Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Today's Edition

EveryNews

Stories that matter, signal over noise
Technologies

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE tested with One UI 9 — may get flagship chip without compromises for the first time

Samsung has registered a test build of One UI 9 for the Galaxy S26 FE ahead of the official shell release. According to leaks, the FE series may finally get rid of its main drawback this time — the cut-down processor.

Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik

By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik

May 21, 2026 · 2 min read

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE tested with One UI 9 — may get flagship chip without compromises for the first time
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE (Фото: Samsung)

Samsung has registered the first test builds of the One UI 9 software shell for the upcoming Galaxy S26 FE. The model for the Korean market carries the code SM-S741N, and the build received the number S741NKSU0AZE5. The leak was noticed by insider MohammedKhatri on social network X.

Why this appeared before the shell itself

One UI 9 has not yet been officially released — according to Sammy Fans, the full software release is expected at the end of July 2026. This means Samsung is already testing the Galaxy S26 FE on a shell that consumers don't yet have. This is standard practice for devices that are supposed to launch with the latest version of software "out of the box" — and at the same time, an indirect signal about launch timelines.

The appearance of the smartphone on the One UI 9 test server essentially rules out its announcement before the foldable Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, which are scheduled to be presented on July 22. The FE series traditionally launches in autumn: according to PhoneArena's estimates, the Galaxy S26 FE announcement should be expected in September–October 2026.

The main intrigue — not the shell, but the chip

Testing One UI 9 in itself is routine technical work. Much more interesting is another detail from the leaks: a Galaxy S26 FE prototype appeared in the Geekbench benchmark with an Exynos 2500 processor and 8 GB of RAM.

«If Samsung really uses the Exynos 2500, this will be the most powerful Fan Edition that the company has ever released».

MegaMobileContent, analysis of Geekbench leak

Previous FE models — S21 FE, S23 FE, S25 FE — were equipped with either the previous generation processor or mid-range Snapdragon chips. The Exynos 2500 in the S26 FE prototype showed 2,426 points in the single-threaded test and 8,004 — in the multi-threaded test. This is the level of 2025 flagships and noticeably higher than what is usually expected from the FE series.

What this means for buyers

  • Seven-year software support — PhoneArena expects the S26 FE to receive seven years of updates, just like the main S26 lineup.
  • Galaxy AI in full scope — Circle to Search, Photo Assist, Audio Eraser and updated Now Brief functions, which debuted in the flagship S26 series.
  • Android 17 at launch — One UI 9 is based on Android 17, which is still in developer preview. This once again confirms: the release is no earlier than the fourth quarter of 2026.
  • Price is unknown, but PhoneArena estimates the starting price at around $650 for the US market.

If Samsung really puts the same Exynos 2500 that it uses in some flagship S26 models into the budget FE, the boundary between «affordable» and «flagship» in the lineup will become purely marketing — and then there is only one question: at what price is the company willing to do this without devaluing the main series?

Related

Latest

Business

EU Against Google: Why the Latest Fine Could Change More Than Previous Ones

# European Regulators Target Google Again — This Time Over Digital Markets Act Violations. What's Behind the Accusations and Why It Matters Beyond the Corporation European regulators have renewed their scrutiny of Google, this time focusing on alleged violations of the Digital Markets Act. The charges underscore Brussels' increasingly aggressive stance on big tech monopolies and what officials say are anticompetitive practices. The accusations center on how Google leverages its dominance across multiple digital services — from search to advertising to mobile platforms — to disadvantage competitors. Regulators claim the company is using its market power in ways that stifle innovation and limit consumer choice. The case carries significance far beyond Google itself. It signals how the EU is attempting to enforce its landmark Digital Markets Act, legislation designed to curb the gatekeeping power of tech giants. A potential penalty could set precedent for how other large technology companies face similar scrutiny. For consumers and smaller tech firms, the outcome could reshape the digital landscape by creating more room for competition. For Google, fines and operational restrictions could fundamentally alter its business model in Europe, the world's most stringent regulatory market. The case also reflects a broader geopolitical divide, with the EU pursuing a regulatory approach that contrasts sharply with the lighter-touch oversight favored in the United States.

May 26, 2026