S24 Ultra is really a perfect package. AI comes in exactly when and where it is required. The features are next level – the camera is insane, and the display is like eye candy. I was skeptical since it's my first Samsung, but this phone rocks! Super smooth, great battery life, and the design is on point. Finally hopped on the Samsung train, and it's safe to say I'm loving the ride! My fascination with Samsung products has grown from afar, observing and appreciating the innovation and design that seem to set them apart in the crowded tech landscape. Despite never having owned a Samsung device myself, I've always been intrigued by the way they blend form and function, creating gadgets that not only look sleek but perform phenomenally.What really catches my eye is ... MoreS24 Ultra is really a perfect package. AI comes in exactly when and where it is required. The features are next level – the camera is insane, and the display is like eye candy. I was skeptical since it's my first Samsung, but this phone rocks! Super smooth, great battery life, and the design is on point. Finally hopped on the Samsung train, and it's safe to say I'm loving the ride! My fascination with Samsung products has grown from afar, observing and appreciating the innovation and design that seem to set them apart in the crowded tech landscape. Despite never having owned a Samsung device myself, I've always been intrigued by the way they blend form and function, creating gadgets that not only look sleek but perform phenomenally.What really catches my eye is how Samsung manages to push the boundaries of what technology can do. From what I've seen, their displays are brighter, more vibrant, and more immersive than anything I've experienced on my current Android device. The thoughtfulness in their design, the smoothness of the interface, and the groundbreaking features they introduce with each new model (specially AI this time)—like their cameras that capture stunning details in any light—speak to a level of innovation that's hard to ignore.Watching friends and family use their Samsung devices with such satisfaction and ease makes me understand the emotional connection people can have with their tech. It's not just about having a smartphone or a tablet; it's about possessing a piece of the future, a tool that enhances everyday life in ways both big and small.This admiration from a distance has sparked a genuine curiosity and appreciation for Samsung's commitment to excellence. It's made me consider what my own experience could be like, stepping into the world of Samsung for the first time, and how it might transform my interaction with technology in ways I've only yet imagined.

The Galaxy S23 FE has most of the components (wireless charging, IP68, 120hz AMOLED screen, solid cameras, big battery, reasonable styling) required to reach the heights achieved in the now-classic Galaxy S20 FE, but lacks the most crucial part of why that was so exceptional (at least here in the UK) and ironically highlights again why the S20 FE was so special - the Exynos based SOC.The S20 FE was *SO* good in the UK market because it brought the Snapdragon 865 SOC to an affordable local phone in a generation where the Exynos processor was significantly worse than the SD counterpart. Which was also the case for the S22 generation from which the S23 FE gets its SOC.I have upgraded from a 3.5 year old Galaxy S20+ 5G which I got imported in order to get the ... MoreThe Galaxy S23 FE has most of the components (wireless charging, IP68, 120hz AMOLED screen, solid cameras, big battery, reasonable styling) required to reach the heights achieved in the now-classic Galaxy S20 FE, but lacks the most crucial part of why that was so exceptional (at least here in the UK) and ironically highlights again why the S20 FE was so special - the Exynos based SOC.The S20 FE was *SO* good in the UK market because it brought the Snapdragon 865 SOC to an affordable local phone in a generation where the Exynos processor was significantly worse than the SD counterpart. Which was also the case for the S22 generation from which the S23 FE gets its SOC.I have upgraded from a 3.5 year old Galaxy S20+ 5G which I got imported in order to get the Snapdragon 865 based model. Honestly, the S23 FE feels like a direct side-grade in all ways; performance is not noticeably different (perhaps a touch snappier here and there), I've got less RAM, and the battery life on my brand new Exynos based S23 FE is basically identical to where my 3.5 year old Snapdragon based S20+ 5G - I get the same screen-on time as a 3.5 year old phone battery, after 3.5 years of fairly heavy usage.It's just really bad, and shouldn't have happened. This is a lesson already learned many times over for Samsung, and a message reiterated by countless reviewers and tech-influences across social media; the Exynos chips just are not good enough for the top end, especially when some of the international markets (US, China, etc) get a Snapdragon SOC for the exact same phone.The phone performs fine, but the CPU gets hotter than it should doing simple tasks, and burns through battery faster than it should doing them too. I would happily take a core-sheduler update that left the SOC in lower power states (less performance) more often to maximise battery . The phone is fine in basically every capacity except for SOC efficiency.If they had just put the S23's Snapdragon 8 Gen2 into the phone just like what happened with the S20 FE getting the Snapdragon 865 - even if it cost £50 more which I would gladly have paid - then the S23 FE would have been a worthy successor to that classic model.Unfortunately the dark cloud of poor-quality Exynos SOCs is *STILL* affecting Samsung's global high-end phone SKUs. I wanted it to be otherwise, and was happy to try given the good deal I got on the phone plan, but it's patently clear to me that this will be just a 2 year phone and then I'm going to switch, which is a shame given the software updates promised etc. If the phone had the performance of the S23 with the Snapdragon, then I would likely have kept it for 3.5-4 years, as I do when I'm really happy with my phone.3/5 ... but it would have been 4.5/5 if it had a Snapdragon SOC.

TL;DR: If you are upgrading from a 3 yo mid tier device or 5yo flagship device, this is a very solid upgrade.My needs:-flagship chipset-long OS updates-good camera-nice UI-within my budgetI'm a previous owner of Note 5(2021-2023, during my secondary school) and S20+(2023-2024).The experience I had with Note 5 after 6 years of release(back in 2021 when i first got it from relatives) is that an flagship device will always last longer and perform betterthan a budget phone in terms of performance after some years. The only downside for using a device that is over 6 years old is lack of software support and cant run certains apps like banking apps. I had to buy a 2nd hand S20+ for the banking apps when I got into tertiary education and also a try for One ... MoreTL;DR: If you are upgrading from a 3 yo mid tier device or 5yo flagship device, this is a very solid upgrade.My needs:-flagship chipset-long OS updates-good camera-nice UI-within my budgetI'm a previous owner of Note 5(2021-2023, during my secondary school) and S20+(2023-2024).The experience I had with Note 5 after 6 years of release(back in 2021 when i first got it from relatives) is that an flagship device will always last longer and perform betterthan a budget phone in terms of performance after some years. The only downside for using a device that is over 6 years old is lack of software support and cant run certains apps like banking apps. I had to buy a 2nd hand S20+ for the banking apps when I got into tertiary education and also a try for One UI.Fast forward a year, I have saved enough money for a new phone. Based on my needs, Samsung's S24 series is the perfect choice EXCEPT the price is a bit pricey for me, so S24 FE fits perfectly.I bought S24 FE when it was newly launched, the price during pre-order is within my budget and it fits my needs. Over a month of usage right now, i have no complaints about it.Daily use: Opens communication apps quite frequently, watch IG reels and Youtube shorts during free time, no lag issues for daily uses. App loads very fast and smooth, and switching between recent apps is quick and responsive, but due to 8GB ram, it does kill old unused apps more often comparing to S20+ with 12GB ram.Battery life: on light performance profile, i could scroll videos for whole day, more accurately from noon to night. The battery is way better than my previous phone and my procrastination is also getting worser as my screen time on single charge is significantly longer. With super fast 25W charging, it could charge 10%++ in 10 minutes. Charging speed is not as fast as other brand, but for 10 minutes of charging time, i could scroll social media for one and a half hour. Doesn't make too much difference for me as I always have the habit of charging my phone when im not in use, which usually can fill more than half after a lunch break.Camera: As good as flagship devices, improved night scene and videos. The only downside is that despite having similar camera and chipset as S24, it doesn't support Expert RAW, which that it cant shoot in astrophotography mode. Reasonable for this price point, but I hope it can do better.Performance: not a gamer, so I can't really discuss the performance on survival games and triple-A games, but it definitely can run rhythm games smoothly on 120fps, which i play on daily basis.Features: Basically you got the same Galaxy AI features as S24 series. Circle to search seems unnecessary at first, but once I get used to it, there is no way back. Routines feature comes in handy for custom automation task, such as reading out transactions notification when receiving money or opening apps in certain time. You can customise more functions with Good Lock app based on your needs, such as double tap the back of your phone for screenshot. This phone have 7 years of system update, means that I still can use the phone for at least 7 years as long the phone still boots and I have no gaming needs, which is the main reason I choose Samsung S series than other phones.As a student in tertiary education, this phone is basically a swiss knife for me. I can shoot videos in great quality for my project, circle to search a particular notes that i dont understand, and going thru whole day of classes with only a single charge. This phone not only fits all my needs, but also gave me the confidence to use it for a long period of time, even after graduate from my tertiary education and get into work. I'm very satisfied with my S24 FE.