Samsung’s news Galaxy S26 FE costs more, but changes very little
Key takeaways
- Samsung has finally unveiled the Galaxy S26 FE, which goes on sale in Australia on 4 September 2026 in Blueberry, Graphite and Pistachio.
- It's the first phone in the Galaxy S26 line-up to launch with Samsung's latest software, paired with a faster new processor.
- Prices start at $1,149 and run to $1,599, which is $50 to $200 more than last year depending on the storage.
- You can save up to $800 on the S25 FE right now. We've got all the details further down the story.
There's not a lot separating the new Galaxy S26 FE from last year's model, aside from a faster processor, Samsung's latest software and a slight upgrade to the selfie camera.
Here's a detailed rundown of everything you need to know.
Galaxy S26 FE price and release date in Australia
The Galaxy S26 FE goes on sale in Australia on 4 September in three colours: Blueberry, Graphite and Pistachio.
We've compared the new prices with last year's models, and as you can see, every storage tier costs more, with increases ranging from $50 to $200.
| Storage | Samsung Galaxy S26 FE | Samsung Galaxy S25 FE | Price bump |
|---|---|---|---|
| 128GB | $1,149 | $1,099 | $50 |
| 256GB | $1,299 | $1,199 | $100 |
| 512GB | $1,599 | $1,399 | $200 |
What's new with Samsung's Galaxy S26 FE?
The S26 FE runs on Samsung's new Exynos 2500 chip, which is designed to give you better performance without draining the battery as quickly.
It's also the first phone in the Galaxy S26 family to launch with One UI 9, Samsung's latest software, based on Android 17.
With it, you'll get Samsung's latest Galaxy AI features, including a more customisable Now Brief and an upgraded Circle to Search that can identify and search for multiple things in the same image.
Beyond the chip, software and camera upgrades, there isn't a huge amount that has changed from last year's model.
The rear cameras are the same as last year: a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide and an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom.
The 12MP front camera now captures a wider field of view than the S25 FE, so it's easier to fit a group into a selfie.
Here's a quick roundup of the rest of the specs:
- 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, 120Hz refresh rate, up to 1,900 nits
- Exynos 2500 processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of storage
- 4,900mAh battery with 45W wired and 15W wireless charging
- Android 17 with One UI 9, plus up to seven OS upgrades and seven years of security updates
- IP68 water and dust resistance, 5G, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4
- 161.1 x 76.9 x 7.4mm, 193g
Save up to $800 on Samsung's Galaxy S25 FE
Since not much has changed, you could get the Galaxy S25 FE instead.
Right now Optus is offering up to $600 off, plus you can get a $200 digital Visa gift card when you sign up through Finder.
After clicking the 'GO TO SITE' button in the table below, you can adjust your repayment term and SIM plan to suit.
Sources
Ask a question