Galaxy S26 vs Pixel 10a camera: 6 real photos side by side

By Abu Bakar Saadat · Publisher: Saadat Rafiq · Photos taken 24 October 2026

In our daylight photos the Galaxy S26 was brighter and warmer, with lighter greens, while the Pixel 10a was darker and cooler, with more contrast and slightly crimson roses. Both saved 12 MP files and made their 2x photo as a digital zoom.

How these were taken

24 October 2026, Palmengarten, Frankfurt am Main, sunny with clouds, between 14:28 and 15:27. Each scene was shot with all 11 of our test phones within a few minutes, each on the same tripod, each on its default auto camera settings. The main camera at 1x, the roses at 2x. Location data removed, people blurred, no other edits. How we test · Compare these two in the Camera Lab

What the photo files show

Samsung Galaxy S26Google Pixel 10a
Saved file at 1x4000 × 3000 (12 MP)4000 × 3000 (12 MP)
Main lens (35 mm equivalent)23 mm24 mm
2x photo46 mm equivalent, digital zoom 2x, 4000 × 3000 (12 MP)24 mm equivalent, digital zoom 2x, 4000 × 3000 (12 MP)
Software in the filesS942NKSS4BZIGHDR+ 1.0.809520727zd

Read from the original photo files. A bigger file is not automatically a better photo: it means more pixels to crop into.

Fountain and pond

Bright sky, moving water and autumn trees in one wide view.

Fountain and pond, photographed with the Samsung Galaxy S26
Samsung Galaxy S2623 mm equivalent · f/1.8 · ISO 80 · 1/2536 s
Fountain and pond, photographed with the Google Pixel 10a
Google Pixel 10a24 mm equivalent · f/1.7 · ISO 28 · 1/1072 s

Centre crop

Fountain and pond, photographed with the Samsung Galaxy S26, centre crop
Fountain and pond, photographed with the Google Pixel 10a, centre crop

What we see: The S26 trees look warmer and the water lighter; the Pixel sky and water are a deeper blue.

Taken 14:39:30 (Samsung Galaxy S26) and 14:37:53 (Google Pixel 10a).

Red sculpture

A strong red in sun and shade, against grass.

Red sculpture, photographed with the Samsung Galaxy S26
Samsung Galaxy S2623 mm equivalent · f/1.8 · ISO 40 · 1/180 s
Red sculpture, photographed with the Google Pixel 10a
Google Pixel 10a24 mm equivalent · f/1.7 · ISO 24 · 1/104 s

Centre crop

Red sculpture, photographed with the Samsung Galaxy S26, centre crop
Red sculpture, photographed with the Google Pixel 10a, centre crop

What we see: Very similar red. The S26 grass is a lighter green; the Pixel shadows are darker.

Taken 14:47:56 (Samsung Galaxy S26) and 14:47:05 (Google Pixel 10a).

Statue under ivy

White stone in shade with bright sky behind it.

Statue under ivy, photographed with the Samsung Galaxy S26
Samsung Galaxy S2623 mm equivalent · f/1.8 · ISO 80 · 1/1372 s
Statue under ivy, photographed with the Google Pixel 10a
Google Pixel 10a24 mm equivalent · f/1.7 · ISO 26 · 1/467 s

Centre crop

Statue under ivy, photographed with the Samsung Galaxy S26, centre crop
Statue under ivy, photographed with the Google Pixel 10a, centre crop

What we see: Close. The S26 is a little brighter on the stone floor.

Taken 14:57:19 (Samsung Galaxy S26) and 14:58:15 (Google Pixel 10a).

Roses at 2x

Every phone set to its 2x zoom.

Roses at 2x, photographed with the Samsung Galaxy S26
Samsung Galaxy S2646 mm equivalent, digital zoom 2x · f/1.8 · ISO 25 · 1/207 s
Roses at 2x, photographed with the Google Pixel 10a
Google Pixel 10a24 mm equivalent, digital zoom 2x · f/1.7 · ISO 25 · 1/307 s

Centre crop

Roses at 2x, photographed with the Samsung Galaxy S26, centre crop
Roses at 2x, photographed with the Google Pixel 10a, centre crop

What we see: The S26 leaves are a lighter green and its roses a brighter red; the Pixel roses lean crimson.

Taken 15:05:32 (Samsung Galaxy S26) and 15:02:30 (Google Pixel 10a).

Bench and asters

Bright white paint next to purple flowers and deep shade.

Bench and asters, photographed with the Samsung Galaxy S26
Samsung Galaxy S2623 mm equivalent · f/1.8 · ISO 80 · 1/656 s
Bench and asters, photographed with the Google Pixel 10a
Google Pixel 10a24 mm equivalent · f/1.7 · ISO 26 · 1/352 s

Centre crop

Bench and asters, photographed with the Samsung Galaxy S26, centre crop
Bench and asters, photographed with the Google Pixel 10a, centre crop

What we see: The S26 is brighter in the trees; the Pixel keeps deeper shadows. Both keep the bench white.

Taken 15:12:47 (Samsung Galaxy S26) and 15:16:25 (Google Pixel 10a).

Pansy bed

Hundreds of small flowers: fine detail and many colours.

Pansy bed, photographed with the Samsung Galaxy S26
Samsung Galaxy S2623 mm equivalent · f/1.8 · ISO 80 · 1/682 s
Pansy bed, photographed with the Google Pixel 10a
Google Pixel 10a24 mm equivalent · f/1.7 · ISO 24 · 1/254 s

Centre crop

Pansy bed, photographed with the Samsung Galaxy S26, centre crop
Pansy bed, photographed with the Google Pixel 10a, centre crop

What we see: The S26 makes the red tree behind the bed more orange; the pansies look alike.

Taken 15:24:06 (Samsung Galaxy S26) and 15:22:38 (Google Pixel 10a).

What this comparison does not show

  • Night, indoor and portrait photos: not shot yet.
  • Ultra-wide and telephoto lenses beyond 2x, and video.
  • Other light: this is one sunny afternoon. Colours can change in cloud or at dusk.
  • Other copies of the same phone: we have one of each.

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