Samsung has just launched the Galaxy S26 FE, its latest mid-range device that has many of the features of the Galaxy S26 Plus, but somewhat at a more affordable price.
I’ve had some hands-on time with the phone ahead of launch, and while I’m sure it’ll be a favorite device for a certain type of person, it’s really hard to get excited.
2026 was not a banner year for phones. Yes, we’ve had some excellent releases – not least from Samsung itself in the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the best foldable we’ve ever reviewed – but the memory crunch has driven up prices and the endless focus on often gimmicky AI features has left a sour taste.
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Could the Galaxy S26 FE offer something a little… different?
After spending a few hours with the phone at a Samsung event ahead of its launch, I don’t think many will call this the most exciting phone of 2026. Maybe when Black Friday rolls around and the discounts arrive, the phone will be a bit more enticing, but as it stands, there’s very little new here.
And maybe that’s the point. After speaking with Samsung representatives, I think it’s clear that this phone is not for those who upgraded last year (or even the year before last), nor for those who plan to upgrade next year.
With the promise of seven years of updates – still quite rare at this end of the market – this might be the phone for those who want a simple, familiar phone with a big screen, recognizable software and the promise of software that won’t let you down in a few years.
This isn’t a phone for someone who recently picked up an FE device, because there isn’t much new.
There’s still a 6.7-inch OLED display with 1900 nits peak brightness, FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The main camera is the same 50MP unit, while the secondary cameras are still 12MP for ultra-wide and 8MP for telezoom. Samsung said they’ve improved the optical zoom, and there’s now an AI-powered 30x Space Zoom, but most of the updates appear to be software-based.
Inside, the battery is the same as the S25 FE’s 4,900mAh cell, and charging is still 45W wired and 15W wireless. Again, Samsung said that efficiency has been improved with this battery, so instead of getting a 65% charge in 30 minutes, you can now get to around 70%. It is also claimed to last up to 29 hours of media playback, which seems pretty impressive.
Of course, if you have a 45W charger handy – you definitely won’t find one in the box.
So where are the updates?
As you might have guessed, artificial intelligence is the buzzword here, and the S26 FE has many of the “smart” features found in other Samsung phones. The more powerful Exynos chip in the phone enables improved AI image editing and the MyfanCam feature that launched the Z Fold 8 series. Use this neat trick to reframe your content while following your theme.
There’s horizontal locking for video, so footage should remain stable even when the phone is rotated 360 degrees, and there’s an Audio Eraser tool to reduce background noise. There’s also Gemini, with support for other AI agents and Samsung’s AI features, including Now Brief and Now Nudge.
In addition to AI, the front-facing 12MP selfie camera now has a wider 85-degree field of view – ideal for getting more faces in the shot. There were some design tweaks to bring it more in line with the other Galaxy S26 family, and some fresh colors too.
What about the price?
Phones are getting more expensive everywhere, and the S26 FE has fallen victim to that. Models with 8GB of RAM and a paltry 128GB of storage start at £699 in the UK (up £50 from last year). It then jumps to £799 for 256GB storage – a £100 increase on the same-sized S25 FE. There is a 512GB model, but at £949 I’m not sure who would buy it.
The other big issue with the FE is that the Galaxy S26 Plus has been out for a few months now and is typically heavily discounted. After a quick look around I found a 512GB model with 12GB RAM for £775 – no reason to go for the S26 FE as it’s an excellent device. You’ve also got the 256GB Pixel 11 for £879, or something like the OnePlus 15R for £599.
Of course, it’s most likely a phone that most people would be on contract for, and I’m sure it’ll be heavily discounted over the next few months as we head into Black Friday. The Galaxy S25 FE, for example, has occasionally dropped to £499 – a much better deal.
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