Samsung Galaxy S23 FEvsCMF Phone 1
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE wins
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — camera is its standout. It costs USD 449 — USD 250 more than the CMF Phone 1. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes Performance — led by performance score (1,200,000 pts).
- CMF Phone 1 takes Display — led by screen size (6.67 in).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes Battery — led by wireless charging (Yes).
- CMF Phone 1 takes Price — led by price (199 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,200,000 pts vs 650,000 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want a sharper screen — 403 ppi vs 395 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want better video quality — 92 pts vs 83 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want a better camera — 127 pts vs 114 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want…
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want a bigger screen — 6.67 in vs 6.4 in.
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 2,000 nits vs 1,450 nits.
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want sharper selfies — 16 MP vs 10 MP.
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want longer battery life — 5,000 mAh vs 4,500 mAh.
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want faster charging — 33 W vs 25 W.
- Choose CMF Phone 1 if you want a lower price — 199 USD vs 449 USD.
At a glance
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- CMF Phone 1
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Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 449.
CMF Phone 1
Choose CMF Phone 1 if price matters most. It costs USD 199, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- 3x telephoto
- Wireless charging
- Big discount
- Older chipset
- Battery life average
- Thick bezels
CMF Phone 1
- Swappable back design
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Very affordable
- Slow charging
- Average cameras
- No NFC in some markets