Is the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE still sufficient in 2026?
“And how long will it continue to receive updates?” That’s the question that makes or breaks almost every purchase of a 2023 Android device. With the Galaxy S23 FE, you can look up the answer instead of guessing: Samsung has made a commitment, and that promise is still in effect. Then there’s a second question that hardly anyone dares to ask: What does FE actually mean?
The Update Question
What Samsung promised
When it introduced the S23 FE in October 2023, Samsung promised four generations of operating system upgrades and five years of security updates. That is stated in the press release for the market launch, where Samsung describes the device as designed for longevity.
Three of those five years have now passed. Counting from the market launch, the security updates will run until 2028. The fact that they are still flowing is shown by August: Samsung distributed the August 2026 security patch for the S23 FE, including in Europe. A phone from 2023 is therefore not a forgotten device, but one that is actively maintained.
Galaxy AI also runs on the S23 FE
There is another point that many people overlook. Galaxy AI is not exclusive to the latest models. Samsung announced the AI features in February 2024 and brought them to the S23 FE via One UI 6.1 from the end of March. Further features followed from September 2024, including Interpreter with Listening Mode, again on the S23 FE.
In everyday use, this means: Interpreter translates a conversation at a holiday restaurant, Chat Assist rephrases and translates messages, Browsing Assist summarises long articles, and with Circle to Search you can search for what you see on the screen without switching apps. There is also generative image editing, which lets you remove distracting objects from photos.
The device itself
What does FE actually mean?
FE stands for Fan Edition. The S23 FE belongs to the Galaxy S23 series and shares its core features: the update promise, Galaxy AI, a 120-Hertz display and a triple camera. You do not need to know anything more. It is a Samsung Galaxy S, just the FE model in the series.
What is inside the S23 FE
The display measures 6.4 Inch, is a Dynamic AMOLED 2X and runs at up to 120 Hertz. Scrolling, videos and games look smoother than on devices with 60 Hertz. The main camera has a resolution of 50 megapixels, joined by an Ultra Wide camera with 12 megapixels and a telephoto lens with 8 megapixels and three-times optical zoom.
The phone is protected against dust and water to IP68, has 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, 5G and a 4500-mAh battery. It charges via USB-C. As a Dual-SIM model, it can receive calls from two numbers simultaneously while on standby.
Where it is honestly weak
The telephoto lens has a significantly lower resolution of 8 megapixels than the main camera. If you take a lot of photos from a distance, it is better to try it out in a Store beforehand. The display has Full HD Plus resolution (2340 x 1080 pixels), and no more. The box includes a charging cable, but you need to provide the power adapter yourself.
The update promise is also finite: four generations and five years are a clear commitment, but they have an end. If you want to keep your phone for seven years, you are better off with newer Samsung models from the Galaxy S24 series onwards, which receive up to seven years of updates.
Who it is worth it for, and who it is not
It is worthwhile for anyone who replaces their phone every two or three years anyway. The update promise covers this period, and you are not paying for headroom you will never use. It is worthwhile for anyone who wants to try Galaxy AI without buying a current flagship: Interpreter at the holiday restaurant, or a summary of a long article. And it is worthwhile for anyone upgrading from an older Samsung: You already know the interface, and you also get a 120-Hertz display and a triple camera.
It is the wrong device if you want to use it beyond 2028 with security updates. In that case, it is worth looking at a newer model.
The October offer
Currently, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE with 128 GB in Graphite is available in the Autumn Sale for CHF 325.– instead of CHF 359.–. That is CHF 34.– less. The displayed price applies to the condition «As new» with a new battery. Like every device at Revendo, it is inspected, cleaned and reset in Switzerland; the Quality Label documents this with an inspection report.
This also includes a 1-year warranty and a 14-day right of return. And because a phone is better in your hand before you buy it: The S23 FE is currently in stock at all ten Stores, and collection is usually ready within an hour.
View the S23 FE with its update promise
Fan Edition means: plenty of S-series for less money. This one also comes with an update promise that is still active.