Samsung Galaxy S26 FE brings a new chip and 8K video
The Fan Edition model for 2026 gets a more powerful Exynos 2500 processor and an upgraded camera, but the starting price rises to 800 euros.
The Fan Edition model for 2026 gets a more powerful Exynos 2500 processor and an upgraded camera, but the starting price rises to 800 euros.
Ahead of the expected September unveiling, nearly complete specifications for Samsung's Galaxy S26 FE have leaked, continuing the "Fan Edition" tradition of offering flagship features at a more accessible price. Information released by German site WinFuture reveals that the new device brings a significant performance leap, but also a price increase that could impact its appeal.
The biggest change lies under the hood. Instead of using the proven Exynos 2400 for a third time, Samsung has opted for the new Exynos 2500 chip. This processor is built on an advanced 3-nanometer process with Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistors. It features ten cores in a 1+7+2 configuration and an Xclipse 950 GPU based on AMD's RDNA 3 architecture, with eight work groups.
The chipset will be paired with 8 GB of RAM, and buyers can choose between 128 or 256 GB of internal storage. Unfortunately, the device will not have a microSD card slot, which has become common practice in this segment.
Despite evolutionary changes, the Galaxy S26 FE will not avoid a price hike. The entry-level model with 128 GB of storage is expected to cost 800 euros, which is 50 euros more than the S25 FE's launch price of 750 euros. This increase reflects broader market pressures and the global rise in memory component prices.
The battery remains the same capacity at 4,900 mAh, supporting 45 W wired fast charging and 15 W wireless charging. However, there is a possibility that this is a new silicon-carbon (Si/C) battery. While this technology allows for higher energy density, the EPREL rating shows that the battery's lifespan will drop from 2,000 charge cycles in the previous model to 1,200 cycles. On the other hand, thanks to the more efficient chip, the official battery life estimate rises to 50 hours on a single charge, compared to 42 hours and 37 minutes for the S25 FE.
The front is dominated by a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 1,080 x 2,340 pixels and a 120 Hz refresh rate. Typical brightness is 1,200 nits, reaching 1,900 nits in high brightness mode. The front camera remains at 12 MP with an f/2.2 aperture and fixed focus.
The biggest upgrade in the rear camera system is the ability to record video in 8K resolution at 30 frames per second, a significant jump from the previous model's maximum of 4K at 60 fps. The 50 MP main camera (f/1.8) and the 8 MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom (f/2.4) use the same sensors as before, while the ultra-wide camera gets a new 12 MP sensor.
In terms of design, the Galaxy S26 FE will be nearly identical to its predecessor. Dimensions are the same, with a thickness of 7.4 mm, while the weight has slightly increased by three grams to 193 grams total. The device still has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. Other specs include support for two physical SIM cards, one or two eSIM cards, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and NFC.
The exact launch date has not been confirmed, but given that the S25 FE launched in September last year, it is realistic to expect the new Fan Edition to hit the market very soon.
