Samsung has just launched the Galaxy S26 FE, its latest mid-range device packed with many of the features of the Galaxy S26 Plus but at a slightly more affordable price.
Ahead of the launch, I had some time with the phone, and while I am sure this will be a popular device for a certain type of person, it really is quite hard to get excited about.
2026 has not been a banner year for phones. Yes, we’ve had some excellent releases – not least from Samsung itself, with the best foldable we’ve ever reviewed in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 – but the memory crisis has pushed up prices and the endless focus on often gimmicky AI features has left me with a sour taste.
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Can the Galaxy S26 FE offer something a little…different?
After spending a couple of hours with the phone at a Samsung event ahead of release, I don’t think many will be calling this the most exciting phone of 2026. Maybe when Black Friday rolls around and discounts arrive, the phone will get a little more tempting, but as it stands, there is very little new here.
And maybe that’s the point. After speaking with Samsung reps, I think it’s clear that this phone isn’t aimed at those who upgraded last year (or even the year before), and it’s also not for someone who plans on upgrading again next year.
With its promise of seven years of updates – something still quite rare at this end of the market – maybe this phone is for someone who wants an easy, familiar phone with a big screen, software they recognise and a software promise that won’t leave them with a brick in a few years.
This isn’t a phone for anyone who has recently picked up an FE device, because there isn’t much new.
There’s still a 6.7-inch OLED display, with a peak brightness of 1900 nits, FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The main camera looks to be the same 50MP unit, while the secondary cameras remain 12MP for ultrawide and 8MP for tele zoom. Samsung did say the optical zoom has been improved, and there’s now AI-assisted 30x Space Zoom too, but most of the upgrades look to be software-based.
Inside, the battery is the same as the S25 FE’s 4900mAh cell, and charging remains 45w wired and 15w wireless. Again, Samsung said there was improved efficiency with this battery, so instead of getting a 65% charge in 30 minutes, it can now get to around 70% in the same time. It is also claimed it’ll last for 29 hours of media playback, which does seem fairly impressive.
Of course, provided you have a 45w charger handy – you certainly won’t find one in the box.
So, where are the upgrades?
As you might have guessed, AI is the buzzword here and the S26 FE comes with many of the ‘intelligent’ features found in other recent Samsung phones. The beefier Exynos chip inside the phone enables improved AI photo editing and the MyfanCam feature that launched the Z Fold 8 series. This neat trick lets you reframe content while tracking a subject.
Horizontal lock for video is here, so footage should remain stable even when the phone is spun 360 degrees, and there’s an Audio Eraser tool for reducing background noise. There’s Gemini too, along with support for other AI agents and Samsung’s array of AI features, including Now Brief and Now Nudge.
Outside of AI, the front 12MP selfie camera now has a wider 85-degree view – ideal for getting more faces into the shot. There have been some design tweaks to bring it more in line with the other Galaxy S26 family, and some fresh colours too.
What about the price?
Phones are getting more expensive across the board, and the S26 FE has been a victim of this too. Prices in the UK start at £699 (up £50 from last year) for a model with 8GB RAM and meagre 128GB of storage. It then jumps to £799 for 256GB of storage – a £100 increase over the same-sized S25 FE. There’s a 512GB model, but for £949, I am not sure who would consider buying that.
The other big issue for the FE is that the Galaxy S26 Plus has been out for a few months now and is typically available at a steep discount. After a quick look, I found a 512GB model with 12GB RAM for £775 – there’s no reason to go for the S26 FE over this superior device. You’ve also got the 256GB Pixel 11 for £879, or something like the OnePlus 15R for £599.
Of course, this is most likely a phone most would get on a contract, and I am sure a steep discount will arrive over the next few months as we head to Black Friday. The Galaxy S25 FE, for example, dropped to £499 at times – a far better deal.
