Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Review: Same as Before, but for More Money
The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE offers a solid user experience with a good display and camera, but it faces criticism for a price increase despite minimal hardware upgrades. The review notes that the removal of certain features, such as the USB 3.2 port, makes it less competitive.
Why it matters
It serves as a consumer guide for evaluating value-for-money in the saturated mid-range smartphone market.
WIRED Nice design and colors. Lovely big display. Decent battery life. Triple camera system. TIRED Price hike over last year’s model despite minimal changes. USB has been downgraded from 3.2 to 2.0. Bloatware galore. Samsung’s Fan Edition (FE) range is designed to give you a near-flagship experience at a discounted price. Last year’s Galaxy S25 FE won plaudits as one of the best cheap phones , shaving off the superfluous and coming in at $650. Samsung upgraded the processor in the Galaxy S26 FE, but little else has changed, and the price has climbed to $700.
With a polished look, a lovely big display, a versatile triple-camera system, and decent battery life, the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is a perfectly good phone in isolation. The trouble is, it doesn’t look as tempting when you factor in the price and competition. And Samsung has quietly downgraded the USB port.
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