Samsung to launch Galaxy S26 FE at around 200,000 won less than flagship

An AI-generated image of a person holding the Galaxy S25 FE. Samsung Electronics plans to officially unveil the successor model, the Galaxy S26 FE, this month. [Created with ChatGPT AI]

A premium phone for 200,000 won ($143) less?

Samsung Electronics is set to release the Galaxy S26 FE, a more affordable variant of its flagship Galaxy S26 lineup.

Given that the previous FE model launched at roughly 209,000 won below the base model's price, the new device is expected to carry a similarly reduced price tag.

Smartphone prices have risen sharply around the world due to higher component costs, making a new model that offers premium-tier features at a relatively lower price an appealing alternative for consumers.

The Samsung Electronics Galaxy S25 FE, released last year. Samsung plans to hold a new product launch event on Aug. 27 to unveil the successor model, the Galaxy S26 FE. [Provided by Samsung Electronics]

Samsung Electronics announced Thursday through its Newsroom that it will hold a "Samsung Galaxy Event" at 9 p.m. on Aug. 27 to unveil a new addition to the Galaxy S26 series.

Although Samsung has not officially disclosed the product name, the device to be revealed at the event is expected to be the Galaxy S26 FE.

The FE model retains the premium features of the S series while adjusting certain specifications to bring down the price.

As with previous releases, price is the most closely watched aspect of the new model. The Galaxy S25 FE launched at 946,000 won — 209,000 won less than the Galaxy S25 base model, priced at 1.155 million won. The Galaxy S24 FE was similarly priced at 946,000 won, also 209,000 won below the S24.

Based on this pattern, the Galaxy S26 FE is expected to come in around 200,000 won below the S26 base model. However, given that the S26's launch price stands at 1.254 million won due to rising component costs, the FE variant is projected to land just above or around 1 million won — somewhat higher than its predecessor.

Samsung Electronics' new Galaxy S26 series. [Photo by Lee Sang-seop]

The S26 FE is expected to carry over the key features of the S26. According to leaked specifications circulated so far, the device will feature a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz.

The mobile application processor is expected to be Samsung's Exynos 2500, paired with 8GB of RAM and storage options of 128GB and 256GB.

The rear camera system is expected to include a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera. The battery capacity is 4,900mAh, on par with the previous model. The device is set to launch in three colors: Mint, Blueberry and Graphite.

A teaser image released by Samsung Electronics for the upcoming event. [Provided by Samsung Electronics]

Enhanced AI capabilities are also anticipated. The invitation teaser image Samsung released Thursday shows a mug of iced drinks shaped like the Galaxy AI logo in place of a camera lens — a hint that AI features will be a key selling point of the FE model as well.

sjpark@heraldcorp.com