What is the point of the Fan Edition product roster if Samsung can't keep pricing in check due to the rising costs of memory chips? That's something I've wondered ever since the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Tab S10 FE Plus became more expensive a few months ago than back at their 2025 commercial debut, and unfortunately, it looks like the Galaxy S26 FE will be similarly hard to stomach for budget-conscious Android users.
Expected out in a little over a month, the fourth member of the Galaxy S26 family is obviously likely to cost less than its three higher-end brothers... while receiving a shockingly big price hike over last year's Galaxy S25 FE, especially in one variant.
This is how much the S26 FE will probably cost in France
€799 with 128GB storage;
€899 with 256GB storage;
€1,099 with 512GB storage.
Before I get to analyzing these numbers and comparing them to the 2026 competition, allow me to point out that, although they're not technically etched in stone, the reliability of the source revealing them today has been proven many times in the past.
The Galaxy S26 FE is not expected to look radically different from its predecessor. | Image by Wireless Power Consortium
As such, I don't expect any last-minute surprises or changes, which means that the cheapest Galaxy S26 FE model is extremely likely to fetch €50 more than an entry-level S25 FE configuration back at its European launch nearly a year ago.
That's far from the worst price increase I've seen a new phone get over an old phone in the last few months, but alas, that's not what I can say about the 256 and 512GB storage variants as well. The former is apparently jumping from €809 to €899, while the latter is set to receive a pretty bonkers €170 hike compared to the costliest Galaxy S25 FE model.
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What do you think about these rumored Galaxy S26 FE prices?
It's hard to imagine that many people will be willing to cough up €1,099 on the old continent for a Galaxy S26 FE with 512GB storage when the "vanilla" Galaxy S26 typically starts at €999, so part of me almost wishes Samsung would have removed that storage option instead of pricing it so wildly and making the new Fan Edition device look so bad.
How are these tags likely to translate to US dollars?
$699 with 128GB storage;
$849 with 256GB storage;
$1,049 with 512GB storage;
Now, here's where you need to exercise a little more caution and not take everything for granted, as those are merely my assumptions for the Galaxy S26 FE's US pricing structure based on how much the S25 FE currently costs stateside and the aforementioned European hikes.
Basically, I expect the most affordable S26 FE variant to get a $50 increase over its S25 FE equivalent, with much bigger price hikes then looking likely for 256 and 512GB storage configurations.
The Galaxy S26 FE is likely to cost more than the S25 FE across the board and around the world. | Image by PhoneArena
Once again, I find it difficult to believe that the most expensive Galaxy S26 FE model will sell very well, but even the entry-level variant sounds like a pretty tough pill to swallow for Android power users and hardcore Samsung fans on tight budgets.
If it makes you feel any better, the S26 FE is tipped to arrive "around" September 1 in three color options, one of which is described as something "between Blue and Purple", with the other two looking set in stone as Graphite and Aqua Green. That sounds like a pretty snazzy trio, although I would have personally loved to see the S25 FE's white shade make a comeback as well.
How much will the Galaxy S26 FE's key rivals cost?
Google Pixel 11 - $899 with 256GB storage and 12GB RAM;
Google Pixel 10 - $799 with 128GB storage and 12GB RAM;
OnePlus 15R - $699 with 256GB storage and 12GB RAM;
Nothing Phone (4a) Pro - $599 with 256GB storage and 12GB RAM;
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G - $549 with 128GB storage and 8GB RAM.
Look, I'm obviously not trying to say that the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro and Galaxy A57 are as powerful as the Galaxy S26 Fan Edition is likely to be. But they might just be affordable enough to eclipse the value of a $699 and up handset expected to pack a good but not great Exynos 2500 processor, as well as 8GB RAM and a battery with around 5,000mAh capacity and 45W charging support.
The Galaxy A57 sounds like a potentially better value proposition than the Galaxy S26 FE. | Image by PhoneArena
The Galaxy A57 mid-ranger, mind you, comes with a 45W charging-capable 5,000mAh cell, while the OnePlus 15R... makes me sad that the brand is leaving the US market with its incredible 7,400mAh battery, 80W charging speeds, and Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor.
Then you have the "vanilla" Pixel 11, which is unfortunately getting a $100 price hike over its predecessor... but also an important base storage upgrade that Samsung's Galaxy S26 got as well earlier this year. That will apparently not be the case for the Galaxy S26 FE, and while I believe that's the correct decision on Samsung's part, the rumored prices still don't feel right to me.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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