Google’s Pixel 11 series is on sale this week, a notable exception for a brand that rarely offers meaningful discounts. The Pixel 11 Pro now starts at $800 after a 27% price reduction. Moving from 12GB RAM and 256GB storage to 16GB and 512GB adds $120. This year, the 256GB Pro and Pro XL models have less RAM than the higher-capacity versions, unlike previous generations. The new model also brings better battery life, faster wireless charging, a chipset that is improved but still flawed, and 4K60 HDR video recording.
The standard Pixel 11 carries a smaller 22% discount and starts at $700. With only $100 between it and the Pro, the Pro is the better recommendation: it adds an LTPO display, better telephoto and ultra-wide cameras, and the option for 16GB RAM. Buyers who want a larger screen can choose the Pixel 11 Pro XL, which has a 6.8-inch display compared with 6.3 inches on the other two models. The XL also offers considerably faster charging and nicer speakers.
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra remains expensive. A couple of weeks ago, a 256GB unit was $950 and a 512GB unit was $1,050; now those same capacities cost $155 and $105 more, respectively. That leaves a large gap between the S26 Ultra and the Pixel 11 Pro XL.
The Galaxy S26+ is a different story. Its 256GB version is $25 cheaper than it was a couple of weeks ago, while the 512GB upgrade costs the same. It is thinner and lighter than the Ultra and cheaper, though the Ultra wins the overall comparison. Compared with the S25+, it offers a faster chipset, longer battery life, better speakers, and camera improvements.
The base Galaxy S26 is back to a $730 starting price for 256GB, and the 512GB upgrade is now $810, down from $890. That keeps it $70 to $110 below equivalent Pixel 11 Pro configurations. The S26 uses a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, described as a massive upgrade over the flawed Tensor G6. Battery life is nearly identical, but the Galaxy charges slightly faster, though it is non-magnetic unless a special case is used.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is also discounted, which the roundup notes is unusual. A 13% discount on the base model makes it $250 cheaper than the base Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. The Galaxy has the chipset advantage and a better main camera, at 200MP 1/1.3-inch versus 48MP 1/1.56-inch, but its telephoto lens is shorter, at 10MP 3x/69mm versus 10.8MP 5x/112mm. Their displays are quite similar at 6.5 inches cover and 8.0 inches inner, but the Galaxy is thinner at 8.9mm versus 10.1mm and lighter at 215g versus 239g.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 is closer in price to the Pixel 11 Pro Fold but is a different kind of foldable. It has a 7.6-inch 4:3 inner display and a 5.5-inch cover display with an aspect ratio close to 16:10. It lacks the Ultra’s 200MP main camera and has no telephoto lens. Its true rival is the Apple iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable, which is in short supply and has had some units affected by a display issue. Apple is replacing affected units, but a discount is not expected soon because the Duo is selling faster than Apple can make it.
For Pixel buyers, Google offers Pixelsnap cases, its branding for magnetic Qi 2. Cases for the slab Pixel 11 models cost $40, while the foldable case is $65. The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are also highlighted as an upgrade over the original Pro, with more comfort, better audio quality, and stronger active noise cancellation. The roundup notes it may earn a commission from qualifying sales.
Sources: GSMArena.