Galaxy S25 vs Galaxy S25 FE: which one is the better buy?

the Galaxy S25 is the better phone and the Galaxy S25 FE is the better deal. The S25 has the faster chip and the lighter body. The S25 FE has the bigger screen, the bigger battery and faster charging, and it is £150 cheaper at £649 against £799.

The numbers

Size and weight

This is the first thing to decide. The S25 is small enough to use one-handed and weighs 162 g. The S25 FE has a 6.7-inch screen and weighs 190 g, which is closer to the size of the large phones. If you read, watch video or play games a lot, the bigger screen is a real advantage. If the phone lives in a trouser pocket, the S25 is easier.

Speed

The S25 uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite and has 12GB of memory. The S25 FE uses Samsung's Exynos 2400 with 8GB. For messaging, video, social media and most games you will not see a difference. The S25 pulls ahead in long gaming sessions and in heavy photo editing, and it will have more headroom in its fifth and sixth year.

Battery and charging

The S25 FE wins here without a contest. It has a 4900 mAh battery against 4000 mAh, and it charges at 45W against 25W. If you often reach the evening with the battery low, this is the gap that matters.

Cameras

The two phones share a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide, and both have a 3x telephoto. The S25's telephoto has a higher resolution (10MP against 8MP), so zoomed shots hold a little more detail. In ordinary daylight shots you would struggle to tell the phones apart.

Software support

Samsung supports both phones with up to seven years of Android and security updates, so neither will be left behind early.

Which should you buy?

Choose the Galaxy S25 if you want a compact phone with the fastest chip and you will keep it for many years.

Choose the Galaxy S25 FE if you want a big screen, long battery life and fast charging, and you would rather keep £150. For most people it is the sensible choice.

Not sure about the price band? Our guide to the best phones under £500 lists the lower-cost options too.

Common questions

Is the S25 FE worth £150 less?

For most people, yes. You give up the faster chip and a lighter body, and you get a bigger screen, more battery and faster charging.

Does the Galaxy S25 FE have 5G?

Yes, both phones support 5G and eSIM.

Can I put a memory card in either phone?

No. Neither has a card slot, so choose the storage size you need when you buy. Our storage guide helps with that.