Phone vs phone
Pixel 11 Pro XL vs Galaxy S26 Ultra
Same question, two phones: which costs less over a 24-month contract, which is cheaper to buy outright, and what you actually get for the difference.
bemobiles tips
Which is cheaper over 24 months?
Pixel 11 Pro XL — its best deal costs £895.80 including April rises, £20 less than the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: Pixel 11 Pro XL 6.75″, Galaxy S26 Ultra 6.9″. Battery: Pixel 11 Pro XL 5,115 mAh, Galaxy S26 Ultra 5,000 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
Pixel 11 Pro XL: £1,423 SIM-free plus SIM only. Galaxy S26 Ultra: £1,273. Compare with the contract totals above.
Pixel 11 Pro XL£895.80
Galaxy S26 Ultra£915.80True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The Pixel 11 Pro XL is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £895.80 over 24 months with April rises, against £915.80 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra — a gap of £20, or about £0.83 a month.
Prices checked 28 October 2026 · How we compare
Pixel 11 Pro XL vs Galaxy S26 Ultra, side by side
| Pixel 11 Pro XL | Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £895.80 | £915.80 |
| Cheapest network | Talkmobile | Talkmobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £609 | £629 |
| Monthly on that deal | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| SIM-free price from | £1,279 | £1,129 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £1,423 | £1,273 |
| Contract deals tracked | 2,736 | 5,301 |
| Screen | 6.75 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Battery | 5,115 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| Weight | 224 g | 214 g |
| Released | August 2026 | February 2026 |
| Colours on sale | 4 | 4 |
Highlighted = better on that line. Prices live from retailers; specifications from our data partner’s catalogue.
Network by network
If you already know which network you want, here is the cheapest deal for each phone on it, April rises included.
| Network | Pixel 11 Pro XL | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talkmobile | £895.80 | £915.80 | £20 |
| iD Mobile | £961.96 | £982.96 | £21 |
| Vodafone | £1,001 | £1,057 | £56 |
| Three | £1,014.20 | £1,028.20 | £14 |
| O2 | £1,347 | £1,083 | £264 |
Our verdict
On price, the Pixel 11 Pro XL wins: £20 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is under £2 a month, so pick on features rather than price.
On the spec sheet, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has the bigger screen (6.9 vs 6.75 inches), the Pixel 11 Pro XL has the larger battery (5,115 mAh), the Pixel 11 Pro XL is the newer phone (August 2026).
Buying outright: Pixel 11 Pro XL SIM-free plus SIM only costs £1,423, more than its cheapest contract; the Galaxy S26 Ultra costs £1,273, more than its contract.
Pick the Pixel 11 Pro XL if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £355 upfront vs £379
- You want the lower total — £20 less over 24 months
- Battery size matters most to you
- You want the newer model with longer support ahead
Pick the Galaxy S26 Ultra if…
- You want the bigger screen
- You prefer a lighter phone
FAQ
Pixel 11 Pro XL vs Galaxy S26 Ultra questions
Which is cheaper, the Pixel 11 Pro XL or the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Pixel 11 Pro XL. Its cheapest contract costs £895.80 over 24 months including April rises, £20 less than the Galaxy S26 Ultra (£915.80).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the Pixel 11 Pro XL it is Talkmobile (£609 upfront, £11.95 a month); for the Galaxy S26 Ultra it is Talkmobile (£629 upfront, £11.95 a month).
Is the Pixel 11 Pro XL bigger than the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Pixel 11 Pro XL has a 6.75-inch screen and the Galaxy S26 Ultra a 6.9-inch screen; they weigh 224 g and 214 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the Pixel 11 Pro XL starts at £1,279 and the Galaxy S26 Ultra at £1,129, from retailers we track.