I usually replace my phone every five years or so. Before my S20 FE, I had a Samsung S8, and I got the S20 FE around November 2020.
The back of the phone is cracking now, so I know its time is almost up. It’s been four years, and I’m ready to upgrade.
I see the S24 FE is on sale for about $470, and the Samsung A35 is around $300. I don’t really follow phone prices—do you think these are the lowest prices for the next 6 months? Or will these phones get cheaper when the new models drop early next year?
If this is as cheap as they’ll get, I might just grab one now. If they’ll get cheaper, I can hold out for another couple of months.
The A series doesn’t have wireless charging, but the A35 is a good phone. The S24 FE is awesome though—it has 4 microphones, and the signal reception is great. I get service in places I never used to. If you can afford it, go for the S24 FE! Also, consider trading in your S20 FE on Samsung’s website.
Reagan said:
I’d suggest going for the highest storage option since you lose the SD card slot with these newer models.
Yeah, I’m not a fan of phones without SD card slots. Transferring data takes forever, and apps like Smart Switch don’t always move everything. I’ve had files go missing in the process.
I’ve been using the A55 for a few months, and it’s been great. I use it for work and play some games like Pokémon Go. The camera is decent, and the battery life is solid—around 7 hours of screen-on time. Definitely worth considering!
@Poe
The main issue for me is the price. I’m trying to figure out if it’ll drop in the next 5 months or so. Also, I think the A55 is marketed as the A35 in the U.S., at least that’s what I found online. Glad you like the phone! I don’t play games on my phone, but I do care about the screen brightness since I use my phone outside a lot. That’s the one thing making me lean toward the S24 FE.
If you can afford the extra cost, the S24 FE is much better than the A35. I used the A54 for six months, and it started to lag and stutter, especially when opening apps or using the camera. The A35 has the same processor, so it might have the same issues. That said, if you don’t mind occasional lag, the A35 is still a decent option.
I upgraded to the S24 FE from an A52, and it’s been fantastic. It’s almost as good as the base S24 model and comes with 7 years of software updates. I don’t think you’ll regret getting it.
Cricket Wireless has the S24 FE for $99 if you start a new line with their $60 plan. I think you have to stay with them for six months to unlock the phone, though.
Samsung is offering $350 trade-in value for the S20 FE. With that, you could get a Samsung Certified Renewed S23+ 512GB for $519. It’s basically like new with a 1-year warranty, and you can add a 3-year extended warranty. I went for this deal a few months back, and I love the S23+. It’s a big step up from the S24 FE.
I grabbed the S24 FE for $450 during the Black Friday sale at Best Buy. It’s been great so far—smooth performance, good battery life, and the Exynos 2400E chip has been a pleasant surprise.
Wait a couple of months for the S25 launch. Prices on the S23 and S24 models (including the FE versions) should drop. If the S24 FE fits your budget, it’ll be a good pick.
I traded in my S20 FE and got a Google Pixel 9 for free through T-Mobile’s $799 rebate offer. If you’re open to switching brands, this might be worth looking into.