What the reviewers said
Android Central US
3/5Oct 6, 2026A solid, large-screen midranger with a flagship chip and long update support, but its screen, cameras, slow charging and storage compromises make it poor value versus alternatives.
- Exynos 2500 chip delivers strong performance, beating prior FE phones and Pixel…
- 6.7-inch display is larger than most midrange rivals
- One UI 9 with Android 17 and seven years of OS updates
- Relatively thin and light for its screen size
- Battery life is strong for the class
- Uneven bezels with a noticeable chin
- Peak brightness of 1,900 nits hurts outdoor visibility
- Rear cameras weak beyond the 50MP primary sensor
- Slow 15W wireless charging and no Qi2 magnets
- Starts at 128GB storage; upgrades are pricey
TechRadar UK
3.5/5Sep 24, 2026A large Galaxy S experience at a discount, but the price increase weakens its value against full Galaxy S26 models. Battery and performance remain strong for the cost.
- Premium design with fun new colors
- Display still flagship-worthy in brightness and detail
- Surprisingly good gaming performance
- Strong battery life
- Seven years of OS and security updates
- Price increased over the Galaxy S25 FE
- Telephoto and ultrawide cameras lag behind
- AI tools coming to older Samsung phones soon
- FHD+ resolution and lower peak brightness than S26
- Thicker chin bezels than other Galaxy S phones
Engadget US
6.7/10Sep 18, 2026An incremental update at a higher price. Solid display and features, but weak camera app speed, modest cameras and battery life, and poor value versus rivals.
- Smooth 120Hz 6.7-inch OLED display
- Now Nudge contextual AI is useful
- Camera features match premium Galaxy phones
- Large 4,900mAh battery
- Wireless charging support
- $700 price is hard to justify
- Sluggish camera app performance
- Dated, blurry telephoto camera
- Only 128GB base storage
- Struggles with demanding games
Tech Advisor UK
3.5/5Sep 15, 2026A decent phone with barely any upgrades over the S25 FE and a higher price, so it's poor value for now; it may appeal once the price drops.
- Newer 3nm Exynos 2500 chipset
- Strong software features and long 7-year update support
- Bright, good OLED screen with 120Hz refresh
- Dependable main camera in good lighting
- IP68 rating and loud, clear stereo speakers
- Almost identical design and internals to the S25 FE
- Price increased over last year's model
- USB port downgraded to USB 2.0
- Only 128GB base storage
- Weak ultrawide and telephoto cameras at night
A perfectly good phone with a polished design and big display, but the price hike and minimal changes make it hard to recommend over rivals and last year's model.
- Polished design with IP68 rating and nice colors
- Lovely big 6.7-inch OLED with 120Hz refresh
- Versatile triple camera system with good daytime photos
- Decent battery life for everyday use
- Clean One UI 9 with customizable features
- Price increased to $700 despite minimal changes
- USB port downgraded to USB 2.0, no DisplayPort Alt Mode
- Preinstalled bloatware including social and streaming apps
- Base 128GB storage and 8GB RAM feel stingy
- Not an LTPO display; lower peak brightness than regular S26
Tom's Guide US
4/5Aug 27, 2026A lower-cost Fan Edition that sits awkwardly between the Galaxy S26 and A57. Good battery, cameras and AI features, but weak performance and little differentiation.
- Low starting price, now well below the price-hiked Galaxy S26
- Good battery life for daily use
- Solid camera quality, close to the standard S26
- Premium AI features included
- Quality design with metal frame and solid camera bump
- Glossy glass back instead of matte, unlike S25 FE
- Very similar to the cheaper Galaxy A57
- Weak performance
- Lacks meaningful upgrades over last year's model
Verdicts, pros and cons are short summaries in our words of each publisher's review; scores are as the publisher gave them. Specs are taken from the reviews' spec boxes — where they differ, we show the value most of them give; price is the US launch price of the base model. Read the originals for the full picture.
