Updated

Updated · Android Police · Sep 16

Samsung Launches $700 Galaxy S26 FE With 8GB RAM and 40% Shorter Battery Lifespan

Updated

Updated · Android Police · Sep 16

Samsung Launches $700 Galaxy S26 FE With 8GB RAM and 40% Shorter Battery Lifespan

Q: Could the hidden battery downgrade and removal of wired DeX make the cheaper Galaxy S25 FE a much better buy today?

Yes. For many buyers, the Galaxy S25 FE now looks like the smarter purchase. The reason is not that the S26 FE is a bad phone. It brings a faster Exynos 2500 chip, somewhat better efficiency, and Samsung’s latest AI features out of the box. But the gains appear too small relative to what Samsung cut and the higher $700 starting price. The S25 FE can already be found around $500 to $550, often with the same 6.7-inch AMOLED display, nearly identical cameras, the same 4,900mAh battery size, 45W charging, IP68 protection, and the same seven-year support promise. The battery issue is especially important for long-term owners. The S26 FE is rated for 1,200 full charge cycles before falling below 80% capacity, versus 2,000 cycles on the S25 FE. Even if the newer model lasts longer on a single charge today, that certification suggests it may wear out faster over time. For a phone Samsung expects people to keep for years, that is a meaningful downgrade. The USB change is also more serious than it sounds. The S26 FE drops from USB 3.2 Gen 1 to USB 2.0, cutting transfer speeds and removing DisplayPort output. That means no wired DeX and no easy wired monitor connection. For anyone who uses DeX, moves large video files, or wants desktop-style flexibility, the S25 FE clearly has the advantage. Unless you specifically want the newer chip and a few exclusive software features, the S25 FE offers better value today.

3 articles · Updated · Android Police · Sep 16

$700 buys Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 FE, but the phone launches with 8GB RAM, a 4,900mAh battery rated for 1,200 cycles, a 1080p 6.7-inch display, an 8MP telephoto camera and USB 2.0.
8GB RAM is the sharpest compromise because Google’s published requirement for local Gemini Nano v3 features starts at 12GB, leaving some on-device AI functions unavailable or pushed to the cloud.
Battery durability also regresses: the S25 FE was rated for 2,000 full charge cycles before falling below 80% health, versus 1,200 on the S26 FE, even though Samsung cites 50 hours of use per charge, up from 42.5.
Other cuts hit daily use and value — the USB port drops from 5Gbps to 480Mbps and loses wired DeX, while the unchanged 8MP 3x telephoto is expected to struggle in low light.
That leaves the S26 FE facing awkward comparisons with the roughly $500 discounted S25 FE and Google’s $500 Pixel 10a, both of which undercut Samsung’s latest Fan Edition on price.