Samsung Galaxy S25 FE vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

Samsung

Good

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Samsung

8.2

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 Ultra

The S26 Ultra is the thinnest (7.9mm) and lightest (214g) Ultra ever, ditching the titanium frame in favor of Armor Aluminum. Rounder corners improve the hand feel significantly. Gorilla Glass Armor 2 protects the display. The design change from titanium to aluminum is divisive — some see it as a downgrade, others say it doesn't matter in real use.

At 7.9mm thin and 214g, this is the thinnest and lightest Galaxy Ultra ever — noticeably more comfortable to hold than the S25 Ultra

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What Reviewers Agree On

Privacy Display is a genuinely innovative, first-of-its-kind feature that reviewers universally praised
The wider f/1.4 aperture on the 200MP main camera is a meaningful upgrade over the S25 Ultra's f/1.7
Thinner (7.9mm) and lighter (214g) design is a welcome improvement for an Ultra-class phone
60W wired and 25W wireless charging are long-overdue upgrades
Keeping the $1,299 price flat while adding features makes it relatively more compelling than the S26 and S26+

Deal Breakers

PWM dimming concerns remain unaddressed — flicker-sensitive users should wait for detailed measurements
No free storage upgrade for pre-orders, unlike previous years

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 Ultra

Samsung has upgraded the main camera to a wider f/1.4 aperture (from f/1.7), claiming 47% more light intake. The 50MP 5x periscope telephoto also gets a wider f/2.9 aperture for 37% more light. Samsung's new APV codec enables visually lossless professional video. Early sample images look promising, but real-world camera performance awaits full reviews.

The 200MP main sensor now has an f/1.4 aperture — the widest on any Samsung flagship, capturing 47% more light than the S25 Ultra
The 50MP 5x periscope telephoto gets a wider f/2.9 aperture, which should significantly improve low-light zoom performance
New APV codec enables visually lossless professional-grade video — a first for any Galaxy device, aimed at content creators
The 12MP ultrawide and 10MP 3x telephoto are unchanged — Samsung continues to save its best camera hardware for the main and periscope lenses only