It’s officially Unpacked week, which means antsy phone buyers are getting several new models to seriously consider. If you’re a power user in particular, you may be weighing the new Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra against the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, both of which can be argued to offer the best of Android phones in the first half of 2026.
Ahead of Unpacked, the ZDNET team spent time with both phones to get a sense of their unique strengths and weaknesses. If you’re split between the two, here are the key buying reasons for each, along with our choice if we had to pick one.
You should buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra if…
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1. You prefer Samsung’s kitchen sink approach to software
While Samsung’s software experience has become less buggy and chaotic since the old TouchWiz days, OneUI, now on version 8.5, remains one of the most feature-rich versions of Android on the market. The native launcher lets you customize elements such as wallpaper shade, widget styles, swipe animations, and more.
On a device like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, you’ll get additional note-taking features to make the most of the built-in S Pen stylus — though you can no longer use Bluetooth gestures like you could with older models. There are several new Galaxy AI features as well, including context-based Now Nudge, similar to Google’s Magic Cue, and an upgraded scam detection tool.
Samsung also continues to match Google’s promise of at least seven years of software updates for its Galaxy S models. That is to say, you’ll feel like you got your money’s worth when splurging on Samsung’s flagship phone.
2. You want the superior smartphone display, in multiple ways
I’ve tested almost every major phone release in the past year, including a big-screenfoldable, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra has the best display I’ve seen. It’s a 6.8-inch AMOLED LTPO panel that refreshes between 1Hz and 120Hz and gets plenty bright during the daytime. By the way, those specs are nearly identical to the Pixel 10 Pro XL. What sets the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra apart is its glare-free coating, which significantly reduces light reflections, and its new Privacy Display.
Privacy Display is a hardware upgrade that alters how the S26 Ultra’s pixels disperse light, making the screen appear off when viewed at an off-angle. This feature behaves similarly to a privacy screen protector, tinting your screen when important notifications or content appear so passersby or eavesdropping strangers can’t see what you can.
3. You want a better-performing smartphone
The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite chipset has already set benchmark records compared with previous versions, and we expect it to outperform Google’s Tensor G5 in general performance and power management. This goes hand in hand with Samsung’s upgraded 60W wired charging rate, which lets the S26 Ultra top up from 0 to 75% in half an hour.
You should buy the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL if…
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1. You prefer Google’s cleaner approach to software
One of the biggest distinctions between the Google Pixel and just about every other Android model is the software experience. I wouldn’t categorize the latest Pixel launcher, on Android 16, as bare-bones, but it’s certainly less intrusive and feature-packed than Samsung’s OneUI. There’s a handful of customization tools for the home and lock screens, but don’t expect to tweak every little aspect of what you see.
Naturally, the cleaner aesthetic of the Pixel launcher and the use of an in-house Tensor G5 chipset allow Google to distribute the latest Android features and security updates. Like Samsung, the company promises up to seven years of operating system updates, but Google also packages frequent Pixel Feature Drops and security patches to keep its phones relevant until at least 2032.
2. You want the most forgiving camera system on the market
Sure, the Pixel 10 Pro XL may not have all the camera bells and whistles of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but where it lacks in sensors, it makes up for it in computational tuning and image recognition. The best example is when I tested the Pixel’s 100X Pro Res Zoom, which leverages its 48MP telephoto lens and the Tensor G5’s ISP to recognize distant subjects and AI-generates lost details. The result, as surveyed by a crowd of media members, showed the Pixel beating the Galaxy’s 100X zoom by a long shot.
Besides having one of the best point-and-shoot camera systems on any smartphone, the Pixel 10 Pro XL also features many AI tools that help users capture, edit, and reproduce photos to their liking. I’ll acknowledge here that there’s a whole “What is a picture?” debate tied into the generative AI madness.
However, for customers who favor idealism over realism and convenience over labor, tools like the enhanced Add Me, Pro Res Zoom, and the new Camera Coach, which guides framing and mode selection within the viewfinder in real time, give the Pixel 10 Pro XL one of the most forgiving camera systems on the market.
3. You want a phone that’s less of a burden to hold, and sticks
Yes, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is $200 cheaper than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but perhaps more importantly, it’s actually comfortable to hold. Considering how often you’ll be carrying your phone, holding it up, and interacting with it daily, hand feel is one of the most overlooked yet vital aspects of mobile devices.
Compared with the boxy, sharp-cornered design of the Samsung, the Pixel 10 Pro XL has flat edges that let you grip the phone firmly and subtle curves that help reduce the overall footprint. Put a case on both devices, and you’ll notice the difference even more.
Google also offers its PixelSnap system of magnetic accessories that leverages the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s Qi2 wireless charging. In addition to easier docking and stand placement, PixelSnap lets you mount hand grips and kickstands without the need for third-party adapters and mounts. Samsung, disappointingly, still doesn’t offer built-in magnet support.
Writer’s choice
Between the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, I’d choose the latter for its more capable feature set, but I’d hold off on buying the Samsung unless there’s a fitting trade-in deal or general discount. Some retailers may be bundling gift cards with S26 Ultra preorders right now, so that’s worth considering.
It helps that Samsung has been working closely with Google on Gemini-enhanced AI features, and now with Perplexity, too, so you don’t necessarily miss out on too many software tools by opting for it.
I’ve also found Samsung’s camera system delivers more vivid imagery that requires little editing after the fact. If you’re heavy on social media usage and sharing the latest happenings with friends and family, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s camera is better suited for you.
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