolute snappiest-feeling interface, the OnePlus 13 will scratch that particular itch. If your heart belongs to the most polished video ecosystem, the iPhone 16 remains the classic choice. And if your photographic passions ignite after sunset, the Vivo X200 continues its reign as the drama king. For most Indian buyers seeking a well-rounded, intelligent smartphone that will age with grace, I would identify the 8 GB/256 GB S25 FE at Rs 65,999 as the definitive sweet spot. It is not the cheapest, nor the fastest, nor the most audacious—but it is the one I would trust to be excellent on more days than not. After a fortnight of airports, cabs, errant bagel crumbs, and an excessive number of screenshots, I remain content to keep it as my daily companion.
The Verdict
I have a fondness for technology that stays out of my way and gets on with the job. The Galaxy S25 FE feels like a well-edited album: it lacks any runaway chart-toppers, but it has a couple of tracks you will find yourself replaying, and one or two you might skip depending on your mood. I found its design to be premium, its display excellent, its cameras dependable (with a refreshingly useful 3× zoom), and its software and AI features genuinely helpful rather than merely performative. I also found its thermal management to be occasionally lively under duress and its battery to be merely "good"—not the endurance champion that heavy travellers dream of. Despite these minor quibbles, with the formidable backing of a seven-year update policy, the ace-in-the-hole that is DeX, and a pricing structure that feels sensible for India, it earns a strong recommendation. Call it a solid 7 out of 10: perhaps not the stadium-tour headliner, but certainly the band I would be happy to see again next weekend.
Category
| Score (out of 10)
| Design & Build
| 8
| Display
| 8
| Software & AI
| 8
| Performance & Thermals
| 7
| Cameras
| 7
| Battery & Charging
| 6
| Security & Updates
| 9
| Value For Money
| 7
| Overall Score
| 7/10
|
Quick India Comparison Snapshot
| Starting Price (Rs)
| Why You Might Pick It Over The S25 FE
| Apple iPhone 16
| 69,900
| The iOS ecosystem, best-in-class video, superior silicon efficiency
| OnePlus 13
| 63,999
| Blistering charging speed, a snappier feel, aggressive street pricing
| Vivo X200
| 64,999
| Unmatched night photography flair, stylised portraits, bold camera tuning
|
|
