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Phone comparison

Google Pixel 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S26

Short answer

The Galaxy S26 for battery and speed, the Pixel 11 for zoom and updates.

The Galaxy S26 and Pixel 11 share a 6.3-inch screen, but the Galaxy is lighter and thinner and ran longer in battery testing. The Pixel 11 has a 5x telephoto and seven years of updates, though reviewers found its gaming and heat handling weak.

Updated Oct 16, 2026

Pixel 11 vs Galaxy S26

Google Pixel 11

$899 launch price

Compass Score 7.9 from 31 critic reviews

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Get it if you want the best Android software, long update support and a 5x telephoto camera, or you are upgrading from an older Pixel.

Skip it if you play demanding games, or you own a Pixel 10, since reviewers saw little reason to upgrade.

See prices Full review

Samsung Galaxy S26

$999 launch price

Compass Score 7.9 from 17 critic reviews

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See prices Full review

What reviewers found

Topic by topic

Each row is something review sites agreed on. Open a row for the details.

Battery life Galaxy S26 has the edge

The Galaxy ran longer in GSMArena's active use test, at 15 hours 20 minutes against 9 hours 19 minutes for the Pixel. The Pixel has the bigger cell, but reviewers still found it lasts a full day.

4 sites agree: GSMArena, Root Nation and 2 more

Performance Galaxy S26 has the edge

Reviewers found the Galaxy handles games and heavy apps without strain. The Pixel feels smooth day to day, but testers found it runs warm and falls behind in gaming.

6 sites agree: Root Nation, GSMArena and 4 more

Camera

The Pixel has a 5x telephoto, and reviewers liked it. The Galaxy has a 3x telephoto. Both take good daytime photos, and reviewers noted the Galaxy's Night Mode can over-brighten.

5 sites agree: Business Insider, GSMArena and 3 more

Build Galaxy S26 has the edge

The Galaxy is 190g and 7.3mm thick. The Pixel is 196g and 8.6mm. The Pixel is the thicker phone, and reviewers called it heavy next to rivals.

3 sites agree: Root Nation, Android Authority and 1 more

Updates Pixel 11 has the edge

Reviewers called the Pixel's seven years of OS and security updates a strength, and found Android on the Pixel clean and polished.

5 sites agree: GSMArena, TechAU and 3 more

Prices

Where to buy

The lowest prices we track today.

Google Pixel 11

Best Buy New · Unlocked · 256GB $899 See deal

Amazon New · Unlocked · 256GB $899 See deal Certified refurbished 1 seller from $709 See refurbished

See all 13 Pixel 11 deals →

Samsung Galaxy S26

Best Buy New · 256GB $899.99 See deal

Amazon New $899.99 See deal

Samsung New $899.99 See deal Certified refurbished 1 seller from $579.95 See refurbished

See all 10 Galaxy S26 deals →

Today both cost about the same at the lowest new price we track.

Spec data

How they compare

Choosing the cheaper Pixel 11 means giving up most on: Weight

Pixel 11

Galaxy S26

Price (MSRP)

$899

$128/yr of support

$999

$143/yr of support

Android

Processor

Google Tensor G6

Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Octa-core

Camera zoom

5×

3×

Battery life

15h 40m

GSMArena Active Use

15h 20m

GSMArena Active Use

Wired charging

30W

25W

Wireless charging

25W

15W

Display

Color, 120Hz

3000 nits peak

Color, 120Hz

2600 nits peak

Software support

Until 2033

7 years guaranteed

Until 2033

7 years guaranteed

Repairability

—

Weight

196g (6.9 oz)

190g (6.7 oz)

Fingerprint

Yes

Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.

Spec data

How they compare

Choosing the cheaper Pixel 11 means giving up most on: Weight

Pixel 11

Galaxy S26

Price (MSRP)

$899

$128/yr of support

Price (MSRP)

$999

$143/yr of support

Android

Processor

Google Tensor G6

Processor

Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Octa-core

Camera zoom

5×

Camera zoom

3×

Battery life

15h 40m

GSMArena Active Use

Battery life

15h 20m

GSMArena Active Use

Wired charging

30W

Wired charging

25W

Wireless charging

25W

Wireless charging

15W

Display

Color, 120Hz

3000 nits peak

Display

Color, 120Hz

2600 nits peak

Software support

Until 2033

7 years guaranteed

Software support

Until 2033

7 years guaranteed

Repairability

—

Repairability

—

Weight

196g (6.9 oz)

Weight

190g (6.7 oz)

Fingerprint

Yes

Fingerprint

Yes

Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.

Pixel 11

Galaxy S26

Specifications are sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases and may contain errors. Suggest a correction →

Third-party data

Testing & benchmarks

Pixel 11

Galaxy S26

DxOMark v6

154

photo 161 · video 142

146

photo 144 · video 151

AnTuTu v10

1.84M

3.06M

GSMArena endurance

15h 40m

Active Use

15h 20m

Active Use

iFixit repairability

—

Third-party data

Testing & benchmarks

Pixel 11

Galaxy S26

DxOMark v6

154

photo 161 · video 142

DxOMark v6

146

photo 144 · video 151

AnTuTu v10

1.84M

AnTuTu v10

3.06M

GSMArena endurance

15h 40m

Active Use

GSMArena endurance

15h 20m

Active Use

iFixit repairability

—

iFixit repairability

—

Physical comparison

Size & weight

Footprint · to scale

Pixel 11

6" × 2.8"

Galaxy S26

6.2" × 3"

Thickness · to scale

Pixel 11

0.3"

Galaxy S26

0.3"

Pixel 11

Galaxy S26

Height

6" (152.8 mm)

6.2" (158.4 mm)

Width

2.8" (72 mm)

3" (75.8 mm)

Depth

0.3" (8.6 mm)

0.3" (7.3 mm)

Weight

196g (6.9 oz)

190g (6.7 oz)

Screen

6.3"

Height

6" (152.8 mm)

Height

6.2" (158.4 mm)

Width

2.8" (72 mm)

Width

3" (75.8 mm)

Depth

0.3" (8.6 mm)

Depth

0.3" (7.3 mm)

Weight

196g (6.9 oz)

Weight

190g (6.7 oz)

Screen

6.3"

Screen

6.3"

Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.

Common questions

Pixel 11 vs Galaxy S26: FAQ

Is the Galaxy S26 or Pixel 11 better for gaming?

The Galaxy S26. Reviewers found it ran demanding games without stutter. For the Pixel 11, testers repeatedly steered gamers away, citing heat and weak graphics.

Does the Galaxy S26 or Pixel 11 have better battery life?

The Galaxy S26 did better in GSMArena's active use test, at 15 hours 20 minutes against 9 hours 19 minutes for the Pixel 11. Reviewers still said the Pixel lasts a full day.

Which is better, the Pixel 11 or Galaxy S26?

Both phones earn identical Compass Scores of 7.9, meaning critics rate them equally overall. The right choice depends entirely on which trade-offs matter more to you. Scroll through the spec-by-spec breakdown above to see where each phone pulls ahead.

Which phone is more affordable, the Pixel 11 or Galaxy S26?

The Pixel 11 launches at $899, which is $100 less than the Galaxy S26 at $999. Factoring in guaranteed software support, the Pixel 11 works out to roughly $128/year compared to $143/year for the Galaxy S26. The cheaper phone also wins on long-term cost per year of support.

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