Leaked Galaxy S26 FE specs confirm another battery disappointment from Samsung

Samsung may be enjoying the great success of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, but it’s also preparing for its upcoming devices, including the Galaxy S26 FE. We’ve already seen it in what looked like official images, and now most of its specs appear to have also leaked.

Galaxy S26 FE battery specs feel like a downgrade

Most of the specs of the Galaxy S26 FE have already appeared in multiple leaks, but its battery capacity remained a bit of a mystery. That changed with a new report (translated source) from WinFuture, which has revealed there won’t be any pleasant surprises with the device.

The new model is expected to feature a 4,900 mAh battery, which may support fast charging with up to 45W, and last up to 50 hours of “typical use.” This is the same capacity as last year’s Galaxy S25 FE, but the new battery is said to be rated for 1,200 charge cycles according to the EU’s EPREL classification.

If this is true, the new model will cut the longevity of the battery almost in half, compared to the 2,000-cycle rating of the previous model. It is also a signal that Samsung may be extending the use of silicon-carbon batteries beyond its foldable models. Unlike the foldables, the S26 FE will remain 7.4 mm thick, and it’ll weigh 193 grams, compared to the 190 grams of last year’s model.

Minimal other changes

Unsurprisingly, the S26 FE will also get a chipset upgrade, and it’ll use the same Exynos 2500 processor we’ve already seen in last year’s Galaxy S25 models. This will be paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage.

The rest of the specs appear exactly the same as last year, including the 6.7-inch display with 2,340x1,080 pixels resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 1900 nits brightness. The new leak doesn’t specify whether the phone will feature a Qualcomm connectivity chip, but a recent rumor suggested that might be the case.

Just like before, the phone will feature three cameras on the back, with a 50MP, f/1.8 main camera with OIS. There will be an ultra-wide-angle lens with an f/2.2 aperture and an 8MP telephoto camera with triple zoom and an f/2.4 aperture. While not mentioned in this leak, the zoom camera is likely to keep the 12MP sensor. On the front, there will be a 12MP selfie camera.

The phone is also said to come with Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, and two nano-SIM slots, with support for up to two eSIMs. There’s also an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, and the slight redesign of the camera island on the back we’ve seen in the previously leaked images.

Expect a higher price

Another unsurprising detail is the rumored €799 starting price in Europe, which all but confirms there will be a price hike. In the US, the starting price is also expected to grow by $50 compared to last year, putting the S26 FE at $699 for the 128GB version.

In his in-depth review of the Galaxy S25 FE, my colleague Mariyan enjoyed the build quality and the performance, but felt the battery and cameras were lacking. Regardless, he said that Samsung had polished the affordable flagship formula well enough to make it feel like a member of the flagship S family.

We are very likely to see how the new model holds up very soon, as the latest rumors suggest a September 4 premiere.

Certainly not impressed

While I lament the lack of a battery upgrade, I’m more surprised that Samsung is sticking with 128GB storage for a $700 smartphone. I know we’re in the middle of a memory crisis, but this price doesn’t feel right to me, and I’m curious to see how this is going to work out.

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