The Galaxy S26 FE is expected in late September or early October 2026, roughly eight months after the main Galaxy S26 line launched at Unpacked in February. It is the cheap way into Samsung's flagship range, and the leaks so far point to an evolution rather than a rethink: a 6.7in 120Hz screen, the Exynos 2500, a 4,900mAh battery and a 50MP-led triple camera.
Last updated 25 July 2026. Samsung has confirmed nothing about this phone. The specifications below come from a Geekbench listing and supply-chain leaks, attributed in Sources. This is the thinnest-sourced page in our upcoming range, and we would rather say so than pad it out. Where two sources disagree, we say which one we trust and why.
When is the Galaxy S26 FE out?
Samsung has settled into a consistent rhythm with Fan Edition phones: they arrive about eight months after the flagship they are derived from. The Galaxy S25 FE went on sale on 4 September 2025, eight months after the S25 line. The S26 launched at Unpacked on 25 February 2026, which points to a late September or early October 2026 release. Leaks have landed on that same window.
What we expect it to cost
The FE line's pricing has been remarkably stable. The Galaxy S25 FE launched in the UK at £649 for 128GB, £699 for 256GB and £809 for 512GB, holding the same entry price as the S24 FE before it. Samsung has resisted raising FE prices even as flagship prices climbed, because the whole point of the range is to have something under £700 in the line-up.
We would expect £649 to £699 again, though this is the year memory costs are pushing prices up across the industry, so a modest rise would not be a surprise.
Expected specifications
| Specification | Expected | Source quality |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7in OLED, 120Hz | Supply chain, panel from CSOT |
| Chipset | Exynos 2500 | Geekbench listing |
| RAM | 8GB | Geekbench listing |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main, plus ultrawide and telephoto | Leak, detail unconfirmed |
| Battery | 4,900mAh | Leak |
| Charging | 45W wired | Leak |
| Software | Android 17, One UI 9 | Geekbench listing |
The Geekbench entry showing the Exynos 2500 recorded 2,426 single-core and 8,004 multi-core. For context, that is solid upper-mid-range performance rather than flagship: the point of an FE has always been that you get the flagship's screen, camera and software support at a lower price, and pay for it in raw silicon.
What it looks like
Two separate leaks have shown the design. In May a third-party case maker listed cases for the phone, and in June 9to5Google spotted a Wireless Power Consortium certification filing under model number SM-S741 that included a photograph of the actual hardware. The two agree: a raised camera plateau in the top-left corner holding three vertically stacked lenses with the flash sitting outside the housing, flat sides, and a flat display with a centred punch-hole. It is the standard Galaxy S26 design language applied to a cheaper phone.
The one point of comment is the plateau's placement, which sits closer to the top and side edges than on other 2026 Galaxy phones and looks slightly awkward as a result. Expect the usual raised-camera wobble on a flat table.
Case listings suggested violet, black, grey and white colourways. Treat that as the weakest claim on this page: accessory makers guess at colours to photograph their products, and retail colours routinely differ.
Will it support magnetic Qi2 accessories?
Probably not, and this is a good example of why the source matters more than the claim. The case renders showed magnetic rings, which was widely read as evidence of Qi2 magnets. The WPC certification filing - the actual regulatory document for the actual phone - lists Qi 2.2.1 support with no Magnetic Power Profile, meaning no magnets built into the phone. That matches the rest of the Galaxy S26 range, which is also magnet-free.
In practice: it should charge fine on a Qi2 pad, but MagSafe-style accessories will need a magnetic case rather than sticking to the phone itself. 9to5Google appended a clarification to its own article after readers drew the opposite conclusion, which tells you how easily this one gets misreported.
The case against buying one at launch
Fan Edition phones are the clearest example in the market of a phone worth buying second-hand-new rather than new. Our comparison currently tracks 1,861 Galaxy S25 FE deals, with the cheapest new SIM-free price at £440 and contracts from £27 a month with nothing upfront over 24 months.
That £440 is against a £649 launch price ten months ago, a fall of roughly a third. If the S26 FE follows the same curve, a buyer who wants an FE and is not in a hurry does far better waiting than pre-ordering. And when the S26 FE does arrive, the S25 FE will fall again.
The honest advice for most people looking at this phone: unless you specifically need the newest software support window, buy the outgoing FE a few weeks after the new one lands. You get seven years of Samsung updates either way.
What we still do not know
- The exact date. Estimates disagree: 9to5Google expects August or September, other outlets say October, and Samsung has confirmed nothing. Our October placeholder follows the eight-month FE cadence rather than any leaked date.
- UK pricing. Nothing has leaked. The £649 to £699 range is extrapolated from the last two generations.
- The chipset for certain. A single Geekbench listing is thin evidence. Samsung has switched silicon between regions on FE models before.
- The camera specifics. Only the 50MP main sensor has been described with any confidence.
- Final colours. The violet, black, grey and white shades come from case listings, which is guesswork by accessory makers rather than a leak from Samsung.
We will update this page as it firms up. In the meantime, see everything else heading for a UK release on our upcoming phones page, or compare current prices across the range on Samsung phone deals.
Sources
- Chipset, RAM, Android version and Geekbench scores: Android Headlines; SamMobile.
- Display, battery and charging: MobilityArena; tech-ish.
- Release window: SammyGuru Samsung 2026 roadmap.
- Design, case listings and colour options: SammyGuru, 25 May 2026.
- WPC certification (model SM-S741), hands-on photograph, and Qi 2.2.1 without Magnetic Power Profile: 9to5Google, 6 June 2026.
- Galaxy S25 FE UK launch pricing: SamMobile, September 2025.
- Current Galaxy S25 FE deal prices: MyMobiles live deal data, 25 July 2026.