Galaxy S26 FE Leaks in Hands-On Video, and There Are Few Surprises

Samsung hasn't announced the Galaxy S26 FE yet, but at this point there isn't much left to reveal. A new 32-second hands-on video shows the phone in the real world, giving us a good look at its design and software. It also confirms several details we have seen in earlier leaks, including One UI 9 and some familiar Galaxy AI features.

The leaked video shows the Galaxy S26 FE in a black finish, with a design that follows the rest of Samsung's current lineup. The phone has flat sides, rounded corners and a vertical camera island on the back. We have already seen this design in earlier renders, so there are no big surprises here.

The video also gives us a quick look at the software. The Galaxy S26 FE is running One UI 9 based on Android 17, which is exactly what we expected. Galaxy AI is here too, with Photo Assist and Document Scan shown during the video. Samsung's Horizon Lock feature also appears in the camera app.

To be honest, the phone looks exactly like I expected it to. Samsung isn't trying to reinvent the FE series this year. Instead, the company seems happy to bring the Galaxy S26 design and software experience to a cheaper device.

The video doesn't reveal the full spec sheet, but earlier leaks have already filled in most of the gaps. The Galaxy S26 FE is expected to use a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while Samsung's Exynos 2500 should handle performance.

The phone is also tipped to come with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. On the back, we're expecting a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide and an 8MP telephoto camera. A 12MP selfie camera should sit on the front.

Here's the thing, though. Those specs don't sound much different from what Samsung offered last year. The Exynos 2500 is the main upgrade, but the rest of the hardware looks more like a careful refresh than a new generation.

At least Samsung may improve the battery. Previous reports point to a 4,900mAh cell with 45W wired charging, which would be a small step up from the Galaxy S25 FE. IP68 water and dust resistance is also expected.

Samsung has already confirmed that the Galaxy S26 FE is coming later this year, and current reports point to a launch around IFA 2026 in September.

I don't think there is anything wrong with Samsung playing it safe here. The FE series has always been about bringing some flagship features down to a lower price. But that last part matters.

Leaks suggest the Galaxy S26 FE could start at around €799, which would make it more expensive than its predecessor. If that price turns out to be correct, Samsung may have a harder time selling what looks like a modest upgrade.

The Galaxy S26 FE looks like a good phone. I'm just not sure it looks like a €799 one.