Samsung Galaxy S25 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S26

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

Samsung

Good

Samsung Galaxy S26

Samsung

6.8

Pre-Release Hands-On

What Reviewers Agree On

Dynamic AMOLED display is excellent for the price — vibrant colors and smooth 120Hz
Galaxy AI features bring flagship-level intelligence to a more affordable price point
Camera system is capable in good lighting with a solid 50MP main sensor
Samsung's update commitment (6 years) adds long-term value
Design looks and feels premium despite the lower price point

Deal Breakers

Exynos 2400 performance lags noticeably behind Snapdragon 8 Elite competitors
Build quality concerns — phone scratches more easily than expected

Detailed Comparison

Design & Build

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

The S25 FE adopts the flat-edge design language of the S25 series, giving it a modern, premium look. However, build quality concerns have emerged, with the polycarbonate back and Gorilla Glass Victus scratching more easily than expected.

Flat-edge design mirrors the mainline S25 series — it looks like a flagship from the outside
IP68 water and dust resistance is a welcome inclusion at this price tier
The phone scratches surprisingly easily — several reviewers noted visible marks within days of use
At 6.7 inches, it's a large phone that may not suit those wanting a compact option

Samsung Galaxy S26

The S26 adopts more angular, Ultra-like corners for a unified family design. The Armor Aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 provide solid durability. At ~7.3mm and ~162g, it's pocketable and lightweight.

The unified design language across the S26 family gives even the base model a premium, Ultra-like aesthetic

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What Reviewers Agree On

The $100 price increase from $799 to $899 is the steepest relative increase in the lineup and hardest to justify
Same camera hardware since the Galaxy S23 makes three consecutive years without meaningful camera upgrades
One UI 8.5 AI features and software polish are the main selling points over the S25
The compact 6.3-inch form factor remains its key differentiator for one-handed use
Solid choice only for those upgrading from an S23 or older device

Deal Breakers

No Privacy Display — Ultra exclusive
25W wired and 15W wireless charging are unchanged and feel antiquated at $900
Return of Exynos outside the US after the S25 was Snapdragon worldwide

Display

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

The 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display is one of the S25 FE's strongest features. Samsung's display expertise shines here, delivering flagship-quality visuals at a mid-range price.

The FHD+ AMOLED display is vibrant, sharp, and smooth at 120Hz — hard to fault for $649
Peak brightness is sufficient for outdoor use, though not as high as the mainline S25 series
HDR content looks excellent — the display punches well above its price bracket for media consumption

Samsung Galaxy S26

The 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate carries over from the S25. It remains a sharp, vibrant panel for its compact size. No Privacy Display — that's Ultra-only.

The 6.3-inch compact form factor remains the S26's biggest strength — it's one of the few true compact flagships available in 2026
FHD+ resolution feels like a compromise at $900 — the S26+ and Ultra both get QHD+ panels

Camera System

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

The triple camera system with a 50MP main sensor produces good results in ideal conditions, but the processing and low-light performance don't match the mainline S25 series.

50MP main sensor captures pleasing photos in good light with accurate colors
Night mode results are noticeably softer and noisier than the S25's camera output
The 8MP telephoto offers 3x optical zoom which is useful but image quality drops off quickly
Video recording at 4K is available but stabilization isn't as smooth as flagship competitors

Samsung Galaxy S26

Identical camera hardware to the S25, S24, and S23: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, 12MP selfie. Software processing via One UI 8.5 may yield modest improvements, but the hardware stagnation is the most common criticism.

Three years of the same camera hardware at an ever-increasing price — Samsung needs to invest in the non-Ultra camera stack
Despite the stale hardware, Samsung's computational photography via AI ISP may still improve photo quality through software alone