Samsung Galaxy S26 FE: 6 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Buy

After the recent launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8, Samsung has announced its premium mid-ranger, the Galaxy S26 FE. The Fan Edition joins the existing Galaxy S26 lineup, bringing the same Galaxy AI features and hardware to a more affordable price point. Compared to last year’s S25 FE, though, it isn’t much of an upgrade. Here are six reasons you shouldn’t buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE.

6 Reasons To Skip The New Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE shares a lot of specifications with last year’s Galaxy S25 FE and there are barely any upgrades. So if you are thinking of getting one, here are six reasons that might change your mind:

1. 8GB of RAM Means No Gemini Intelligence Support

The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE comes in a single 8GB RAM configuration. That’s no surprise given the ongoing chip shortage, but it also means the phone misses out on Gemini Intelligence support. According to a Forbes report, Google’s suite of AI tools requires at least 12GB of RAM, a threshold the S26 FE doesn’t meet. For those unfamiliar, Gemini Intelligence isn’t just another chatbot. It’s a true agentic AI that can book a restaurant table, search your files, and add items from a notes app straight into a shopping cart. This is one major reason why you shouldn’t buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE if you are looking for new AI features.

2. Same Design And Display As S25 FE

The Galaxy S26 FE keeps the same design as its predecessor. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but there’s nothing new to set it apart visually. You get three color options, though they’re more or less the same choices as last year. The display hasn’t changed either: a 6.7-inch Full HD+ OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, identical to the S25 FE. Samsung could have at least thrown in LTPO support, a feature that has been prominently missing since the Galaxy S20 FE

3. Same Battery And Charging Speed As S25 FE

Another reason to not buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is the 4,900mAh battery, which is the same as it’s predecessor. Silicon Carbon is pretty common these days and you can even find it phones like the Realme P4 Power and the iQOO Z11.These phones are nearly half the price of the S26 FE so Samsung doesn’t have an excuse here. The charge cycle rating has actually gone down: the S25 FE was rated for 2,000 charge cycles, while the S26 FE is rated for only 1,200 before battery health drops below 80 percent. Charging speed remains capped at 45W too, and just like every other Samsung flagship, you won’t find a charger in the box.

4. Same Camera Hardware As S25 FE

The Galaxy S26 FE carries over the same sensors as last year’s model: a 50MP primary camera, an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens, plus the same 12MP selfie camera. While the chip shortage has affected prices for RAM and storage, the prices for camera sensor haven’t gone up. And if Samsung’s excuse is cost cutting then well we are getting only 8GB of RAM across all variants. Instead of upgrading the hardware, Samsung has focused on new software features in the camera app:

• MyFanCam: It tracks the subject to keep it in the frame and you can also track a particular subject in case there are multiple people in the frame.
• Audio Eraser: It can remove background noise from your videos such as people talking.
• Horizontal Lock: Last but not least, you get Horizontal Lock which ensures that your video frame stays the same as you move around.

5. Exynos 2500 Isn’t The Fastest Around

The most notable upgrade on the Galaxy S26 FE is its new Exynos 2500 chipset, built on a 3nm process. For context, it’s the same chipset found in last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 7. But don’t expect a massive leap in performance as the Exynos 2500 is slower than the even last year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite. And if Samsung was serious about performance, it should have brought the Exynos 2600 found in the Galaxy S26 series instead.

Here’s a comparison of benchmarks for your reference:

6. More Expensive Than Last Year’s Model

The Galaxy S26 FE costs more than its predecessor, and every configuration still comes with just 8GB of RAM. Storage options remain 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.

Note: We will update this article when the Indian pricing of the phone is announced.

Final Thoughts On Why You Shouldn’t Buy Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

The Galaxy S26 FE seems built for hardcore Samsung fans and loyalists. Given the price hike, you’re better off with the base Galaxy S26 or last year’s Galaxy S25 FE, both of which offer better value for money. The base S26 in particular brings a faster processor, better cameras, more RAM, and Gemini Intelligence support.

At its current price, the S26 FE is hard to recommend, especially with 8GB of RAM that isn’t adequate by 2026 standards. The FE series is also known for getting steep discounts during sales, so if you’re genuinely interested, it might be worth waiting for a Big Billion Days or Diwali sale.