Samsung Galaxy S25 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S26

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

The 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel runs at 120Hz with 1,900 nits peak brightness, HDR10+ support, and 1080p (FHD+) resolution. Reviewers consistently call it the standout feature of the phone — practically indistinguishable from the S25+ in everyday viewing — though several note it falls short of the S25's 2,600 nits peak and is technically not an LTPO panel like the more expensive Galaxy S models. DxOMark singled out improved colour accuracy and viewing-angle uniformity versus the S24 FE.

• It's easy to see the screen in bright sunlight thanks to 1,900 nits of peak brightness, and with HDR10+ support it's great for watching YouTube and Netflix.
• With 1,900 nits, Samsung's Dynamic AMOLED panel and HDR10+, everything comes through with such vibrancy and contrast that you can't look away — like having a mini tablet on your person.
• Slimmer, more uniform bezels give the phone an improved screen-to-body ratio and a more premium look closer to the S25+.
• Peak brightness of 1,900 nits is lower than the flagship S25 models' 2,600 nits in HBM, which can hinder readability in strong sunlight.
• Peak brightness sits at 1,900 nits, which is a downgrade from the S25+'s 2,600 nits, but you can still use it under the sun — it'll just look a little dim.
• While Samsung hasn't officially labeled this as an LTPO panel, the display can drop as low as 1Hz when idle compared to 60Hz minimum on last year's model — a genuine improvement.
• The 120Hz refresh rate combined with the chipset's performance creates fast-paced, engaging gameplay, elevated by impressive stereo speakers with a surprisingly deep soundscape.

Samsung Galaxy S26

The 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (up 0.1" from the S25) hits 2,600 nits peak with a 1-120Hz LTPO refresh rate. Reviewers like the panel itself, but most flag that the new Privacy Display and Gorilla Armor 2 anti-reflective coating are Ultra-exclusive — frustrating at this price.

• 6.3-inch panel feels meaningfully larger than the S25's 6.2-inch without making the phone bigger overall — pixel density change is imperceptible
• Notebookcheck measured the panel as bright, uniform, and color-accurate — among the best in its class
• PhoneArena measured 2,425 nits at 20% APL — comfortably bright enough for outdoor use, though Pixel 10 Pro hits 2,921 nits
• 1-120Hz LTPO adapts smoothly; haptics are 'precise' and contribute to the premium feel
• Sustains peak brightness over longer periods better than the iPhone 17, which throttles brightness after a few minutes

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

The 4,900 mAh battery is the largest Samsung has put in any FE phone and matches the Galaxy S25+. Real-world endurance is consistently described as a solid full day with battery to spare — Trusted Reviews ended a heavy day at 22%, Dave2D measured 24 hours of HD YouTube playback, SuperSaf gets a day with no anxiety. Charging finally jumps to 45W wired (from 25W on the S24 FE) and 15W Qi2-Ready wireless — but real-world full-charge times of 69-74 minutes still trail the Nothing 3a Pro and other rivals in the price bracket.

• The S25 FE has the largest battery Samsung has ever put in an FE handset at 4,900 mAh (up from 4,700 mAh), with 45W charging giving 50% in 30 minutes.
• In our YouTube HD video battery drain test, the S25 FE manages a respectable 24 hours of constant playback at max brightness — only two hours under the S25 Ultra and 5 hours more than the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
• On a heavy day involving social, hotspotting, video, calls and gaming, the phone went from 9:25am to 10:40pm with 22% left in the tank.
• From dead I clawed back 67% in just 30 minutes and a full charge took 69 minutes — definitely not the fastest around, but handy in a rush.
• Plugged into a 130W charger the S25 FE took 1 hour 14 minutes to charge from 10% to full — only slightly faster than its predecessor despite the 45W spec.
• If battery life is important to you, the Nothing 3a Pro and Pixel 9a are better bets — both have bigger batteries and the Nothing gets 50W charging.
• There's 15W Qi2 wireless charging but no MagSafe-style magnets — you need a third-party case to align with magnetic accessories.
• Battery life is definitely better on the S25 FE than the S24 FE — it's a genuine full-day phone, though it won't stretch to two days.

Samsung Galaxy S26

The 4,300 mAh cell is up from 4,000 in the S25 — a real but modest gain. Charging is the biggest pain point: 25W wired (slowest of any 2026 flagship), 15W wireless, and no integrated Qi2 magnets. PhoneArena measured 1h 16m for a full charge — slower than the iPhone 17.

• 4,300 mAh battery — first capacity increase for the base Galaxy in years; 7-10% bump over the S25
• BGR tested Samsung's claim of 31 hours video playback at 200 nits — measured just over 30 hours, on target
• Engadget measured the Exynos S26 at 28 hours of looped video at 50% brightness — Snapdragon S26 hit 30 hours in the same test
• PhoneArena battery estimate of 6h 37m places the S26 at #102 of phones tested in the past 2 years — below the 7h 29m class average
• Charging speed unchanged at 25W — full charge takes ~76 minutes; the OnePlus 15 hits 100W and lasts two days per charge