The Galaxy S26 FE positions itself as Samsung’s cheaper alternative to its main flagship line. Launched with a starting price of £699/$699, it aims to deliver premium features at a more accessible price point than the S26 (£879) or S26 Plus (£1,099).
The device maintains the large 6.7-inch display, matching the size of the S26 Plus. This screen uses 120Hz AMOLED technology and is paired with a physical optical fingerprint sensor.
While the size is impressive, Samsung made some technical adjustments. The display resolution measures 2340 x 1090, and its lower peak brightness is reported at 1900 nits.
Design-wise, the S26 FE features a glass back with aluminum sides, making it visually similar to the S26 Plus. It measures a slim 7.4mm thick. However, the glossy glass back shows fingerprints easily, and the build is noted for being quite similar to the S25 FE.
Performance is driven by the Exynos 2500 chipset, utilizing a 3 nanometer process. This upgrade improves over the Exynos 2400 used in the previous year, though it lags behind the 2nm Exynos 2600 found in Samsung’s primary flagships. For daily use, the phone performs adequately, handling app switching and loading quickly. The base model includes 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, though larger storage options increase the cost.
The camera system matches the S25 FE, consisting of a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and an 8MP telephoto lens. The main lens captures sharp, daylight photos, maintaining Samsung’s characteristic saturated colors, although some images were observed to have washed-out colors. Low light performance can degrade, leading to noisy images and difficulty focusing.
Critiques of the other camera components are evident. The 12MP ultra-wide lens struggles to capture detail, resulting in shots that are more demonstrative than visually pleasing. The 8MP telephoto lens is criticized as subpar. For selfies, the color profile is described as dull.
Software longevity remains a key feature, offering seven years of software updates. However, the user experience is complicated by One UI 9, which reviewers found cluttered with options. The phone supports both physical nano SIM cards and eSIMs.
Battery life testing revealed that the 4,900mAh lithium-ion cell can last for a full day with typical use, but some standby drain was observed.
Overall, the Galaxy S26 FE is described as a competent phone on its own merits. It preserves the design traits and screen quality of the higher-end S26 models while providing reliable daily performance and long software support. Nevertheless, limitations persist. The cameras are deemed outdated, the hardware cannot support top-tier gaming, and the constrained 128GB base storage is a drawback.
Potential competitors, including the Google Pixel 10a and Nothing Phone 4a Pro, offer alternative advantages, such as superior camera performance or cleaner design, making the S26 FE less appealing without a significant discount or contract deal.
Source: Trusted Reviews