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Samsung has begun pushing One UI 9 to the Galaxy S26, S26+, S26 Ultra and the newly released S26 FE, roughly a month after the update first appeared on its Z Fold 8 Ultra, Fold 8 and Flip 8 foldables. The rollout brings AI tools like My FanCam, which automatically crops video to track a chosen person, along with upgrades to Now Brief, Now Nudge, Interpreter, Voice Recorder and Document Scan.
WIRED's review of the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE finds strong daylight photos, a useful 3X optical zoom telephoto lens, and good 4K/8K video with stabilization features like horizontal lock and My FanCam framing. However, at $700 for the base 128 GB model, the reviewer says it's priced too close to the superior standard S26, which often sells for the same amount with a faster chip, more storage, and a better telephoto camera.
A comparison of the flagship-sized iPhone 18 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra shows both share a 6.9-inch screen but differ in build: Apple mixes aluminum and glass while Samsung uses an all-glass back. Samsung's phone is lighter and thinner, has a marginally higher-resolution AMOLED display, and retains the S Pen stylus, while Apple's OLED screen edges ahead on peak brightness at 3,000 nits versus 2,600 nits.
Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro Max debuted at $1,299, a $100 jump from last year's model, putting its 256GB version near the price of Samsung's $1,300 Galaxy S26 Ultra. The two flagships now compete closely on battery life and cameras, despite differing designs: the 18 Pro Max uses an aluminum unibody with a 6.8-inch OLED screen, while the lighter S26 Ultra features a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a unique Privacy Display mode.
Apple's standard iPhone 17 starts at $799, while the Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26 both launch at $899, a $100 gap that has flipped the usual value equation in the flagship smartphone market. Rising RAM and storage costs, plus heavier investment in on-device AI, are cited as reasons behind the higher pricing from Google and Samsung, and rumors suggest Apple may delay the iPhone 18 launch, potentially extending this pricing advantage.
Android Authority argues that Samsung's new Galaxy S26 FE, now priced at $700 after a $50 increase, faces stiff competition despite carrying flagship-level performance with some cost-cutting on materials. The outlet points to alternatives including the Google Pixel 11, Pixel 10a, Samsung's own Galaxy S26, the Motorola Edge (2026), and the Nothing Phone 4a Pro as options worth weighing first. A reader poll cited in the piece shows the Galaxy S26 and Motorola Edge drawing the most votes as preferred alternatives.
Amazon has cut the price of Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra (Sky Blue, 256GB) to $953, a $347 reduction from its $1,299.99 list price, in a deal set to expire tonight. The discount is only slightly better than the Prime Day price and matches close to the lowest price recorded for the device, which currently holds a 4.6-star rating from buyers.
Samsung has quietly added local time-zone detection to its Call Brief feature in One UI 9, which now automatically displays the other person's local time when you dial an international number. The capability, first exclusive to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, has been extended to the Galaxy S26 lineup through the seventh One UI 9 beta update. Users on X first noticed the addition alongside other Fold 8 features like My FanCam and custom Now Brief cards.
Samsung's Galaxy S26 series arrived with higher prices and only incremental hardware upgrades, keeping the same 5,000mAh battery used since 2020 even as Chinese rivals like HONOR ship phones with far larger silicon-carbon batteries. New sales figures show Samsung's flagship and foldable lines are still selling well despite these limited improvements, suggesting the company has little financial incentive to push harder on hardware.
AT&T is offering Samsung's Galaxy S26 FE for as low as $2.43 monthly over a 36-month installment plan for customers who add a new line online, with no device trade-in needed. Business customers get even steeper discounts, including a $0-per-month option on a new line, plus perks like an Enterprise Edition with extended warranty and Samsung Knox Suite.
Fresh leaks suggest Samsung may retire the Plus tier in 2027 and introduce a Galaxy S27 Pro that shares the Ultra's design language in a smaller size. Analysts covering the rumor argue the move would resolve the awkward positioning the Plus model has had since the Galaxy S23 generation, sitting between a mid-range price and Ultra-level features without clearly justifying either.
Amazon is currently selling the unlocked 128GB Samsung Galaxy S26 FE for $699.99 with a free $200 Amazon gift card included. The device is Samsung's new lower-cost Fan Edition phone, available in Graphite, Pistachio, and Blueberry, and comes with Galaxy AI features and Samsung ecosystem support. The promotion is expected to end once the phone officially launches tomorrow.