Samsung’s Fan Edition lineup has traditionally offered a way to access flagship-inspired features without paying flagship-series prices. With the Galaxy S26 FE, Samsung has taken that formula a step further, introducing a newer processor, expanded Galaxy AI capabilities and a refreshed design.
The Galaxy S25 FE remains a capable smartphone, but the S26 FE brings several meaningful changes that could make the upgrade attractive to certain users.
A fresh look
The Galaxy S25 FE arrived with a more understated matte finish, while the S26 FE introduces a glossier design and new colour options, including Pistachio and Blueberry.
Both models feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ and IP68-rated protection against dust and water, giving them a similar level of durability. The biggest difference here is therefore more about styling than a fundamental change in protection.
A new generation of performance
The biggest hardware change comes under the hood.
The Galaxy S25 FE uses Samsung’s Exynos 2400 processor, while the S26 FE moves to the newer 3nm Exynos 2500 platform.
The newer chip is designed to improve processing performance, graphics and AI-related workloads. For users who multitask heavily, play demanding games or regularly edit photos and videos, this could translate into a smoother overall experience.
The more important change, however, is how that additional processing power works with Samsung’s expanding AI ecosystem.
Galaxy AI takes a bigger role
The S25 FE introduced features such as Generative Edit and Circle to Search. The S26 FE builds on that foundation with newer tools including My FanCam, Now Nudge and enhanced AI-powered experiences.
The S26 FE also launches with Android 17 and One UI 9, giving it a newer software foundation from day one.
Samsung is also offering buyers a six-month trial of Google AI Pro, adding access to Google’s premium AI tools.
Similar cameras, smarter photography
At first glance, the camera hardware looks familiar.
Both phones feature a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide camera and 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom.
The difference is in how Samsung is using software and processing to improve the experience.
On the S26 FE, features such as My FanCam can automatically keep subjects centred during video recording, while Super Steady with Horizontal Lock is designed to produce more stable footage when shooting while moving.
For people who use their phones heavily for social media, travel and content creation, these software-driven improvements could be more noticeable than simply increasing camera megapixels.
Battery capacity stays the same
Both devices pack a 4,900mAh battery and support 45W fast charging.
That means Samsung has not increased battery capacity with the S26 FE. Instead, the newer processor and software optimisation are expected to contribute to efficiency improvements.
For existing S25 FE owners, this is therefore more of an optimisation upgrade than a major battery-capacity jump.
So, should S25 FE owners upgrade?
For someone already using the Galaxy S25 FE, the decision comes down largely to how they use their phone.
The S25 FE remains capable for everyday tasks, photography, social media and gaming. The S26 FE becomes more compelling for users who want the latest processor, newer Galaxy AI features, One UI 9, enhanced video tools and Samsung’s latest software experience.
For someone upgrading from an older Fan Edition model — or entering the Galaxy S ecosystem for the first time — the S26 FE represents a more substantial step forward.
Ultimately, the S26 FE is less about completely reinventing the Fan Edition formula and more about refining it: newer silicon, smarter software, improved AI capabilities and a fresh design, while retaining the familiar display, camera configuration and battery capacity that made the FE range popular.
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