Android Central Labs
Android Central Labs is a weekly column dedicated to in-depth analysis, experimentation, and a focused look at the technology you use. This includes phones, tablets, and everything in between.
Samsung built the Galaxy S26 series to do more than ever before, but it left out some of the physical buttons that most other modern smartphones have. Whether you prefer OnePlus’ alert slider, the iPhone-like camera shutter button, or the customizable keys found on the side of many brands, you’re not getting any of these features on the Samsung Galaxy S26 without some help.
These cases are built for function and protection, and offers an ultra-slim aramid fiber style called the Pitaka Edge, as well as a “military grade” protection style case (called the Cairn) that is better for drop resistance. Both cases have different style buttons and levels of protection, so let’s take a look at the options and see which one is right for you.
Article continues below
Why add more buttons?
As I mentioned earlier, Samsung is one of the few companies No Adding more buttons to your smartphone. Some people may prefer this, but physical buttons are also one of the best ways to add tasks that might otherwise take multiple steps to solve, and it also lets you isolate tasks to a specific button, so you don’t have to do finger gymnastics to get to it.
Samsung is missing out on a vast wealth of options by not including at least one side button. Nevertheless, Pitaka cases add two additional buttons. Ahead Missing button. These buttons are called Aaron Buttons and act as NFC tags that can be translated to almost any system function with the help of Pitaka’s Aaron Button app and the Samsung Routines feature built into your Galaxy phone. This is a huge boon for convenience and one of the best ways to get the most out of your Galaxy smartphone.
pitka edge
The Pitaka Edge is designed for those who want the thinnest case possible without real drop protection. It retails for $59.99 on Amazon And comes in 5 amazing colors and styles.
This case adds significant grip and scratch protection, as well as a display corner lip to protect the display a bit. It has all the expected cutouts and protects the rear camera lenses, but does nothing to help the obnoxious camera island shape.
image 1 Of 6
The Edge Case doesn’t cover the power or volume buttons, but it does add a series of three semi-capacitive buttons on the left side of the phone. These buttons require a physical click, so they are not true capacitive buttons, but they are flat and require more force to click than the raised buttons on the Cairn case.
Still, they work in the same basic way: when pressed they transmit an NFC tag signal to the phone. You have to press and hold to activate the tag, so a simple click won’t activate the action.
Pitaka Cairn
As the name suggests, the Pitaka Cairn Case is sturdy and adds a bit of bulk to the phone. It is slightly more complex than the Edge and thus has a lower retail price a little more $69.99Available in three great colors and styles.
It not only provides better protection for your Galaxy S26 than the Edge Case, but also offers tactile buttons that are easy to use. You’ll also find a MagSafe magnet on the back that supports Qi2 wireless charging.
Surprisingly, despite the extra thickness, the camera island is the same size as the Edge case and the naked phone, so the case doesn’t eliminate this phone’s excessive wobble on the table. However, it does have a nice lip around the edge of the display, so you can expect full protection for every corner of the phone.
image 1 Of 6
The real stars of the show are the touch buttons, which not only provide extra clickiness to the power and volume rockers, but also add a set of three clever buttons to the left side of the phone. Each of these triggers an NFC tag inside the case, allowing you to customize an action via the Aeron Button app, which I’ll explain below.
As with the Pitaka Edge, these buttons have to be held down to function. However, unlike the Edge, you don’t need to grip both sides of the phone to get enough leverage to press a button. This makes the Cairn case more one-handed friendly.
The app that powers it all
The Aaron Button app is available on the Galaxy Apps Store and can be easily downloaded on any Samsung Galaxy phone. If you haven’t customized the buttons yet, a simple click will open a prompt to download the app.
Once you download and install the app, it will show you a selection of commonly used preset commands for each button. You don’t need to use any of these commands if you don’t want to; They are simply suggested actions. Clicking on any of them, then holding one of the side buttons, will assign it to that button.
Any actions that can be mapped through the Aaron Button app bypass the System Routines feature, which, unfortunately, makes management a little more complicated than necessary. Otherwise, the Samsung Routines app handles all NFC tag customization.
Open Settings, then go to Modes & Routines to see a list of tasks customized through the Routines app. You can set an action by following these steps:
1. open settingsthen choose Mode and routine.
2. Tap daily routine on the bottom.
3. Click plus button at the top right to create a routine, or select the routine from the list.
4. tap Plus button next to If trigger, then select nfc tagged from the list.
5. When the signal appears, press and hold button You want to specify an action.
6. button two a name. I like to name it whatever I want the action to be.
7. Back on the Create Routine menu, tap Plus Then button under section. Select any action you want this button to perform.
8. When you’re done, tap save button.
a strong option
image 1 Of 4
Pitaka cases are not your typical smartphone cases. They add customizable buttons and features that really matter, as well as the usual protection expected from each style. Normally, I prefer thin cases that add little or no bulk to the phone, but the Cairn case’s buttons are so easy to use that I think I prefer that style over the Edge.
Moreover, it is a no-brainer decision for any Galaxy S26 owner. You get three customizable buttons and more features than competing phones, all powered by Pitaka One UI.
My three favorite functions are flashlight, launch Gemini, and sound/silent mode. I’ve also found that using a button to open the voice recorder can be incredibly useful and it’s a nice replacement for opening Gemini, especially if you bring back Gemini gesture triggers.
