If ever there was a digital camera battle positive to supply fireworks, it is one the place Google is pitted towards Samsung. Each dominate the Android world, and each manufacturers make an enormous deal about their cameras.
I took the Google Pixel 11 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra to a night Porsche automotive meet to check the cameras, and the outcomes have been so shut, it was usually laborious to resolve which one was the higher shot. One factor’s for positive, every digital camera introduced its A-game.
Google Pixel 11 Professional and Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely: Digital camera specs
Earlier than we get to the pictures, we have to speak about every digital camera’s specs
The Pixel 11 Professional has a 50-megapixel principal digital camera with an f/1.7 aperture and optical picture stabilization (OIS), a 48MP wide-angle digital camera, and a 48MP periscope telephoto with OIS for a 5x optical zoom.
Google makes use of its intensive computational pictures experience and AI abilities to tune its pictures and improve zoom pictures past 5x. Whereas its Digital camera Appears filters are one of many massive new options on the Pixel 11 Professional, they weren’t used right here.
Samsung has fitted a 200MP principal digital camera to the again of the Galaxy S26 Extremely, with an f/1.4 aperture and OIS. It is joined by a 50MP wide-angle digital camera, a 50MP periscope telephoto with OIS for 5x optical zoom, plus a 10MP telephoto for 3x optical zoom.
We also needs to think about the processors used. The Pixel 11 Professional has the Google Tensor G6 inside, whereas the Galaxy S26 Extremely makes use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. Each will have an effect on digital camera efficiency.
To maintain the comparability truthful and a manageable size, I did not examine the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s 3x telephoto right here. Check out our current Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra assessment and our comparability between it and the Motorola Razr Fold to see why it is not price a deep investigation.
Within the picture galleries beneath, the Google Pixel 11 Professional’s pictures are on the LEFT, and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely’s pictures are on the RIGHT.
Google Pixel 11 Professional vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely: Most important digital camera
It is so shut
After trying by the pictures I took with each cameras, it is apparent each are very good. Sure, there are variations, however one not often comprehensively beats the opposite. Have a look at the pictures of the air-cooled engine first.
I like the depth of shade within the Pixel 11 Professional’s picture, and it avoids the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s tendency to under-expose pictures. It brings out extra element, as you possibly can see from the feel on the gold automobile plates within the Pixel’s picture in comparison with the S26 Extremely’s.
Within the picture of the GT3 Touring, I wished to point out the stunning shade mixture, and the Pixel 11 Professional did it greatest. It captured the deep inexperienced and the tan inside properly, with a depth that is lacking from the S26 Extremely’s picture, all due to its aggressive publicity stage.
Nonetheless, if I had solely used the Galaxy S26 Extremely, I would nonetheless have been happy with the outcomes.
Capturing throughout the fields behind the occasion and into the slowly setting solar, the Pixel 11 Professional balances the scene fantastically. Each cameras seize colours properly and symbolize the setting as I noticed it.
Standing again from the sector, the picture of the crimson 944 highlights the variations between the 2 cameras.
The Pixel 11 Professional’s steadiness is ideal. The crimson is vibrant, there are lots of element, and the background retains readability. The S26 Extremely’s publicity points imply it took a much less enticing picture.
Nonetheless, to point out how each cameras take nice pictures in additional basic environments, this is a road scene from the day after.
There are variations, however I can’t say one is best than the opposite. Each look nice, and that has usually been the case when reviewing the principle digital camera pictures.
Google Pixel 11 Professional and Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely: 5x telephoto zoom
Some refined variations begin to seem
Each telephones have a 5x optical zoom mode, however are the outcomes just like the principle digital camera, the place it was laborious to decide on between them?
What’s most notable is the Pixel 11 Professional employs extra smoothing than the Galaxy S26 Extremely, which cleans pictures up significantly, and it has a much more noticeable depth of area in its pictures.
You may spot each conditions within the pictures of the yellow GT4 and the headrest within the blue Spyder.
Lighting could have affected the second shot, however to not such an amazing extent, and the GT4 picture exhibits the variations could also be all the way down to software program and tuning quite than the setting.
The variations are much less noticeable once you get additional away, and it seems the S26 Extremely’s much less intrusive software program ends in a sharper picture, as you possibly can see within the picture of the “safari” 928.
From the tire writing to the decals on the physique, the S26 Extremely’s picture is extra secure, though the colours are barely extra muted.
Lastly, the Gulf-livered GT4 as soon as once more exhibits there’s not a lot to decide on between these two cameras. Sure, you possibly can spot some variations that will fit your private desire, however for those who solely took one picture with one digital camera, I doubt many will care which one it was, as they each look nice.
Google Pixel 11 Professional and Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely: 10x and most zoom
AI performs its half
Each cameras can shoot past 5x, however not at optical high quality. Here is what 10x pictures appear to be from each.
For a non-optical shot, each 10x pictures of the alloy wheel look glorious, however the Pixel 11 Professional’s higher publicity and steadiness, together with software program experience, lead to a sharper picture.
Within the second 10x picture, the S26 Extremely has a extra enticing tone and rivals the Pixel 11 Professional for element and sharpness. Nonetheless, the Pixel 11 Professional’s efficient smoothing does a greater job of eradicating noise.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely has a 100x most zoom, whereas the Pixel 11 Professional can attain 120x, the place it makes use of some intelligent AI to boost the picture. It takes just a few seconds to course of once you open the picture within the gallery, however the outcomes might be dramatic.
The 2 examples above present the variations. Whereas I most likely would not use both mode usually, the Pixel 11 Professional’s AI-enhanced 120x pictures are very spectacular.
Google Pixel 11 Professional and Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely: Evening and wide-angle
Pixel 11 Professional pulls forward
Lastly, we get to a component the place one telephone pulls forward of the opposite. Shoot in lowlight, and the Pixel 11 Professional is streets forward of the Galaxy S26 Extremely.
The picture of the lantern exhibits the large hole between them, and desires little rationalization from me. It was the identical for each check picture I took in low gentle.
The S26 Extremely’s night time mode activated extra usually, and infrequently resulted in blurred pictures because it took three-second exposures, in comparison with the Pixel 11 Professional’s prompt pictures.
No matter whether or not the Pixel 11 Professional makes use of extra AI to enhance its night time pictures than the S26 Extremely, its pictures will please extra individuals extra usually.
Extensive-angle pictures return to the established order, although, with neither pulling forward of the opposite, and the identical variations we noticed with the principle digital camera return.
Google Pixel 11 Professional and Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely: The decision
Nearly too near name
After I stated each cameras introduced their A-game, I meant it. On the Porsche occasion, it was genuinely laborious to decide on between them, and I would have been comfortable if solely one of many two cameras was in my pocket. It nearly did not matter which.
I say nearly, as a result of trying by my gallery of about 100 pictures from the night, the Pixel 11 Professional’s pictures usually stood out a little bit extra. Whether or not it is the AI enhancements, intelligent tuning, or nailing the basics, the Google telephone barely pulled forward.
The Pixel 11 Professional crushed the Galaxy S26 Extremely in lowlight. Nonetheless, at 10x zoom and with the wide-angle digital camera, each are equally spectacular. If you wish to take clearly AI-enhanced pictures at 120x, the Pixel 11 Professional can also be the telephone for you.
One factor to notice about taking pictures with these two telephones. The Galaxy S26 Extremely’s display screen is brighter and extra seen, extra usually, and at extra angles than the Pixel 11 Professional’s. It made getting diverse pictures simpler, and it continues to be the most effective screens on any telephone accessible.
This apart, the Pixel 11 Professional wins the comparability. It is a shut factor, and I feel most individuals will get quite a lot of enjoyable and pleasure from both, however the Pixel 11 Professional simply edged out its closest rival right here.
