The Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely has been introduced, and with it a brand new possibility for anybody hankering after a super-sized flagship cellphone.
Samsung’s Extremely was the de facto Android champion, representing every part that the platform could possibly be in a single chunky piece of premium steel. Today, nevertheless, it has some competitors.
The Google Pixel 10 Professional XL is maybe the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely’s primary rival for the crown. Most likely not when it comes to uncooked gross sales, however undoubtedly when it comes to standing, availability and high quality.
So how do these hefty flagship telephones examine? Extra to the purpose, which is the perfect purchase for you?
Our Galaxy S26 Extremely assessment isn’t prepared as but, though we do have first ideas from our hands-on time with the gadget. However from the specs and impressions we’ve to date, right here’s the way it stacks as much as the Google Pixel 10 Professional XL.
And, when you’re questioning if a Galaxy S26 Edge shall be becoming a member of the line-up, we’ve some theories after talking to one among Samsung’s product group.
Do you care about getting near your topic?
Samsung at all times goes the additional mile in getting you nearer to your topic. As with earlier entries, the Galaxy S26 Extremely comes with two separate telephoto lenses – a 50Mp 10x periscope telephoto and a 10Mp 3x telephoto.
This duo presents much more zoom vary than the Google Pixel 10 Professional XL, which solely offers you the one 48Mp 5x periscope telephoto digicam.
Luke Baker
Don’t get us improper, the Pixel 10 Professional XL takes fabulous pictures. Its 48Mp primary digicam produces among the best-balanced snaps within the enterprise, whereas its 42Mp entrance digicam produces selfies which can be proper close to the highest of the pile.
However the Samsung has the clear edge when you prefer to shoot from afar.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely
What about handy wi-fi charging?
One of many largest disappointments with all the Samsung Galaxy S26 vary has been its lack of Qi2 wi-fi charging help.
All through a lot of 2025, hearsay had it that Samsung was seeking to implement this handy magnetised charging system into its subsequent flagship smartphone vary. Because it seems, the corporate has completed no such factor, and also you’ll want to purchase a particular case in order for you fuss-free wi-fi charging on your Galaxy S26 Extremely.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
That’s not the case with the Pixel 10 Professional XL. Google was the primary mainstream Android producer to implement Qi2 (below its PixelSnap branding), with the Pixel 10 collection.
If you happen to haven’t skilled the enjoyment of snapping a charging puck, ring stand, or case to the again of cellphone utilizing magnets, you actually haven’t lived.
Winner: Google Pixel 10 Professional XL
And avoiding pesky shoulder snoopers?
Simply the largest {hardware} and software program innovation of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely is its Privateness Show. This helpful little characteristic blocks anybody from having the ability to see delicate display screen content material from over your shoulder.
It really works by making particular OLED show pixels mild up solely in a single route, primarily showing black from any place aside from your individual.
Luke Baker
You may apply this to any content material you want, from incoming notification bubbles to that spicy e-book you’re studying on the underground (Samsung has used this actual state of affairs to advertise the characteristic).
Pulling up the Google Pixel 10 Professional XL for missing such a characteristic could be foolish – Samsung is genuinely innovating right here – however the reality stays, the Galaxy S26 Extremely is the higher decide for privacy-conscious individuals who typically use their cellphone in public.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely
How essential is a clear UI?
To many individuals, Samsung’s bespoke consumer interface is Android, and another take appears like an aberration. We’re not judging. We’re simply saying that such persons are improper.
It’s Google that makes Android, and thus its personal Pixel telephones current the purest, cleanest, and most feature-complete tackle the world’s hottest cellular OS.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Samsung’s One UI has its personal charms, and is arguably the extra customisable working system of the 2. If you happen to like fidgeting with settings and making every part simply so, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely’s software program is nearly as good because it will get.
However when you’re after a visually cohesive, finely honed, bloatware-free UI the place sensible AI options are intrinsically woven in slightly than clumsily welded on (an issue with each different Android producer, to be truthful), the Google Pixel 10 Professional XL is a greater wager.
Winner: Google Pixel 10 Professional XL
Or is all of it concerning the final efficiency?
Are you a dedicated cellular gamer? Or do you merely demand the best possible efficiency doable on your £1,200-plus funding?
Both approach, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely is a a lot better prospect than the Google Pixel 10 Professional XL. Google insists on utilizing its personal customized Tensor processors with its telephones, that are optimised for AI duties, however fairly underwhelming for every part else.
Luke Baker
The Tensor G5 chip that powers the Google Pixel 10 Professional XL will fortunately fly by duties and run high-end video games, and also you’re unlikely to note any severe cases of lag. However the benchmark outcomes and gaming body charges place it properly down the flagship pecking order.
As for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely, it runs on the newest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip – and a barely quicker ‘for Galaxy’ variant at that. It’s nonetheless an off-the-shelf part, for certain, however it’s additionally the quickest cellular processor obtainable, together with the A19 Professional discovered within the iPhone 17 Professional Max.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely
Is crucial factor worth for cash?
This won’t be such an enormous issue when you’re already prepared to pay 4 figures on your subsequent cellphone, however the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely will value you extra money than the Google Pixel 10 Professional XL.
With a beginning worth of £1,279, Samsung’s cellphone will value you £80 greater than the Google Pixel 10 Professional XL – on the very least. That hole solely will get greater as you broaden your storage, with the 512GB fashions £130 aside, once more in Google’s favour.
Mattias Inghe
The 1TB mannequin of the Galaxy S26 Extremely is £150 costlier than its Pixel equal. That’s a reasonably main distinction, and it seemingly comes all the way down to the spike in RAM costs proudly owning to the present AI craze.
What’s extra, with the Pixel 10 Professional XL now having been in the marketplace for a number of months, you’re much more more likely to discover a whole lot on one than you might be on the model new Galaxy S26 Extremely.
Winner: Google Pixel 10 Professional XL
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely vs Google Pixel 10 Professional XL: Conclusion
We’re not fairly able to render a verdict on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely simply but, however even at this early stage we are able to see the place its main strengths are more likely to lie, and the way these will mark it out towards the Google Pixel 10 Professional XL.
Samsung hasn’t ripped up the playbook since final 12 months’s Galaxy S25 Extremely, so its newest flagship cellphone is more likely to be extraordinarily highly effective and wonderful at zoomed-in digicam snaps. It’ll additionally include the distinctive potential to thwart shoulder snoopers, and is just extra highly effective than its rival. All of those parts give it a transparent edge over the Pixel 10 Professional XL.
Google’s flagship, for its half, has cleaner software program and blissfully handy Qi2 magnetic charging. It’ll additionally value you much less cash.
Finally, it appears to be a transparent break up between power-user options (Samsung) and sheer, easy-life comfort (Google). Place your order accordingly.