The Galaxy S26 will be great — but Samsung left somethi…

The Galaxy Note 9 used to represent Samsung

When I talk about older smartphones, it’s easy to dismiss me as lost in nostalgia, but that’s a mistake. There are plenty of smartphone features that were lost to time that have legitimate uses in 2026, beyond just pining for the old days. The Galaxy Note 9 is a perfect example. It was more of a Swiss Army knife than a smartphone, and I knew that when I had it in my pocket, I was covered for any scenario.

Sure, the Galaxy S26 will most likely be an excellent smartphone, but I wouldn’t mind if Samsung brought back some of what made the Note 9 special. Smartphones replaced our iPods and Zunes, becoming the central device for music in our lives. It’s ridiculous that they can’t have the same audio flexibility those players did. Bluetooth isn’t always an ideal solution for several reasons. You have to make sure your headphones are charged, and there may still be connection or pairing issues.

Notification lights allow me to see which apps or people are trying to contact me, even from across the room. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten into an old car or wanted to connect my smartphone to a speaker system, only to be frustrated. Dongles are a mess, and I don’t want to be required to carry around a separate cable just to have proper compatibility. Headphone jacks still have a place in 2026, and no one can convince me otherwise.

I feel the same way about microSD card slots. On-device storage is limited, and you don’t always have access to the cloud. In addition, if you’re in a place with a spotty connection, downloading large files isn’t ideal. A microSD card gives you additional storage on your device and instant access to your media and files, regardless of where you are. It’s still a smart choice, especially if you have a limited data plan through your carrier.

I was devastated when the always-on displays marked the end of LED notifications. Sure, I love a good AOD, and it’s useful when my device is sitting on my desk right next to me. But what about a few feet away or at an angle? Notification lights allow me to see which apps or people are trying to contact me, even from across the room. I’m glad to see them return on devices like the Clicks Communicator, which is slated for release later this year.

And I’d love to see them come back to flagship devices as well. It’s getting harder and harder to shake the thought that Samsung is quietly sunsetting the S pen. I’m glad the company didn’t remove it from the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but I would like to see it return to its former glory. I use the S pen often, and it was annoying when Samsung removed Bluetooth functionality. I may not have been using it as a remote shutter for selfies every day, but it was there when I needed it, which was the enjoyable part of being a Note 9 owner.

If we’re adding a notification LED back in, maybe some of that extra bezel could be used to house an iris scanner. The iris scanner was more secure than traditional face unlock, and I had confidence using it to verify my identity for banking. Unlike a fingerprint sensor, it didn’t matter if my hands were wet, greasy, or covered by gloves. I had access to a safe, reliable way to unlock my device.

I understand why MST payments were discontinued on Samsung phones. The technology is older, and most credit card terminals have upgraded to Tap to Pay. Still, I go to stores with older readers, and much like the S pen, I’d love the functionality to be there on the off chance I need it. There’s a reason this is much further down on my wishlist, but in a perfect world, on my perfect device, MST would still exist on Samsung phones.

Samsung’s less expensive A-series phones still have a headphone jack and microSD expandable storage, so I know it’s possible. Even though commercial interests make it unlikely for us to see a return of all the features I’ve mentioned, I don’t think clawing back one or two would be the end of the world. Hopefully, the return of more purpose-built phones like the Clicks Communicator will bring back the legacy features we know and love.

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