Galaxy A05s Vs Galaxy S23 FE

Galaxy A05s
Galaxy A05s
Starting at

Refurbished price:£89.00

Versus £129.00 new

See options
Galaxy S23 FE
Galaxy S23 FE
Starting at

Refurbished price:£175.00

Versus £605.75 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy A05s, released in October 2023, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, launched in October 2023, represent distinct offerings within Samsung's smartphone lineup. While both operate on the Android platform with Samsung's One UI, the Galaxy A05s is positioned as an accessible device for everyday use, whereas the Galaxy S23 FE aims to deliver a more advanced experience with features often found in premium models.

Scores

Durability

Evaluating the long-term usability of these devices involves considering their software support, physical resilience, and ease of maintenance.

  • Software Longevity: The Galaxy S23 FE is designed for extended software support, typically receiving four major Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates from its release. In contrast, the Galaxy A05s is expected to receive two major OS upgrades and four years of security updates, meaning the S23 FE will maintain current software features and security patches for a longer period.
  • Physical Durability: The Galaxy S23 FE incorporates Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on both its front and back, alongside an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, offering a reassuring level of protection against environmental elements. The Galaxy A05s features a plastic frame and back, and does not carry an official IP rating for water or dust resistance, suggesting a more cautious approach to exposure to liquids and dust is advisable.
  • Repairability: The Galaxy S23 FE generally exhibits a higher repairability score, partly due to design elements like pull tabs for battery removal, which facilitate easier component replacement. The Galaxy A05s has an average repairability score, with some components requiring more effort to access due to adhesive use.

Year of Release

2023

2023

Compatible with latest Update

No

Yes

OS

Android

Android

Foldable

No

No

Performance

The performance capabilities of these two smartphones cater to different user demands, primarily influenced by their internal components and available memory configurations.

  • Storage and Multitasking: The Galaxy A05s offers internal storage options of 64GB or 128GB, paired with 4GB or 6GB of RAM. The Galaxy S23 FE provides more generous storage at 128GB or 256GB, consistently coupled with 8GB of RAM, which supports more demanding applications and smoother transitions between multiple open apps.
  • Everyday Responsiveness: The Galaxy A05s handles daily tasks such as web browsing, social media, and light applications with adequate responsiveness. For more intensive use, including graphic-rich games and complex multitasking, the Galaxy S23 FE delivers a noticeably smoother and more fluid experience, maintaining performance even under sustained load.
  • Battery Behavior: The Galaxy A05s is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, providing ample power for extended daily use. The Galaxy S23 FE features a 4500mAh battery, which, despite being slightly smaller, is optimized for efficient power consumption, and both devices support 25W wired fast charging.

Memory (GB)

4 GB

8 GB

Screen quality

The visual experience offered by each device differs significantly, primarily due to their display technologies and associated features.

  • Display Technology and Clarity: The Galaxy A05s features a 6.7-inch PLS LCD panel, which provides clear visuals suitable for general content consumption. The Galaxy S23 FE boasts a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, known for its deeper blacks, higher contrast, and more vibrant color reproduction, enhancing the viewing experience for photos, videos, and games.
  • Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: The Galaxy S23 FE offers a peak brightness of up to 1450 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. The Galaxy A05s reaches a maximum brightness of around 520 nits, which may present challenges for comfortable viewing under direct sunlight.
  • Smoothness and Responsiveness: The Galaxy A05s features a 90Hz refresh rate, contributing to a smoother scrolling experience compared to standard 60Hz displays. The Galaxy S23 FE elevates this with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, providing an even more fluid interaction and a more responsive feel, particularly noticeable during fast-paced content or gaming.

Resolution

1080 x 2400

1080 x 2340

Audiovisual

The camera systems on these two smartphones are designed for different levels of photographic versatility and image quality.

  • Main Camera Capabilities: Both devices feature a 50MP main camera. The Galaxy S23 FE's main sensor includes Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and advanced autofocus, which contributes to sharper images, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The Galaxy A05s's 50MP main camera performs well in good lighting but lacks OIS, which can affect clarity in motion or low light.
  • Versatility and Low-Light Performance: The Galaxy S23 FE offers a more comprehensive camera setup, including a 12MP ultrawide lens and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, providing greater flexibility for different photographic scenarios. Its Nightography features enhance low-light photography, capturing more detail and reducing noise. The Galaxy A05s includes 2MP macro and depth sensors, which offer specific close-up and portrait effects, but its low-light performance is less robust, often showing more noise and less detail.
  • Video Recording and Audio: The Galaxy S23 FE supports video recording up to 8K at 24fps and 4K at 60fps, with features like Super Steady mode for stable footage. It also includes stereo speakers for a more immersive audio experience. The Galaxy A05s records video at FHD (1080p) up to 60fps, without the advanced stabilization or resolution options of the S23 FE. It features a single bottom-firing speaker.

Front camera

13 megapixels

10 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond core features, several practical elements differentiate the user experience between these two Samsung smartphones.

  • Connectivity Standards: The Galaxy S23 FE supports 5G connectivity, along with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, offering faster wireless speeds and more stable connections for future-proof usage. The Galaxy A05s is limited to 4G LTE networks and uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 5.1.
  • Physical Design and Handling: The Galaxy S23 FE has dimensions of 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm and weighs 209 grams, featuring a more compact form factor and a glass back panel. The Galaxy A05s is slightly larger at 168 x 77.8 x 8.8 mm and weighs 194 grams, with a plastic construction.
  • Ports and Biometrics: Both devices utilize a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer. The Galaxy A05s retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is absent on the Galaxy S23 FE. For security, the Galaxy A05s features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, while the Galaxy S23 FE incorporates an optical in-display fingerprint sensor.

Weight

194 g

209 g

Screen size (in)

6.7

6.4

Mobile network

4G

5G

SIM card

Physical SIM

Dual Physical SIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy A05s and Galaxy S23 FE cater to different user priorities, each excelling in specific areas. Users often praise the Galaxy A05s for its large display and long-lasting battery, making it a practical choice for daily communication and media consumption without demanding intensive performance. Criticisms sometimes point to its camera performance in low light and the absence of an official water resistance rating.

Conversely, the Galaxy S23 FE receives commendation for its vibrant AMOLED display, capable camera system with optical zoom, and robust performance for gaming and demanding applications. Some user feedback notes its slightly older processor compared to other flagship devices at its release, though it still delivers a powerful experience.

Users prioritizing a large screen and extended battery life for essential smartphone functions, and who do not require advanced camera features or high-end gaming performance, may find the Galaxy A05s well-suited to their needs. Those who value a superior display, versatile camera capabilities, faster overall performance, and enhanced durability for a more comprehensive smartphone experience will likely lean towards the Galaxy S23 FE. Both models are available as quality-assured refurbished options, providing an eco-friendly alternative for consumers seeking to make informed and sustainable choices.

See all articles

Our recent comparisons