I criticized the Galaxy S26 in my review, yet it remains frustratingly easy to appreciate.

      When I first got my hands on the Galaxy S26, my expectations were moderated regarding Samsung’s latest compact flagship. These expectations were justified for several reasons, as I criticized it extensively in my review. The camera hardware seems outdated, the charging speed is lackluster, and for a phone that starts at around $899, being described as “safe” isn't exactly a compliment.

      Nevertheless, I was genuinely surprised to find that after spending more time with the Galaxy S26, it still remains in my pocket as my secondary phone. During this time, I even grew quite fond of it. Despite its numerous flaws, the frustrating part is that it is still incredibly easy to like.

      It reminded me of how enjoyable a truly compact flagship can be.

      Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

      The primary reason for this is also the simplest. The Galaxy S26 feels like a ‘mobile phone’ once more, highlighting the mobile aspect. It isn’t an oversized slab, nor a mini-tablet (or phablet, as some might say). It’s simply a flagship that easily fits in your pocket, rests comfortably in your hand, and doesn’t make one-handed use feel like a juggling act. My daily phone, the Xiaomi 15, is already a compact flagship, but the S26 takes that further with its impressively light 167g body and smaller dimensions.

      And that matters more than I’d care to admit. I can complain endlessly about the limitations in charging and the camera’s performance, but the S26 excels in other everyday aspects of phone usage. It may not excel in the essentials, yet it remains easy to take out, easy to carry, and easy to live with. There is a sort of freedom that larger flagship phones often overlook.

      You still get the Ultra feel where it truly counts.

      Vikhyaat Vivek / Digital Trends

      Another reason the S26 keeps winning me over is its software. One UI 8.5 is still one of the best Android interfaces available, providing a polished, responsive, and feature-rich experience along with the same general Galaxy AI functionality that characterizes the rest of the Galaxy S26 lineup.

      Samsung also promises seven years of OS and security updates, ensuring that the base model doesn’t come across as the “less significant” member of the family regarding software support.

      This is what makes the S26 surprisingly appealing. While it may lack the S26 Ultra’s camera prowess or charging capabilities, it still provides much of the same flagship feel. You're not getting a stripped-down software experience, which is something you’ll interact with far more than the cameras. You’re getting the same Samsung software in a form that doesn’t feel overly bulky in your pocket.

      Vikhyaat Vivek / Digital Trends

      Its shortcomings are real—but so is its appeal.

      I won't pretend that the issues have disappeared. The camera setup still feels outdated compared to competitors, and even favorable reviews often highlight the same point: it’s polished, competent, and far too iterative for the price. The base S26 continues to use the familiar camera configuration, while the charging performance and battery life remain problematic in 2026.

      And this makes appreciating this phone even more frustrating. It’s not thrilling enough to fully commend, and not poor enough to disregard. The Galaxy S26 is the type of phone that makes more sense in your hands than it does on paper. I still believe Samsung played it too conservatively and that this model deserves a bit more care and attention.

      I just also think it is one of the easier flagship phones to genuinely enjoy carrying around—and that makes it much harder to be upset with.