The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is $949.99 at Amazon as of November 8, $450 below its $1,399.99 list price and $350 under the $1,299.99 it launched at in February. That puts Samsung's biggest phone within a dollar of the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL, which is $949 at Amazon, also $350 below its launch price.
Both are unlocked 256GB models sold and shipped by Amazon. The $949.99 price shows on both the Sky Blue and Cobalt Violet listings, and it beats Samsung's own store by $50. If you have been holding out for Black Friday to replace an aging flagship, two of the best-known Android flagships now cost the same, so the decision comes down to what each one does better.
The smaller Pixels have dropped too: the Pixel 11 Pro is $799 and the Pixel 11 is $699.
Galaxy S26 Ultra and Pixel 11 deal prices at Amazon compared
| Phone (unlocked, 256GB) | Amazon price | List price | Maker's store, November 8 | What separates it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 Ultra, Sky Blue or Cobalt Violet | $949.99 | $1,399.99 | $999.99 at Samsung | 200MP main camera, 3x and 5x telephotos, Privacy Display |
| Pixel 11 Pro XL, Obsidian | $949 | $1,299 | $949 at Google | 6.8-inch screen, 5,115 mAh battery |
| Pixel 11 Pro, Canyon | $799 | $1,099 | $799 at Google | Pro cameras in a 6.3-inch body |
| Pixel 11, Obsidian | $699 | $899 | $699 at Google | 48MP main camera, 60-120Hz screen |
The Pixel prices match a Google Store sale that was set to end at 11:59 PM Pacific on Sunday, November 8. Amazon gives no end date for any of these prices, so they can change without notice.
Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra discount as big as it looks?
Not quite, though it still ties for the largest cut in the group. Samsung launched the phone at $1,299.99, and the $1,399.99 list price on both Amazon and Samsung's store is $100 higher than that. Measured against launch, the saving is $350, the same as the Pixel 11 Pro XL.
The price has fallen since the autumn. In late September, the Cobalt Violet model was $1,089.98 at Amazon with only six units left. The November 8 price is $139.99 lower, and both colors show as in stock.
Samsung's own store has taken $400 off every unlocked S26 Ultra: $999.99 for 256GB, $1,199.99 for 512GB and $1,599.99 for 1TB. If you need more storage than the Amazon deal offers, those are the prices to beat.
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Pixel 11 Pro XL: which $950 phone to buy
| Specification | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Pixel 11 Pro XL |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED, 1-120Hz, 2,600 nits peak | 6.8-inch 1344 x 2992 OLED, 1-120Hz, 3,600 nits peak |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | Google Tensor G6 |
| Memory and storage | 12GB RAM, 256GB | 12GB RAM, 256GB |
| Rear cameras | 200MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x, 50MP 5x | 50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP 5x |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 5,115 mAh |
| Fast charging | Up to 60W, about 75% in 30 minutes | Up to 45W, about 75% in 30 minutes |
| Updates | Seven OS upgrades, seven years of security updates | Seven years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates |
The Galaxy is the phone for people who zoom. It carries two telephoto cameras, at 3x and 5x, where the Pixel has one at 5x, and its 200MP main sensor leaves room to crop. Its Privacy Display, which Samsung calls a first for phones, keeps the person next to you on the train from reading your screen.
The Pixel answers with a brighter screen, rated up to 3,600 nits peak against 2,600 on the Galaxy, and a slightly bigger 5,115 mAh battery, according to Google's spec sheet. Its updates also bring Pixel Drop feature releases, not just patches.
Your other gadgets may settle it. Samsung's Galaxy Buds4 Pro need a Galaxy phone for 24-bit audio, for instance. Neither phone includes a charger in the box, so budget for a 60W adapter on the Galaxy or a 45W one on the Pixel.
Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 deals for smaller hands and budgets
The $799 Pixel 11 Pro keeps the XL's three cameras and Tensor G6 in a 6.3-inch body with a 4,850 mAh battery. At $150 less than the XL, it is the better buy if a 6.8-inch phone feels awkward in one hand.
The $699 Pixel 11 has the same chip and the same seven years of updates, but a 48MP main camera and a 10.8MP telephoto instead of the Pro's 50MP and 48MP sensors. Unless you rarely open the camera app, the Pro is worth the extra $100, the same gap as in Google's own Pixel sale.
Should you buy a flagship phone now or wait for Black Friday?
Black Friday falls on November 27, and the big retailers' sale dates start well before it. The Pixel prices are already a long way from October, when the Pixel 11 Pro XL was still $1,299 at Amazon.
At about $950 each, the choice between Samsung and Google is no longer about price. Buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you zoom often or want the privacy screen, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL if you want the brighter display and Google's software. Prices can change at any time, so check the listing before you order.
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