Phones
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE leak reveals new design and three colors
Samsung‘s upcoming Galaxy S26 FE has been leaked online again before its official launch. The leaked images were shared by The Cipher Project on Telegram. They show the phone in three different colors and give us a first look at its new design.
The Galaxy S26 FE looks very similar to the Galaxy S26 series. The biggest change is on the back of the phone. Instead of having three separate camera rings like the Galaxy S25 FE, Samsung has added a new vertical camera island. All three rear cameras are placed inside this single camera module.
The front of the phone has a flat display with very thin bezels. There is also a small hole in the middle of the screen for the selfie camera. The phone has a flat frame, and the power and volume buttons are placed on the right side.
The leak shows the Galaxy S26 FE in three colors. These include a dark blue shade with a hint of purple, a light green option, and a classic black color. Even though the leaked images are not very clear, they still show the phone’s overall design.
The Galaxy S26 FE is expected to launch next month, possibly during the IFA event. It is also expected to come with Samsung’s Exynos 2500 processor and 8GB of RAM for smooth everyday performance. The Galaxy S26 FE does not have a completely new design, but it follows the same style as the Galaxy S26 series.
A new industry report suggests Samsung is exploring a dual-sourcing strategy for one of the most important display components, potentially starting with the Galaxy S27 series before expanding further with the Galaxy S28 Ultra.
According to sources (via ZDNet), Samsung Display has reportedly begun evaluating pricing from external display driver makers for future Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S28 Ultra.
If the proposal receives approval from Samsung’s Mobile Experience (MX) division, the company could split DDI orders between System LSI and another supplier (including Taiwan’s Novatek) instead of relying on a single source.
The report claims discussions extend beyond the Galaxy S27 lineup, with the Galaxy S28 Ultra also being considered for a similar supply strategy. Meanwhile, the S27 series may not adopt dual sourcing across every model immediately.
Current expectations suggest the Ultra and Pro variants could continue using System LSI as the primary supplier, while the standard and Plus models remain under evaluation for additional vendors.
Users are unlikely to notice any visible differences, but behind the scenes, the strategy could help Samsung keep flagship costs under better control.
Samsung has been facing increasing pressure from higher component costs, especially memory chips. During its recent quarterly earnings, Samsung’s MX and Networks business reported stronger revenue but weaker profitability.
The strategy could help Samsung keep flagship costs under better control while strengthening its production flexibility ahead of the Galaxy S28 generation.
Samsung’s Fan Edition lineup has always played catch-up with flagship features, and the Galaxy S26 FE looks like it’s about to inherit one of the more practical additions from this year’s Galaxy S26 series: Horizontal Lock.
The company first rolled out Horizontal Lock with the Galaxy S26 family, then extended it to the new Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8.
Galaxy S26 FE to support Horizontal Lock
Leaked firmware for the Galaxy S26 FE contains (via SammyGuru) a flag labeled SUPPORT_SUPER_STEADY_HORIZONTAL_LOCK set to true. It’s a strong signal that Samsung has it in active testing for the FE model.
Horizontal Lock keeps the frame level even as the phone rotates in your hand, working alongside Samsung’s existing stabilization tools to smooth things out further.
It’s less about dramatic new camera hardware and more about fixing a genuinely annoying everyday issue, which is probably why Samsung is pushing it across as many devices as possible.
Interestingly, older Galaxy S25 devices are also expected to gain the same feature down the line through a One UI 9 update, so Samsung clearly wants this to become a standard part of its camera experience.
Read more: Galaxy S25 One UI 9 update to bring Now Nudge, Horizon Lock camera and My FanCam
One UI 9.5 banner
The same firmware dig turned up something else that shouldn’t really be there yet: a software update banner built for One UI 9.5.
Its presence inside S26 FE firmware doesn’t mean the device is running One UI 9.5, but it does confirm Samsung is already designing assets for it well ahead of any official rollout.
Samsung is expected to introduce the Galaxy S26 FE in early September, most likely timed around IFA 2026 in Berlin.
Samsung’s newest foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8, are getting some quiet but meaningful camera OIS upgrades, and it’s coming from a supplier most buyers have never heard of.
According to ETNews, Haesung Optics is exclusively supplying Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) actuators for the 50MP camera on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, along with the 50MP main camera on the Galaxy Z Flip 8.
The outgoing Galaxy Z Fold 7 shipped with a modest 12-megapixel ultra-wide shooter, and Samsung has now pushed that up to a full 50-megapixel sensor on the Fold 8 lineup.
Pairing that jump with OIS should translate into steadier handheld shots, sharper low-light captures, and less blur when shooting video, something ultra-wide lenses have traditionally struggled with across the industry.
Haesung Optics says it holds exclusive rights to supply OIS actuators for this particular sensor, along with the primary camera module going into the Flip 8.
Haesung Optics has also been busy on the manufacturing side. Working alongside automation specialist KNS, the company set up an advanced automated OIS production line at Haesung Vina, its subsidiary based in Vietnam.
An initial order landed in April, followed by a second phase in June, and pilot testing has already wrapped up. The company plans to keep expanding this line through the rest of the year.
Samsung One UI 9 and Apple iOS 27 are the two most trending software versions in 2026, and we compare their quick controls: Quick Panel vs Control Center.
Quick Settings is the interface that users heavily rely on in everyday usage. Whether it’s enabling/disabling data or adjusting screen brightness and media volume, quick settings make the task easier and effortless.
One UI 9 Quick Panel or iOS 27 Control Center
Both Samsung and Apple have introduced significant visual and functional overhauls this year, focusing heavily on modern aesthetics and material design.
One UI 9 Quick Panel continues the generational improvement, while iOS 27 Control Center polishes the Liquid Design.
One UI 9 Quick Panel
Visual refinements: The redesigned Quick Panel offers cleaner visuals for its widgets.
Tactile elements: Samsung introduced thicker, more tactile sliders for brightness and volume.
Aesthetics: The update includes new “glassy” translucent effects and smoother transition animations, such as a new waveform animation for media playback.
iOS 27 Control Center
Liquid Glass design: Apple completely rebuilt its controls using a new expressive material called “Liquid Glass”.
Dynamic lighting: This translucent material behaves like real-world glass to react to movement with specular highlights while intelligently adapting its color based on surrounding light and dark environments.
Morphing elements: Controls act as a distinct functional layer sitting above apps, dynamically morphing as users require more options.
When it comes to usability, the philosophies of the two tech giants diverge completely. One UI 9 is built for users who want granular control over their daily interactions. iOS 27 is built for users who prefer a curated, out-of-the-box experience.
Which one is better?
As a user of both, the honest answer is a draw, dependent entirely on what kind of smartphone user you are.
You should choose One UI 9 if you are a power user.
- If you want your toggles exactly where your thumb rests, One UI 9 is the better choice.
You should choose iOS 27 if you value visual harmony, seamless animations, and effortless design.
- If you prefer a system that organizes things intelligently for you with minimal setup, Apple’s approach is superior.
Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S26 FE very soon. Before the official announcement, new information has revealed the phone’s wallpapers, color options, and certification details. These leaks give us a better idea of what Samsung may offer with its next Fan Edition smartphone.
The leaked Galaxy S26 FE wallpapers show that the phone could come in three colors: Graphite, Mint, and Violet. The wallpapers follow Samsung’s latest design style and match the colors that are expected for the phone. There are also separate wallpapers for Samsung DeX, which are made for larger displays but use the same color theme.
Also, the wallpapers suggest that Samsung is keeping the same design language across its Galaxy lineup. The Galaxy S26 FE is expected to have a design similar to the Galaxy S26 series.
Image via SammyGuru
Aside from this, the Galaxy S26 FE has also been spotted on Thailand’s NBTC certification website. The listing confirms the phone’s official name and model number, SM-S741B/DS. It also shows that the global version will support dual SIM cards.
Earlier information suggests the Galaxy S26 FE will feature a 6.7-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, Exynos 2500 processor, 45W fast charging, Android 17-based One UI 9, and 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage. It may also keep the 50MP main camera from the Galaxy S25 FE while offering a few small improvements. Stay tuned for more information.
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