Samsung‘s next Fan Edition phone is slowly coming into focus. The Galaxy S26 FE with model number SM-S741 has passed WPC (Wireless Power Consortium) certification, which also gives us our first look at the device. 

In terms of design, the phone looks a lot like the standard Galaxy S26 that launched earlier this year. It follows Samsung’s 2026 design language, featuring a flat body frame and a protruding rear camera module. 

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about this device. The Galaxy S26 FE had previously appeared on Geekbench, where it posted a single-core score of 2,426 and a multi-core score of 8,004 in version 6.2.2, running on an Exynos 2500 chip with 8GB of RAM. 

We covered that Geekbench listing back in April, and the WPC certification now adds more weight to those earlier findings. We also got a first look at the phone’s renders a couple of weeks ago, which showed a design closely mirroring the standard S26.

Galaxy S26 FE could be more expensive than its predecessor

On the cost side, Samsung is reportedly making some strategic decisions. As memory prices are sky-high, Samsung is reportedly planning to use CSOT panels for the Galaxy S26 FE to keep costs in check and maintain competitive pricing for the series.

For context, the previous-generation Galaxy S25 FE launched in September 2025, powered by the Exynos 2400 chip, with 8 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of storage. You can read our full Galaxy S25 FE coverage here. The S26 FE steps up to the newer Exynos 2500, the same chip Samsung used in the Galaxy Z Flip7.

Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed any further details yet, but with certifications and benchmark listings already out in the open, a launch later this year seems very likely. Current rumors point to an October 2026 release window. We’ll keep you updated as more details surface.

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Even though the Galaxy S26 FE is still months away from launch, accessory makers have apparently already started preparing cases for it. As a result, early renders based on those case molds are now giving us a fairly decent look at the device from different angles.

At first glance, the Galaxy S26 FE looks very similar to the regular Galaxy S26 that launched earlier this year. The phone appears to use flat sides, slim display bezels, and Samsung’s familiar vertically aligned triple-camera setup on the back.

The rear camera module still protrudes quite a bit from the body, with the flash sitting separately beside the lenses instead of inside the camera island itself. It is a design Samsung has been sticking with lately.

On the front, the renders show a centered punch-hole selfie camera and what is expected to be a flat AMOLED display. The power and volume buttons remain positioned on the right side of the frame.

One interesting detail coming from the case renders is the appearance of a magnetic ring design, which points toward Qi2 wireless charging support. While the 2027 Galaxy S27 series is rumored to finally include built-in magnets, the upcoming FE model still appears to rely on magnetic cases, much like the rest of the S26 lineup.

The Galaxy S26 FE has already surfaced in several databases over the past few weeks, including GSMA IMEI listings and benchmark platforms, suggesting Samsung is actively testing the device ahead of launch.

Current rumors point to an October 2026 release, with the device expected to use Samsung’s Exynos 2500 chipset alongside upgraded battery life and solid overall cameras. As usual, the FE model will likely focus on offering a balanced flagship-like experience without fully flagship pricing.

There is still plenty we do not know yet, but based on these early renders, Samsung does not seem interested in dramatically changing the FE formula this year. Instead, the company appears to be refining the existing design while bringing a few newer features down from the flagship lineup.

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Samsung’s next Fan Edition phone may still be months away, but early signs suggest development is already moving forward behind the scenes. A firmware build believed to belong to the Galaxy S26 FE has now appeared on Samsung’s internal OTA servers for the first time. The software carries build numbers like S741NKSU0AZE5 and related regional variants, which tipsters say strongly indicates active internal testing has started.

For Samsung devices, firmware surfacing this early is usually one of the clearer signs that a product is progressing toward release, even if the final hardware is not completely locked in yet.

The Galaxy S26 FE is expected to succeed the Galaxy S25 FE, which launched late last year as Samsung’s more affordable flagship-style option. Over the years, the FE lineup has built a fairly loyal following by offering many of the core Galaxy S features without climbing fully into Ultra-level pricing territory.

Earlier leaks already hinted that Samsung could use the Exynos 2500 chip inside the S26 FE, the same 3nm processor reportedly powering some newer foldables and regional Galaxy variants. Geekbench listings spotted last month also pointed toward Android 17 and 8GB RAM.

At this stage, though, most of the hardware details are still unclear. Samsung tends to launch its FE phones around September or October, so the timeline here lines up fairly closely with the company’s usual release cycle. The appearance of test firmware months ahead of launch is pretty normal for Samsung devices, especially when major One UI updates are involved.

The software itself will likely ship with One UI 9 based on Android 17, which could bring several AI and ecosystem-focused improvements by the time the phone officially launches.

One thing that will probably matter quite a bit this year is pricing. The Fan Edition lineup exists largely because many users want flagship-level displays, cameras, and long-term software support without paying full Galaxy S Ultra prices. Maintaining that balance becomes harder as chipset and memory costs continue increasing across the industry.

Still, FE devices have historically been some of Samsung’s more sensible flagship alternatives, especially for users who care more about overall experience than having the absolute newest hardware in every category.

(Source: @tarunvats33)

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A few weeks ago, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S26 trio, which includes the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. At present, there is no clarity on whether there will be a successor to the Galaxy S25 Edge this year, but it appears that the brand could be working on the Galaxy S26 FE. The said device has seemingly appeared on the Geekbench benchmarking platform, hinting at its development.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Geekbench listing

A device believed to be the Galaxy S26 FE, carrying the model number SM-S741, has appeared on Geekbench. The listing indicates a deca-core processor configuration with clock speeds reaching up to 3.30GHz, supported by multiple performance and efficiency cores. Details from the source code also point towards the presence of the Xclipse 950 GPU, suggesting that the phone could be powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2500 chipset.

The benchmark entry further reveals that the device is running Android 17 and is paired with around 8GB of RAM. In terms of scores, it has recorded a single-core result of 2,426 and a multi-core score of 8,004, showing a noticeable improvement over the previous generation, especially in multi-core performance.

The appearance of Android 17 on the test unit suggests that the Galaxy S26 FE could be among the early devices to launch with the next version of Android out of the box. At the same time, the use of the Exynos 2500 aligns with Samsung’s approach of positioning the FE model slightly below its flagship counterparts in terms of raw performance.

Earlier expectations hinted at a possible shift to a newer chipset, but this listing indicates that Samsung may continue with a more balanced hardware strategy. It is also worth noting that benchmark results can vary depending on software versions, and this test was conducted on an older Geekbench build, which may influence the scores.

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