Samsung Raises Galaxy S23 FE Price, Making It More Expensive Than Expected

Samsung's new Galaxy S23 FE launched at a higher price than previously announced ($629 vs $599)
The phone was supposed to compete with Pixel 7 at $599 but now costs more
Samsung is charging even more ($690) for the 256GB model which wasn't previously mentioned
Samsung claims the price difference is due to carrier vs unlocked models
Unlocked models directly from Samsung cost more ($629) than carrier models ($599)
Retailers like Amazon and Best Buy still sell it for $599, so they offer the best deal
The pricing and models are confusing, given differences between Samsung, carriers, and retailers