Samsung may be preparing to underwhelm fans with its next Fan Edition smartphone, as early leaks suggest the upcoming Galaxy S25 FE will bring only modest improvements over last year’s model.

According to a report by GalaxyClub, cited by GSMArena, the Galaxy S25 FE is expected to retain the same rear camera setup as the Galaxy S24 FE, featuring a 50MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The only noteworthy upgrade may be found on the front, where the selfie camera is reportedly increasing from 10MP to 12MP.

While these specs are serviceable for a mid-range device, critics argue that an 8MP telephoto lens feels outdated for a 2025 release—especially when mid-tier competitors are pushing more capable camera hardware. Still, the Galaxy S25 FE could have an edge over Samsung’s recently leaked Galaxy S25 Edge, which appears to lack a telephoto lens entirely.

Disappointing Performance Expectations

Camera hardware isn’t the only area where the Galaxy S25 FE may fall short. Performance-wise, the device is rumored to ship with either the same Exynos 2400e chipset as its predecessor or a mildly upgraded Exynos 2400. In both cases, the chip is expected to lag behind the processors powering the standard Galaxy S25 series, suggesting that the S25 FE will be less of an upgrade and more of a lateral move.

With few substantial hardware changes, tech observers are questioning the value proposition of the Galaxy S25 FE. For owners of the S24 FE, the upgrades may be too minimal to warrant a purchase. Even for those coming from lower-end phones, the choice between the FE and the standard Galaxy S25 may come down to pricing.

Launch Timeline Still Unclear

While no official release date has been announced, the appearance of firmware references related to the Galaxy S25 FE suggests that its launch could be imminent. However, considering that the Galaxy S24 FE debuted in September 2024, Samsung may follow a similar schedule this year.

For now, the Galaxy S25 FE remains a phone to watch—but perhaps not one to get overly excited about.