[Exclusive] 'Galaxy S25 FE', Launch Moved Up by a Month to Next Month

[Financial News] Samsung Electronics has confirmed the release date of the 'quasi-flagship' phone 'Galaxy S25 Fan Edition (FE)' for next month. The release of the FE new product, which was usually launched in the 4th quarter, has been moved up by one quarter. Amidst challenges such as stagnant second-half smartphone demand and uncertainty over U.S. tariffs, the plan is to launch the new product early to continue the success of the Galaxy S25.
■ September 19 'Galaxy S25 FE' Launch
According to industry sources on the 3rd, Samsung Electronics will release the Galaxy S25 FE domestically on September 19. The Galaxy FE line is expected to include all the key features of the flagship Galaxy S series, with a price expected to be below 1 million won. Based on a 256 gigabyte (GB) capacity, the Galaxy S23 FE (847,000 won) and Galaxy S24 FE (946,000 won) have seen annual increases in their release prices, but this year it is expected to maintain a price below 1 million won through either freezing or slight increases.
The mobile application processor (AP) is likely to be equipped with 'Exynos 2400'. It will feature 8GB of RAM, and the display will be a 6.7-inch full HD plus resolution AMOLED display supporting a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. The rear camera is expected to feature the same triple camera setup as the previous model with a 50-megapixel wide-angle, 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle, and 8-megapixel telephoto lens. To reduce thickness and weight, the battery is expected to be lower than the Galaxy S24 FE (4700mAh) at 4500mAh. The weight is expected to be lighter than the previous model (213g) at around 190g. 
■ Targeting Global Demand with New Product Effect
The Galaxy S25 FE's domestic release is more than a month earlier compared to the previous models 'Galaxy S23 FE' (December 8, 2023) and 'Galaxy S24 FE' (November 1, 2024). This is interpreted as a strategy to actively target global demand with the new product effect. Following the Galaxy S25 standard, plus, and ultra models in January, and the thinnest 'Galaxy S25 Edge' in May, this is the third related product line of the Galaxy S25. The Galaxy S25 series has set a record for the highest pre-sale in Korea, continuing its long-term success. This has led to the mobile experience (MX) division's operating profit for the second quarter surpassing market expectations, reaching 3.1 trillion won.
However, due to the U.S. Trump administration's tariff policies, there is a high possibility of reduced demand in the second half as smartphones are shipped early in the first half. Particularly, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Section 232 investigation, announced in mid-August this year, has emerged as a major variable for performance. Depending on the investigation results, additional tariffs may be imposed on Galaxy smartphones, which currently have a 0% tariff rate when exported to the U.S. If tariffs become a reality, Samsung Electronics will inevitably have to revise its strategy focused on the U.S. market.
Samsung Electronics plans to overcome demand sluggishness through aggressive new product launches in the second half. Following the release of 'Galaxy Z Fold 7·Z Flip 7' and Galaxy S25 FE, new form factor (shape) tri-fold smartphones, extended reality (XR) headsets 'Project Infinite', 'Galaxy A17', and 'Galaxy Tab S11' series are scheduled to be released within the year.


mkchang@fnnews.com Min-Kwon Jang