- Analysis by KJ David
Probably in an attempt to save face from the Galaxy Note7 debacle, Samsung pitches us the Galaxy Note FE, which is short for Fan Edition. This stylus-equipped 5.7-incher has pretty much most of the Note7's (now a discontinued model) premium DNA, but hopefully with less chances of blowing up in your face!
Its pros and cons kick off with a signature Samsung flagship facade: a 5.7-inch Quad HD (2560 x 1440) display with the brand's Dual Edge Super AMOLED technology 
and its Note series' standard S Pen support . Its high-class display architecture also results to it falling into the thin flagship smartphone category (as of its release), measuring 7.9mm slim. This Note7 substitute also boasts a 12-megapixel Dual Pixel f/1.7-aperture primary camera , which also graces the rear end of several slightly-older Samsung flagships. Moreover, in true high-end fashion, it supports a 4K (3840 x 2160) maximum video-recording resolution at 30fps .
Related: Best phablets
The Note FE's arrays of specs was not immune to cons, however, seeing that it awkwardly settles for a 5-megapixel-only selfie camera 
with no dedicated front-facing flash nor a basic autofocus function . Adding to our disappointment is its 64GB maximum internal memory , which quivers in comparison to some other high-tech models' 128GB and even 256GB native storage caps. That said, it does support up to 256GB of top-up memory , resembling the flagship-caliber Android that it claims to be. Another sneaky con is its single-SIM-only (nano 4FF) support that feels prehistoric, knowing that even many basic-level Androids offer dual SIM card trays.
Jumping back to its pros, the Galaxy Note FE is home to an Exynos 8890 dual-cluster octa-core processor running at 2.3GHz + 1.6GHz , with 4GB's worth of RAM to play with. Also, despite having a lower raw power capacity of 3200mAh than the Note7 (3500mAh) , it boasts highly-reassuring self attributed scores, such as a 72-hour audio playback time (Always-On display mode off) and a 25-hour 4G talk time .
Related: Best Fastest Android phones
For its pros and cons in the security and software departments the Note FE relies on both fingerprint user authentication and iris scanning , a duo that can be used to secure mobile micro-transactions via Samsung Pay. Alongside the aforementioned features are not-too-common sensors like heart rate and air pressure , among others.
For its physique, we are satisfied with the Galaxy Note FE's ergonomic curved design as well as IP68-level dust- and waterproofing , the latter we don't often get out of thin, sophisticated models like itself. Samsung also slapped a Gorilla Glass 5 protective finish onto its large screen, with a choice between four trendy colors (Blue Coral and Gold Platinum being two of them) wrapping things up.
Related: Best waterproof smartphones
In conclusion, when it comes to technical specifications, the Samsung Galaxy Note FE packs enough heat to blaze into the upscale Android market -- here's to hoping it won't literally catch fire.
** This phone is also known as: Samsung Note FE, Samsung Galaxy Note Fan Edition, Samsung Note Fan Edition, Samsung FE
You Should Also Check These Out:
- Confused? Let Us Find Your Perfect Phone With Celliminator
- Best Phones As Of April 2024 (12 Categories)
- Best Samsung Phones April 2024
- Newest Samsung Phones 2024 (Latest Models)
Full Menu
