Galaxy S26 FE Benchmarks Leak Online With Surprising RAM Specs

Samsung was not ready to talk about the Galaxy S26 FE yet. Geekbench had other plans. The next Fan Edition smartphone briefly appeared on the benchmarking platform before being quietly pulled down, but not before the usual suspects caught every detail.

This is our first real look at what Samsung’s affordable flagship will bring later this year, and the numbers tell an interesting story.

What the Geekbench Listing Revealed

Android Police reports that the Galaxy S26 FE appeared on Geekbench under model number SM-S741U before Samsung hurriedly removed it. The listing exposed the chipset, RAM configuration, and the Android version the device is being tested on right now.

Here is everything the listing confirmed:

Chipset: Exynos 2500 – A 10-core processor with a peak clock speed of 3.30 GHz, the same silicon that debuted in the Galaxy Z Flip 7
GPU: Xclipse 950 – Confirmed by the source code, pointing directly at the Exynos 2500
RAM: 8GB – No upgrade over the current Galaxy S25 FE
Operating system: Android 17 – Making it one of the first devices confirmed to ship with Google’s next major OS out of the box
Geekbench scores: 2,426 single-core / 8,004 multi-core – A clear step up from the S25 FE but noticeably below the flagship S26 series

The model number SM-S741U matches a device previously spotted on the GSMA database, strongly confirming this is the genuine Galaxy S26 FE prototype rather than a test mule.

What These Numbers Actually Mean for Buyers

According to Android Headlines, the Geekbench scores show a multi-core improvement over the current Galaxy S25 FE. But using the Exynos 2500 rather than the newer 2nm Exynos 2600 in the flagship S26 will disappoint anyone hoping for a bigger performance leap.

The gap is significant. The Galaxy S26 series scores between 3,220 and 3,336 in single-core on the same benchmark. The S26 FE sits roughly 25 percent behind, exactly where Samsung wants it for pricing.

This is the FE formula working as intended: flagship design and software, cost-controlled internals.

The RAM situation is harder to defend. Keeping 8GB while the AI-focused Android ecosystem demands more feels like a deliberate ceiling rather than a limitation.

Samsung has navigated the competition for Android phones by offering great value, but rivals are already shipping 12GB as standard at similar price points.

What is genuinely exciting is Android 17 out of the box.

Given that Samsung’s One UI 8.5 is still rolling out to the Galaxy S25 series right now, seeing the S26 FE confirmed on Android 17 shows how far ahead Samsung is already planning its software roadmap.

When is the Galaxy S26 FE coming?

Samsung has not officially confirmed the device exists. Based on the Galaxy S25 FE launching in September 2025, a Q3 2026 release window is the most realistic expectation.

Pricing is the one question the Geekbench listing cannot answer, and given Samsung’s recent price increases across the S26 lineup, the S26 FE may not stay as affordable as its predecessors.

A Promising Leak With One Glaring Question Mark

The Galaxy S26 FE looks like a solid entry; Android 17, the Exynos 2500, and a performance bump over its predecessor. But 8GB of RAM in late 2026 is a decision Samsung will need to justify loudly if it wants to hold its value positioning.

The chip is capable. The software is fresh. The RAM cap is the one thing standing between this being a great budget flagship and a genuinely easy recommendation.

Source: The next Galaxy Fan Edition has leaked — should fans be worried