I tested the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, and it’s a good phone — but not for the reasons Samsung says it is

by · TechRadar

TechRadar Verdict

The Galaxy S26 FE achieves its basic goal of offering a large Galaxy S experience for a discounted price. However, a price hike has reduced the potential value of going for this phone instead of a full-fat Galaxy S26, even if key elements like battery life and performance are still impressive for what you pay.

Pros

  • +Premium design in fun new colors
  • +Display still flagship-worthy
  • +Surprisingly good gaming performance
  • +Strong battery life

Cons

  • -Price has increased
  • -AI tools coming to older Samsungs soon
  • -Telephoto and ultrawide cameras lag behind

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Samsung Galaxy S26 FE: Two-minute review

Picking the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE to be your next phone would be a good decision. But whether it’s the best decision is the chewier question.

As has been the case for the past several years, Samsung has launched one final version of its Galaxy S flagship phones just before summer is out (in the US and UK, at least). This “Fan Edition” device aims to provide a more streamlined experience, focused on camera capabilities and AI, at a more approachable price.

However, Samsung has this all backwards. The Galaxy S26 FE’s cameras range from OK to weak, and the AI tools will soon be available on older models. Plus, the price hike this year makes the phone a little less of a bargain.

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Arguably, the real reasons you’ll want a Galaxy S26 FE are its big screen, fast charging, strong battery life, and surprisingly good gaming performance. But then, if those are your priorities, you may still be better off looking elsewhere.

Confused yet? Hopefully the rest of my Galaxy S26 FE review will clear things up.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE review: Price and availability

  • Starts at $699 /£699 / AU$1,149

The Galaxy S26 FE first went on sale on September 4, 2026. It costs $699 / £699 / AU$1,149 for the standard version, which is $50 / £50 / AU$50 more than the Galaxy S25 FE cost when it launched.

As a result, it means there’s a $200 / £180 / AU$400 difference between this phone and the cheapest full-fat Samsung Galaxy S26, or a $400 / £400 / AU$700 gap if you compare it to the similarly-sized Galaxy S26 Plus. However, those Galaxy S26 models have twice as much storage as the S26 FE by default, which makes direct comparison a little complicated.

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