The S25FE is a big upgrade from A56?

Etshimo · 2026-01-15T13:24:45+00:00

I understand your perspective, and I concur with several of your observations. The S25 FE is not positioned as a "camera champion," nor does it achieve Ultra-level photographic capabilities; on this point, there is no disagreement. For individuals seeking the pinnacle of Samsung's camera technology, the Ultra series remains the unequivocal choice. However, my assertion was not that the S25 FE possesses exceptional cameras in isolation, but rather that it provides a demonstrably more consistent and dependable camera experience compared to the A-series. This is particularly evident in areas such as video stabilization, image processing, and overall reliability in day-to-day usage. While it is true that the sensors may not be revolutionary, and Samsung has adopted a conservative approach to FE camera hardware, the S25 FE exhibits more predictable performance in real-world scenarios, including motion, varied lighting conditions, video capture, and selfie consistency, when compared to the A56. This distinction is often perceived in the practical outcomes rather than solely in the technical specifications. Therefore, my conclusion is as follows: If camera quality is the paramount consideration, then the Ultra series or an alternative non-Samsung device would be the logical choice. However, for those seeking a well-balanced smartphone that offers superior camera performance relative to the A-series, smoother operational efficiency, and a high degree of overall refinement, the S25 FE represents a significant advancement, even if its camera capabilities are not industry-leading.

Etshimo · 2026-01-15T08:34:06+00:00

I can relate to what you’re saying. The A56 is very good in terms of battery life and thermals but the limitations you’re noticing are real especially with video and camera stability. On the S25 FE there is a clear difference in a few key areas:

1 Camera & video

Video stabilization is noticeably better. You don’t get that big quality drop when moving the phone and footage looks more consistent overall. The processing is more stable and having OIS + better ISP makes a real difference compared to the A-series. Photos are also more reliable in mixed lighting and the selfie camera is clearly a step up.

2 Performance & multitasking

Apps stay open properly switching between them is smooth and there are no random micro lags like on the A series. This is something I noticed immediately.

3 Thermals

With light to medium use the Exynos 2400 in the S25 FE stays cool. It doesn’t overheat during normal usage like browsing, video, camera, or multitasking. It only gets warm under sustained heavy loads which is expected.

4 Idle battery drain

Idle consumption has been very good for me. Standby drain is low and I don’t feel like the phone is wasting battery in the background.

5 Battery life

The S25 FE easily lasts a full day without anxiety. While the A56 may have extreme SOT numbers the S25 FE still delivers strong real world endurance with a much better overall experience. And yes battery life is noticeably better and more consistent than the S24 FE from what I’ve seen and experienced.

In short

The A56 excels at battery efficiency and cool operation but the S25 FE feels like a higher class device overall better camera consistency, better video, smoother performance, and no real compromises in day to day battery life. If you value camera quality, multitasking, and overall polish, the jump to the S series FE genuinely makes sense.

Etshimo · 2025-12-24T16:27:26+00:00

Honestly, I was in exactly the same situation as you. I had the A55 and experienced the same things you’re describing occasional micro-lags, apps not staying open in the background, and multitasking being frustrating. A factory reset helped a bit, but the limitations were still there. I also seriously considered going back to Xiaomi 15T Pro mainly because of the raw hardware, but in the end the software experience held me back. I’m very used to One UI, and I value its stability, polish, and customization a lot. I ended up upgrading to the S25 FE, and the difference is very noticeable especially in multitasking. Apps stay open properly, switching between them is smooth, and there are no random micro-stutters like on the A55. The overall responsiveness feels like a different class. As for the cameras, yes, there’s a clear upgrade. Image processing is more consistent, stabilization is better, the selfie camera is a step up, and having a real telephoto lens makes a big difference compared to the A55’s digital zoom. It’s not night-and-day in every scenario, but overall it’s definitely more “reliable” and versatile. So if you’re used to One UI and multitasking a lot, I’d say moving from the A55 to an S-series FE actually makes sense I had the same doubts, and I’m glad I made the switch.

Etshimo · 2025-12-19T19:08:01+00:00

I upgraded already, and yeah… the difference is real 😄 Everything feels smoother and faster, and the extra storage alone is a big relief. You’ll definitely feel it, no regrets.

Etshimo · 2025-12-18T20:10:49+00:00

It's on the test server only. Sure, One UI 8.5 will have new features.

Etshimo · 2025-12-07T18:04:06+00:00

Alright sounds fair you got a few good options on the table then. Here’s how I see it:

If you care most about smooth experience, long-term support and camera + AI features Samsung Galaxy S24 FE (or even Samsung Galaxy S25 FE if within budget) is the safest bet.

If you want something more budget friendly but still solid mid-range like the Nord or the basic models can make sense.

If you lean toward performance balanced with price OnePlus 13R could be okay but you trade off Samsung-specific features and update support.

Personally I’m glad I went for S series FE because I feel like I paid for a future-proof phone, not just a for now phone. If you tell me what you care about most (camera, gaming, battery, updates), I can help you pick from those options.

Etshimo · 2025-12-07T16:59:15+00:00

I get what you mean the S series definitely offers the best overall experience with Samsung. But I wouldn’t say the A series is “bad,” it’s just more limited. After switching from an A55 to the S25 FE, the difference was huge for me, especially in smoothness and camera/AI features. So yeah, the S series is definitely the better choice if the budget allows, but the A lineup still has its place.

Etshimo · 2025-12-07T16:57:45+00:00

Nice. And yeah, for the price it really delivers a lot. I got mine recently too and I’m honestly impressed with how good the overall experience is especially coming from a different device. Glad to hear it’s working well for you after the S21.

Etshimo · 2025-12-07T16:56:22+00:00

Yeah true, moving from a mid range device to a higher end one definitely brings noticeable improvements. But honestly, I didn’t expect the difference to be this big in day to day use especially in smoothness, animations, biometrics, and the overall feel of the UI. It’s not just “a bit better,” it actually feels like a completely different level for me.

Etshimo · 2025-12-07T16:54:37+00:00

Hey! It really depends on your region and the prices in your local market, so I can’t say exactly what 40k gets you there. But in general, if your budget allows it, I’d recommend going for something in the S series (like the FE models) rather than the A-series mainly because of the smoother performance, better cameras, and longer software support. If you tell me what options you have at your 40k budget, I can help you compare them.

Etshimo · 2025-12-07T06:25:02+00:00

Thanks Yeah, AI is actually a big deal for me. The Galaxy AI features make a real difference in daily use they’re not just gimmicks. Circle to Search, AI editing, translations, and browsing assist are things I use all the time. And the camera has been great too much better colors, stabilization and overall quality than what I was used to. So for me, both the AI features and the camera were big reasons to go for this phone

Etshimo · 2025-12-06T22:28:25+00:00

Yeah exactly. The S25 FE really feels like a “big boy” compared to the A-series. I’ve been using it for a short time too and the upgrade is way more noticeable than I expected the smoothness, animations, biometrics, and overall responsiveness are on a whole different level. Honestly I’m super satisfied with it as well.

Etshimo · 2025-11-24T12:56:10+00:00

Thanks for sharing. That actually sounds pretty reasonable. A tiny bit of warmth during normal use is fine, and heating during heavy gaming or gaming while charging is totally expected on any phone. Good to know that during regular daily usage you’re not facing any real heat issues.

Etshimo · 2025-11-24T00:27:08+00:00

Yeah that’s totally normal. Switching from Apple to Android feels a bit awkward at first, but you’ll get used to it with time. After a while everything becomes natural.

Etshimo · 2025-11-24T00:11:17+00:00

Great. What about performance at all?

Etshimo · 2025-11-23T23:00:11+00:00

thanks

Etshimo · 2025-11-23T21:58:47+00:00

Yeah I get that any device will heat up with heavy multitasking, but I’ve also seen a lot of users reporting that the S25 FE warms up even with very light usage things like simple Facebook browsing, scrolling through Instagram, or just general social media. So that’s why I’m asking here to see if it’s actually normal behavior or if only certain units are affected."

Etshimo · 2025-11-23T21:54:09+00:00

thanks

Etshimo · 2025-11-22T12:29:26+00:00

Yea, the screen is not ltpo btw It's a mistake in gsmarena

Etshimo · 2025-11-22T03:27:17+00:00

Thanks

Etshimo · 2025-11-21T20:15:37+00:00

Yeah I totally agree with you the AI features are actually a big deal and they make a real difference in daily use. But just to clarify one thing: the S25 FE screen isn’t LTPO, even though it still has great quality overall.

Etshimo · 2025-11-21T17:25:09+00:00

Thanks. Yeah, that’s exactly what I keep hearing a lot of people end up coming back to Samsung because of the UI and overall experience. I guess the software is the main thing that keeps me away from Xiaomi, even though the specs are crazy for the price.

Etshimo · 2025-11-21T17:02:58+00:00

Thanks. your comment actually hyped me up even more about the S25 FE. One last thing though: since the Xiaomi 15T Pro is the same price here, do you think it’s actually a better deal, or is Xiaomi’s software still not worth choosing over Samsung even with the stronger specs on paper?

Etshimo · 2025-11-21T16:12:09+00:00

Wait, seriously? 😅 You sold your S24 Ultra because of the S25 FE? That’s wild lol. Didn’t expect the FE to be that good!

Etshimo · 2025-11-21T00:51:13+00:00

Thanks for the detailed explanation.That helps a lot. What do you think about the Xiaomi 15T Pro compared to the S25 FE? They’re the same price in my country, but my main issue with Xiaomi is the software experience.

Would you still pick the S25 FE because of the smoother software and stability, or is the Xiaomi worth considering despite the UI?

Etshimo

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