Smartphone Deals: Pixel 11 Discounts Return, Galaxy S26 Prices Shift, and Foldables Remain Priced High

With the initial excitement around foldables starting to settle, this week's deals are a good reminder that standard smartphones are also worth considering. Google is unusually offering real discounts on the Pixel 11 family, which is rare for the brand. Samsung's Galaxy S26 lineup is also worth a look, especially the base S26, which is now close in price to the Pixel 11 Pro. The foldable market is still expensive overall, but the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Samsung's Z Fold8 options have at least seen some price movement.

Google Pixel 11 Pro

The Pixel 11 Pro is the easiest Pixel to recommend this week. The 12GB/256GB version starts at $800, which is a meaningful $300 reduction. The 16GB/512GB model is $920, so the storage and RAM upgrade costs an extra $120. One interesting quirk is that, on this generation, the 256GB Pro and Pro XL variants have less RAM than their 512GB siblings, a change from earlier Pixels. Apart from that, the Pro model brings useful improvements, including better battery endurance, faster wireless charging, a more polished chipset, and 4K60 HDR video recording.

Google Pixel 11

The standard Pixel 11 is also discounted, starting at $700 for the 12GB/256GB model. That is a $200 reduction, but the price gap to the Pro is only $100, which makes the Pro the better value for most buyers. The extra cost buys an LTPO display, stronger telephoto and ultra-wide cameras, and the option for 16GB of RAM in higher configurations. If you only want the base Pixel, the 512GB model is also available for $820.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL

If screen size is the main priority, the Pixel 11 Pro XL is the one to consider. It has a larger 6.8-inch display, compared with the 6.3-inch panels on the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro. Beyond the bigger screen, the Pro XL also has faster charging and better speakers. The 12GB/256GB model is listed at $950, while the 16GB/512GB version is $1,070 after a $350 discount.

On the Android side, Samsung is the main non-Google contender this week. Motorola does not have a particularly compelling slab phone in the current sale cycle, and the Razr Fold is not discounted. If you prefer a Motorola device, it may be better to wait for the Signature 27.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is still positioned as a premium flagship, and it does not benefit from the same kind of deal pressure as the rest of this lineup. The 256GB model is currently $1,105 at Walmart, while the 512GB version is $1,155. Compared with a few weeks ago, those listed prices are higher, which leaves a noticeable gap between the S26 Ultra and the discounted Pixel 11 Pro XL. The Ultra remains the top Samsung slab phone, but this week it is not the clearest value.

Samsung Galaxy S26+

The Galaxy S26+ is more interesting than the Ultra this week. The 256GB model is down slightly from a few weeks ago, while the cost of stepping up to 512GB remains similar. At $810 for the base model and $945 for the larger storage version, it sits at a reasonable distance below the Ultra. It is also thinner and lighter than the S26 Ultra, which may matter to some buyers. That said, the Ultra still wins the overall comparison. The S26+ does bring several upgrades over the S25+, including a faster chipset, longer battery life, improved speakers, and some camera enhancements.

Samsung Galaxy S26

The base Galaxy S26 is arguably the most attractive Samsung deal here. The 256GB model is back down to $730, and the 512GB version has dropped to $810 from $890 just two weeks ago. That keeps the S26 below the comparable Pixel 11 Pro options by a meaningful margin. It also runs on a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, which is a big step up from the flawed Tensor G6 in Google's phones. Battery life is nearly the same, but the Galaxy has a slight edge in charging speed, though it lacks magnetic wireless charging unless you use a special case.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold

It is not every day that a Pixel foldable gets a notable discount, so the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is worth noting. At $1,650 for the 16GB/256GB model, it is $250 cheaper than the base Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. The 512GB Pixel version is $1,770. In the foldable comparison, the Galaxy still has the advantage in chipset performance, and Samsung's main camera is stronger with a 200MP 1/1.3 sensor versus the Pixel's 48MP 1/1.56-inch unit. However, the Pixel has a longer telephoto lens, with 5x optical reach compared with Samsung's 3x. The displays are close in size, but the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is thinner and lighter.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra remains the top Samsung foldable, but it is still expensive even with a $200 discount. The 12GB/256GB version is $1,900, and the 512GB model is $2,100. It has the premium hardware advantages mentioned above, including a stronger chipset and larger main camera, but it is a bigger purchase than the Pixel 11 Pro Fold or the standard Galaxy Z Fold8.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

The standard Galaxy Z Fold8 sits between the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and the Z Fold8 Ultra in price. At $1,700 for the 256GB model and $1,900 for the 512GB model, it is a different kind of foldable: the inner display is 7.6 inches with a 4:3 aspect ratio, and the cover display is 5.5 inches with an aspect ratio close to 16:10. It does not include the Ultra's 200MP main camera, and it lacks a telephoto lens entirely. If you want the more premium camera and chipset setup, the Ultra is the better choice, but the regular Z Fold8 is the more accessible option.

Apple iPhone Duo

The Galaxy Z Fold8's main rival is the Apple iPhone Duo, but availability is still tight. Some units are being affected by a display issue, and Apple is replacing affected devices. Given the limited supply and strong demand, there is little sign of a meaningful discount. For now, the iPhone Duo remains priced at $2,000 for 256GB, $2,200 for 512GB, $2,600 for 1TB, and $3,200 for 2TB.

Google Pixelsnap case

If you buy a Pixel 11, a Pixelsnap case is a sensible accessory, especially if you want magnetic Qi 2 charging. The case for the standard Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL is $40, while the more complex cover for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is $65. Each is listed with a $10 discount.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2

True wireless earbuds are also a useful add-on, and the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are worth considering if you already own a Pixel phone. They improve on the original Pro buds with a more comfortable fit, better sound, and stronger active noise cancellation. They are currently $50 off at $170.

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