A glow up
The Pixel 11 Pro brings some welcome changes to its predecessor, but at a higher cost. It has a newer, more powerful Tensor G6 chipset, 256GB of storage as standard, and a new HiLight LED embedded in the camera bar that adds meaningful functionality.
Pros
- Starts with 256GB as standard
- Latest Google Tensor G6 2nm chipset
- Reliable 7-year software update promise
- Pixel UI is fantastic with monthly Pixel Drops and tons of new Gemini infused features
- HiLight is a fun new feature
- Upgraded cameras, solid hardware, magnetic Qi2.2, and IP68 rating
- Has mmWave 5G, UWB, and Bluetooth 6
Cons
- Price increased by $100
- Base 256GB model comes with lower 12GB RAM
- Smaller battery and unchanged wired charging speed from last model
- Still can't keep up with Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
Golden child
The Samsung Galaxy S26 is everything you'd expect it to be. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy delivers powerful performance that excels at gaming, and its 6.3-inch OLED is beautiful.
Pros
- 6.3-inch OLED is just as stunning as Google's flagships
- Elite gaming performance from Snapdragon chipset
- Samsung also guarantees 7 years of OS and security updates
- Solid cameras, build, and IP68 rating
- One UI 8.5 is feature rich thanks to Galaxy AI and Gemini features
- Comes with 256GB as standard
Cons
- No magnetic Qi2
- Extremely stale 25W wired charging
- Cameras are old
- Larger battery than S25 but much smaller than Pixel 11 Pro
- Lacks mmWave 5G, UWB, and Bluetooth 6
Google has shown its hand by unveiling the Pixel 11 series. Now that the latest Pixel family is out in the open, it's only natural to speculate whether it can stand its own against the Samsung Galaxy S26 family.
You might already own a Galaxy S25, or maybe you have a Pixel 10 Pro. Regardless of your reasons for curiosity, I'm here to help bring to light the key details of the Google Pixel 11 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 battle. Here's how both phones compare.
Google Pixel 11 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S26: Hardware that delivers style and substance
The Pixel 11 Pro looks nearly identical to the Pixel 10 Pro, except for the colorful HiLight LED in the camera bar.
Much like Google's upper-tier phones, the Galaxy S26 also remains largely unchanged appearance-wise when compared to the Galaxy S25. The only difference is a slightly larger screen, from 6.2 inches to 6.3 inches, which is the same as the Pixel 11 Pro.
In addition to screen sizes, they also share an IP68 rating, and both have poor PWM rates.
Category |
Google Pixel 11 Pro |
Samsung Galaxy S26 |
|---|---|---|
OS |
Android 17, 7-year update promise |
One UI 8.5 w/ Android 16, 7-year update promise |
Storage options |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
256GB, 512GB |
RAM |
12GB, 16GB |
12GB |
Display |
6.3-inch Super Actua OLED, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
6.3-inch, Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
Processor |
Google Tensor G6 |
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
Battery and charging |
4,850mAh, 30W wired, 25W Qi2.2 Pixelsnap wireless |
4,300Ah, 25W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless |
Cameras |
50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP 5x telephoto, 42MP ultrawide selfie |
50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, 12MP selfie |
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v6, NFC, Dual-band GPS, 5G mmWave (NA only), 5G Sub-6, LTE |
Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.4, 5G, LTE |
The Pixel 11 Pro has a 4,850mAh battery with 30W wired charging and 25W Qi2.2 PixelSnap wireless charging. The Galaxy S26, on the other hand, has a smaller 4,300mAh battery, slower 25W wired charging, and non-magnetic wireless charging. The S26 also lacks mmWave 5G, UWB, and Bluetooth 6. It does, however, have a beastly Snapdragon processor with Vulkan support, so it easily beats the newer Tensor G6 chipset at heavy-duty tasks like gaming.
Photography is a pleasant experience with both phones, but the cameras on the S26 are old. Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 Pro has been upgraded with larger sensors that offer a wider field of view, with the main setup consisting of a 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP 5x telephoto lenses, and the front snapper featuring a new 42MP ultrawide lens. The S26 features a lower-specced camera setup consisting of 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, and 12MP selfie lenses.
The 11 Pro finally starts at 256GB for the base model with 12GB RAM, and comes in 512GB/1TB variants with 16GB RAM. The S26 comes in 256GB/512GB with 12GB RAM.
Unfortunately, these upgrades come at an added cost, and the Pixel 11 Pro starts at $1,099, while the S26 starts at $899.
Google Pixel 11 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S26: Software and AI features
Samsung and Google both promise seven years of OS and security updates for their flagships. The S26 comes with One UI 8.5 w/Android 16 installed, while the 11 Pro comes with Android 17, so you get one extra Android update with the Pixel.
Gemini is ever-present in both phones, as Samsung and Google have strengthened ties. Many AI features will be available on both phones, including Circle to Search, Gemini Live, and agentic automation.
With the death of Samsung Messages, Google Messages is the default texting app on the S26, meaning both phones get Magic Compose and other Gemini features like sticker creation.
Samsung users enjoy features like Samsung DeX, Now Nudge (the Samsung equivalent of Magic Cue/Proactive Intelligence on Pixel), AI Select, Creative Studio, Audio Eraser, Galaxy AI Eraser, and Photo Assist. Pixel users get similar features, including a desktop mode, Best Take, Camera Coach, Audio Eraser, and Magic Eraser.
The Pixel 11 Pro also debuts some new tools and Gemini features that are currently exclusive to the Pixel 11 series. This includes Instant Night Sight, Camera Look, Gemini Intelligence and its capability to handle "multi-step task" actions, Rambler with its new sign-to-text feature, location-based insights in Gemini, and Magic Capture.
Google Pixel 11 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S26: Which small phone is better value?
Unless you're an avid mobile gamer who runs heavy-duty games and apps all the time, the Pixel 11 Pro is the better phone for most people. Sure, it costs $200 more than the S26, but you also get a more holistic smartphone experience, superior cameras, faster charging, and one additional year of software upgrades. It also supports magnetic Qi2 and HiLight, and its customizable notifications add a unique selling point.
In his review, our reviewer Brady Snyder made an astute observation about the value of the S26, stating that he found it difficult to recommend the pricier S26 Ultra, but even then, the Ultra is better value than the S26. I echo his sentiment and only recommend the S26 with a good $150-$200 discount.
