Ahead of its August 12 unveiling, the Pixel 11 Pro XL reveals a focus on software polish and display brightness, but faces tough competition from the hardware powerhouse Galaxy S26 Ultra in price and performance.
Google’s Pixel 11 Pro XL is not due to be unveiled until the Made by Google event on August 12, but the early picture suggests a familiar story: a premium handset built around software polish rather than raw hardware dominance. Tom’s Guide says the new model is expected to sit at the top of the Pixel 11 range, with a large display, strong battery ambitions and the latest Google AI features, but it may still face an uphill battle against Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra.
On price, the two phones are expected to land in the same territory. Tom’s Guide says the Pixel 11 Pro XL could start at $1,299, matching the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s launch price for the base model with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. Samsung’s phone is already on sale, however, and discounts have started to appear. Samsung confirmed the S26 Ultra’s launch in February, with pre-orders opening on February 25 and sales beginning on March 11 in select markets, according to SamMobile and PhoneArena.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra also appears to have the stronger hardware package. Tom’s Guide reports that Samsung’s phone has a 6.9-inch screen, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip and a more versatile camera array, including a 200MP main sensor. The Pixel 11 Pro XL is tipped to use a 6.8-inch display, Google’s Tensor G6 processor and a 50MP main camera paired with 48MP ultra-wide and telephoto lenses. MacRumors reported that Samsung has also leaned harder into AI on the S26 line, while adding a Privacy Display feature designed to make side viewing harder.
Display and design may be where Google narrows the gap. Tom’s Guide says the Pixel 11 Pro XL is expected to be slightly heavier than Samsung’s phone, partly because of built-in Qi2 magnets, but it may also deliver a much brighter panel, with rumours pointing to a 3,600-nit peak versus 2,600 nits for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Samsung, meanwhile, continues with its vertical camera layout, while Google sticks to its horizontal bar and may add a rear notification light called Pixel Glow. The Samsung handset already has the edge on known extras such as reverse wireless charging.
Battery life and performance still look like Samsung’s strongest arguments. Tom’s Guide says the Pixel 10 Pro XL, which the new model is expected to follow, fell short of the Galaxy S26 Ultra in lab testing, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL’s smaller battery does not suggest a major change. Android Central’s comparison says the Pixel may benefit from a more efficient Tensor G6 chip and a newer modem, but still looks slower than Samsung’s flagship and less convincing for gaming. For now, the broader verdict remains unchanged: Google’s next Ultra-class Pixel may improve in key areas, but Samsung still appears to have the more complete flagship.
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