Pixel 11 vs Galaxy S26 battery life: which lasts longer?

The Pixel 11 lasts longer than the Galaxy S26 on a charge in both independent tests we found, helped by a much bigger battery (4,985mAh against 4,300mAh). In one test the gap is 20 minutes; in the other it is a little over an hour. The Galaxy S26 fills up slightly faster on a cable, and the Pixel 11 has faster magnetic wireless charging.

Google Pixel 11 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 battery life, charging speed and battery capacity comparison.

If battery life is what will decide your purchase, the Pixel 11 is the safer pick. If you charge every night anyway, you probably won't notice the difference.

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Specs that matter for battery life

Both phones start at about the same US price, so this is close to a like-for-like comparison. The details below come from Google's Pixel 11 spec page, Samsung's Galaxy S26 page and GSMArena's Galaxy S26 spec sheet.

Spec	Pixel 11	Galaxy S26
Battery (typical)	4,985mAh	4,300mAh
Chip (US)	Google Tensor G6	Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Chip (UK and Europe)	Google Tensor G6	Exynos 2600
Wired charging	30W	25W
Wireless charging	Up to 25W, Qi2.2 magnetic	Yes
Official battery claim	30+ hours battery life	31 hours video playback
Official fast-charge claim	Up to 55% in about 30 min	Up to 55% in about 30 min

Google lists the Pixel 11's minimum rated capacity as 4,840mAh. The two official battery claims measure different things (Google quotes general battery life, Samsung quotes video playback), so you can't compare them with each other.

Battery life test results

We haven't tested these phones ourselves. Two outlets have published battery results for both, and they test in very different ways, so compare the numbers only within each outlet.

GSMArena gives each phone an Active Use Score that combines separate calling, web browsing, video playback and gaming tests into one figure.
Tom's Guide runs every phone through its own standard battery drain test and reports how long it lasts before shutting off.

Test	Pixel 11	Galaxy S26
GSMArena Active Use Score	15:40h	15:20h (Exynos unit)
Tom's Guide drain test	12:45	11:28

GSMArena's results put the two phones 20 minutes apart. It published the Pixel 11 score in its Pixel 11 battery and charging article, where it said the phone matched its main rivals, the Galaxy S26 among them. That score is also a big jump over the Pixel 10, which managed 12:08h in the same test.

Tom's Guide measured a wider gap, about 1 hour 17 minutes in the Pixel's favor. Its reviewer was still unimpressed with the Pixel 11, which ran a little shorter than the Pixel 10 (13:13) in that test, and the review lists "flat battery life" as a reason to avoid it. In the Tom's Guide Galaxy S26 review, the same reviewer called the Samsung's endurance "rather short" and listed shorter battery life as a downside too.

Both outlets put the Pixel ahead, and that agreement is the most useful thing these numbers tell you. How much extra time you get each day depends on your screen time, signal strength and apps.

Why the chip variant matters

US buyers get the Galaxy S26 with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Most other markets, including the UK and Europe, get Samsung's Exynos 2600, according to GSMArena's Galaxy S26 review. GSMArena tested the Exynos 2600 version and said so in its Pixel 11 article.

So GSMArena's 15:20h score doesn't directly measure the US model. The Tom's Guide review lists both chips and doesn't say which one its test unit had. A different chip can move battery life either way, so treat the S26 numbers as a guide, not an exact figure for the US phone.

The Pixel 11 results were measured on the Tensor G6, the same chip sold in the US.

Charging speed: wired and wireless

The Galaxy S26 has the lower wired rating (25W against 30W) yet charges a little faster in testing, partly because it has a smaller battery to fill.

Test	Pixel 11	Galaxy S26
GSMArena, 15 min	31%	34%
GSMArena, 30 min	59%	62%
GSMArena, full charge	1:19h	1:04h
Tom's Guide, 15 min	27%	29%
Tom's Guide, 30 min	52%	57%

GSMArena tested the Pixel 11 in its Extreme charging mode with Google's 67W dual-port adapter. It noted that this mode needs an adapter that can deliver 11V at 3A, and that Google puts only a USB-C to USB-C cable in the box. Tom's Guide didn't name the charger it used. Google says its quoted 55% in about 30 minutes needs a 30W USB-C PPS charger or higher.

Wireless charging is the Pixel 11's clearer lead. Google lists Pixelsnap wireless charging, Qi2.2-certified at up to 25W, so magnetic chargers snap on and charge at full speed. Samsung's US page doesn't give a wireless wattage for the base S26, so we've left it out of the table.

Everything else in brief

Price: the Pixel 11 starts at $899 (256GB) before tax, per Tom's Guide. Samsung lists the S26 from $899.99 before tax. Both checked November 3, 2026.
Price changes: both launched at $100 more than their predecessors, according to Tom's Guide.
Software updates: Google promises 7 years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates. GSMArena lists the S26 with up to 7 major OS updates.
Launch software: the Pixel 11 launched with Android 17.
Storage: both come in 256GB and 512GB versions with 12GB of RAM.

Comparing the bigger models instead? See our iPhone 18 Pro vs Pixel 11 Pro battery comparison.

Verdict: which should you buy?

Choose the Pixel 11 if you want the phone that lasts longer. It came out ahead in both GSMArena's and Tom's Guide's testing, it has a much larger battery, and its 25W magnetic Qi2.2 wireless charging helps if you use a wireless stand or car mount.

Choose the Galaxy S26 if you mostly charge by cable and want slightly quicker top-ups, or if you prefer Samsung's software for reasons beyond battery. Expect a bit less screen time, especially going by Tom's Guide's test, and keep in mind that the US Snapdragon model may behave differently from the Exynos unit GSMArena tested.

If neither result sounds like enough, look at a larger model such as a Plus or Pro XL, since both outlets' numbers put these two phones in the same general range.

FAQ

Does the Pixel 11 have a bigger battery than the Galaxy S26?

Yes. Google lists the Pixel 11 at 4,985mAh typical, and Samsung lists the Galaxy S26 at 4,300mAh. That's 685mAh more for the Pixel.

Which charges faster, the Pixel 11 or the Galaxy S26?

On a cable, the Galaxy S26 charged slightly faster in both GSMArena's and Tom's Guide's tests, even though it's rated at 25W against the Pixel's 30W. For wireless charging the Pixel 11 is rated higher, at up to 25W with Qi2.2 magnets.

Is the US Galaxy S26 battery life the same as in Europe?

Not necessarily. The US model uses a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, while the UK and Europe get the Exynos 2600. GSMArena tested the Exynos version, so its result may not match the US phone exactly. If you already own a Galaxy S26 and hit update problems, see our Galaxy S26 One UI 9 XML error fix.