New stripped-back Galaxy S26 FE promises essential Samsung experience in graphite, pistachio and blueberry colours
14:29, 27 Aug 2026Updated 11:18, 29 Aug 2026
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is on sale from September 4(Image: Samsung)
Samsung has announced Galaxy S26 FE, the newest addition to its Galaxy S26 family and the first in the line-up to launch with the latest One UI 9 OS which is based on Android 17.
The firm said the new more affordable S26 FE model delivers enhanced camera capabilities and more context-aware Galaxy AI in a thin and light design, but not as thin as last year’s S25 Edge, a superslim iPhone-Air-styled spin-off that has sadly been discontinued.
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Samsung Galaxy S26 FE key features
The 6.7in phone will be powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2500, which is a minor step down from the Exynos 2600 chip in the S26 and S26+. The screen is a 120Hz refresh rate display with 1,900 nits of peak brightness. Tough Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the front and the rear.
On the rear is a 50MP main camera, 12MP wide-angle camera and 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The 12MP wide-angle is apparently new, and there have been software changes to improve sharpness between 1x and 2x zoom on the main camera.
The battery has a 4,900mAh capacity, but it’s not one of the latest silicon-carbon cells introduced (at last) in the recently launched Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra models. The S26 FE is equipped with 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, and Samsung said a 70 percent charge will take 30 minutes using a compatible 45W wired charger.
Like all smartphones released in 2026, Galaxy S26 FE will be more expensive than predecessors due to the worldwide memory shortage caused largely by demand from the growing number of AI data centres.
Users who opt for an FE handset would usually be able to enjoy many of the core Galaxy 26 features for several hundreds of euro less, but with the price increase it means the 256GB S26 FE is actually only €10 less expensive than the €909 currently quoted on Samsung’s website for the 256GB Galaxy S26. Although it does offer a €279 discount when compared to the similarly sized S26+ variant which is currently €1,179.
There are a host of Galaxy AI features included, such as the MyFanCam mode, where you can edit your concert videos to focus on a single performer, along with Photo Assist where AI edits and transforms videos.
Both Now Brief and Now Nudge prepare you for your day, while Audio Eraser effectively removes unwanted background noises from your own videos and those playing on YouTube and Instagram. You also get tools such as Document Scan and Circle to Search.
What has been said
“Galaxy S26 FE is purposefully designed to deliver the signature strengths of the Galaxy S series, ensuring that every feature makes a meaningful difference in users’ daily lives,” Jay Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Office, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, said.
“Packed with beloved Galaxy camera and AI experiences, backed by the latest One UI 9, Galaxy S26 FE comes to life as an ideal choice for those who know exactly what matters most to them.”
Pricing and availability
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE will be available starting September 4 from Samsung in three colours, costing from €799 (128GB/8GB), €899 (256GB/8GB) and €1,099 (512GB/8GB). You can also buy the full range of Samsung phones on Amazon.
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