Samsung Galaxy S26 / Google Pixel 8 Pro

Samsung varies the processor by market: the US, China and Japan versions use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. This entry covers the Exynos 2600 SM-S942B version.

The viewable area is smaller than the rectangular measurement because of the corners and camera hole.

An LTPO panel can drop the refresh rate as low as 1 Hz for static content, saving power with the always-on display and while reading, and rises to 120 Hz for motion. Google notes it is not available for all apps or content. Because the corners are rounded, the actual viewable area is less than 6.7 inches.

The panel lowers its rate to match the content, slowing down on static images to save power and rising to 120 Hz for scrolling and games.

This is Samsung's peak figure, not a brightness held across the full screen.

Tensor G3 includes a TPU that accelerates on-device AI models. Titan M2 is a separate security chip that protects the lock screen and encryption keys.

Samsung says this GPU supports hardware ray tracing and is up to 50% faster at it than its predecessor.

Samsung states up to 29% better heat dissipation for the S26; this is a figure from the maker's own testing.

Usable space is lower than the total because of preloaded software. Options vary by country and carrier.

The 2x optical-quality zoom uses the centre of the main camera's Adaptive Pixel sensor; it is not a separate lens.

The standard Pixel 8 has a fixed-focus front camera; the autofocus on the 8 Pro keeps close selfies sharp.

Video Boost uploads video to Google’s servers to reprocess colour, lighting and stabilisation; it needs the Google Photos app and the result is not instant. Night Sight Video uses this processing in low light.

Samsung quotes up to 30 hours of video playback; the typical figure was measured by a third-party lab to IEC 61960.

The figure was measured from 0% with a 25 W Samsung adapter and 3 A USB-C cable, screen off. The adapter and cable are sold separately.

PowerShare works only with certain Qi-compatible phones and wearables and may not work below 30% battery.

Wi-Fi 7 speeds need a Wi-Fi 7 router; 6 GHz use varies by country.

USB 3.2 Gen 1 carries up to 5 Gbit/s of data, which speeds up wired transfers of large video files to a computer.

Band support varies by market.

Weight may vary by country and configuration.

Water and dust resistance can decline over time with normal wear.

Resistance can diminish over time; liquid damage voids the warranty.

Google measures the HDR figure at a 100% on-pixel ratio and the peak figure at a 5% on-pixel ratio; 2,400 nits is a ceiling for small bright areas.

The matte back shows fewer fingerprints; the standard Pixel 8 has a polished back and a matte frame.

Storage options vary by region and channel; there is no memory card slot.

Optical and electronic stabilisation work together on the wide and telephoto cameras. Zoom beyond 5x is digital. Pro controls allow manual shutter, ISO and focus and high-resolution (50 MP) shots. A multi-zone laser autofocus sensor helps focus in low light.

Google says the sensor can measure the temperature of an object, such as a pan or milk in a baby’s bottle. Google said it applied to the FDA for body-temperature use; that use depends on the country.

Google quotes beyond 24-hour battery life and up to 72 hours in Extreme Battery Saver (many features including 5G off). Figures use the separately sold Google 30 W USB-C charger (USB-PD 3.0 PPS). Battery Share significantly reduces the phone’s battery life.

Wi-Fi 6E is listed in Japan and Wi-Fi 6 in Taiwan, Singapore and India. Ultra-Wideband measures direction and distance to compatible devices.

eSIM support depends on the operator.

The bundled cable runs at USB 2.0 speed. There is no headphone jack. A Quick Switch adapter is in the box.

The period counts from when the device first became available on the US Google Store (12 October 2023).

Colour availability varies by region.