Google Pixel 4 XL vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Verdict
The Google Pixel 4 XL and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Google Pixel 4 XL is the cheaper of the two at $899 versus $1,300, a difference of about $401. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Google Pixel 4 XL stands out for astrophotography mode was groundbreaking, while Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is praised for 200mp main + 50mp 5x periscope telephoto. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Google Pixel 4 XL if…
- →Astrophotography mode was groundbreaking
- →90Hz smooth display
- →Soli radar for Motion Sense gestures
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra if…
- →200MP main + 50MP 5x periscope telephoto
- →Privacy Display limits side-angle viewing
- →S Pen built in
Pros & Cons
Google Pixel 4 XL
Pros
- Astrophotography mode was groundbreaking
- 90Hz smooth display
- Soli radar for Motion Sense gestures
- Excellent telephoto camera for portraits
- Face unlock with 3D face recognition
Cons
- No ultrawide camera
- Large forehead bezel for Soli radar
- No fingerprint scanner at all
- Motion Sense was gimmicky and limited
- Battery life was mediocre
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Pros
- 200MP main + 50MP 5x periscope telephoto
- Privacy Display limits side-angle viewing
- S Pen built in
- 0.3mm thinner than S25 Ultra at 214g
- 16GB RAM with up to 1TB
Cons
- $1300 starting price
- Same 45W charging as S25 Ultra
- Marginal upgrade if coming from S25 Ultra
Full Specifications
| Spec | Google Pixel 4 XL | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 10 | Android 16, One UI 8 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 193 g | 214 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 | Titanium frame, Gorilla Armor 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm | 162 x 77 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, OIS | 200 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps |
| Telephoto | 16 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom | 50 MP, f/2.6, 5x optical zoom, 10x optical-quality zoom |
| Ultrawide | — | 50 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3700 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 11W wireless | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.3 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Type | P-OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 3040 x 1440 | 1440 x 3120 |
| Refresh rate | 90Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 600 | 2600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.78 GHz) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.1 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in phones, see all Google products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Google Pixel 4 XL or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.