Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

The S26 FE is a hard sell. On paper, sure, it's $200 less than the $900 Galaxy S26+, but is it $50 better than the S25 FE — still on sale and actually typically cheaper than $650 a year later? The company still sells its own S24+ as a certified refurb for $650, with more RAM and a substantially brighter screen.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is a decent phone, but with barely any upgrades over last year’s model and a higher price, it’s not a great value proposition. When the price drops, it might be more appealing, but right now you’ll get more for your money elsewhere.

If I had to keep using the Galaxy S26 FE as my daily phone then I'd be more than happy. From the way it looks, to the way it performs, in isolation it's a great Android option – and, from that point of view, recommendable. That said, the year-on-year improvements are so minor that last year's S25 FE is a no-brainer purchase for even less cash. And with increasing competition, I've got to wonder if the Fan Edition has run its course in among Samsung's broader line-up.

At $700 for the 128 GB model, the S26 FE is a tough sell. I’ve seen the regular S26 discounted to this price. Accept a slightly smaller screen, and you get better everything (a faster processor, more RAM and storage, and a better telephoto camera). If you’re wedded to the big screen, wait for a sale, and you can get the S26+ for around $100 more.

The Galaxy S26 FE is a difficult phone to sum up, mostly because there is very little actually wrong with it. In isolation, it is a very good, well-rounded device. It is well-built, fairly thin, IP68-rated and uses suitably premium materials. Its 6.7-inch AMOLED display is still very good, even if it is hardly cutting-edge by current standards. You get capable stereo speakers, wireless charging, a versatile triple-camera system with an actual 3x telephoto, excellent software and an industry-leading software support commitment.