Samsung Says It’s Launching Galaxy S26 FE and Tab S12 Later This Year

The Samsung surge continues. The company confirmed on its earnings call this week that it will launch the Galaxy S26 FE phone and Tab S12 Android tablet later this year. The announcement comes a week after a Galaxy Unpacked event in London, where Samsung introduced the eighth-generation Galaxy Z foldable phones and new smartwatches. The Galaxy S26 FE phone will be the final model of Samsung’s S26 series, which includes the Galaxy S26 Ultra, S26 Plus and S26. The Tab S12 will be the flagship of the next Galaxy tablet series. The S26 FE phone could launch in August or September, and the Tab S12 tablet might come out in September or October, according to reports. Read more: Samsung Expects the Chip Shortage to Get Worse Before It Gets Better Samsung typically unveils several devices each year across product categories and prices. At its July Unpacked, the Seoul-based giant launched the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch 9. These phones and watches are now available for preorder. Putting the S26 FE phone on sale will help the company “maintain S26 momentum,” said Daniel Araujo, head of Samsung’s strategic planning group for mobile experience. He also said on the earnings call that the company saw increased smartphone sales in the second quarter of the year, led by the S26 models. Araujo confirmed that the Tab S12 tablet would go on sale in the second half of 2026, along with the new foldable phones and Watch Ultra 2. Speculations about the specs A significant amount of information has been leaked about the design and specs of the S26 FE. Samsung news site SamMobile says the phone could have an Exynos 2500 chip — Samsung’s advanced mobile processor for powerful AI and high-end graphics — as well as the Android 17-based One UI 9 for the software interface. SamMobile reports that the screen will be the same as the S25 FE, at 6.7 inches. There could be three cameras, a 4,900 mAh battery — good for an entire day after a full charge — and 45-watt wired charging. Prices could be around $800, and the product could go on sale in August or September. As for the Tab S12, tech site Android Police reported there may be only two tablets in the series — the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra and the Galaxy Tab S12 Plus — with no base model. The Plus version could have a 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a Dimensity 9500 chip with 12GB RAM, up to 512GB storage and a 10,500mAh-plus battery. A Samsung representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read more: How to Nab Samsung’s New Galaxy Foldables for Less Samsung strong Despite industry-wide price hikes and intensifying competition — such as Apple’s widely rumored iPhone foldable coming this fall — Samsung consistently distinguishes itself from rivals, says CNET reporter and video producer Abrar Al-Heeti. “Samsung was a pioneer in the foldable phones market and continues to be a leader there, and its display innovations always stir up a lot of hype at tech events and launches,” Al-Heeti said. Al-Heeti said the Unpacked event, which she covered for CNET, was another example of Samsung trying to keep one step ahead of the competition, especially with Apple’s foldable looming on the horizon. “Samsung decided to debut its own 4:3 foldable, the Z Fold 8, which is garnering plenty of buzz and earning several positive reviews,” she said. Alex Valdes Ever since being admittedly fascinated by the Cambridge coffee webcam from the 1990s, I've written about VPNs, the NFL, smartphones, living wages, over/unders and everything in between. See full bio The Latest from Alex Samsung S