Samsung’s latest Fan Edition phone focuses on AI-powered features while retaining much of the hardware from the Galaxy S25 FE.
Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy S26 FE, with the company placing a stronger emphasis on artificial intelligence and software features rather than introducing major hardware changes.
The biggest hardware upgrade is believed to be the Exynos 2500 chipset, although Samsung did not explicitly mention the processor during the phone’s unveiling. Built using Samsung’s 3nm Gate All Around (GAA) process, the Exynos 2500 brings newer CPU cores, an upgraded AMD RDNA 3-based GPU and a more powerful NPU compared with the Exynos 2400 used in the Galaxy S25 FE.
The Galaxy S26 FE runs Android 17 with One UI 9 out of the box, making it the first model in the Galaxy S26 lineup to ship with the software. Samsung has also brought several AI features from its premium smartphones to the new Fan Edition device.
One of the highlights is My FanCam, which automatically tracks a person in a video by zooming in and keeping the subject centred in the frame. The feature works with videos already stored in the phone’s gallery.
The S26 FE also introduces Horizon Lock, which keeps recorded footage level even when the phone rotates while filming. Samsung has further improved its Nightography technology to deliver brighter and higher-quality videos in low-light conditions.
Another AI-powered tool is Photo Assist, which allows users to edit images using natural-language instructions. Users can ask the AI to change backgrounds, transform daytime scenes into nighttime images or add and remove objects.
One UI 9 also enhances Now Brief, allowing users to create personalised information cards using simple text commands. The feature can work across areas such as weather, health and video.
Beyond its AI features, the Galaxy S26 FE largely retains the hardware configuration of its predecessor. It features a 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED display with 1080p+ resolution and up to 1,900 nits brightness.
The phone also carries a 4,900mAh battery with 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. Its camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and a 12MP ultrawide camera. A 12MP sensor handles selfies.
Samsung is promising seven years of OS updates and security patches. The company is also bundling a six-month Google AI Pro trial worth $120, including 5TB of cloud storage.
The Galaxy S26 FE will go on sale from September 4 in Blueberry, Pistachio and Graphite colours. It will be available with 128GB and 256GB storage options, starting at $700, which is $50 more than the Galaxy S25 FE’s launch price. Some markets will also receive a 512GB model.