Samsung Unveils Galaxy S26 FE With One UI 9 and Exynos 2500
Samsung Electronics has introduced the Galaxy S26 FE, the entry point into the Galaxy S26 family and the first phone in the line to ship with One UI 9 on top of Android 17. Compared with last year's Galaxy S25 FE, the new model brings a reworked camera system, a broader set of context-aware Galaxy AI features and a larger battery, while the Exynos 2500 chip handles the processing.
"Galaxy S26 FE is purposefully designed to deliver the signature strengths of the Galaxy S series, ensuring that every feature makes a meaningful difference in users' daily lives. Packed with beloved Galaxy camera and AI experiences, backed by the latest One UI 9, Galaxy S26 FE comes to life as an ideal choice for those who know exactly what matters most to them," said Jay Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Office, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics.
Cameras and Image Processing
The rear camera setup remains a triple one, but this time Samsung focused on the telephoto module: an 8 MP sensor supports 3x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom, so shooting distant subjects no longer comes down to cropping. The main 50 MP module has optical stabilization, while the front camera has grown to 12 MP and covers a wider frame, which matters most for group selfies. Nightography handles low-light shots, and video recording relies on Super Steady with Horizontal Lock.
My FanCam, which debuted on the latest Galaxy foldables, automatically tracks a selected person and keeps them centered, reframing the video as the scene moves. That cuts down on manual editing afterwards.
Photo Assist edits existing shots through natural language prompts: it can turn day into night, add new elements or restore missing parts. Every edit can be reviewed step by step, revised or undone.
One UI 9 and Galaxy AI Features
The Galaxy S26 FE is the first device in the S26 series to run One UI 9 out of the box. The interface leans on scenarios that adapt to the user's routine and take over part of the daily busywork.
The updated Now Brief is now customizable: users can pick briefing cards such as weather or wellness insights, and create their own with a simple prompt.
Now Nudge suggestions have been extended to select third-party apps and notifications, so prompts show up more often throughout the day. Google's Circle to Search can now identify several items in an image in a single search. Samsung also lists support for Gemini Omni, which assembles finished clips from photos and videos already in the Gallery, though the feature requires a Google AI Pro subscription.
Display, Battery and Charging
The phone uses a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with FHD+ resolution, a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and peak brightness of 1,900 nits. Battery capacity stands at 4,900 mAh, yet the body keeps a thickness of 7.4 mm and a weight of 193 g. Wired charging at 45 W restores up to 69% in around 30 minutes, although the adapter is sold separately. There is also 15 W wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare for topping up earbuds or a watch.
Data Transfer and Support Period
The upgraded Smart Switch moves data from Android or iOS wirelessly and without extra apps: scanning a QR code transfers passwords, passkeys, call history, accessibility settings and eSIM data. Moving from an iPhone requires iOS 26.6 on the old device and Android 17 with One UI 9 on the new one.
Samsung promises seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates from the global launch date, matching the support offered on higher-end models in the series. Buyers also get a six-month Google AI Pro trial with 5 TB of cloud storage, which costs $19.99 per month once the trial ends. Samsung Care+ can be managed from a new settings hub introduced in One UI 9.
The Galaxy S26 FE goes on sale on Sept. 4 in select markets, while some US carriers start selling it on Sept. 3. In the United States the phone costs $699.99 for the 8/128 GB version and $799 for 8/256 GB, and the 512 GB configuration is not offered there.
Specifications
- Display: 6.7" FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 60/120 Hz, up to 1,900 nits
- Processor: Exynos 2500 (3 nm)
- Memory and storage: 8+128 GB, 8+256 GB, 8+512 GB
- Rear camera: 50 MP wide (f/1.8, OIS), 12 MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), 8 MP telephoto (f/2.4, OIS, 3x optical zoom)
- Front camera: 12 MP (f/2.2)
- Battery: 4,900 mAh
- Charging: 45 W wired, 15 W wireless, Wireless PowerShare
- OS: Android 17, One UI 9
- Connectivity: 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.4
- Dimensions and weight: 161.6 x 76.9 x 7.4 mm, 193 g
- Water and dust resistance: IP68
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