Oppo Reno9 vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: Which Mid-Range Champion Reigns Supreme?

The Oppo Reno9 and Samsung Galaxy S23 FE occupy a fascinating space in the smartphone market. The Reno9 aims for a sleek, fast-charging experience at a competitive price, while the S23 FE attempts to deliver a flagship experience in a more accessible package. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a more refined software experience, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE emerges as the stronger contender. While the Reno9 boasts incredibly fast 67W charging, the S23 FE’s Exynos 2200 (or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the US) provides a significant performance uplift, justifying the price difference.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo Reno9 Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x -
Launch
Announced2022, November 242023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 02Available. Released 2023, October 05
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.3 x 74.2 x 7.2 mm (6.39 x 2.92 x 0.28 in)158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 3.01 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight174 g (6.14 oz)209 g (7.37 oz)
Display
ProtectionAsahi Glass AGC DT-Star2Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HBM), 950 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1450 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - InternationalOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - USA
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - USA
GPUAdreno 642LXclipse 920 - InternationalAdreno 730 - USA
OSAndroid 13, ColorOS 13Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1 - 512GB UFS 2.2 - 256GB-
Main Camera
Dual64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 22mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm, AF-
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDR-
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 22mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm, AF10 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack No-
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoUnspecified
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD, QC2, 33% in 10 min, 100% in 44 min Reverse wired25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Gold, Pink gradient, RedMint, Cream, Graphite, Purple, Indigo, Tangerine
ModelsPHM110SM-S711B, SM-S711B/DS, SM-S711U1, SM-S711U, SM-S711W, SM-S7110, SM-S711N
PriceAbout 600 EUR$ 219.95 / C$ 327.90 / £ 248.99 / € 272.00 / ₹ 34,999
SAR-0.80 W/kg (head)     0.72 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.76 W/kg (head)     1.04 W/kg (body)

Oppo Reno9

  • Incredibly fast 67W wired charging
  • Likely lighter and more compact design
  • Competitive price point

  • Less powerful Snapdragon 778G processor
  • Unknown display quality and brightness
  • Limited software update commitment

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

  • Significantly more powerful Exynos 2200/Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  • Brighter and more color-accurate display
  • Stronger software support and updates

  • Slower 25W wired charging
  • Potentially more prone to thermal throttling
  • Higher price tag

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 985 nits, compared to an unstated value for the Reno9. This translates to superior visibility under direct sunlight. While the Reno9’s panel specifics are unknown, Samsung’s display technology generally offers better color accuracy and viewing angles. The S23 FE’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor use and HDR content consumption.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs beyond 'Photo/Video' are missing for the S23 FE, but Samsung’s flagship heritage suggests a more sophisticated image processing pipeline. The Reno9’s camera capabilities are not specified, making a direct comparison difficult. However, the S23 FE likely benefits from more advanced features like improved low-light performance and better dynamic range. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the S23 FE is highly probable, contributing to sharper images and smoother videos. We can assume the S23 FE will have a more versatile camera system overall, despite the Reno9 potentially offering competitive results in ideal conditions.

Performance

The chipset is where the most significant difference lies. The Oppo Reno9 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm), a capable mid-range processor. However, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is equipped with either the Exynos 2200 (International) or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (USA), both built on a more efficient 4nm process. The Exynos 2200’s Cortex-X2 prime core, clocked at 2.8 GHz, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1’s 3.0 GHz core, offer substantially higher peak performance than the Reno9’s Cortex-A78. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a better gaming experience. The 4nm process also contributes to improved thermal efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling during sustained workloads. The Reno9’s CPU configuration, while octa-core, relies on older Cortex-A78 cores, limiting its overall performance ceiling.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE achieves an impressive 8:28h of active use, demonstrating strong battery optimization despite its powerful processor. The Oppo Reno9’s battery capacity is not specified, but its 67W wired charging is a standout feature, capable of charging from 0 to 33% in just 10 minutes and reaching 100% in 44 minutes. The S23 FE’s 25W charging is considerably slower, taking 30 minutes to reach 50%. While the S23 FE’s battery life is excellent, the Reno9’s charging speed offers unparalleled convenience for users who frequently need to top up their device. The S23 FE also supports 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Reno9.

Buying Guide

Buy the Oppo Reno9 if you prioritize incredibly fast charging speeds and a lightweight design, and are comfortable with a slightly less powerful processor. It’s ideal for users who frequently top up their phones and value portability. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you demand more processing power for gaming or demanding applications, a brighter and more color-accurate display, and a more established software ecosystem with longer update support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2200 in the S23 FE suffer from overheating issues?
The Exynos 2200 was known to have thermal management challenges in its initial implementation. However, Samsung has refined its software and cooling solutions in the S23 FE, mitigating these issues. While it may still get warm under sustained heavy load, it’s unlikely to experience significant throttling in typical usage scenarios. The 4nm process also helps with thermal efficiency compared to older nodes.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on smartphones are limited in their capabilities. The low resolution often results in soft, lacking detail images. While they can be fun for experimentation, don't expect professional-grade macro photography from either the Reno9 or the S23 FE. The S23 FE's main sensor and image processing are likely to produce better results even when digitally zooming in on a subject.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE reliably run PUBG Mobile at 90fps?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 variant of the S23 FE (available in the USA) is capable of running PUBG Mobile at 90fps with high graphics settings. The Exynos 2200 variant may experience some frame drops under sustained gameplay, but should still deliver a smooth experience at 60fps. The Reno9’s Snapdragon 778G will likely be limited to 60fps with medium graphics settings.
❓ How does the Reno9's reverse wired charging compare to the S23 FE's reverse wireless charging in terms of speed and convenience?
The Reno9's reverse *wired* charging is significantly faster than the S23 FE's reverse *wireless* charging. Wired charging is inherently more efficient. While the S23 FE offers the convenience of wireless reverse charging, the Reno9 can deliver a much quicker power boost to another device if you have the appropriate cable.