In the smartphone market, manufacturers manage to expand their user base by offering budget-friendly versions of their flagship models. Samsung’s “Fan Edition”, or FE series, is among the most successful examples of this strategy.

New leaks have started to come about the highly anticipated Galaxy S26 FE model. According to the latest claims, Samsung continues its tradition of using Exynos processors in the Galaxy S26 FE model. According to the information shared by Erencan Yılmaz, one of the reliable leak sources, the Exynos 2500 chipset is at the heart of the device.

What Does the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Processor Offer?

Samsung, which included Exynos processors in the Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy S25 FE models released in recent years, does not back down from this decision. According to the details recently revealed in Geekbench performance tests, the Galaxy S26 FE is powered by the ten-core Exynos 2500 processor, which goes through the 3nm production process.

This processor comes with one main core running at 3.30 GHz, two 2.75 GHz, five 2.36 GHz and two 1.80 GHz efficiency cores. On the graphics side, the production is accompanied by Xclipse 950 GPU. The 8 GB RAM capacity in the prototype version of the device attracts attention.

When we look at synthetic tests, Exynos 2500 gets very ambitious scores of 2,426 in single-core and 8,004 in multi-core on the Geekbench platform.However, compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, the processor’s biggest rival at the top of the market, it has some weak points, especially in thermal management and sustainable performance.

While Qualcomm’s flagship processor maintains its stability under heavy load, Exynos 2500 is known to experience performance losses during long gaming sessions. However, considering the affordable price tag of the FE series, we can easily say that the Exynos 2500 is more than sufficient hardware for daily use and smooth gaming experience.

Why Is Snapdragon Not Preferred?

Most of the users want to see Snapdragon processor again in the FE series. We last encountered a Snapdragon chip only in the US version of the Galaxy S23 FE model. However, Samsung prefers to use its own silicones in order to reduce production costs and maintain the price-performance balance of the device.

In addition, the inclusion of the previous generation Exynos 2500 in the Galaxy S26 FE model, instead of the new generation Exynos 2600 used in the company’s flagships, is in line with the “affordable top model” philosophy of the FE series.

What Are Competitors Doing and When Will S26 FE Be Released?

The Galaxy S26 FE’s job in the market does not seem to be easy. There is fierce competition in this segment, which is called the “flagship killer”. For example, Xiaomi 15T Pro is a serious competitor with its MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ processor and aggressive pricing.On the other hand, Apple’s affordable model iPhone SE 4 and Google’s artificial intelligence-focused Pixel 10a model are competing for market share in the middle-upper segment. The test that the S26 FE will face against these giants with the Exynos 2500 will determine the fate of the phone.

Other leaked features of the device include a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. On the camera side, Samsung is expected to maintain the 50 MP main camera, 12 MP ultra wide angle and 8 MP telephoto lens setup we are used to.On the battery side, a 4,900 mAh battery and 45W fast charging support stand out. The Galaxy S26 FE, seen with the Android 17 operating system in Geekbench tests, is expected to hit the shelves in September or October 2026.

Do you think Samsung’s decision to use an Exynos processor to reduce costs in the Galaxy S26 FE model is correct, or would you like to see a Snapdragon processor on the device? Don’t forget to express your thoughts in the comments section below.