Samsung’s Galaxy S26 FE pairs last year’s hardware with last month’s software
Samsung's new Galaxy S26 FE smartphone offers minimal hardware upgrades over its predecessor while introducing a price increase. The device relies on software features already present in existing flagship models.
Why it matters
It reflects a broader trend in the smartphone industry where incremental updates are being sold at higher price points, potentially alienating budget-conscious consumers.
The Fan Edition phones are rarely Samsung’s most exciting launches of the year, but the new Galaxy S26 FE feels especially familiar. Hardware-wise, little has changed since the S25 FE launched 12 months ago, and the upgrades have mostly come in the form of software tricks which themselves were already seen on this year’s previous Samsung flagships.
At its core, this is the same phone as last year’s. The 6.7-inch OLED display, 4,900mAh battery, and triple rear camera are all identical. The changes are few: The chipset has been given its annual upgrade to the Exynos 2500, and the 12-megapixel selfie camera is a little wider, with an 85-degree field of view, up from 80.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in