Pixel 11 Pro vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: Comparison

The short answer

These are not two sizes of the same idea. The Pixel 11 Pro is a 6.3-inch, 204 g phone; the Galaxy S26 Ultra is a 6.9-inch, 214 g phone with a fourth rear camera and a quoted charging speed. If you want the smaller phone, the choice is mostly made. If you want the biggest screen and the most camera options, the Ultra is the one to look at, for $200 more at US launch prices.

Size and screen

Google lists the Pixel 11 Pro at 152.7 x 71.9 x 8.4 mm with a 6.3-inch, 1280 x 2856 LTPO OLED panel (Google tech specs). Samsung lists the S26 Ultra at 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm with a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (Samsung specification table). Both refresh between 1 and 120 Hz.

The Ultra is about 11 mm taller and 6 mm wider, but 0.5 mm thinner. That width is what you notice when reaching across the screen one-handed. The Ultra also has a built-in Privacy Display that Samsung says limits side-angle viewing without a separate screen protector.

Cameras

Both have a 5x optical telephoto: 48 MP on the Pixel and 50 MP on the Galaxy. The Galaxy adds a 10 MP 3x telephoto and uses a 200 MP main sensor, against the Pixel’s 50 MP main and 48 MP ultrawide (Google; Samsung).

The practical difference is the 3x lens: portraits and mid-distance shots can use a dedicated optical lens on the Ultra instead of a crop from the main sensor. Megapixel counts alone do not tell you which phone takes better photos.

Battery and charging

The typical capacities are close: 4,850 mAh for the Pixel and 5,000 mAh for the Galaxy. Neither figure is a measured runtime.

Charging is where the published numbers differ. Samsung quotes up to 75% in about 30 minutes with a 60W adapter. Google quotes up to 55% in about 30 minutes with a 30W or higher charger and does not publish a maximum wattage. Both chargers are sold separately. Both phones charge wirelessly; Google specifies Qi2.2 Pixelsnap up to 25W.

Updates and support

Google promises 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates, counted from first US Google Store availability (Google). Samsung promises seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates for the Galaxy S26 series, counted from the global launch date (Samsung US). Samsung’s security page lists the S26 Ultra for monthly security updates (Samsung Mobile Security).

Both promises run about seven years, and both count from launch rather than from your purchase date, so a phone bought a year after release has about six years left.

Price and configurations

At US launch, the Pixel 11 Pro started at $1,099 and the Galaxy S26 Ultra at $1,299.99, both with 256 GB (Google; Samsung US). Both offer 512 GB and 1 TB versions. The 256 GB Pixel has 12 GB of RAM, and so does the 256 GB Galaxy; the Pixel moves to 16 GB at 512 GB, while the Galaxy stays at 12 GB until 1 TB.

Who each one suits

Choose the Pixel 11 Pro if you want the smaller, lighter phone, a stated seven-year OS commitment, and a lower starting price. Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want the largest display, the extra 3x telephoto, the privacy screen, and a published fast-charging figure. Use the table below to check any other value across every configuration of both phones.

Sources

5 official sourcesLast checked Sep 22, 2026Show sourcesHide sources

• support.google.com · checked Sep 22, 2026Google Pixel Help: Pixel phone hardware tech specs
• blog.google · checked Sep 22, 2026Google Keyword: Google introduces Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL
• news.samsung.com · checked Sep 22, 2026Samsung Global Newsroom: Galaxy S26 series launch and specification table
• news.samsung.com · checked Sep 22, 2026Samsung US Newsroom: Galaxy S26 series US pricing and availability
• security.samsungmobile.com · checked Sep 22, 2026Samsung Mobile Security: security updates scope