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And that’s why I wanted to review the Galaxy S26. I use a Galaxy S23 Ultra daily and am also a long-time Samsung flagship user; I also have a Galaxy S21. I was curious to see how much the base models have evolved. And after spending significant time with the Galaxy S26, I can confidently say that with this phone, “Samsung isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, just trying to get it right.”

Samsung Galaxy S26 specifications

This is one of those phones that just sounds right.

It’s surprisingly smooth, light and feels like a breath of fresh air, especially when you’re coming from a big phone like the Ultra series. For someone like me who has relatively small hands, this form factor seems like a dream. Rounded corners enhance ease of one-handed use, and the overall ergonomics are excellent.

The aluminum frame with frosted glass back gives it a proper flagship feel. It’s subtle and undeniably premium.

Samsung clearly followed the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy with the Galaxy S26. The design is clean, familiar, and functional. I like that Samsung isn’t chasing trends by adding unnecessary buttons or gimmicks.

There’s a noticeable camera bump, and yes, it does introduce some wobble when placed flat on a table. But realistically, most people use a case anyway, which reduces this problem significantly.

In terms of durability, you get Armored Aluminum, IP68 water and dust resistance, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back. And since the glass back is frosted, it’s somewhat immune to stains or scratches over time.

Content consumption is where this display really shines. Watching videos, scrolling through social media or just browsing the internet, the display is vibrant. Being outside has no effect on visibility.

There’s not really much to complain about here, but I have a question for Samsung: why keep the best display technology only for the Ultra models?

Features like the anti-reflective coating seen on previous Ultras would have been a great addition here. It’s a small thing, but it would have made an already great display even better. That said, it’s still one of the best smartphone displays you can get right now. Easily a benchmark.

The ultrawide camera is great for landscapes and group shots, capturing a fairly wide area without compromising the quality too much.

The telephoto lens just feels like a helping hand. It’s not particularly exciting on its own, but it shines when used for portraits. This gives you a natural, DSLR-like background blur, which adds a nice touch to portrait shots.

For advanced users, there’s a lot to see in the S26’s camera. Samsung continues to offer a robust set of tools for those who like to tweak and experiment with their photography. Be it manual controls, advanced editing, or shooting in different modes, there’s plenty here to keep enthusiasts engaged.

When it comes to video, performance and quality are largely the same as last year, but Samsung has introduced a new feature called Horizon Lock. This is welcome and helps keep your shots level. I’m glad this wasn’t limited to the Ultra model.

Now let’s talk about AI. Samsung has leaned heavily toward AI-powered photography, and it shows. You can do some really impressive editing with it. For example, I took a photo in daylight and turned it into a rain scene and then into a night shot using AI.

The biggest thing for me was how firmly it handled change. In one instance, it even turned a brick in the wall into a light. It’s a small detail, but you might only notice it if you viewed the original image. To anyone else, it looks like a natural part of the scene.

Overall, the camera system is amazing, not too “pro” but still has all the features you need. It works perfectly for users who just want to point and shoot, and for those who enjoy experimenting and pushing their creativity.

It handles everything you throw at it. From demanding games like Genshin Impact to more extreme scenarios like emulation, the Galaxy S26 performs impressively well. I took it further by testing Switch and PC emulation, which are some of the most demanding tasks you can run on an Android device.

And the results were truly amazing. The phone managed to run Nier: Automata via Switch emulation at a good 50-60 fps.

Battery drain during games is pretty decent, although emulation did consume power more aggressively than is to be expected.

Thermally, the phone gets hot when pressed hard, especially during extended gaming sessions. But for everyday tasks it remains cool and smooth. App launches are quick, animations are fluid, and overall performance feels smooth.

RAM management is also solid; The phone is able to keep apps in memory even after being idle for a while, which is great for multitasking.

For content creators, the phone handles video and photo editing with ease. Editing footage directly on the device is quick and efficient, making it a reliable tool for projects on the go.

It’s also worth noting that Exynos no longer feels behind Snapdragon, at least in practical use. That gap has reduced significantly.

Samsung’s promise of 7 years of software support is a big plus, especially for users who plan to maintain their device for a long period. That said, I think Samsung can improve its update rollout speed to catch up with some competitors.

From AI-powered photo editing to call screening and enhancements to Bixby, Samsung has added a lot of smart features. Although you may not use all of them daily, they come in handy in specific situations.

At this point, AI on smartphones has matured so much that it feels less like a gimmick and more like a utility. You may not notice it all the time, but when you need it, it’s there.

However, if you’re an avid user of gaming or extended camera sessions, you may need to top it up before the day is over. Charging is still limited to 25W, and there’s no charger in the box. At this point, it’s something that most users have come to accept, even if it’s not ideal. Overall, the battery backup is good but better than its predecessor.

If you’re thinking about upgrading from the Galaxy S25, I suggest holding on for a bit longer. For new buyers, this powerful, reliable and comfortable flagship is one of the best choices at the moment.