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Will there be a Samsung Galaxy S22 FE?
Update: January 18, 2023 (4:13 PM ET): We have updated the Samsung Galaxy S22 FE hub to include a rumor that Samsung may replace the Galaxy A74 with the Galaxy S22 FE.
Original article: Samsung started the tradition of launching the FE version of its premium S series phones back in 2020. So technically, these watered-down affordable flagships haven’t been around that long. We’ve seen four FE models from Samsung’s stable till now, and rumors are currently floating around about the Samsung Galaxy S22 FE.
The Galaxy S22 series consists of some of the best phones you can buy right now. A cheaper version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 phones would definitely spice up the mid-range market, mainly because Samsung can be trusted to make the right compromises. However, not all news is good news when it comes to the Samsung Galaxy S22 FE. Here’s everything we know about the phone so far.
Will there be a Samsung Galaxy S22 FE?
When Samsung launched the first Fan Edition phones, it announced that all its flagships would get a FE model yearly. So as far as the official company line goes, the Galaxy S22 FE should be happening to supplement the Galaxy S22 series and act as a stop-gap until the Galaxy S23 family arrives. However, a recent report from SamMobile claimed that Samsung may be sunsetting the Fan Edition series altogether. That means we may not get the Galaxy S22 FE after all.
Meanwhile, rumors suggest that Samsung is readying an even more affordable version of the Galaxy S21 FE. This one is supposed to feature the Snapdragon 720G chipset. So it looks like Samsung could still be making FE phones, even if they aren’t absolutely brand-new ones.
Another rumor put out into the ether by leaker RGcloudS suggests that the FE phone is coming in 2023 and it may replace the Galaxy A74. This rumor also claims it may be powered by a brand-new Exynos 2300 chipset.
There’s a case to be made both in favor of and against the Samsung FE phones. On one hand, the Galaxy S20 FE brought tremendous value and great performance to the table, but on the flip side, the S21 FE had a late launch and didn’t offer enough value compared to the superior S22 flagships. So if Samsung cancels the Galaxy S22 FE, it may not be such a bad thing. Then again, a cheaper flagship-grade phone from Samsung could be the perfect Pixel 6a competitor. We’ll just have to wait for official word from Samsung to know what the company has in mind.
When will the Samsung Galaxy S22 FE release date be?
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (4G and 5G) — September 23, 2020
- Samsung Galaxy S21 FE — January 3, 2022
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (2022) — April 5, 2022
Since there’s no confirmation if the phone even exists, there has been no chatter about the Galaxy S22 FE’s release date. Being that the Galaxy S23 series is launching on February 1, 2023,
In other words, it’s not looking good for the Galaxy S22 FE, but don’t lose out hope just yet.
Should Samsung kill off the Fan Edition line?
What features will the Samsung Galaxy S22 FE have?
There are no reliable leaks about the features or specs of the Samsung Galaxy S22 FE. That’s probably because rumors about its cancellation started circulating a while back.
Back in April, a Korean blogger warned that Samsung hasn’t even started the development of the Galaxy S22 FE. The leaker attributed the information to a source and said it’s the same situation as the Note line that Samsung dropped out of the blue.
However, a little-known and not-so-trustworthy Chinese tipster (via Notebookcheck) claimed in the same month that Samsung would possibly equip the Galaxy S22 FE with the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chip. Adding weight to the claim, Business Korea also reported that Samsung is considering using a MediaTek processor for the Galaxy S22 FE and the Galaxy S23. Samsung fits its premium and FE phones with Snapdragon or Exynos chips, so switching to MediaTek would be a first for both lines.
The same tipster went on to say that the upcoming handset will feature a 4,500mAh battery, which matches up with the battery size of both the Galaxy S21 FE and Galaxy S20 FE. However, the leaker was uncertain if these specs belong to the Galaxy S22 FE or a device called the Galaxy A53 Pro.
Since both the leaks are so shaky, we advise you to take them with a big helping of salt.
What will the Samsung Galaxy S22 FE price be?
The first Samsung Fan Edition phone — the Galaxy S20 FE — came in at $699. This was a sweet spot for people who didn’t want to burn their pockets buying the Galaxy S20 series priced at $999 and above.
Then came the Galaxy S21 FE, also at $699. However, it launched right before the Galaxy S22 series, which starts at $799. That’s a difference of just $100 for a superior phone.
The FE line needs to bring more value to the table.
So if Samsung does end up launching a new Fan Edition phone for 2022 (or beyond), it should do so at the right price. Given that the S series flagships are cheaper than before, the FE line needs to follow suit and bring more value to the table.