Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 FE has surfaced on Geekbench before it goes official. This early listing provides a snapshot of the phone’s capabilities without any major surprises. It follows mostly what has become an established pattern for Fan Edition models – Galaxy S features at a more affordable price, with some adjustments to the processor for cost control.
Samsung’s next FE model could come with slight performance gains
The listing, tied to model number SM-S741U, shows the phone running Android 17 with about 6.8GB of RAM, which typically means an 8GB variant. There’s a 10-core CPU here, with a peak clock speed of 3.30 GHz in this test unit. On Geekbench 6, it scores 2,426 in single-core and 8,004 in multi-core. That puts it ahead of the last FE model, but still clearly below Samsung’s current flagship silicon.
The Exynos 2600, used in the Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26+ in most markets, is Samsung’s first 2nm mobile processor. Early Geekbench scores for that chip are much higher, typically between 3,220 and 3,336 in single-core, and 11,249 to 11,369 in multi-core tests. The S26 FE could either use the Exynos 2500 chipset, or a tuned version of the 2600, which may be called the Exynos 2600e.
The 3nm Exynos 2500 is used in the flagship Galaxy Z Flip 7. That chipset uses the Xclipse 950 GPU, which this current Geekbench listing reflects. The speculation for Exynos 2600e comes from how the FE series has been handled so far. The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, launched in September 2025 at Rs 59,999 (review), followed a similar path with the Exynos 2400. That wasn’t an ‘e’ model but still differentiated from the flagship S25 series, which used the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset worldwide. The series before that, the Galaxy S24 and S24 FE, followed the Exynos 2400 and 2400e strategy. We can’t be sure of either till Samsung confirms the processor.
Outside of performance, Samsung has been refining the FE lineup over time. The S25 FE slimmed down to 190 gms, kept the 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and paired it with a 4,900 mAh battery and long-term software support. Samsung is expected to carry on with such refinements for this version.
In the same price band, phones from other Android OEMs may have higher benchmarks but Samsung’s FE models usually take a different route. They aim to offer a more balanced setup across performance, cameras, and long-term support. The current S25 FE, which could now be available at reduced prices, remains a strong option for immediate needs. However, users could consider waiting for the S26 FE, which is anticipated to launch in Q3 2026, with the 2nm chipset bringing enhancements in battery and heat management.
