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Why There Probably Won’t Be a ‘Fan Edition’ of the Samsung Galaxy S22

Commentary: Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE struggled to stand out from the Galaxy S22 lineup, and a Galaxy S22 FE would likely have the same problem.

What’s happening

Samsung launched cheaper «Fan Edition» versions of its flagship phones for the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S21. But a rumor suggests the Galaxy S22 FE may have been canceled.

Why it matters

Samsung’s smartphone lineup already has plenty of options, making the Galaxy S21 FE seem lost in the shuffle. It should focus on its flagship Galaxy S and midtier Galaxy A phones instead.

What’s next

Samsung is expected to introduce the Galaxy S23 lineup in early 2023.

Samsung offers a wide variety of Galaxy phones, and the company’s selection is expected to grow on Feb. 1 at the next Samsung Unpacked event. From the gigantic Galaxy S22 Ultra to the pocketable Galaxy Z Flip 4, there’s already a lot of options to consider if one is looking for a new Samsung phone. But there’s one way Samsung could simplify things: Skip the Galaxy S22 FE.

Don’t get me wrong; the Galaxy S21 FE (short for «fan edition») has plenty going for it. When I reviewed the phone last year, I was impressed with its decent battery life and solid camera for its $700 price. However, it risked getting lost in Samsung’s lineup once the Galaxy S22 launched. And I was right. If Samsung does have a successor to the Galaxy S21 FE in the works, rebranding it as a more premium Galaxy A phone would be a wiser move.

Samsung previously launched its FE phones in the fall or January. However, with Samsung weeks away from its presumed Galaxy S23 event, we’ve yet to hear an official word from Samsung on whether there will be a successor to the Galaxy S21 FE. A rumor from the blog SamMobile published this summer suggests Samsung may have canceled the Galaxy S22 FE, and I can understand why. Between the $800 Galaxy S22 and $450 Galaxy A53 5G, it was too hard for the Galaxy S21 FE to stand out. With the Galaxy S23 lineup potentially right around the corner, a Galaxy S22 FE could face the same fate.

The Galaxy S21 FE lacks what made the Galaxy S20 FE so special

The 2020 Galaxy S20 FE had a major advantage that the Galaxy S21 FE lacks: a sizable gap in price compared to Samsung’s Galaxy S phone. The Galaxy S20 launched at $1,000, making the $700 Galaxy S20 FE feel like a significant bargain. It earned a CNET Editors’ Choice in 2020, with Andy Lanxon writing that its «great balance of performance and value» makes it a better value proposition than the S20 Ultra and Note 20 Ultra.

There are a couple of reasons why the Galaxy S21 FE didn’t strike the same chord. Samsung’s lineup and the broader smartphone landscape were different in 2020. While 5G support, multiple camera lenses and screens with higher refresh rates were starting to trickle down to cheaper devices, these features were considered premium just one year earlier in 2019. Remember the Galaxy S10 5G? Samsung’s first 5G-ready phone commanded a high price of $1,300 when it launched through Verizon in spring 2019.

Things changed the following year in 2020. Every device in the Galaxy S20 lineup supported 5G, but that also meant a higher starting price of $1,000. With that in mind the 5G-equipped S20 FE, which also has a triple-lens camera and speedy processor, was a great alternative for cost-conscious shoppers that didn’t want to make big sacrifices on quality.

In other words, the Galaxy S20 FE came at just the right time and the right price. I can’t say the same for the Galaxy S21 FE. It launched roughly one month before Samsung introduced the Galaxy S22, which offers superior camera quality, a more refined design and a newer processor. The Galaxy S20, on the other hand, debuted in September 2020, which meant it had a longer runway before the Galaxy S21’s arrival in January 2021. Samsung also now faces increased competition from Google, which has been pricing its Pixel phones aggressively compared to Samsung. Google’s main flagship phone, the Pixel 7, launched at just $600 in October.

At the same time, the Galaxy S21 FE does have advantages over the S22, particularly for people who prefer larger phones. But the differences aren’t drastic enough to prevent it from being overshadowed by the S22 and phones from competitors like Google.

Pricing is another important factor. It’s great that Samsung dropped the price of the S21 compared to the S20, but the problem is that it didn’t lower the Galaxy S21 FE’s price to match. The Galaxy S20 FE was $300 cheaper than the Galaxy S20, while the S21 FE costs only $100 less than the Galaxy S21 did at launch.

The Galaxy S21 FE feels more like an A-series phone

The Galaxy S21 FE would feel right at home in Samsung’s lineup of midrange and budget devices, aka the Galaxy A series. These phones are usually significantly cheaper than those in the Galaxy S line and inherit certain features like large displays, multiple cameras and 5G, while compromising elsewhere.

It’s an approach that’s seemingly paid off so far. Samsung’s $180 Galaxy A12 was one of the world’s top-selling phones in 2021, according to Counterpoint Research. No phones from the Galaxy S series made the list. Separate data from Counterpoint Research provided to CNET also suggests A-series phones accounted for 58% of Samsung’s smartphone sales last year.

If the Galaxy S21 FE launched at a slightly cheaper price — perhaps priced around $600 — it would have made a great upper-tier Galaxy A phone. Both the Galaxy S21 FE and A53 5G have big screens, very similar designs, regular and ultrawide camera lenses and high resolution front cameras, making them feel like they’re aimed at a similar audience.

The Galaxy S21 FE has an edge in performance and camera quality, making it a solid choice for those who need more than the Galaxy A53 has to offer at a lower price than the S22. Dropping the price to $600 would also put the phone right between the $450 Galaxy A53 5G and $800 Galaxy S22. If it were branded as an A-series phone, the Galaxy S21 FE could be a worthwhile alternative to the Galaxy A73 in markets where that device isn’t available. The Galaxy A73 5G is the Galaxy A series’ top-tier phone with a 108-megapixel camera, but it’s only available in select regions such as Australia and India.

Samsung hasn’t shared details about its future smartphone plans, so it’s unclear whether it will continue the FE line. But dropping the FE’s price and possibly moving it over to its Galaxy A series could go a long way in boosting its appeal. It wouldn’t be the first time Samsung has merged two of its phone brands recently. The Galaxy S22 Ultra, for example, has essentially replaced the company’s previous Galaxy Note phones, which stood out for their giant screens and included stylus.

Otherwise, the Galaxy S22 FE could end up like Samsung’s current «fan edition» phone and struggle to find its place.

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Technologies

Missed Out on Hades? Play the Original on Game Pass This Weekend

Game Pass subscribers can also play the early access open beta of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 starting on Oct. 2.

The god-like rogue-like dungeon crawler game Hades is one of the most popular games in recent memory — and one of my personal all-time favorite games. The gameplay feels smooth, it’s easily replayable and the game’s writing is full of heart and emotion. The game’s developer Supergiant Games is gearing up to release Hades 2 soon, but if you missed playing the original — or want to replay it — you can on Xbox Game Pass starting on Sept. 19.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, smart TV and PC or mobile device for $20 a month. A subscription gives you access to an extensive library of games, with new ones, like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, added monthly, plus other benefits such as online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles.


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Here are the games Game Pass subscribers can play soon. You can also check out the games Microsoft added to the service in early September, including Hollow Knight: Silksong.


Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Xbox Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting on Sept. 17.

This rebooted first-person shooter comes to Game Pass Standard subscribers more than a  year after Game Pass Ultimate subscribers could play it. You can continue the story of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as you and a team of special forces members try to track down an ultranationalist terrorist. You can also take on hordes of the undead in the zombies gameplay mode, or challenge your friends in multiplayer mode. With the Carry Forward feature, you can transfer much of your content and weapons progressions from Modern Warfare 2 to this game. 


For the King 2

Xbox Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting on Sept. 17.

Get ready for this turn-based roguelite tabletop RPG — try to say that five times fast. You and up to three others will work to overthrow the tyrannical Queen Rosomon and bring an end to her oppressive reign. You’ll encounter enemies and friends in lush forests, lava-filled wastelands and Merling-filled tropical seas. 


Overthrown (Game preview)

Xbox Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting on Sept. 17.

Build and manage your kingdom as a monarch with a magical crown in this city-builder game. Be prepared to defend your home at a moment’s notice. Farm the land, build structures needed to survive and protect your citizens from mutants and bandits to keep your people happy. 

Game Pass Ultimate subscribers could play this game in January, and Game Pass Standard subscribers can get in on the fun, too.


Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play starting on Sept. 17.

If you played Vampire Survivors, you should give this game a try. It’s another auto-shooter game where your character automatically shoots at enemies, and you have to avoid attacks while also mining minerals from the alien world Planet Hoxxes. And really, you play a dwarf miner in space, need I say more? 


Frostpunk 2

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play starting on Sept. 18.

Game Pass Ultimate subscribers could play this game on PC in 2024, and now Microsoft is bringing this game to console and Xbox Cloud Gaming (beta).

This city-building survival game asks you to make the tough decisions needed to ensure your community survives in an arctic apocalypse. Set 30 years after the events of the award-winning Frostpunk, you play as the Steward, who takes control of the city after the Captain — the original game’s player character — dies. The city is struggling with overpopulation plus food and coal shortages, among other issues. It’s up to you to build shelter and provide enough food for everyone while dealing with the factions vying for power. 


Wobbly Life

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting on Sept. 18.

Get ready to explore this silly, vibrant, open-world physics sandbox game with your friends or on your own. The world is filled with minigames, missions, secrets, collectibles and tons of clothing options to find and unlock. Plus, there are almost one hundred vehicles you can use as part of jobs, or that you can just crash for the fun of it. It’s up to you.


Hades

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting on Sept. 19.

If I were stuck on an island and could only play five games, Hades would be one of them. It’s an engaging roguelike with tons of different ways to overcome your enemies, but the real star of the game is the touching story about relationships and forgiveness. There’s a reason it made history as the first (and so far only) game to win a Hugo Award — an accolade usually given to science fiction and fantasy literary works, but that created a special category for video games in 2021.


Endless Legend 2 (Game preview)

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play starting on Sept. 22.

Lead your faction to build a great empire that can crush your enemies in this fantasy strategy game. You can play as warriors descended from the stars, cursed knights or hive-minded beasts, but know that each faction has its strengths, weaknesses and unique philosophies that can influence the rest of the game. And fending off enemies is just one challenge in this game. You’ll have to adapt to the changing environment as well. Will you expand as the tides reveal new treasures, or focus on improving your defenses?


Sworn

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play starting on Sept. 23.

Arthur and his Knights of the Roundtable have been corrupted in this roguelike game, and it’s up to you to bring them down. This game supports up to four-player co-op action, and players’ strengths can be combined in surprising ways to become worthy knights.


Peppa Pig: World Adventures

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting on Sept. 25.

Make a pizza in Italy, climb the Eiffel Tower and explore more places with your friends and family in this Peppa Pig game. You can meet new characters, build your perfect house and go on adventures across the world with Peppa and others.


Visions of Mana

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting on Sept. 25.

Square Enix’s latest game in the Mana series follows Val and his childhood friend Hinna as they go on a journey to the legendary Mana Tree. You’ll encounter adorable yet ferocious creatures, use the powers of Elementals in battles and explore a vast semi-open world on your adventure. 


Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting on Sept. 30.

Lara Croft is back in this action-adventure game as she attempts to find the Mirror of Smoke. Along the way, she encounters a Mayan tribesman named Totec who has unique weapons and skills to help Lara on her quest. This game has the classic Tomb Raider gameplay elements like exploration, platforming and puzzle solving.


Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Early Access Open Beta

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play between Oct. 2 and 7.

Fight it out in new 6v6 multiplayer maps, master an arsenal of new weapons and experience the next Call of Duty game before everyone else in the open beta of Black Ops 7. Early access to the beta launches at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on Oct. 2 and will last 72 hours. Then, the open beta launches at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on Oct. 5 before concluding on Oct. 8. 


Sopa – Tale of the Stolen Potato

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play starting on Oct. 7.

Miho goes to the pantry to grab a potato for his grandmother’s soup when he lands in a fantastical land. Now he has to find his way back home by following in the footsteps of a mysterious traveler from long ago. You’ll meet quirky characters, gather exotic ingredients and take in vibrant environments in this world of magical realism inspired by Latin America.


More games on Game Pass Core

Xbox Game Pass Core is the cheapest subscription tier ($10 a month) and gives people access to a handful of games. Microsoft occasionally adds new games to this tier, and on Oct. 1, the company is bringing these games to the service.

Games leaving Game Pass on Sept. 30

While Microsoft is adding those games to Xbox Game Pass, the company is also removing a few games from the service on Sept. 30. You’ll have to buy these games separately after that date.

For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you. You can also check out what to know about upcoming Xbox game price hikes.

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You Can Snag a Pair of Refurbished Sony WH-1000XM5 ANC Headphones for Just $180

These Sony headphones are popular thanks to their strong active noise canceling and great sound, and now they’re 55% off.

Quality headphones can cost a fortune — unless you can find a way to save. Going refurbished is one such way, and right now you can put a pair of Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones on your head for just $180. This model has been around for a while now, but they’re still among the best ANC headphones on the market.

That price gets you certified refurbished headphones that are a full 55% off the price you’d pay if you went for a brand-new pair. You’ll also be able to take advantage of eBay’s refurb warranty program, which means that your headphones will be covered for a full two years as well. This price doesn’t require any coupons or discount codes and the seller, Secondipity, has a positive review rating, too.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are known for being comfortable and great-sounding. Their battery life is rated for up to 32 hours per charge. Sony’s active noise-canceling technology is present, and among the best you can get.

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Best-in-class voice call quality is also part of the package so you can use these things for virtual meetings and phone calls, too. You’ll even get a carrying case in the box so you can take your headphones with you when you travel or just when you go to the office.

There are always headphone deals to be had if you know where to look. And if these WH-1000XM5 headphones are not your style, take a look at our picks of the best noise-canceling headphones.

Why does this deal matter

Sony’s over-ear headphones have built a reputation for top-tier sound and some of the best noise cancellation you will find anywhere. Normally, that level of performance doesn’t come cheap — but because these are refurbished, you’re looking at half the usual cost. For anyone who’s been holding off on upgrading to a pair of premium headphones, this is the golden chance to buy one before the deal runs out.

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