South Korean corporation Samsung Electronics has announced the release of the new Galaxy S26 FE smartphone, setting the recommended retail price at $700 — $50 more than its predecessor. The device will be available through select carriers starting September 3, with full retail sales launching via official Samsung channels and partner networks on September 4.
A key technical distinction of the new model is its use of a MediaTek Inc. processor, whereas the standard S26 is powered by Qualcomm Inc. solutions. The smartphone comes with 12 gigabytes of RAM but offers a reduced set of artificial intelligence features compared to higher-tier models in the lineup. Camera performance also falls short of the company's flagship devices, positioning the handset as a more accessible alternative to premium offerings.
The Galaxy S26 FE runs Samsung's proprietary One UI 9 shell built on top of Android 17. This makes it the first Samsung device to ship with the latest software version, while the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra continue to operate on One UI 8.5 as they await the completion of beta testing ahead of the broad rollout. This approach allows the company to trial new features on a more affordable model before introducing them to the flagship lineup.
The smartphone features a 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering smooth visual content. Power comes from a 4,900mAh battery that reaches 69% charge in approximately 30 minutes when using a 45-watt charger. The Galaxy S26 FE is available in three color options: Graphite, Pistachio, and Blueberry. The chassis features an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection, and the device carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.