{"id":670347,"date":"2026-09-03T12:22:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T12:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/670347\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T12:22:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T12:22:12","slug":"samsung-launches-final-galaxy-s26-smartphone-of-the-year-but-theres-a-catch-to-fan-edition-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/670347\/","title":{"rendered":"Samsung launches final Galaxy S26 smartphone of the year &#8211; but there\u2019s a catch to Fan Edition model"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>New stripped-back Galaxy S26 FE promises essential Samsung experience in graphite, pistachio and blueberry colours<\/p>\n<p>14:29, 27 Aug 2026Updated 11:18, 29 Aug 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is on sale from September 4\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/0_001-product-galaxy-s26-fe-pistachio-front.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is on sale from September 4\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is on sale from September 4(Image: Samsung)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1536641&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.samsung.com%2Fie%2Fgalaxy-s\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Samsung<\/a> has announced Galaxy S26 FE, the newest addition to its <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1536641&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.samsung.com%2Fie%2Fgalaxy-s\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Galaxy S26 family<\/a> and the first in the line-up to launch with the latest One UI 9 OS which is based on Android 17.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The firm said the new <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1536641&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.samsung.com%2Fie%2Fgalaxy-s\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">more affordable S26 FE model <\/a>delivers enhanced camera capabilities and more context-aware Galaxy AI in a thin and light design, but not as thin as last year\u2019s S25 Edge, a superslim iPhone-Air-styled spin-off that has sadly been discontinued.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">READ MORE: <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishmirror.ie\/lifestyle\/technology\/garmin-launches-new-fenix-9-37595357\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Garmin launches new Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro watches with brighter OLED screens &amp; smoother mapping<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">READ MORE: <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishmirror.ie\/lifestyle\/technology\/apple-launches-new-mac-mini-37594806\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Apple launches new Mac Mini and Mac Studio desktop computers with huge jump in AI performance<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE key features<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The 6.7in phone will be powered by Samsung\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The battery has a 4,900mAh capacity, but it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Like all smartphones released in 2026, <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1536641&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.samsung.com%2Fie%2Fgalaxy-s\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Galaxy S26 FE <\/a>will be more expensive than predecessors due to the worldwide memory shortage caused largely by demand from the growing number of AI data centres.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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 <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1536641&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.samsung.com%2Fie%2Fgalaxy-s\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">the 256GB S26 FE<\/a> is actually only \u20ac10 less expensive than the \u20ac909 currently quoted on Samsung\u2019s website for the <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1536641&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.samsung.com%2Fie%2Fgalaxy-s\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">256GB Galaxy S26<\/a>. Although it does offer a \u20ac279 discount when compared to the similarly sized S26+ variant which is currently \u20ac1,179.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p>What has been said<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;<a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1536641&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.samsung.com%2Fie%2Fgalaxy-s\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Galaxy S26 FE<\/a> is purposefully designed to deliver the signature strengths of the Galaxy S series, ensuring that every feature makes a meaningful difference in users\u2019 daily lives,&#8221; Jay Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Office, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Packed with beloved Galaxy camera and AI experiences, backed by the latest One UI 9, <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1536641&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.samsung.com%2Fie%2Fgalaxy-s\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Galaxy S26 FE<\/a> comes to life as an ideal choice for those who know exactly what matters most to them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Pricing and availability<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1536641&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.samsung.com%2Fie%2Fgalaxy-s\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Samsung Galaxy S26 FE <\/a>will be available starting September 4 <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1536641&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.samsung.com%2Fie%2Fgalaxy-s\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">from Samsung<\/a> in three colours, <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=76202X1536641&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.samsung.com%2Fie%2Fgalaxy-s\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">costing from \u20ac799 (128GB\/8GB), \u20ac899 (256GB\/8GB) and \u20ac1,099 (512GB\/8GB)<\/a>. You can also buy the <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4d7pp6b\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">full range of Samsung phones on Amazon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: <\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><a aria-label=\"Sign up hereLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishmirror.ie\/newsletter-preference-centre\/?view=Solus&amp;mailingListId=39e53cb8-b266-4e33-8d00-e9f7a38f420c&amp;utm_source=solusarticle\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New stripped-back Galaxy S26 FE promises essential Samsung experience in graphite, pistachio and blueberry colours 14:29, 27 Aug&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":670348,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[257],"tags":[291,821,18,19,17,279,48757,283225,5756,82],"class_list":["post-670347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mobile","tag-ai","tag-android","tag-eire","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-mobile","tag-samsung-galaxy","tag-samsung-mobile","tag-smartphones","tag-technology"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/117207090547032196","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670347","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=670347"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670347\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/670348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=670347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=670347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=670347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}