This is a collective feeling, I believe. But the FE line absolutely needs a restructuring; it's no longer seen as the affordable high-end option, but as an unjustifiably expensive mid-range. My idea to revive it is this: A new evolution.
To make the FE great again, its focus needs to change, becoming a "testing ground," a device Samsung uses to test technologies, refine them, and then, when ready, bring them to the Ultra or other models. Why is this model viable? Because Samsung has lost that feeling of being a brand that innovates and it's seen as a stagnant brand; many users have left because they haven't seen significant changes, and worse, because they see Samsung developing crazy technologies... for its competitors. Using the FE for experimentation would attract loyal Samsung users who are willing to accept some flaws in order to try out new technologies from their favorite brand, and best of all, it could be the model that finally leads to the demise of the Plus model, which sells so poorly. Samsung's trauma with the Note 7 is understandable, but stagnation isn't the solution. Presenting a dedicated device for experimentation would be the perfect solution. A device that allows the use of new technologies without tarnishing the reputation of the Ultra or the base model; even the lower-end range wouldn't suffer. And another reason: Exynos. This FE could be the perfect stage for Exynos to reach its full potential and convince users that Exynos has evolved, erasing years of animosity towards these chips, before bringing it to the Ultra without any sales decline.
@Eritrx The FE (Fan Edition) has never been an experimental, cutting edge device. They are always devices which have some of the features of the flagship devices with a lower entry price point.
But year after year, that identity has been lost, and currently the differences between the FE and the A5x are practically nonexistent. That's why my proposal is to reformulate the FE concept, so that its "Fan Edition" is truly something that fans of the brand want to tryโnew technologies, new sensors. To be clear, the goal is not for it to match the Ultra; not at all, that would be terrible. The aim is for it to be a testing ground.Let me give you an example: Samsung is currently preparing to integrate solid-state batteries, developed by the company itself, into its wearables. The FE could serve as the entry point for this technology in mobile phones with reserved capacities, and once ready, jump to the Ultra model with flagship-level capabilities. We're talking about batteries that, in the same space, can achieve almost double the density of lithium without the instability problems of silicon-carbon batteries.
What leads you to believe the FE is no longer seen as an affordable high end option? In my experience, that's exactly how it is viewed, and honestly the FE is the device I recommend for most users. Doing away with its current position in the lineup would be unwise.
If you are looking for devices dedicated to experimental features and form factors, that is precisely what the Z series is. To your point about Exynos, Samsung is already using the FE and Z series for their improved Exynos chips.
It's certainly a budget-friendly option in the high-end range, but it cannibalizes sales of the A5X; it doesn't compete with others, it competes with its own brand. An FE focused on experimental features would allow us to see the use of Samsung's own technologies in its devices: continuous zoom cameras, higher-capacity batteries. The goal isn't to find a better option, but a different one, since the A5X series, with a few improvements, could easily fill the FE's role and no one would notice.
I would not expect Samsung to deviate from their current market strategy. Offering tiered devices at virtually every price point with a single line (z series) of experimental devices is clearly working quite well for them.
What you mentioned actually reinforces my point. Yes, the Z series is for experimentation, but those attempts are in terms of screen and formats, not experiments that every fan of the brand would enjoy. An FE (which doesn't really need to be called that; I chose the nomenclature because I feel that the FE, and all these entry-level high-end models, are losing ground to the upper mid-range, A5x series), an FE focused on first testing new battery or sensor technologies to refine them and bring a mature version to the Ultra model would live up to the name "Fan Edition," since the most loyal buyers will be the most interested in trying the new technologies that Samsung tries to integrate into its brand.
