When I first laid my hands on the Galaxy S26, my expectations were lowered from Samsung’s latest compact flagship. And these were well-founded for as many reasons as I threw them out for editing in my review. The camera hardware feels old, the charging speed is slow, and for a phone that doesn’t start at $899, “security” is not a compliment.
But still I was surprised that after spending so much time with the Galaxy S26, it still hangs in my pocket like my second phone. And by this time, I had grown up and found out about it. Despite the various problems, the annoying part is that it is very easy to like.
It reminded me of what a really compact flagship can sound like
The biggest reason is also the simplest. The Galaxy S26 feels ‘mobile’ again, with less emphasis. It’s not a big slab, or a small tablet (a phablet as some call it). It’s just a flagship that disappears into your pocket, sits comfortably in your hand, and doesn’t make one-handed use feel like a circus act. My daily driver, the Xiaomi 15, is already a compact flagship, but this takes it a step further with a light 167g body and small footprint.
And that’s more important than I’d like to admit. I can complain all day about charging caps and camera intertia, but the S26 quietly wins in other everyday aspects of phone life. It may not strike you as important, but still, it’s easy to take out, easy to carry, and easy to live with. There is a kind of freedom that the big phones keep forgetting.
You still get the Ultra feel where it counts
Another reason why the S26 continues its way back into my favor is its software. One UI 8.5 is still one of the best Android skins out there, bringing a polished, responsive, and immersive experience with the same familiar Galaxy AI functionality that defines the entire Galaxy S26 family.
Samsung also promises seven years of OS and security updates, which means the base model doesn’t feel like a “less important” family member in terms of software support.
This is also what makes the S26 a scam. You don’t get the S26 Ultra’s flexible camera or charging muscle, but it still offers a flagship-like feel. You’re not buying information for the released software, which you’ll be interacting with more than the cameras. You buy the same Samsung software inaudibly in your jeans.
Its flaws are real—but so is its appeal
I will not pretend that the problems disappeared. The camera setup still feels dated next to what the competition is doing, and even the friendly reviews always come down to the same ground: refined, capable, and great value for money. The base S26 still uses a standard camera setup, while the issue of charging and battery life remains a pain in the 2026.
And that’s what makes loving this phone even more annoying. It’s not fun enough to fully praise, and it’s not bad enough to dismiss. The Galaxy S26 is a phone that makes more sense in your hands than it does on a sheet of paper. I still think that Samsung played it too safe and that this model deserves more love and attention.
I also realize that it’s one of the lightest phones you’ll be happy to carry — and that makes it much harder to stay angry.
