Galaxy S26 FE Camera: Best Settings and Real Limitations

GSMArena’s Galaxy S26 FE review found it has the same rear cameras as the Galaxy S25 FE: a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide and 8MP 3x telephoto, which is also what Samsung claims.

The Galaxy S26 FE’s new bits are the Exynos 2500 (which is quicker than its predecessor), One UI 9 (which is newer than its predecessor), Super Steady with Horizontal Lock (which is new) and a wider-angle 12MP selfie camera.

If you’re considering a Galaxy S26 FE and want to make the most of its cameras, here’s what you need to know. Note: we haven’t tested a Galaxy S26 FE; the camera settings we suggest are based on what’s possible on One UI 9 and Samsung’s stated Galaxy S26 FE camera hardware. Where relevant, we’ve specified whose results we’re referring to (GSMArena’s or SamMobile’s).

Galaxy S26 FE camera specs

What changed from the S25 FE

Image quality is nearly identical between the two according to GSMArena’s comparison, with the S26 FE’s ultrawide camera producing marginally sharper pics in low light situations and video being a tad crisper. That’s about it for image-quality differences. Everything else that changed can be found here.

• Up from the Exynos 2400 (4nm), the Exynos 2500 (3nm) was found to be faster and more power-efficient by GSMArena
• The selfie camera’s field of view has been increased from 80° to 85° for slightly wider group selfies
• New camera-related features in One UI 9 include Super Steady with Horizontal Lock, My FanCam, and a history of steps for easier editing in Photo Assist (though images will be watermarked and limited to 12MP)
• Three camera modes, Night, Single Take and Dual Rec, are tucked away by default (Night will show up as an icon with a moon in Photo mode when lighting conditions are dim enough)
• The USB-C port only supports USB 2.0 instead of USB 3.2 Gen 1 like on the S25 FE, according to SamMobile, so file transfers (such as 8K videos) to a PC will be slower

What the S26 FE camera can't do

There are a few ways in which the FE skimps in the camera department, but now you’ll know what they are so you won’t curse your photography technique! The FE is Samsung’s cheaper S-series phone, after all.

• Try to use the 3x sensor in daylight and outdoors. According to GSMArena, it’s a small (1/4.4-inch) sensor that tends to produce soft and noisy pictures in low light. Indoors, use the 2x crop mode of the main camera instead.
• The ultrawide doesn’t have autofocus, so pictures of closer objects can get soft. And according to GSMArena, low-light pictures from it look gloomy and flat.
• For recording 4K at 60fps, stick to the main and selfie cameras. According to SamMobile, you can change cameras while recording video in 4K30 or 60fps in Full HD.
• We don’t know if Expert RAW will work with the S26 FE. In its S25 FE review, SamMobile noted that it couldn’t install the app on the phone, and Samsung’s list of phones that support Expert RAW breaks things down by series and doesn’t clarify.
• Try taking pictures in Photo mode while bracing the phone before switching to Night mode, since according to GSMArena, Night mode tends to over-process pictures.

Recommended settings by situation

To enable Night mode, tap the Quick controls icon in the camera, open Settings → Camera Assistant and turn on Night under Additional modes. Download and install Camera Assistant from Galaxy Store first if it isn’t there. Night mode comes in handy when shooting in borderline lighting conditions, says SamMobile, especially when the moon icon doesn’t pop up automatically.

Head to More to access Pro mode where you can tweak settings like white balance, shutter speed and ISO manually. Our Pro mode guide explains the order to set them in, and our telephoto lens guide covers when 3x beats a crop.

Who should upgrade to the S26 FE?

If you have an S25 FE, stick with it. It has the same cameras, and GSMArena thinks that even the $100 price difference you can currently find on the street in the US makes it the better buy. Samsung prices the S25 FE ₹19,000 cheaper than the S26 FE in India. Check out our India buying guide to see how they fare against each other and the A series.

Compared to the S24 FE and older, upgrading to the S26 FE makes sense. You'll get the same rear camera setup (50MP, 12MP and 8MP 3x telephoto), but with a 12MP selfie camera (instead of 10MP), a faster processor, useful additions like Horizontal Lock and more years of updates. If you're eyeing a discounted S24 FE, our S24 FE camera review has you covered.

Coming from an A-series phone, expect to notice the telephoto camera the most, as the Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37 only offer 2x zoom via crop. Our Galaxy A57 and A37 camera guide covers those phones.

Frequently asked questions