Is the new (pricier) Pixel 11 series still a good value compared to Samsung's Galaxy phones?

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Google's Pixel phones have, for quite some time, been premium enough to compete with Samsung's best phones , but they were usually a bit cheaper. That made overlooking any performance or hardware gaps very easy.

But the Pixel 11 series will be different.

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Based on reported pricing, Google might charge Samsung-level prices for its next phones. The hardware still sounds competitive, according to what's leaked and known so far, but the Pixel value proposition is now more about the software than the lower price.

Google has confirmed that its next generation of Pixel devices will arrive during a Made by Google event on Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. ET. Preorders are expected to open that day, while reports suggest an Aug. 20 retail release.

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Samsung's latest phones, the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, were announced Feb. 25 and released March 11 . Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 on July 22, with availability on Aug. 7 .

A recent leak reported by The Verge and others claimed the Pixel 11 will cost $899.

Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 Pro will be $1,099, the Pixel 11 Pro XL will be $1,299, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold will be $1,899. That's a $100 increase for the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro, although they are expected to double their starting storage from 128GB to 256GB. The Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pro Fold, however, would cost $100 more while retaining the same 256GB starting capacity.

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Those new prices almost perfectly mirror Samsung's current lineup.

The 256GB Galaxy S26 starts at $899.99, the S26+ costs $1,099.99, and the S26 Ultra starts at $1,299.99. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 costs $1,899.99, while the bigger Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,099.99.

Keep in mind that until Google makes everything official, specifications and prices remain rumors.

OK, here's a basic spec sheet for Samsung's latest Galaxy series:

Now compare that to Pixel 11. It will reportedly use Google's Tensor G6 processor. These chips are optimized for AI and computational photography, which, for the end user, typically means excellent photos and clever features. Samsung's Snapdragon, on the other hand, is known for its performance, its ability to power more capable cameras, and faster charging.