Google Pixel 11 vs. Samsung Galaxy S26: Which AI phone should you buy?

Samsung's Galaxy S26 has been out for some time now, but it gets some fierce competition from Google with the new Pixel 11 series. With newer chips and more capable AI, the battle between these two phones (and the companies making them) is surely going to be pretty interesting.

Between the Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26, both phones have the latest chips, triple camera systems, and access to some of the latest Gemini AI features. So, which "small" AI phone should you buy?

Google Pixel 11 vs. Samsung Galaxy S26: One has the more effective design

Like the Galaxy S26 and its predecessor, the Pixel 11 looks just like the Pixel 10. If you didn't know any better, the Pixel 11 could easily pass for the Pixel 10, save for some small details. For example, the camera housing on the back is fully glass this time.

There are also some new colors, which include Hibiscus, Frost, Obsidian, and Pistachio. I am a bit sad that Indigo likely won't be back this time around, but the pink color looks quite good.

One benefit the Pixel 11 has over the Galaxy S26 is built-in magnets for Qi2 charging. It helps that the Pixel camera bar sits higher and horizontally, allowing for more space. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 camera bar sits vertically to one side, which limits internal space and is likely why Samsung has yet to fully adopt Qi2.

Furthermore, the Galaxy S26 tends to wobble when you put it face up on a flat surface, something you won't get with the Pixel 11.

The Galaxy S26 is still not a bad-looking phone by any means, and it's much thinner and overall smaller than the Pixel 11. Of course, this is due to a smaller battery and the lack of Qi2, but that thinner profile makes it potentially more aesthetically appealing.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Samsung Galaxy S26: But the hardware favors another

The Pixel 11 is powered by the Tensor G6, a much more powerful and efficient chip, though we'll have to wait to test it to see how much of an improvement it is in the real world.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, perhaps the most powerful smartphone chip on the market right now. Both phones are paired with 256GB of base internal storage and 12GB of RAM, which makes them proper flagships for 2026.

That said, Snapdragon tends to be more performant than Tensor, and that's likely the case here too. We'll have to test the Pixel 11 in the real world and benchmark both to get a clearer picture.

The battery hasn't changed much on the Pixel 11, but it's still much larger than the one in the Galaxy S26. I haven't had many issues with the Pixel 10 battery, and the Pixel 11's more efficient chip should help in that regard.

The Galaxy S26 has a smaller battery but can still last all day. The downside is that it has relatively slow 25W wired charging, while the Pixel 11 retains 30W charging. The upside is that the Pixel still has Qi2 magnetic charging, now at a faster 25W, while the Galaxy S26 needs a case and only charges at 15W.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Samsung Galaxy S26: Who has the better camera?

Both phones have triple camera systems, although they're a bit different in terms of the resolutions.

The Pixel's 48MP camera is slightly larger and has a wider FOV than its predecessor, and it's about the same size as the Galaxy S26. Still, the Pixel is known for great processing, so it could have the upper hand here. The telephoto camera also features 5x optical zoom, which should get you closer to a subject and with better clarity than the Galaxy S26.

The Galaxy S26 offers great camera editing, and we expect it to get some of the newer camera features introduced in the Galaxy Z 8 series, such as MyFan Cam. Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 has new features like Magic Capture, which can automatically produce high-quality photos from videos so you don't miss a moment.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Samsung Galaxy S26: One gets the best of both worlds

The software experience is very different on Samsung and Pixel phones. One UI is clean and highly customizable, while the Pixel UI is simple, colorful, and bubbly.

Google has a nice suite of AI capabilities, and Android 17 brings new social features to the Pixel 11, including an entire Creator Suite with social media gridlines, an on-screen teleprompter, and project folders.

The Galaxy S26 doesn't have any of these features, but it still gets some of Google's latest, such as Gemini Screen Automation. Samsung also has its own suite of Galaxy AI features, many of which are baked into the Gallery app for easy access to powerful editing tools.

Furthermore, both phones get Gemini Intelligence features, which provide even more advanced AI capabilities.

Aside from the AI, the Pixel 11 receives seven years of software updates. The Galaxy S26 should receive Android 17 any day now, and both phones will likely receive software support until 2033.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Samsung Galaxy S26: Which should you buy?

Overall, choosing between the Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 comes down to your priorities. The Pixel 11 Tensor G6 is a nice step up, although if you're looking for raw power and not just AI prowess, the Galaxy S26 might be the phone for you.

The Galaxy S26 also has the upper hand in software, taking advantage of solutions from both Google and Samsung, although the Pixel 11 has an impressive suite of features. Additionally, the Pixel likely has the better camera as well as built-in magnetic charging, but the Galaxy S26 is no slouch.