Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Review: $700 Price Tag, Exynos 2500 Upgrade, USB-C Downgrade
The Galaxy S26 FE from Samsung, retailing at $700, is equipped with a speedy Exynos 2500 processor. It boasts a 6.7-inch OLED display that supports a 120-Hz refresh rate and reaches a peak brightness of 1,900 nits. With an IP68 rating, the device features an aluminum frame, a glass back, and a triple-camera array available in Pistachio, Graphite, and Blueberry hues. Buyers can choose between 128 GB of storage with 8 GB of RAM or opt for 256 GB for an additional $100. A robust 4,900-mAh battery enables 45-watt wired and 15-watt wireless charging. The USB-C port has been downgraded to USB 2.0, and the camera includes a 50-megapixel main lens. One UI 9 integrates Samsung AI and comes with preinstalled applications. Competing devices are priced at least $200 less.
Key facts
- The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE costs $700 for the 128 GB model, up from $650 for the Galaxy S25 FE
- Samsung's Exynos 2500 processor is the main upgrade over the Exynos 2400 in the S25 FE
- The 6.7-inch OLED display supports 120 Hz but is not LTPO, and peak brightness is 1,900 nits versus 3,000 nits on the regular Galaxy S26
- The USB-C port dropped to USB 2.0 from USB 3.2 (Gen 1), limiting transfers to 480 Mbps and removing wired DeX and DisplayPort Alt Mode
- The 4,900-mAh battery supports 45-watt wired charging and 15-watt wireless charging, with Qi2 compatibility but no magnets
- The camera system is unchanged: 50-megapixel main, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 8-megapixel telephoto with 3X optical zoom, and 12-megapixel selfie
- The 256 GB model costs $800 and still has only 8 GB of RAM
- Competitors including the Google Pixel 10a, Motorola Moto G Stylus, and Nothing Phone 4(a) Pro cost at least $200 less
Entities
Artists
- Simon Hill
Institutions
- Samsung
- Wired
- TikTok
- Spotify
- Netflix
- Perplexity
- Motorola
- Nothing
Locations
- United States