Phone comparison · UK prices · October 2026
Pixel 10 Pro XL or Galaxy S26 Ultra: which should you buy?
The short answer
The Pixel 10 Pro XL leads on the screen. The Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on battery life. We have no current UK price for the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
Comparing 2 phones
Pixel 10 Pro XLOverall score 89/100
Galaxy S26 UltraOverall score 92/100
Differences in daily life
Battery and charging
Best: Galaxy S26 UltraThe Galaxy S26 Ultra charges faster by cable (60 W vs 45 W on the Pixel), so it tops up quicker with a compatible charger.
Screen
Best: Pixel 10 Pro XLThe Pixel 10 Pro XL has the brighter screen (3,300 nits vs 2,600 nits on the Samsung), so it is easier to read in strong sunlight.
Camera
Depends on youThe Galaxy S26 Ultra's main camera has more megapixels (200 MP vs 50 MP on the Pixel), so photos can capture more fine detail in good light.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL's selfie camera has more megapixels (42 MP vs 12 MP on the Samsung), so selfies and video calls can look more detailed.
Speed
Depends on youThe Galaxy S26 Ultra's chip (Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5) scores higher in benchmark tests than the one in the Pixel (Google Tensor G5), so it should feel quicker in demanding apps and games.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL has more memory (16GB vs 12GB on the Samsung), which helps it keep more apps open at once.
Size and weight
EvenBoth have a similar size (162.8 × 76.6 mm and 163.6 × 78.1 mm) and similar screen sizes (6.8 inches and 6.9 inches), close enough not to matter much day to day.
Still can't decide?
One quick question, one tap each.
Scores
| Score | Pixel 10 Pro XL | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 77 | 78 |
| Screen | 92 | 91 |
| Camera | 95 | 97 |
| Speed | 80 | 94 |
| Toughness | 92 | 95 |
| Connections and extras | 95 | 95 |
| Overall | 89 | 92 |
How these scores are made: Each score is calculated from the maker's published specs and benchmark results, using one fixed formula for every phone. We have not tested these phones in the hand. How we score phones
Specs side by side
Display
- Type
- LTPO OLEDDynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
- Size
- 6.8 inches6.9 inches
- Resolution
- 1344×2992 pixels1440 × 3120 pixels
- PPI
- 486500
- Aspect ratio
- 20:919.5:9
- Screen-to-body ratio
- 88 %≈ 90.7 %
- Display features
- Capacitive Touchscreen HDR10+ Multi-touch displayCapacitive Touchscreen, HDR10+, Multi-touch display
- Max rated brightness
- 3300 nits2600 nits
- Screen protection
- Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 4Corning Gorilla Armor 2 Glass, DX anti-reflective coating, Mohs level 6, Privacy Display
Core Specifications
- Chipset
- Google Tensor G5Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Fabrication Technology
- 3 nm3 nm
- CPU max frequency
- 3780 MHz4.74 GHz
- Microarchitecture
- 1x 3.78 GHz – Cortex-X4 5x 3.05 GHz – Cortex-A725 2x 2.25 GHz – Cortex-A5202x 4.74 GHz – Oryon V3 Phoenix L, 6x 3.62 GHz – Oryon V3 Phoenix M
- GPU
- IMG PowerVR DXT-48-1536Qualcomm Adreno 840 @1.20 GHz
- RAM
- 16GB12GB, 16GB
- Expandable Storage
- N/ANo
Software
- Operating System
- Android 16 (Baklava) , with up to 7 major Android upgradesAndroid 16 (Baklava), with up to 7 major Android upgrades
Main Camera
- Matrix
- 50 MP200 MP
- Video Resolution
- 4320p @ 30 fps 2160p @ 24/30/60 fps 1080p @ 24/30/60/120/240 fps4320p @ 24/30 fps, 2160p @30/60/120 fps, 1080p @30/60/120/240 fps
- Video Features
- 10-bit HDR, Gyro-EIS, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)10-bit HDR, Gyro-EIS, HDR10+, Stereo Sound Rec
- Features
- PanoramaAuto-HDR, Best Face, Horizon Lock, Laser Autofocus, Panorama
- Lenses
- 50 MP , ƒ /1.7, 25 mm ( Wide-angle ), 1.2 μm , 1/1.31" Sensor size - Dual-Pixel PDAF - Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) 48 MP , ƒ /2.8, 113 mm ( Periscope telephoto ), x5 optical zoom, 1/2.55" Sensor size - Dual-Pixel PDAF - Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) 48 MP , ƒ /1.7, 123° ( Ultra-Wide angle ), 1/2.55" Sensor size - Dual-Pixel PDAF200 MP, ƒ/1.4, 24 mm ( Wide-angle ), 0.6 μm, 1/1.3" Sensor size - Multi-Directional PDAF - Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) 10 MP, ƒ/2.4, 67 mm ( Telephoto ), 1.12 μm, x3 optical zoom, 1/3.52" Sensor size - Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) - PDAF 50 MP, ƒ/2.9, 111 mm ( Periscope telephoto ), 0.7 μm, x5 optical zoom, 1/2.52" Sensor size - Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) - PDAF 50 MP, ƒ/1.9, 13 mm, 120° ( Ultra-Wide angle ), 0.7 μm - Dual-Pixel PDAF - Super Steady Video
Selfie camera
- Matrix
- 42 MP12 MP
- Lenses
- 42 MP , ƒ /2.2, 17 mm ( Ultra-Wide angle ) - PDAFSingle camera: 12 MP (Wide angle) 1.12 μm, 1/3.2" Sensor size, - Dual-Pixel PDAF
- Video Resolution
- 2160p @ 30/60 fps 1080p @ 30/60 fps2160p @ 30/60 fps 1080p @ 30 fps
- Video Features
- N/AHDR10+ High Dynamic Range (HDR)
- Features
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) PanoramaDual-Pixel PDAF
General
- Announced
- Wednesday, 20 August 2025Wednesday, 25 February 2026
- Released
- Thursday, 28 August 2025Friday, 06 March 2026
Battery
- Capacity
- 5200 mAh5000 mAh
- Wired charging power
- 45W60 W
- Wireless charging power
- 25W25 W
- Fast charging support
- noYes
- Features
- Qi2 wireless charging, Reverse wired charging,Qi2.2 wireless charging, Reverse wireless charging, Wired charging from 0-75% in 30 minutes (as advertised)
Battery Life Test
- Browsing
- 19:22 hh:mmN/A
- Video watching
- 10:10 hh:mmN/A
- Playing games
- 11:52 hh:mmN/A
Design
- Height
- 162.8 mm163.6 mm
- Width
- 76.6 mm78.1 mm
- Thickness
- 8.5 mm7.9 mm
- Weight
- 232 g214 g
Network
- SIM cards
- Dual SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM)
- Network_5G bands
- 5G: n1 (2100), n2 (1900), n3 (1800), n5 (850), n7 (2600), n8 (900), n12 (700), n14 (700), n20 (800), n25 (1900), n26 (850), n28 (700), n29 (700), n30 (2300), n38 (2600), n40 (2300), n41 (2500), n46 (5200), n48 (3500), n66 (2100), n70 (2000), n71 (600), n75 (1500), n76 (1500), n77 (3700), n78 (3500), n79 (4700), n258 (26000), n260 (39000), n261 (28000 MHz)n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n26, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n71, n75, n77, n78, n257, n258, n260, n261
- Network_4G bands
- LTE: b1 (2100), b2 (1900), b3 (1800), b4 (1700), b5 (850), b7 (2600), b8 (900), b12 (700), b13 (700), b14 (700), b17 (700), b18 (800), b19 (800), b20 (800), b21 (1500), b25 (1900), b26 (850), b28 (700), b29 (700), b30 (2300), b32 (1500), b38 (2600), b39 (1900), b40 (2300), b41 (2500), b42 (3500), b48 (3800), b66 (1700), b71 (600 MHz)b1, b2, b3, b4, b5, b7, b8, b12, b13, b14, b17, b18, b19, b20, b25, b26, b28, b29, b30, b32, b38, b39, b40, b41, b48, b66, b71
- Network_3G bands
- HSPA: 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 MHzHSPA: 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
- Network_2G bands
- GSM: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHzGSM: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz, CDMA: 800 / 1900 MHz
Connectivity
- WiFi support
- Yes ( Wi-Fi 7 )Yes (Wi-Fi 7)
- USB ports
- USB Type-C 3.2,USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2
- GPS features
- BDS, GALILEO, GLONASS, GPS (L1 & L5), NavIC, QZSSBDS, GALILEO, GLONASS, GPS, QZSS
- Wi-Fi features
- Tri-bandTri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Multimedia
- Audio type
- Stereo speakers,High-bitrate audio support, Stereo speakers