With the world rapidly shifting toward artificial intelligence, smartphones are no longer just about sharp cameras or long-lasting batteries, they are about how much smarter they can make your daily life.
The S25 FE arrives at a time when people want more than just speed; they want convenience, efficiency, and a phone that quietly helps them do more with less effort.
In this edition of The Star, we are going to focus on the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, a phone that blends power, practicality, and genuinely useful AI features. Samsung has leaned heavily into its Galaxy AI system and Google Gemini Live integration, and the results are impressive. The Now Bar and Now Brief act like little digital assistants, summarising information, suggesting replies, or surfacing relevant details when you need them most.
Then there’s Generative Edit, easily my favourite feature. As a creative person who edits a lot of visuals, I found myself using it constantly. It lets you remove unwanted objects from photos, adjust lighting, and even recompose backgrounds, all in seconds. What used to take me a laptop and an editing app now happens with a few taps on my phone. It’s honestly addictive.
I spent almost a month using the S25 FE as my daily device, from work calls to social media and interviews. One standout experience came while recording an interview in a windy place. I used the phone’s built-in recorder and later tested Audio Eraser, Samsung’s AI sound-cleaning tool. It filtered out the noise like magic, leaving me with a clean, professional-sounding recording. That moment sold me on how far Samsung’s AI has come, it’s not just a gimmick; it’s genuinely helpful in real-life situations.
The S25 FE features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, powered by the Exynos 2400 processor and 8GB RAM. Storage options include 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB, depending on your needs.
The phone handled multitasking, editing, and streaming easily, with only slight warmth during longer gaming sessions. Its 4,900 mAh battery consistently got me through a full day and sometimes more, and the 45W fast charging means you’re quickly back to 100%.
On the back, you get a 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, and 8MP telephoto (3× zoom) lens, while the 12MP front camera delivers crisp selfies. Daytime shots are bright and balanced, although colours can be slightly over-sharpened. But with Generative Edit, you can instantly fix those small imperfections and turn an average photo into something you’d proudly post. It’s one of the best examples of how Samsung’s AI supports creativity instead of replacing it.
The Galaxy S25 FE was officially launched on September 4, 2025, in selected markets. It comes with a six months of the Google AI Pro Plan, giving users higher access to Gemini, Flow, NotebookLM, and more. It will cost you around R16 499.
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za