Galaxy S26 FE: A Lacklustre Successor to the S25 FE

The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE was a game-changer in the mid-range phone market, offering a perfect balance between price and premium hardware. However, the recent leaks of the Galaxy S26 FE have left many fans disappointed. The new phone is expected to feature a new chipset, the Exynos 2500, which offers a 15% boost in single-core performance.

While this upgrade is significant, it may not make a noticeable difference in everyday performance. The phone’s design has also been leaked, showing a vertical bump and a camera module that looks plain weird. The back of the handset appears to have been squeezed into the top-left corner, making it look like a worse-looking version of the S26+.

The Galaxy S26 FE is also rumoured to ditch Samsung’s own OLED displays in favour of emerging screens from Chinese company CSOT. This cost-cutting measure may lead to a less vivid display experience, with inferior peak brightness and punchy HDR. The colour accuracy, contrast, and motion clarity may be similar, but this downgrade is still a concern.

The principle of downgrades on a newer phone is what really rankles, especially if Samsung doesn’t plan on reducing the starting price. The S25 FE remains the best mid-range phone on the market, with a flagship-quality build, impressive core cameras, and solid battery life. Unless you want to game on your phone, the S25 FE is still the best option.

With the S26 FE likely to launch around August or September, now is not the time to wait. The S25 FE is already available with a useful discount, making it an even better value for money. Samsung needs to step up its game or just skip a year, as the S26 FE offers just one hardware upgrade and makes compromises in other areas.

The global RAM shortage is squeezing all tech companies, but Samsung needs to prioritize its customers. The S25 FE is still the best mid-range phone, and the S26 FE leaks have only reinforced this fact. Unless Samsung makes significant changes, the S26 FE should not come to market.

In conclusion, the Galaxy S26 FE leaks have been disappointing, to say the least. The phone’s design, display, and lack of significant upgrades make it a lacklustre successor to the S25 FE. UK users should consider the S25 FE instead, which offers superb value for money and remains the best mid-range phone on the market.