The Galaxy S26 Ultra won PhoneBuff’s app-task speed test. In that 2026 run, the Pixel 11 Pro XL recorded 0.96 seconds more total response delay than the Galaxy. Tom’s Guide’s published Geekbench and 3DMark results also favored Samsung, though those synthetic benchmarks measure different workloads from an app-opening sequence.
What happened in PhoneBuff’s speed test?
PhoneBuff’s published comparison put the Galaxy S26 Ultra ahead by 0.96 seconds of total response delay. The result comes from PhoneBuff’s particular sequence of app tasks and its test setup; it is not a universal measure of how fast every app, game, or phone function will feel.
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PhoneBuff says it calibrated both screens to 200 nits, turned off auto brightness, placed the phones at equal distance from a Wi-Fi access point, and tested in a temperature-controlled environment. Its description identifies the units as a 256 GB Pixel 11 Pro XL with Tensor G6 and 12 GB RAM and a 256 GB Galaxy S26 Ultra with Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and 12 GB RAM. Treat those configuration details as applying to PhoneBuff’s test units, not as a guarantee for every market variant.
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#1 Best Overall
- Attention-grabbing design meets the latest evolution of the Google Pixel Camera on the new Google Pixel 11 Pro XL; Gemini Intelligence helps manage details so you can live in the moment[1]; and the phone is available in two sizes
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan: Works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers[2]
- Stay informed without looking at your screen: When your phone is face down, Pixel HiLight gently alerts you with subtle glowing lights when your favorite contacts are calling or you’re talking with Gemini; exclusive to Google Pixel 11 Pro phones
- Magic Capture catches the moment as you live it: With just one tap, Pixel 11 Pro captures video and photos, and automatically edits, crops, and unblurs a curated collection, ready to share – and you get the memory of how it felt to be in the moment
- Two new cameras for more brilliant photos: A larger telephoto sensor captures 30% more light for clear, beautiful photos and videos, even in the dark[3]; Pixel’s longest zoom ever helps you capture details from impressive distances[4]
How do the benchmark results compare?
Tom’s Guide reported higher Galaxy S26 Ultra scores on all three listed benchmarks. These results provide separate evidence from PhoneBuff’s timed app sequence: synthetic benchmarks score specific computing or graphics workloads and should not be added to, or treated as a repeat of, the app-test result.
| Test | Pixel 11 Pro XL | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Higher reported result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench single-core | 2,713 | 3,785 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
| Geekbench multicore | 7,453 | 11,563 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | 3,249 | 6,645 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
These are the figures Tom’s Guide published in its 2026 review. They are source-reported results, not independently reproduced measurements here. Benchmark versions and test conditions matter, so scores from different runs should not be compared as though they came from one controlled test.
Rank #2
- Attention-grabbing design meets the latest evolution of the Google Pixel Camera on the new Google Pixel 11 Pro XL; Gemini Intelligence helps manage details so you can live in the moment[1]; and the phone is available in two sizes
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan: Works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers[2]
- Stay informed without looking at your screen: When your phone is face down, Pixel HiLight gently alerts you with subtle glowing lights when your favorite contacts are calling or you’re talking with Gemini; exclusive to Google Pixel 11 Pro phones
- Magic Capture catches the moment as you live it: With just one tap, Pixel 11 Pro captures video and photos, and automatically edits, crops, and unblurs a curated collection, ready to share – and you get the memory of how it felt to be in the moment
- Two new cameras for more brilliant photos: A larger telephoto sensor captures 30% more light for clear, beautiful photos and videos, even in the dark[3]; Pixel’s longest zoom ever helps you capture details from impressive distances[4]
See Tom’s Guide’s Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL review.
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What the test results do—and do not—tell you
Taken together, the cited evidence favors the Galaxy S26 Ultra for the tested app sequence and the specified benchmark workloads. It does not establish that the Galaxy is always more responsive in every everyday task, that it will sustain peak performance longer, or that it has better battery life. A short app-opening test also cannot settle gaming performance or thermal behavior.
Rank #3
- Attention-grabbing design meets the latest evolution of the Google Pixel Camera on the new Google Pixel 11 Pro XL; Gemini Intelligence helps manage details so you can live in the moment[1]; and the phone is available in two sizes
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan: Works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers[2]
- Stay informed without looking at your screen: When your phone is face down, Pixel HiLight gently alerts you with subtle glowing lights when your favorite contacts are calling or you’re talking with Gemini; exclusive to Google Pixel 11 Pro phones
- Magic Capture catches the moment as you live it: With just one tap, Pixel 11 Pro captures video and photos, and automatically edits, crops, and unblurs a curated collection, ready to share – and you get the memory of how it felt to be in the moment
- Two new cameras for more brilliant photos: A larger telephoto sensor captures 30% more light for clear, beautiful photos and videos, even in the dark[3]; Pixel’s longest zoom ever helps you capture details from impressive distances[4]
For a useful comparison between additional tests, check what tasks they run, how they report total completion time, which benchmark version they use, and the phones’ software and configurations. Sustained performance and thermal behavior require evidence from workloads designed to assess them; they cannot be inferred from the 0.96-second app-test gap alone.
Hardware context for the two phones
Google’s official specifications list the Pixel 11 Pro XL with a Tensor G6 processor, a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display with a 1–120 Hz refresh rate, and 12 GB of RAM on the 256 GB model. The listed typical battery capacity is 5,115 mAh. Google says wired charging can reach up to 75% in about 30 minutes with a 45 W USB-C PPS charger or higher, sold separately. These specifications describe the phone; they do not explain or independently validate either performance test.
Rank #4
- Attention-grabbing design meets the latest evolution of the Google Pixel Camera on the new Google Pixel 11 Pro XL; Gemini Intelligence helps manage details so you can live in the moment[1]; and the phone is available in two sizes
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan: Works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers[2]
- Stay informed without looking at your screen: When your phone is face down, Pixel HiLight gently alerts you with subtle glowing lights when your favorite contacts are calling or you’re talking with Gemini; exclusive to Google Pixel 11 Pro phones
- Magic Capture catches the moment as you live it: With just one tap, Pixel 11 Pro captures video and photos, and automatically edits, crops, and unblurs a curated collection, ready to share – and you get the memory of how it felt to be in the moment
- Two new cameras for more brilliant photos: A larger telephoto sensor captures 30% more light for clear, beautiful photos and videos, even in the dark[3]; Pixel’s longest zoom ever helps you capture details from impressive distances[4]
Google Pixel phone specifications.
Samsung’s global announcement lists a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with an adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate. Samsung’s US newsroom announcement describes the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s built-in Privacy Display. These display and software features are relevant to choosing between the phones, but they do not change which device won the cited speed test.
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- Samsung US Newsroom: Galaxy S26 series announcement
Does the speed-test winner mean it is the better phone?
No single speed test determines the better overall choice. The Galaxy S26 Ultra has the edge in the cited app test and listed benchmark scores, while deciding between the phones also depends on which display, software features, and broader day-to-day experience suit you. The results support a performance verdict for those particular tests, not a complete purchase verdict.
Quick Recap
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