Samsung’s Galaxy S26 FE improves on the Galaxy S25 FE in two meaningful areas: performance and battery endurance. However, the newer phone keeps almost all of its predecessor’s hardware, while removing wired DeX and DisplayPort video output. That makes the choice less straightforward than the model numbers suggest.

The price difference is also important. The comparison places the S26 FE roughly €50 above the S25 FE in Europe and about $100 higher in the United States. At that premium, the newer model makes more sense for buyers who prioritize efficiency and longer software support. The S25 FE remains compelling for shoppers focused on value or wired desktop connectivity.

Nearly identical design and display

The Galaxy S26 FE and S25 FE share virtually the same physical design. Both use Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back, along with Samsung’s Enhanced Armor Aluminum frame. The S26 FE is only slightly taller and wider, and weighs three grams more—differences that are unlikely to matter in everyday use.

Samsung changed the available colors rather than the construction. The S26 FE comes in Blueberry, Graphite and Pistachio, while the S25 FE is offered in Icyblue, Jetblack, Navy and White.

Both phones also use the same 6.7-inch OLED display. Testing found no meaningful difference in the panel or brightness, so the S26 FE does not offer a screen upgrade.

Exynos 2500 gives the S26 FE a performance lead

The biggest hardware change is the processor. The S26 FE uses Samsung’s Exynos 2500, while the S25 FE runs on the older Exynos 2400. Benchmark testing puts the newer phone about 16% ahead in CPU workloads and nearly 25% ahead in the 3DMark Wild Life graphics test. It also maintained stronger performance during sustained CPU and GPU stress tests.

That advantage should be most noticeable in demanding games and heavier workloads. For routine tasks, the two phones are likely to feel broadly similar. Both offer 8GB of RAM and storage options of 128GB, 256GB and 512GB.

The newer processor also helps the S26 FE last longer. Its stronger results in web browsing and video streaming tests account for the endurance improvement, despite both phones retaining the same battery capacity and display.

Charging, cameras and speakers remain almost unchanged

Both models support 45W wired charging through USB Power Delivery with a compatible PPS charger. The S26 FE reaches higher charge levels slightly sooner, but the difference is small: it was four percentage points ahead after 15 minutes, six points ahead after 30 minutes and only two minutes faster overall.

The camera hardware is identical across the two phones. Each has a 50MP main camera, an 8MP telephoto camera that produces 12MP images, a 12MP ultrawide camera and a 12MP selfie camera. Daylight photos are generally similar, with the S26 FE sometimes producing finer detail and sharper video. In low light, the results are close, and the S25 FE can deliver more pleasing contrast and subtler sharpening.

The stereo speakers are also effectively the same, although the S25 FE was slightly louder in testing.

Which Galaxy FE should you buy?

The Galaxy S26 FE offers a faster chipset, better web and video endurance, and one additional year of remaining major OS support. Those benefits make it the stronger choice when the price gap is small, particularly in Europe.

The Galaxy S25 FE provides a similar everyday experience for less money and preserves wired DeX and DisplayPort output. With a larger price difference in the US, it is arguably the better bargain—unless gaming performance, battery endurance or longer remaining support matters more than desktop connectivity.