Buying the Pixel 11? Maybe consider this poll-winning alternative first

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The Google Pixel 11 props up the company’s new flagship series and will be the popular choice to joining the premium Android ownership club. But, it’s by no means the only contender out there. If you’re torn about reaching for the Pixel 11, which alternatives should you consider?

My colleague Brady Snyder offered up his five best options , and we asked readers to vote on their preferred candidate from this list. With over 4,200 votes in, we were just a handful of votes from a surprise upset.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Samsung Galaxy S26 was earmarked by our readers as the best Pixel 11 alternative. It received more than a quarter of readers’ support (25.8%), collecting over 1,100 votes. There’s no doubt that Samsung’s new affordable flagship is the most direct competitor to the Pixel 11, at least going by the devices listed by Brady. It includes a faster Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy SoC, a lighter frame, and, I feel, a better overall software experience.

However impressive the Galaxy S26 is as an overall package, it was nearly toppled by an Android underdog. The Motorola Edge (2026) , a device that has seen plenty of love from our community since its launch, placed second, just 54 votes behind the Samsung.

The Edge bests both the Galaxy and Pixel in some fundamentals, including offering faster wired charging, a much lower price, and a more palatable design. (I’m a sucker for textured back plates on phones.) Unfortunately, the phone’s meager software support period and weaker hardware platform dull its shine. Nevertheless, it was the only other phone that could hold a candle to the Samsung in this poll.

The Google Pixel 11 Pro came in third with 18.5% of the vote. Given the stark premium over the Pixel 11, it’s surprising that more than 700 readers considered the Pro a viable alternative to the base model. It’s certainly more impressive on paper, but it’s also priced substantially higher.

The Google Pixel 10a came in fourth with 16.4% of the vote, while the only foldable on the list, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 , brought up the rear with 5.3%. Notably, the flippy Samsung garnered even less support than the “Something else” option, which received just under 400 votes.