Samsung has launched the Galaxy S26 FE, a more affordable addition to its Galaxy S26 series, priced at roughly 93p per day. The move comes after Google’s Pixel 11 launch and ahead of Apple’s iPhone 18 reveal on September 9.
The Galaxy S26 FE arrived on shelves on Friday, September 4. It is the latest model in Samsung’s budget-friendly Fan Edition range, offering fewer premium features than the flagship but at a considerably lower price.
Giffgaff deal saves shoppers £418
To mark the launch, giffgaff is offering a significant discount, allowing shoppers to save almost £420 by upgrading. The retailer is cutting £220 off the 128GB handset and £11 off its unlimited data plan.
Bundled together, the Galaxy S26 FE costs £27.86 per month plus £20 upfront over 36 months, equal to roughly 93p per day. This saves £418 from the usual price, but shoppers must commit to a 36-month handset contract and an 18-month SIM plan to secure the deal.
Giffgaff’s deal undercuts a rival offer from Vodafone, where the S26 FE costs £39 per month (was £56) with £30 upfront on an unlimited data plan. For those preferring to buy outright, the Galaxy S26 FE is £699 at retailers including Amazon and Argos.
Features and specifications
Aside from three new colours – Blueberry, Graphite and Pistachio – the Galaxy S26 FE looks very similar to the standard model but boasts a larger 6.7-inch AMOLED display, compared to the 6.3-inch S26. Despite being the cheaper sibling, it has an advanced triple camera system comprising 12MP ultra-wide, 50MP wide and 8MP telephoto lenses.
It also supports 3x optical zoom and includes features such as a steady function, ‘Nightography’ and the intelligent My FanCam, which automatically tracks a selected person and keeps them centred in the frame. The phone is the first in the S26 line-up to launch with One UI 9, Samsung’s new interface offering more premium features and AI tools.
These include information and organisation tools like Now Brief, Now Nudge and Circle to Search with Google, as well as photo editors such as Photo Assist and Gemini Omni. Inside, the S26 FE has a fast Exynos processor and a long-lasting battery with fast-charging support that can reach up to 69% in roughly 30 minutes. Samsung also provides up to seven generations of software and security updates.
Expert verdict on the launch price
Ahead of launch, Daily Express Technology Editor David Snelling got his hands on the Galaxy S26 FE and hailed it a ‘very good phone’.
“The screen is good, the cameras will snap nice images, it’s brimming with AI upgrades and there are useful extras such as fast charging and full support for seven years. It’s clearly a very good phone that many people will enjoy using.”
However, he criticised the launch price (£699), arguing it is too close to the flagship model (£779), saying: “What I can’t really understand is why its price so closely matches the standard Galaxy S26. If it was £200 less (or even a full £100 lower), then I’d say it’s a no-brainer, and you shouldn't even think twice. But a price difference of £80 just doesn’t seem like enough.”
It is worth bearing in mind that this is the price when buying outright, and sites like Mobiles.co.uk offer the standard S26 at more affordable prices. There’s even a £27.99 iD Mobile contract that costs £740.36 over the 24-month plan – cheaper than the price of the phone.
