The new Google Pixel 11 was just presented this week. This often leads some consumers to wonder how Google’s latest smartphone compares to Apple’s current generation iPhone. However, this is not really the most appropriate comparison. Because the phones run different operating systems, owners of either device may be reluctant to change ecosystems in search of greener pastures. The real showdown is between the Google Pixel 11 and its most direct Android rival: Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S26. Let’s put these two Android devices face to face. Google Pixel 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Price With the cost of technology rising amid global shortages of semiconductors, memory and storage, price is likely to be a priority for many consumers. Both the Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26 start at $899 with 256GB and 12GB of memory. The Google Pixel 11 is currently only available through pre-order and the Samsung Galaxy S26 has been available for a few months. Consumers looking to buy a new device right away can find discounts on the Galaxy S26 right now. If you don’t mind waiting, both smartphones will likely be similarly priced once the Pixel 11 is available in stores. SEE ALSO: Tech editors react to Made by Google event and new Pixel device features Google Pixel 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Specifications Both the Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26 offer real processing power. After all, these are the flagship smartphones from two of the leading Android device manufacturers. Matchable Lightspeed The Pixel 11 is powered by Google’s latest custom chipset, the Tensor G6, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, which has been optimized for Galaxy smartphones. Since AI features are a major selling point for both devices, processing power will be very important. So which is more powerful? While the Tensor G6 is a significant improvement over its predecessor, the Tensor G5, experts have shared their disappointment in the chipset’s capabilities. Don’t get us wrong, Google has certainly been able to optimize its own chipset specifically for the Pixel 11’s Gemini-powered features. However, based on currently available performance benchmarks, the Galaxy S26’s Snapdragon 8 processor takes the lead in areas including CPU performance, gaming, and battery life. Aside from the chipset that powers each smartphone, the Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 are quite similar in terms of specifications. Both devices run Android. Both have a 6.3-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, although the Pixel 11 has an OLED display and the Galaxy S26 has an AMOLED display. Both smartphones are quite similar in size, although the Pixel 11 is 0.1 inches taller than the Galaxy S26. Additionally, both models offer 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB or 512 GB of storage. Perhaps the most notable differences are their batteries and their weight. The Pixel 11 has a 4,985 mAh battery, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 has a 4,300 mAh battery. The Samsung Galaxy S26 is also almost an ounce lighter than the Pixel 11. SEE ALSO: I tested the cameras iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra Google Pixel 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Cameras Smartphone cameras are a big selling point, and both the Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 offer four of them: three rear cameras and a selfie camera. The Pixel 11 has a 48 MP wide-angle camera, while the Galaxy S26 has a 50 MP camera. The Pixel 11’s ultra-wide camera is 13 MP, while the Galaxy S26 has a 12 MP ultra-wide camera. The Pixel 11 has a 10.8 MP telephoto camera, while the Galaxy S26 has a 10 MP telephoto camera. The Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26 have 10.5MP and 12MP selfie cameras, respectively. As you can see, the camera specifications on both devices are quite similar and the slight differences will barely be noticeable to most. The real comparison may come down to the software features of each phone. The Pixel 11 has features like Camera Looks and Magic Capture, while Galaxy AI offers its own photo editing tools. However, one notable difference is the video resolution. While the Samsung Galaxy S26 can record 8K video, the Pixel 11 is limited to 4K recording.
