Smartphone review
Galaxy S26 FE review: A cheaper Samsung flagship, with compromises
Samsung’s latest FE model delivers a familiar design, a bright display and the company’s latest software features at a lower price. But weaker hardware and inconsistent camera results make it a step down from the S26 Plus.
Top line
The Galaxy S26 FE appears to offer an attractive deal: a phone from Samsung’s flagship series at a significantly lower price than the higher-end models. The savings, however, come with compromises, including a less powerful processor, less memory, weaker cameras and more.
In other words, despite sharing the Galaxy S26 name and closely resembling the other phones in the lineup, the FE is a very different device. That does not make it a bad phone. It handles everyday tasks well and offers a solid overall experience for less money. But expectations should be managed: this is not quite a flagship Galaxy S26, but rather a more affordable, mid-range take on the series.
The price differences are substantial. The 256GB model costs NIS 2,650 ($865), compared with NIS 3,200 ($1,045) for the Galaxy S26 Plus. Upgrading to 512GB brings the FE’s price to NIS 3,200, compared with NIS 3,950 ($1,290) for the Plus. Still, these are two different devices, and the price gap reflects more than storage capacity alone. There is also competition from other brands offering more powerful mid-range phones at even lower prices.
Details
Samsung starts each calendar year by launching its flagship Galaxy S series. Toward the end of the year, when rumors about the next generation are already circulating, a more affordable model typically joins the lineup. This year is no exception: Samsung has recently launched the Galaxy S26 FE, a phone that bears a striking resemblance to the S26 Plus.
Price is one of the most notable differences. The new model starts at NIS 2,300 ($750), with less memory and storage than its more expensive sibling. What compromises did Samsung make to reach that price? We put the phone to the test.
Build and design: The familiar Samsung look
The family resemblance is immediately apparent. The S26 FE looks right at home in the Galaxy S series and shares the familiar design language of Samsung’s broader lineup. It has a flat, edge-to-edge display, rounded corners, a relatively slim profile, power and volume buttons on the right side, and three camera lenses protruding from the back. In short, it is unmistakably a Samsung phone.
The new model has a 6.7-inch display, the same size as the S26 Plus, and weighs 193 grams. It is slightly heavier than the Plus, but does not feel bulky in the hand.
One compromise is the glass used on the front and back. Both are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+, an older version than the glass used on the Plus, although it is the same glass Samsung used on last year’s FE model.
That does not mean the phone lacks protection. It carries an IP68 rating, indicating dust resistance and protection against submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for as long as 30 minutes under specified test conditions.
Hardware: A noticeable gap from the rest of the series
The specifications reveal a significant difference between the S26 FE and its more expensive siblings. While the new phone may look like an S26, the hardware beneath the surface helps explain the price gap.
The FE is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2500 processor, the same chip used in last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 7. It comes with just 8GB of RAM and starts with 128GB of storage, while the higher-end Galaxy S26 models start at 256GB.
These specifications are somewhat underwhelming, particularly because the processor is already a year old. The other Galaxy S models and Samsung’s foldable devices offer 12GB of RAM, while competing mid-range phones often provide similar amounts of memory or features that use storage to supplement RAM.
That said, the phone does not routinely stutter or lag. It handles everyday tasks effectively, although it feels a little slower and less fluid than the higher-end models. Playing Call of Duty caused it to heat up somewhat after just one or two rounds.
On paper, the display also has a lower resolution and lower peak brightness than those of its more expensive siblings. In practice, however, these differences are not especially noticeable. The screen remains excellent and is bright enough for outdoor use, even in direct sunlight.
The battery specifications remain unchanged: a 4,900mAh capacity and support for 45W charging. Using a fast charger, which is not included in the box, the battery went from 15% to 50% in 15 minutes and reached a full charge in about an hour.
Software: New features reach the more affordable model
The S26 FE runs Android 17 with Samsung’s One UI 9 interface, leaving little to distinguish its software experience from that of the other phones in the series. It includes Samsung’s familiar AI features as well as several newer capabilities already available on the flagship models.
These include My FanCam, which lets users focus on a specific person while recording video; an ultra-stable video mode designed to reduce camera shake; and updated photo-editing tools that let users add, modify or remove details using text prompts.
It is good to see that Samsung is not reserving these features exclusively for its most expensive devices. Beyond the hardware differences, there is little to distinguish the FE’s interface and software from those of the rest of the lineup.
Cameras: Good at first glance
There are no major camera innovations here either. The S26 FE has a 50-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 12-megapixel front-facing camera.
Overall, the cameras deliver decent results. Photos taken in good lighting look good at first glance, but closer inspection reveals a lack of sharpness, some image noise and blurred areas. Night shots taken without the flash appear bright, but they also suffer from blurred details on closer inspection.
