Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S26 FE last month, marking the sixth iteration of its popular Galaxy S FE series. While the FE line has always been positioned as a more affordable way to experience the Galaxy S series, Samsung has made quite a few changes to the Galaxy S26 FE, both inside and out.
From a thinner camera bump and a glossy new finish to the Exynos 2500 processor and the latest One UI 9, the Galaxy S26 FE certainly has plenty to offer. However, there are also a few compromises that may make you think twice before picking it up, especially when it comes to the base storage option and USB connectivity.
So, after spending some time with the phone, here is everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE.
Design
At first glance, the Galaxy S26 FE does not look dramatically different from its predecessor. Samsung has retained the familiar overall shape and size, so anyone who has used a recent Galaxy S FE device will immediately feel at home with it.
One of the more noticeable changes is the camera bump. It is now thinner and flatter, giving the rear of the phone a cleaner appearance. However, Samsung has also moved away from the matte back finish used on previous generations and opted for a super glossy finish instead.
While the glossy finish gives the phone a more premium and reflective look, it is also considerably more prone to picking up fingerprints. This is one of those changes that ultimately comes down to personal preference.
There is, however, one notable downgrade that is worth highlighting. The Galaxy S26 FE uses a USB 2.0 port and does not support display output through the USB-C connection. This means wired Samsung DeX is no longer available.
Wireless DeX is still supported, so you can continue using the feature with a compatible display wirelessly. Still, for users who regularly connect their phone directly to a monitor or portable display, this is a limitation worth considering.
On the positive side, Samsung continues to provide dual SIM support, along with eSIM support, giving users plenty of flexibility when managing their mobile connections.
Display
The Galaxy S26 FE comes with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 2340 × 1080 resolution and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
There is not much to complain about here. Samsung has consistently produced some of the better smartphone displays on the market, and the Galaxy S26 FE is no exception.
The panel is bright, vivid and delivers the kind of punchy colours that you would expect from a Samsung smartphone. Text and images look sharp, while the 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling through menus, social media feeds and websites feel smooth.
At a time when even mid-range smartphones are getting increasingly capable displays, the Galaxy S26 FE still manages to offer a screen that can be considered very high-grade in today’s smartphone market.
Exynos 2500 Processor
The Galaxy S26 FE is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2500 processor, which was previously seen in the Galaxy Z Flip7.
For an FE device, performance is more than adequate. The phone handles everyday usage with ease, and demanding games are also playable without the phone feeling underpowered.
This is one of the areas where the Galaxy S26 FE clearly separates itself from Samsung’s more affordable A-series smartphones. It has the performance hardware expected from an S-series device, rather than simply taking an A-series phone and putting it inside an S-series-looking shell. Since this is an old chipset, it is expected that the benchmark results are behind the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
However, there is one configuration that we would not recommend: the 128GB storage option.
With modern apps becoming larger, games requiring significant amounts of storage and smartphone cameras producing increasingly large files, 128GB simply does not feel sufficient for a phone at this level. If you are planning to keep the Galaxy S26 FE for several years, the higher-storage configuration would be the more sensible choice.
One UI 9.0
The Galaxy S26 FE ships with One UI 9, the same generation of software found on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 series.
As expected, you get the usual Samsung software experience, together with a selection of Galaxy AI features. These include AI-powered photo editing, slow-motion video processing and text transcription.
One particularly useful addition is Horizontal Lock, which helps keep the display orientation locked when using the phone horizontally.
Samsung has also introduced My FanCam, an automated subject-centring feature designed to make video editing easier. The feature can automatically keep a selected subject centred within the frame, which can be useful when creating videos without manually adjusting the crop.
More importantly, the Galaxy S26 FE gets the full-fledged Galaxy AI experience associated with Samsung’s S-series devices. This is an important distinction because the FE is not simply an A-series smartphone dressed up to look like an S-series model.
Camera
On the back, the Galaxy S26 FE retains the same triple-camera setup as its predecessor. This consists of a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 50MP wide camera and an 8MP 3x telephoto camera.
Starting with the main camera, daylight photography is generally good. Images contain a decent amount of detail, while dynamic range is also good. At its native focal length, the main camera produces very usable results, and its 2x output is also quite good.
The main camera is also reasonably capable for close-up shots at 2x, making it more versatile than the specifications alone might suggest.
The 3x telephoto camera is modest, but having a dedicated telephoto camera is certainly better than not having one. Dynamic range is very good, and the colours are generally likeable. White balance can occasionally stray slightly from what the main camera produces, but this is not a major issue. Detail is alright, although it is not going to compete with Samsung’s higher-end flagship telephoto systems.
The 12MP ultra-wide camera is reasonably competitive, although the lack of autofocus limits its flexibility. Daylight images are decent and perfectly usable for landscapes, architecture and group shots, but it does not quite reach the level of Samsung’s flagship ultra-wide cameras.
Low-light photography is where you need to be a little more selective. The main camera remains the preferred option, while the ultra-wide and telephoto cameras are best avoided when the lighting gets challenging.
Samsung’s default night output can sometimes look a little dull, while switching to the optional Night mode can produce brighter images at the expense of more noticeable processing. In other words, there is a bit of a choice between a more restrained but darker result and a brighter image that can look overprocessed.
Overall, the Galaxy S26 FE’s still photography is unremarkable in absolute terms, although it is probably good enough for its class and broadly what you would expect from Samsung in 2026.
The main camera is very good in daylight at its native focal length and remains quite capable at 2x. The ultra-wide is reasonably competitive, while the modest 3x telephoto is, simply put, better than having no telephoto camera at all.
Selfies, on the other hand, are generally praiseworthy and should satisfy users who frequently take self-portraits or share photos on social media.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S26 FE comes with a 4,900mAh battery and supports 45W fast charging.
Battery life is slightly better than what we experienced with the Galaxy S25 FE, while charging is also faster. It is not a revolutionary improvement, but the combination of a larger battery and improved charging support makes the S26 FE a little more convenient for daily use.
For typical usage, the phone should comfortably get through a day, although demanding gaming, extensive camera usage and heavy 5G usage will naturally have an impact on endurance.
Final Words
The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is priced from RM3,299, although it can be found at a discounted price of RM2,799. At the discounted price, it becomes a considerably more interesting proposition.
However, we would strongly recommend skipping the 128GB base model. For a smartphone at this price point, 128GB feels increasingly difficult to justify in 2026, particularly if you plan to keep the device for several years.
The Galaxy S26 FE does have its compromises. The USB 2.0 connection without wired display output is a strange downgrade, especially for users who make use of Samsung DeX. The glossy rear panel is also more prone to fingerprints, while the camera system is good rather than class-leading.
But there is also quite a lot to like. You get a high-quality 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, solid performance from the Exynos 2500, a capable main camera, a dedicated 3x telephoto camera, slightly improved battery life and faster charging, as well as Samsung’s latest One UI 9 software and full-fledged Galaxy AI features.
Most importantly, the Galaxy S26 FE should not be viewed as an A-series smartphone inside an S-series shell. It has the performance, software features and overall experience expected from Samsung’s S-series family, while making some compromises to achieve a lower price.
At RM2,799, the Galaxy S26 FE is certainly worth considering, particularly if you want an S-series experience without paying flagship money. However, at its full RM3,299 retail price, the decision becomes less straightforward. If the discount is not particularly attractive, the Galaxy S25 FE remains an alternative, especially if you can find it at a significantly lower price.
The S25 FE does give up some performance and battery life compared with the newer model, but it may still offer better value depending on the price difference.
Ultimately, the Galaxy S26 FE makes the most sense when bought at a solid discount and with more than 128GB of storage. It is a capable and well-rounded S-series FE device, but its value depends heavily on how much you pay for it.
Yay
- Top-class display
- Full-fledged Galaxy AI features
- Impressive battery life
Nay
- Skip the 128GB variant
- Unimpressive low-light camera performance
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