Samsung
Galaxy S26 FE
The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is the cheapest way in to the Galaxy S26 line and benefits from a big screen and battery, but it’s a notable step down from the standard S26 in most other ways. Pros
Big 6. 7-inch screen
Relatively high capacity battery
Cheapest entry point
Cons
Less powerful chipset
Less capable cameras
Slightly worse screen
Samsung
Galaxy S26
The Samsung Galaxy S26 is a powerful phone with a great screen and capable cameras, but while not the most expensive model in the S26 series, it does cost a fair bit more than the FE. Pros
Top-end chipset
Great triple-lens camera
Superb — if small — screen
Cons
Costs quite a lot
Lower capacity battery
Slower charging
Samsung’s Galaxy FE line has always been a slightly odd proposition. In theory, these phones are cheaper alternatives to standard numbered Galaxy phones, offering Plus-sized screens at an affordable price. But they’ve steadily gotten more expensive over the years, and some FE phones are more well-rounded than others. That makes choosing between a Samsung Galaxy S26 FE and a Samsung Galaxy S26 more complicated than just choosing between a pricier phone and a cheaper one. In this guide, then, we’ll walk you through the key differences between these two phones, comparing their displays, designs, performance credentials, and more. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S26: specs comparison
The table below provides a brief overview of how the Galaxy S26 FE and Galaxy S26 compare in terms of specs. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Samsung Galaxy S26
Dimensions:
161. 6 x 76. 9 x 7. 4mm
149. 6 x 71. 7 x 7. 2mm
Weight:
193g
167g
Display:
6. 7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X
6. 3-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Refresh rate:
60Hz–120Hz
1Hz-120Hz
Peak brightness:
1,900 nits
2,600 nits
Chipset:
Exynos 2500
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 / Exynos 2600
RAM:
8GB
12GB
Rear cameras:
50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 8MP telephoto
50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto
Front camera:
12MP
12MP
Battery:
4,900mAh
4,300mAh
Charging:
45W wired, 15W wireless
25W wired, 15W wireless
Storage:
128GB / 256GB / 512GB
256GB / 512GB
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S26: price and availability
The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Richard Priday / TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy S26 Future The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE was announced in late August 2026 and shipped in November, with the phone now widely available. It starts at $699. 99 / £699 / AU$1,149, which gets you a model with 128GB of storage. But there’s also a 256GB model for $799. 99 / £799 / AU$1,299 and a 512GB model for £949 / AU$1,599 — though this version is not available in the US. The Samsung Galaxy S26 went on sale in March 2026 and is also available globally. It costs $999. 99 / £959 / AU$1,649 for a 256GB model, rising to $1,199. 99 / £1,129 / AU$1,949 for a 512GB version. It’s worth noting that the Galaxy S26 actually cost less than $999. 99 / £959 / AU$1,649 at launch, but thanks to the ongoing RAM crisis, its price has since gone up, rather than down. In any case, that makes the starting price of the Galaxy S26 FE some $300 / £260 / AU$500 less than that of the Galaxy S26, but that’s for a model with just 128GB of storage, which is less than the Galaxy S26 comes with as standard. Looking at the 256GB models of each phone, the Galaxy S26 FE costs $200 / £160 / AU$350 less. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE pricing Storage
US price
UK price
AU price
128GB
$699. 99
£699
AU$1,149
256GB
$799. 99
£799
AU$1,299
512GB
Not available
£949
AU$1,599
Samsung Galaxy S26 pricing Storage
US price
UK price
AU price
256GB
$999. 99
£959
AU$1,649
512GB
$1,199. 99
£1,129
AU$1,949
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S26: design
The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Richard Priday / TechRadar The Samsung Galaxy S26 Future The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE and Samsung Galaxy S26 have quite similar designs, with flat screens, punch-hole cameras at the top of their respective displays, and triple-lens cameras arranged vertically on their rear panels. They also both have glass backs and aluminum frames, as well as IP68 ratings — meaning they’re dust-tight and can be submerged in up to 1. 5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. However, the Samsung Galaxy S26 should be slightly tougher than the FE overall, as it has Gorilla Glass 2 protection, while the FE uses Gorilla Glass+. There are bigger differences in their colors, though, with the Galaxy S26 FE being sold in Blueberry, Graphite, and Pistachio, and the Galaxy S26 available in Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow, and Pink Gold. And their weights and dimensions differ too: the Galaxy S26 FE measures 161. 6 x 76. 9 x 7. 4mm and weighs 193g, while the Galaxy S26 measures 149. 6 x 71. 7 x 7. 2mm and weighs 167g. So the FE is bigger, thicker, and heavier — but it does also have a larger screen. In our Samsung Galaxy S26 FE review, we described it as “worthy of the Galaxy S name in terms of looks and durability,” while in our Samsung Galaxy S26 review, we praised “a tried-and-true design that looks great.”…
