Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 FE is now available to buy in the UK, offering a budget-friendly alternative to the flagship model and rivals like the Google Pixel 11 and the upcoming Apple iPhone launch.
Jake Hackney Senior Consumer Writer
06:03, 05 Sep 2026
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 FE is a budget-friendly edition of the standard S26.
Samsung has unveiled a new Galaxy smartphone with a launch price that’s more affordable than the flagship Galaxy S26. On Friday (September 4), the Galxay S26 FE hit the shelves to rival the latest release from Google and Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18.
The S26 FE is the lastest model in Samsung’s FE – or Fan Edition – series, a range of smartphones with lower prices than their premium counterparts. This means that it’s not quite as powerful as the top-tier model and features fewer high-end specifications, but it comes at a considerably more accessible price point.
To mark the release, giffgaff is slashing hundreds from the cost, with customers able to save nearly £420 by upgrading. The mobile network is cutting £220 from the 128GB handset and £11 from its unlimited data package.
READ MORE:
Combining these discounts brings the Galaxy S26 FE to £27.86 monthly plus £20 upfront across 36 months, equivalent to roughly 93p per day. This represents a £418 saving from the standard price, but customers must agree to a 36-month device contract and 18-month SIM plan to claim this deal.
It undercuts a rival offer from Vodafone, where the S26 FE is priced at £39 monthly (was £56) and £30 upfront on an unlimited data package. For those who’d rather purchase outright, the Galaxy S26 FE is £699 at stockists including Amazon and Argos, reports the Daily Record.
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
£27.86 p/m
giffgaff
Giffgaff is knocking £418 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE and unlimited data bundle, now at £27.86 per month and £20 upfront.
Aside from the three new colourways – Blueberry, Graphite and Pistachio – the Galaxy S26 FE bears a striking resemblance to the standard version but features a larger 6.7″ AMOLED screen, in contrast to the 6.3″ S26. Despite its more affordable price point, it comes equipped with a sophisticated triple camera system consisting of 12MP ultra-wide, 50MP wide and 8MP telephoto lenses.
It also offers 3x optical zoom alongside intelligent capabilities including a steady function, ‘Nightography’ and the smart My FanCam, which automatically follows a chosen subject and keeps them centred in the frame. The handset is also the first in the S26 range to debut with One UI 9, Samsung’s enhanced interface delivering more premium capabilities and AI-powered tools.
These encompass information and organisational features like Now Brief, Now Nudge and Circle to Search with Google, alongside photo editing functions such as Photo Assist and Gemini Omni. Under the hood, the S26 FE houses a powerful Exynos processor and durable battery with rapid-charging capability that can achieve up to 69% in approximately 30 minutes.
Samsung also delivers up to seven generations of software and security updates to ensure the device remains current. Prior to launch, the Daily Express Technology Editor David Snelling tested Samsung’s Galaxy S26 FE and praised it as a ‘very good phone’.
He said: “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 also criticised the launch price (£699), arguing it’s too close to the flagship model (£779), adding: “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.”
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 FE comes in Blueberry, Graphite and Pistachio.
“A price difference of £80 just doesn’t seem like enough.” It’s worth noting that this is the outright purchase price, and websites like Mobiles.co.uk offer the standard S26 at more competitive rates. There’s even a £27.99 iD Mobile contract that totals £740.36 over the 24-month plan – less than the handset’s retail price.