The Galaxy S26 FE is the affordable "flagship" phone we need right now

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE hands-on.Credit: Justin Duino / How-To Geek Published Aug 27, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer. Sign in to your How-To Geek account Samsung has a timely answer to soaring phone prices: a budget version of its latest flagship phones. As expected, the company has used its event to introduce a Galaxy S26 FE that is a mild upgrade over last year's S25 FE, but could be worth buying simply due to a relatively low price. The new model moves to a fresher, 3-nanometer Exynos 2500 chip (up from the 4nm Exynos 2400) that should be faster and more efficient. You'll also find an upgraded 12-megapixel selfie camera that captures more people in group shots, along with "advanced image processing" across cameras that include the familiar 50MP main sensor, 12MP ultrawide, and 8MP 3X telephoto. After that, most of the improvements come through software, including One UI 9 and features previously reserved for the regular S26 family. You now get the MyFanCam person tracking that debuted in Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 devices, and the S26's Super Steady video recording with a Horizontal Lock to keep footage level. You'll also find relevant updates to Circle to Search, Now Brief content, and Now Nudge suggestions. The 6.7-inch 120Hz display, 4,900mAh battery, and 45W wired charging (15W wireless) carry over from the S25 FE. All models will carry 8GB of RAM with either 128GB or 256GB of storage. There's no 512GB version at this time. Galaxy S26 FE price and release date It's more expensive, but still a good deal As with many phones released in 2026, the new model will cost more than its predecessor. Samsung will release the Galaxy S26 FE on September 4 (some carriers will have it a day early) for $700, or $50 more than the S25 FE it replaces. It will come in Blueberry, Graphite, and Pistachio color options. That makes the S26 FE a tougher sell in terms of pure hardware. you're paying more for advantages that can be imperceptible. It might be worth finding an S25 FE if you want comparable features at the best possible price. However, it also occupies sweet spots in both Samsung's lineup and the Android phone market at large. Your next step down is the $550 Galaxy A57 5G, with noticeably downgraded performance and cameras. Much of the competition is focused on the midrange (such as the $500 Google Pixel 10a) before jumping directly into increasingly pricey flagships The FE gives you the core of the Galaxy S26 experience for $200 less, with differences that might not matter if you aren't as interested in raw performance or photo quality. You and Samsung might appreciate that at a time when affordable tech is a major priority.