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Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
On October 3, 2023, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S23 FE. All its press supplies mentioned the cellphone prices $599 for the 128GB mannequin. Nevertheless, when the cellphone truly went up on the market at Samsung.com, the unlocked mannequin didn’t price $599 — it price $629, a $30 enhance. This was uncommon, so we contacted Samsung concerning the discrepancy.
In its response, the corporate identified that you may nonetheless get the cellphone from its on-line retailer for the $599 worth — in the event you purchase a service model over the unlocked mannequin. It additionally advised us that Amazon, Finest Purchase, and different retail companions nonetheless promote the unlocked mannequin for $599. The one exception right here is shopping for the unlocked mannequin instantly from Samsung. Nevertheless, the corporate didn’t clarify why it made this alteration.
Maybe Samsung has a last-minute purpose to hike the value that it received’t inform us about (and pre-existing offers that preserve some retailers at $599). Nonetheless, I’m suspicious that this may very well be a brand new technique for Samsung as a result of that is precisely what Apple does for its entry-tier iPhones. For instance, the iPhone 15 has an MSRP of $799. However in the event you head to Apple.com to purchase an unlocked model, you’ll truly pay $829. When you choose as an alternative for a service model, you get the unique $799 worth. Apple began doing this in 2020 with the launch of the iPhone 12 sequence.
Apparently, Apple doesn’t do that switcheroo with Professional-level telephones — the iPhone 15 Professional and 15 Professional Max price the identical at Apple.com whether or not you go unlocked or carrier-locked. It’s all about making these entry-level fashions seem extra inexpensive.
This weird “punishment” for purchasing an unlocked iPhone 15 or 15 Plus instantly from Apple is fairly irritating, regardless of the way you slice it. However Apple can be Apple, and strikes like this don’t appear to stain its fame with Apple followers. However Samsung followers aren’t almost as forgiving. I sincerely hope this new cellphone pricing coverage isn’t going to proceed outdoors the Galaxy S23 FE.
Samsung cellphone pricing: MSRP must be MSRP
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Let me be clear by saying I’ve no drawback with Samsung discounting a cellphone in the event you determine to purchase a carrier-locked mannequin. For instance, shopping for a T-Cell-branded Galaxy S23 Extremely from Samsung.com proper now prices $1,169, or $30 lower than the $1,199 MSRP. This low cost is smart as a result of Samsung is probably going making extra revenue from that cellphone because of service subsidies. It’s passing on these financial savings to you, the buyer, because it ought to.
However there’s an enormous distinction between charging lower than the MSRP for a service mannequin and growing the value of an unlocked mannequin so the service mannequin has a perceived low cost. That’s not a reduction — that’s extra like a tax. The MSRP must be the place to begin for reductions, not the value after reductions.
Samsung just isn’t Apple, and I can solely hope Sammy followers aren’t going to let this slide.
You would possibly suppose this isn’t an enormous deal as a result of it’s simply the Galaxy S23 FE. My concern is that Samsung is utilizing this cellphone’s launch as a testing floor. The corporate could wish to see if it might probably get away with this Apple-style worth switcheroo for particular gadgets. Might we see wonky Samsung cellphone pricing like this within the upcoming Galaxy S24 sequence? I really hope not.
Are you OK with Samsung charging extra for unlocked telephones?
80 votes
When you’re a Samsung fan who thinks charging extra money for an unlocked mannequin is a horrible concept, hold forth within the feedback beneath and the ballot above. Hopefully, we will let the corporate know that simply because Apple can do one thing that pulls one over on the buyer doesn’t imply Android followers will settle for the identical remedy.
Within the meantime, in order for you an unlocked Galaxy S23 FE, take a look at the hyperlink beneath to seize it from Amazon so that you don’t needlessly spend $30 extra on it.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Barely bigger than S23 • Good measurement battery • Competitively priced
Greater than only a Fan Version
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE landed as greater than only a slimmed down S23, it is a fourth measurement cellphone within the line. With a 6.4-inch show, it is bigger than the S23, however smaller than the S23 Plus. Operating the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, this cellphone presents few compromises over the S23 for a good price financial savings.
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