Is the new (pricier) Pixel 11 series still a good value compared to Samsung's Galaxy phones?

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Pixel 11 prices may rise by $100 or more across the series, challenging their reputation for value. 
• Samsung often wins on hardware, while Pixel leads on software.
• Pixel Drops and early Android updates are the real value.

Google’s Pixel phones have, for quite some time, been premium enough to compete with Samsung’s best phones, but they were usually a bit cheaper. That made overlooking any performance or hardware gaps very easy.

But the Pixel 11 series will be different.

Also: Google’s Ask Maps may be more exciting than the new Pixel drop

Based on reported pricing, Google might charge Samsung-level prices for its next phones. The hardware still sounds competitive, according to what’s leaked and known so far, but the Pixel value proposition is now more about the software than the lower price.

When are the new phones coming?

Google has confirmed that its next generation of Pixel devices will arrive during a Made by Google event on Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. ET. Preorders are expected to open that day, while reports suggest an Aug. 20 retail release.

Also: I’ve been a Google diehard for years – here’s my Pixel 11 wishlist

Samsung’s latest phones, the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, were announced Feb. 25 and released March 11. Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 on July 22, with availability on Aug. 7.

Pixel’s old price advantage is gone

A recent leak reported by The Verge and others claimed the Pixel 11 will cost $899.

Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 Pro will be $1,099, the Pixel 11 Pro XL will be $1,299, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold will be $1,899. That’s a $100 increase for the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro, although they are expected to double their starting storage from 128GB to 256GB. The Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pro Fold, however, would cost $100 more while retaining the same 256GB starting capacity.

Also: Own a Pixel? You can add device protection now for $5/month

Those new prices almost perfectly mirror Samsung’s current lineup.

The 256GB Galaxy S26 starts at $899.99, the S26+ costs $1,099.99, and the S26 Ultra starts at $1,299.99. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 costs $1,899.99, while the bigger Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099.99.

Keep in mind that until Google makes everything official, specifications and prices remain rumors.

Let’s talk hardware

OK, here’s a basic spec sheet for Samsung’s latest Galaxy series:

• The Galaxy S26 includes a 6.3-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, 12GB of RAM, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, and three rear cameras, including a 3x optical telephoto lens.
• The S26+ adds a 6.7-inch QHD+ display, a 4,900mAh battery, and charging at up to 45W.
• The Galaxy S26 Ultra includes a 6.9-inch QHD+ display, a 5,000mAh battery, charging at up to 60W, an integrated S Pen, and four rear cameras, including a 200MP main sensor and 3x and 5x optical telephoto cameras.

Now compare that to Pixel 11. It will reportedly use Google’s Tensor G6 processor. These chips are optimized for AI and computational photography, which, for the end user, typically means excellent photos and clever features. Samsung’s Snapdragon, on the other hand, is known for its performance, its ability to power more capable cameras, and faster charging.

Also: The new Pixel 11 isn’t enough to make me give up my Pixel 9 Pro – here’s why

The standard Pixel 11 is thought to have a 6.3-inch OLED display and three rear cameras, while the Pro models might offer upgraded LTPO displays and better wide, ultrawide, and telephoto cameras. The Pixel 11 Pro XL will likely be 6.8 inches in size.

As for charging, rumors for the Pixel 11 battery indicate a base capacity of around 4,985mAh, up to 30 hours of battery life, and fast charging speeds that can reportedly reach a 55% charge in about 30 minutes using matching 30W to 45W USB-C adapters.

The foldable comparison is more interesting. If the rumored $1,899 price is true, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold will cost essentially the same as the Z Fold 8. Samsung’s model offers a 7.6-inch folding display, two 50MP rear cameras, a 4,800mAh battery, and a light 201g design. The last I saw, Google’s new foldable will have an 8-inch inner screen and a 6.4-inch outer display.

The battery is said to be around 4,800mAh.

Software is the real advantage

The thing is, unless someone is a real tech nerd, differences in camera, display, and battery sizes aren’t necessarily the biggest concern. Most premium phones offer comparable hardware for the average person. I tend to care more about the software experience, and I wonder how many others feel the same way. I want a pure, feature-rich Android experience.

In my opinion, the Pixel’s value shouldn’t be measured entirely by processor speeds, camera counts, and fast-charging capabilities. Android is a major part of the equation. Since Google controls both Pixel hardware and Android, it typically designs features around its own phones and delivers major Android updates and Pixel Drops to them quickly.

Also: I’ve been using the Galaxy Z Fold 8 – these accessories perfect it

For example, Android 17 rolled out first to the Pixel 6 and newer devices in June, bringing productivity upgrades such as floating App Bubbles, stronger security protections, Screen Reactions, improved gaming features for foldables, and built-in parental controls.

Alongside Android 17, the June Pixel Drop brought custom Take a Message greetings, Gemini Omni video creation, Lyria 3 music generation, Voice Translate for the Pixel 10a, broader Quick Share compatibility with AirDrop, and expanded Magic Cue support.

Samsung phones don’t get Pixel Drops. Those are just for Pixel devices, bringing features such as Call Screen, Magic Cue, Take a Message, and Camera Coach. Many of these exclusives are powered by Google’s Tensor chips, which also enable excellent computational photography tools. One example is Best Take. It combines multiple frames to produce a group photo.

But Samsung is typically among the first manufacturers to receive major Android updates. When Android 17 launched, Google said other eligible devices would get it throughout 2026. Samsung also layers One UI and its own apps and services on top of Android. Features such as DeX and Knox security do add value, but other additions may feel like bloat. I prefer Google’s cleaner approach.

To be clear, Google loads Pixel devices with its Workspace apps and services, but most Android phone owners probably use at least one or two Google apps. You can also easily delete most of them from your phone. Purchasing an eligible Pixel device usually includes six or 12 months of Google AI Pro and additional Google One storage, too, depending on the model and current promotion.

Also: 10 years of Pixel and I still don’t get it

Simply put, if the latest AI and software features, including Gemini and Google’s own services, matter most, Pixel devices should be among the first considered. If hardware matters more, including having the highest-end specifications available, Samsung often wins that side of the comparison. We’ll know more, of course, when the Pixel 11 debuts next week.

Is the Pixel series still a good value?

I think so, but the Pixel is no longer a cheaper alternative to Galaxy devices.

Samsung is known for exceptional hardware, while Pixel is about a purer Android experience, frequent updates, computational photography, and early or exclusive access to Google’s newest features. That’s the real value.

Also: Google’s Pixel 10a is the affordable iPhone alternative I’ve wanted

Who cares about another $100 for the Pixel 11 series? The price difference between Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices was never huge to begin with, and most people are already firmly team Samsung or team Pixel.

Longtime Galaxy owners likely won’t switch now, if the leaked Pixel 11 prices prove accurate. As for longtime Pixel users, the real question is whether this year’s changes are worth the upgrade. But that’s a different story.