At $699.99, the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is $50 more than its predecessor, the Galaxy S25 FE, but still $200 shy of the $899.99 Galaxy S26. Thanks to the ongoing component crisis, almost every phone I’ve tested this year has introduced a similar price hike.
Samsung seems determined to help you forget about the price hike by stuffing the FE with a bevy of AI features, many of which have already debuted on Samsung phones earlier this year. It’s the trickle-down theory, but for phones. Here are my first impressions of Samsung’s shiny FE model.
‘Reflecting’ on the Fresh Finish
When I describe the Galaxy S26 FE as “shiny,” I’m not kidding. Imagine my surprise when I picked up Samsung’s midranger and the first thing I saw wasn’t the phone—it was my own face.
(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)
Last year’s Galaxy S25 FE had a matte body, similar to the current finish on the Galaxy S26 series. The last time the FE lineup went glossy was for the S24 model. The S26 FE’s reflective design makes it more susceptible to fingerprints. The darker colorways, Blueberry and Graphite, build up more visible smudges than the Pistachio model, so you’ll want to keep a microfiber cloth handy.
(Credit: Joe Maldonado)
I suspect ditching the matte backside may be a cost-cutting measure; smooth glass is cheaper and faster to produce. Keep in mind, none of this matters much if you plan to put the FE in a case. You may actually enjoy the reflective surfaces.
The FE has the same IP68 protection as its predecessor, which means you get total dust resistance and can submerge the phone in fresh water up to about 5 feet for up to 30 minutes. Feel free to take it with you to the beach.
Unnoticeable Weight Gain
Samsung admits the S26 FE is slightly heavier than the previous model, but when I picked it up, I still felt it was quite lightweight.
(Credit: Joe Maldonado)
I was expecting some heft, but the intangible difference makes sense when you consider the new model now weighs 6.81 ounces—just a fraction more than the 6.70-ounce S25 FE. Not a big deal.
Aside from weight, Samsung says the S26 FE’s dimensions are basically the same as its predecessor’s.
Familiar AI Features
Samsung brought its Document Scan tool from the Galaxy S26, Z Fold 8, and Z Flip 8 lineup to the FE. The company says Document Scan can reduce dog-ear folds, wrinkles, and fingerprints when capturing scans. Take this “Order from the Source” flyer (below). It’s pretty wrinkly, no?
(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)
Document Scan put its AI tricks to use, and voila, the scan is mostly smooth, save for one crinkle in the middle.
(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)
I also tested the natural-language-supported Photo Assist, which lets you manipulate pictures using text prompts. After taking a picture with my fingers in the way, I prompted the Photos app to remove my digits.
(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)
I was impressed with the results. Not only did it remove my fingers, but the AI did a good job at predicting what would have been under my fingers, including ripples and reflections from the surrounding buildings.
(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)
The My FanCam feature uses AI to detect and track subjects, and it is just as impressive on the FE as on the Z Fold 8. You can record a video of several people, and My FanCam will detect them and allow you to select a subject for the AI to follow and keep centered in the frame.
Audio Eraser, which reduces unwanted video noise in real time, works well, too. I launched a video of a YouTuber walking down a busy New York City street. While it didn’t completely silence a blaring ambulance siren, it significantly reduced its volume. Better yet, the background traffic, wind, and distant chatter went quiet. It puts the priority audio front and center, in real time, and I’m a big fan.
An Appreciable Step Up for the Camera
There are no stop-the-presses changes to the camera setup. It still has the S25 FE’s triple-lens system on the rear: a 50MP main, a 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical and 30x Space Zoom. What’s new, according to Samsung, is a “clarity enhancement” designed to sharpen shots taken in the 2x range.
(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)
I took some shots after tapping the 2x bubble in the Camera app, but it’s difficult to tell whether there are any improvements without inspecting the photos of both the S25 FE and S26 FE up close on a monitor.
I also captured a photo of a yellow water taxi via the 30x Super Zoom tool, and I was taken aback by how structured the shot was. Even though I was roughly a mile away from the boat, I could read out the words, “New York Water Taxi,” though it took a bit of squinting.
(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)
New to the S26 FE is Samsung’s Super Steady with Horizontal Lock feature. The kicker is that you can do a full 360-degree spin of the phone, and it will keep the video level throughout. I tested it, and as expected, the footage stayed upright and steady no matter how much I twisted and turned the phone.
Samsung claims that it improved nightography on the FE with significantly reduced low-light noise, but it was too bright to test this claim in the event space.
Same Ole Display
The S26 FE has the same 6.7-inch, Dynamic AMOLED 2X display as its predecessor, with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,900 nits.
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(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)
I set the screen to its maximum brightness and held it near a window. Although the display was visible, I could tell that super sun-drenched days might force me to seek out shade. The S26 series phones reach 2,600 nits and are easier to work with under bright light.
(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)
On the plus side, the FE’s screen remains a visual treat. Firing up a few YouTube videos, the display looks glorious, from punchy colors to crisp-and-sharp textures.
Exynos Upgrade
The S26 FE received an upgrade from the Exynos 2400 to the Exynos 2500. I know, I know. Some people hear Exynos and throw up their hands as if I just told them it’s powered by a potato.
(Credit: Joe Maldonado)
The Exynos 2500 is also found in the 2025 Galaxy Z Flip 7. In testing, we noticed the Z Flip 7 got “crazy hot while seemingly doing nothing at all,” like taking a few photos or location tagging. I didn’t notice any thermal issues during my 90-minute session, but I’ll need more time with it to know for certain.
Battery Banality
A Samsung rep claimed that the 4,900mAh battery inside the FE, which shares the same capacity as its predecessor, is “very long lasting.” For context, the last-gen model delivered 17 hours of battery life. We’ll be sure to test the battery when we get the Samsung midranger in for review.
(Credit: Joe Maldonado)
Matching the Galaxy S25 FE, the new FE supports 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.
Price and Availability
The S26 FE is $699.99 for the 128GB model, which I don’t recommend. Based on my experience, you might get that dreaded “storage full” message in about a year. The 256GB model runs $799.99. Both configurations come with 8GB of RAM.
As mentioned, the Galaxy S26 FE is $200 cheaper than the entry-level Galaxy S26. So the question is, will the new FE make consumers think twice about paying more? The Galaxy S26 gives you more RAM (12GB versus 8GB), a better chipset (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 versus Exynos 2500), and a brighter display (2,600 nits versus 1,900 nits). But the FE still packs a slew of AI features once reserved for Samsung’s premium phones, has a larger display (6.7 versus 6.3 inches), and a larger battery (4,900mAh versus 4,300mAh). Did Samsung just undercut its own flagship? We’ll just have to wait and see.
(Credit: Joe Maldonado)
The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE will be available on Sept. 3 through select carriers, with a broader nationwide retail rollout on Sept. 4.
About Our Expert
Kimberly Gedeon
Senior Writer, Mobile
Experience
I’m PCMag’s Senior Writer for Mobile on the Consumer Electronics team, diving into the latest phones, tablets, Bluetooth speakers, audio devices, and other portable gear. I’ve been covering consumer technology for six years. Before joining PCMag, I contributed my tech expertise to Laptop Magazine, Mashable, Tom’s Guide, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, and more.
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