FE stands for "Fan Edition". Samsung uses it for a lower-priced version of a Galaxy flagship that keeps the features buyers value most and trims elsewhere to hit a lower launch price. This guide explains what FE means in practice, compares the Galaxy S20 FE, S21 FE and S24 FE with their standard siblings using Samsung's own specifications, and helps you decide whether an FE suits you, including as a refurbished buy.
What does FE mean on a Samsung phone?
On a Samsung Galaxy phone, FE means Fan Edition. Samsung introduced the name with the Galaxy S20 FE in September 2020, describing it as a member of the Galaxy S20 family that brings the features Galaxy fans valued most to a more accessible price. An FE model is a cut-price flagship, not a separate budget line.
When Samsung launched the Galaxy S20 FE in the UK, its newsroom described the phone as a premium flagship with the "innovations Galaxy fans told us they love most" at a lower price point. Samsung framed it as an extension of the S20 family designed to bring flagship features to a wider audience. Every Galaxy S FE since has followed the same idea: keep the core flagship experience, adjust the specification sheet to reduce the price.
Is FE the same as "Lite"?
No. FE (Fan Edition) is the name Samsung currently uses for its lower-priced flagship variants. Samsung has used other suffixes in the past, such as the Galaxy S10 Lite, but on current Galaxy S phones, FE is the label for the more affordable member of the S family, released after the main models.
Which Samsung products use the FE name?
FE has spread beyond Galaxy S phones. Samsung's own security update list, checked on 2 October 2026, includes the Galaxy S23 FE, S24 FE, S25 FE and S26 FE, the Galaxy Z Flip7 FE foldable, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S10 FE tablets, and the Galaxy Watch FE. In each case, FE marks the more affordable version within that product family.
FE vs standard: what is usually different?
An FE model typically has a larger screen and a bigger battery than the standard model of the same generation, but a lower-resolution telephoto camera and, in some generations, less RAM or a lower-resolution display. It usually launches months after the standard model.
The detail varies by generation, so it is worth checking the specific pair you are considering. The three comparisons below use Samsung's launch specifications.
Galaxy S20 FE vs Galaxy S20
The Galaxy S20 FE has a bigger 6.5-inch screen, a larger 4,500mAh battery, a 3x optical telephoto lens and a 32MP selfie camera. The standard Galaxy S20 has a sharper Quad HD+ screen, more RAM and a 64MP telephoto camera. Samsung's UK launch price for the S20 FE was £599 for 4G, against £799 for the S20.
| Spec (Samsung UK launch data) | Galaxy S20 FE | Galaxy S20 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 23 September 2020 | 11 February 2020 |
| Display | 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED, 120Hz | 6.2-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz |
| Processor | 7nm octa-core (varies by 4G/5G version) | 7nm octa-core, 2.7GHz |
| RAM | 6GB | 8GB (LTE) or 12GB (5G) |
| Rear cameras | 12MP wide (OIS), 12MP ultra-wide, 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom | 12MP wide (OIS), 12MP ultra-wide, 64MP telephoto |
| Front camera | 32MP | 10MP |
| Battery | 4,500mAh | 4,000mAh |
| UK launch price | £599 (4G), £699 (5G) | £799 |
The S20 FE also supports microSD storage up to 1TB, according to Samsung's UK launch specifications. Samsung's UK spec sheet lists the S20 FE's processor by clock speeds rather than name, and the 4G and 5G versions used different configurations, so check the exact version on any listing. Neither the S20 FE nor the S20 appears on Samsung's current security update list, which means both have reached the end of security support.
Galaxy S21 FE vs Galaxy S21
The Galaxy S21 FE has a slightly larger 6.4-inch screen, a bigger 4,500mAh battery and a 32MP selfie camera. The standard Galaxy S21 has a 64MP telephoto camera, 8GB of RAM as standard and Samsung's Exynos 2100 chip in the UK. The S21 FE matters most today because it still receives Samsung security updates; the S21 does not.
| Spec (Samsung launch data) | Galaxy S21 FE | Galaxy S21 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 4 January 2022 | 14 January 2021 |
| Display | 6.4-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz | 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, adaptive 120Hz |
| Processor | 5nm 64-bit octa-core | Exynos 2100, 5nm octa-core (UK) |
| RAM | 6GB (128GB) or 8GB (256GB) | 8GB |
| Rear cameras | 12MP wide (OIS), 12MP ultra-wide, 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom | 12MP wide (OIS), 12MP ultra-wide, 64MP telephoto with 3x hybrid optic zoom |
| Front camera | 32MP | 10MP |
| Battery | 4,500mAh | 4,000mAh |
| Water/dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Security updates (Samsung list, 2 Oct 2026) | Quarterly | Not listed |
Samsung included both the Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S21 FE in its February 2022 commitment of four generations of OS upgrades and up to five years of security updates. The S21 FE launched a year later than the S21, which is why it is still on Samsung's update list while the standard S21 has dropped off. Samsung has not published an exact end date for the S21 FE; five years from its January 2022 launch points to early 2027, but treat that as an estimate.
Shop refurbished Galaxy S21 FE →
Galaxy S24 FE vs Galaxy S24
The Galaxy S24 FE has a much bigger 6.7-inch screen and a 4,700mAh battery against the Galaxy S24's 6.2-inch screen and 4,000mAh battery. The standard S24 has a 10MP telephoto (versus 8MP), a 12MP selfie camera (versus 10MP) and a slightly faster chip. Both get seven years of OS upgrades and security updates.
| Spec (Samsung launch and UK product data) | Galaxy S24 FE | Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 27 September 2024 | January 2024 |
| Display | 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz (60/120Hz adaptive) | 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 1–120Hz |
| Processor | Exynos 2400e, deca-core up to 3.1GHz | Deca-core up to 3.2GHz (Samsung UK listing) |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Rear cameras | 50MP wide (OIS), 12MP ultra-wide, 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom | 50MP wide (OIS), 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom |
| Front camera | 10MP | 12MP |
| Battery | 4,700mAh | 4,000mAh |
| Water/dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Software support | Seven generations of OS upgrades, seven years of security updates; Samsung UK lists security updates until 31 October 2031 | Seven generations of OS upgrades, seven years of security updates |
The S24 FE's chip is the Exynos 2400e. Samsung UK lists the S24 FE's peak CPU speed at 3.1GHz against 3.2GHz for the standard S24. In everyday use the bigger differences are physical: the S24 FE is a large phone, while the S24 is the smaller, more pocketable phone.
At the time of writing, our refurbished Galaxy S24 starts at a lower price than the S24 FE. That reverses the launch pricing logic, so if you do not specifically want the larger screen and battery, the standard S24 may be the better refurbished buy. Our refurbished Galaxy S24 series guide covers every model in the family.
What does an FE model usually trade away?
Across these three generations, Samsung's FE models consistently gave up telephoto resolution compared with the standard model, and in two of three generations they had less RAM or a lower-resolution screen. In return, every FE had a bigger screen and a bigger battery than the standard model.
- Telephoto: each FE uses an 8MP telephoto, against 64MP (S20 and S21) or 10MP (S24) on the standard model.
- Screen resolution: the S20 FE is Full HD+ against the S20's Quad HD+. The S21 FE and S24 FE match their standard models at Full HD+.
- RAM: the S20 FE and the 128GB S21 FE have 6GB, against 8GB or more on the standard models. The S24 FE matches the S24 at 8GB.
- Size and battery: every FE is larger with a bigger battery, which many buyers count as a gain rather than a compromise.
- Selfie camera: the S20 FE and S21 FE have a higher-resolution 32MP front camera than their standard siblings; the S24 FE has 10MP against the S24's 12MP.
Who should buy a Samsung FE phone?
An FE suits someone who wants a Galaxy S experience, a large screen and good battery capacity, and does not need the sharpest telephoto camera or the most compact body. It is also a sensible way to get a newer generation for the price of an older standard model.
- Choose an FE if you prefer a big screen, want a larger battery, take a lot of selfies (S20 FE and S21 FE in particular) or want the newest generation your budget allows.
- Choose the standard model if you want a smaller phone, value telephoto detail, or want the highest-resolution screen (S20 generation).
- Check software support first if the phone will be your main device: the S21 FE and S24 FE are on Samsung's update list, the S20 FE is not.
Which refurbished FE should you buy?
For long-term use, the refurbished Galaxy S24 FE is the strongest FE we sell, thanks to seven years of support and security updates listed until October 2031. For a lower budget, the Galaxy S21 FE still gets quarterly updates. The Galaxy S20 FE suits a secondary phone. Check today's price for each one on the product pages below.
All our refurbished phones are tested, cleaned, factory reset, signed out of the previous owner's account and unlocked for all UK networks. They come with our 12-month warranty, at least 85% battery health at dispatch on Like New, Excellent and Very Good grades, and a 30-day returns window. You can read the full terms on our warranty policy page.
For the wider picture, see our refurbished Galaxy S21 series guide, our refurbished Galaxy S20 series guide and our best refurbished Samsung phones for 2026.
Shop refurbished Galaxy S24 FE →
Frequently asked questions
What does FE stand for on Samsung?
FE stands for Fan Edition. Samsung introduced it with the Galaxy S20 FE in 2020 to describe a more affordable version of a Galaxy flagship built around the features fans valued most. The name now appears on Galaxy S phones, a Galaxy Z Flip, Galaxy Tab tablets and the Galaxy Watch FE.
Is a Samsung FE phone a budget phone?
Not really. An FE is a lower-priced member of the Galaxy S flagship family, not part of the budget Galaxy A-series. It keeps flagship features such as a 120Hz AMOLED screen, a telephoto camera and IP68 water resistance, while trimming some specifications to bring the price down.
Is the Galaxy S24 FE better than the Galaxy S24?
It depends on what you value. The Galaxy S24 FE has a bigger 6.7-inch screen and a 4,700mAh battery. The Galaxy S24 is more compact and has a 10MP telephoto, a 12MP selfie camera and a slightly faster chip. Both have Samsung's seven-year OS and security update commitment.
Does the FE model come out before or after the standard model?
After. The Galaxy S20 FE was announced in September 2020, seven months after the Galaxy S20. The S21 FE followed the S21 by almost a year, and the S24 FE arrived in September 2024, months after the January 2024 Galaxy S24. That later launch can mean a later end of software support.
Is the Galaxy S21 FE still supported?
Yes, for now. On 2 October 2026, Samsung's security update list showed the Galaxy S21 FE 5G receiving quarterly security updates. Samsung promised up to five years of security updates when it announced the phone's eligibility in 2022, so support is likely to end around early 2027, though Samsung has not confirmed a date.
Does the Galaxy S20 FE still get updates?
No. The Galaxy S20 FE no longer appears on Samsung's security update list as of 2 October 2026. Samsung's 2021 commitment gave it at least four years of security updates from launch. The phone still works, but it is best suited to secondary or light use.
Is a refurbished FE phone worth buying?
A refurbished FE can be good value if you pick a generation that is still supported. The Galaxy S24 FE, with security updates listed until October 2031, is a long-term option. Compare it with the standard model's refurbished price, as the standard version is sometimes cheaper.