Samsung Galaxy S26 FE review: An upgrade in name only
Design & Build
Aluminium frame, glass back
193g
IP68 rated
As mentioned in the introduction, the S26 FE doesn’t give us many surprises in the design department. It’s a very similar size and shape to its predecessor, with a flat front and rear, squared-off edges, and curvy corners. It’s almost identical to the Galaxy S26+, too.
Luke Baker
You get the usual traffic-light style camera arrangement that’s shared by almost all Samsung phones, only this time they’re on a little raised bump, more similar to the S26 and S26 Ultra. This version has a transparent-frosted finish, and the lenses don’t protrude from it at all, so there are minor differences if you’re looking closely.
I could use the S26 FE all day long without any fatigue.
The rear is made from Gorilla Glass Victus+, with a glossy finish that looks lovely, but it’s a bit of a smudge magnet (especially on the darker coloured models). The phone is available in three new colours: Graphite, Blueberry, and Pistachio. Each has a contrasting matte aluminium frame.
Luke Baker
I have the Pistachio model in for testing, and it’s my favourite of the three, although they all have their charms. There are no Samsung store-exclusive options for this launch; all colours should be available wherever you choose to buy your phones.
It’s quite a sizable handset, but it’s fairly slim and not too weighty, so most users should get along with it just fine. You may not be able to reach the top of the screen easily, but I could use the S26 FE all day long without any fatigue.
Luke Baker
Otherwise, there’s not a lot to report. The phone is still IP68-rated, and there’s still no case or screen protector included in the box.