According to the Korean media, Samsung initially planned to launch the Galaxy S22 FE this year. It had set a production target of three million units for the phone. But with a limited chip supply, that would have meant three million fewer Galaxy S22 Ultras in the market. The company couldn’t procure additional chipsets for the FE model. Since the Galaxy S22 Ultra has a higher profit margin and is already selling well, it was a no-brainer for the Korean behemoth to prioritize the flagship and cancel the Galaxy S22 FE altogether. The Ultra model of Samsung’s latest flagships has been particularly popular among Galaxy Note fans. The device revives the discontinued Note series under the new name. Many Note 10 or older Note series users upgraded to the Galaxy S22 Ultra this year. It has already sold more than 10 million units globally and is on course to exceed the company’s sales expectations. The Korean firm wouldn’t want supply issues to affect its sales, even if that means canceling an FE phone.
Samsung will return with Galaxy S23 FE next year
When the reports of Samsung canceling the Galaxy S22 FE first emerged, speculations arose that the company may altogether shelve the FE lineup after just two years. There were valid arguments backing these speculations too. Begun with the Galaxy S20 FE in September 2020, the project was a success initially. But with the Korean firm investing heavily in foldable smartphones and also greatly improving its Galaxy A series premium mid-range devices, the FE series couldn’t find the right spot in its portfolio, both in terms of pricing and launch schedule. However, The Elec reports that Samsung still has plans for the FE series in the future. The company will launch the Galaxy S23 FE next year, once again with a shipment target of three million units. It is likely hoping the chip shortage to ease over the next few months as the firm is also aiming to sell 28 million units of the regular Galaxy S23 phones. Time will tell whether things pan out as Samsung is hoping for.
