Samsung Launches $699 Galaxy S26 FE as Exynos 2500 Throttles by Nearly Half
Updated
Updated · MUO - MakeUseOf · Sep 11
Samsung Launches $699 Galaxy S26 FE as Exynos 2500 Throttles by Nearly Half
3 articles · Updated · MUO - MakeUseOf · Sep 11
Summary
$699.99 Galaxy S26 FE is now on sale in the U.S., positioning itself as a solid midrange Samsung phone despite a key weakness in sustained performance.
3DMark testing showed the Exynos 2500 dropping from 2,537 to 1,328 under load—a 52.4% stability rating—as the phone heated up and frame rates fell during a 20-minute gaming session.
6.7-inch AMOLED, 50MP triple cameras, IP68 protection and Samsung's seven-year Android and security update pledge help offset the chip issue for everyday users.
One UI 9 on Android 17 adds Galaxy AI features such as Now Brief, Now Nudge and multi-object Circle to Search, while the 4,900mAh battery lasted a full day and charged from 64% to 100% in 41 minutes.
Compared with last year's model, the S26 FE changes little in hardware while costing more, making it a dependable daily driver but a weaker pick for gamers or power users.