We love this time of year. It’s new Pixel time. This year it’s the Pixel 11 lineup, which consists of the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Four phones, which could make a decision between which to buy a bit more difficult. Kellen handled the Pixel 11 Pro models (review soon), which left me with the base Pixel 11. Joke’s on him, I actually like these less expensive models quite a bit.
But that’s going to be the focus of this review. While less expensive it is (Pixel 11 Pro starts at $1099), it’s still $899, which is by no means inexpensive or cheap. That’s nearly $1K for a base model device and Google doesn’t do a very good job of sweetening the deal with promotions or initiatives. The Pixel 11, while a nice phone, is kind of a tough pill to swallow. Let’s get into this.
This is our Pixel 11 review!
What I Like
Software and Performance: I think if you ask most Pixel owners what keeps them coming back, camera and software would be the top two answers. The Pixel software experience is a clean one, though, it has evolved into something more colorful and better customizable thanks to the latest versions of Android. This phone ships with Android 17, one of the better Android releases we’ve had. It’s a very smooth experience, complete with many of the options for customization we wish we had years ago. These are minor changes, such as theme colors and icon options, but it all adds up to a very rich and personal experience.
Google added Magic Cue, powered by Gemini, into the Pixel 11 series. It automatically brings up actions based contextually on what appears on your display. For example, if you’re texting someone about plans for an upcoming trip, Magic Cue will pop up and suggest adding something to your calendar. If you mention another friend in the thread, Cue will suggest texting that person. I’ve used it here and there when useful, but overall, it’s a nice touch. The idea of AI being more proactive on my behalf is something I actually value, simply because I don’t go out of my way to use AI for things. I forget it’s there most of the time, so having it inject itself into my usage isn’t all that terrible, so long as it’s useful.
Thinking more performance, the new Tensor G6 paired with 12GB RAM has been quite good. On paper, Google says things like 25% faster web browsing, 15% quicker app launches, and 50% boost in TPU speeds for on-device AI performance, but as an end user, the main experience has been overall positive. I do notice this changes once the phone hits 20% battery level and performance is nerfed significantly to help preserve battery life, but other than that, the phone is quite snappy and responsive. It’s not a single thing that seems fast, but you notice it when processing Night Sight photos and switching between apps. Things just seem quick. While speed is obviously a goal for all chipmakers, power efficiency also plays a critical role. Google notes 20% better power efficiency with the Tensor G6.
Hardware and Display: Aspects that Google continues to improve year over year are both hardware and display. This year’s hardware is some of Google’s best, partly because we appreciate that the phones are available in more than just grey, white, and black. We have some exciting colors this year, both for the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro lineup. My Pixel 11 is the new Pistachio color, but there is also Hibiscus and Frost. All of these colors look good, even if there are plenty of folks who will cover them up with a case. To each their own, I guess.
Beyond the color, the Pixel 11 feels great in hand. Dimensions are 152.8 mm x 72 mm x 8.6mm, weighing in at 197g. The height I appreciate greatly because it doesn’t require a big shuffle to reach the top of the display when using it with one hand. The camera hump on the backside must also be discussed. It’s reduced on the Pixel 11, meaning it doesn’t stick out from the back of the phone as much as it did. Plus, when placing the phone down on a flat surface, there is zero wobble which is a completely underrated feature.
So we’ve established that Pixel 11 has nice hardware. It hasn’t changed all too much from the Pixel 10, which is fine, because that was a good feeling phone, too. But we do have display improvements to highlight. Pixel 11 had its peak brightness raised to 3,000 nits, making it very easy to use out in this summer sunlight. Google also included Gorilla Glass Victus 2, making it more scratch resistant than ever.
Software plays a huge role with how we view the Pixel 11’s display. Under the Display section of the settings menu, there’s a section for Comfort Filters. Comfort View can be toggled on and off, but there is also an on/off for a Dynamic setting which automatically adjusts the display based on your (lighting) environment. Comfort View itself gives the screen a softer, more pastel look. It makes looking at your display a bit less strenuous. In addition, Night Light (not new) cuts down on Blue Light which can be automatically set to turn on at night. Both Comfort View and Night Light have separate Intensity sliders to tune however you see fit.
One thing I noticed out of the box, and this might’ve been a fluke, was that Smooth Display was disabled. This is the function that lets the display get up to 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling. It’s a feature that is a must have, so I thought it quite weird when I had to toggle it myself. When you go from 120Hz to 90Hz or 60Hz, it’s very noticeable and relatively jarring to the eyeballs. If you pick up a Pixel 11 phone, be sure that setting is enabled in Settings > Display & touch > Smooth display.
Camera: I always love writing the camera section on Pixel phone reviews, since it’s generally a very good experience. Nothing changes with the Pixel 11. This phone feels like the perfect device to bring out of your pocket and snap whatever photo you might need. Specs wise, Pixel 11 has a 48-megapixel wide angle lens (with 56% better light sensitivity), 13MP ultra-wide angle lens, and 10.8MP telephoto lens. It’s capable of 30x Super Zoom, but there is no Super Res zoom on this device. Last year, the Pixel 10 offered 20x Super Res zoom.
We’re huge on letting the photos speak for themselves, and I will do that, but there are two software changes I want to highlight. Google has sped up Night Sight processing, which is very much welcomed. Google lists an increase in processing of up to 4.5x and it is noticeable. Also included is Magic Capture. Once tapped, the camera captures both video and photos, letting you focus more on what’s happening in front of you. Then it curates the content for you.
Google also has more default settings to choose from if there is a certain style you’re aiming for. There are options like Digi, Black Tie, Classic, and Velvet, but the main takeaway is that you can customize these filters and then save them for later usage if you want to keep shooting with that style. It offers a bit of a personal flair, which is a overarching theme for these phones.
Here are some camera samples, unedited but resized. You can find a Google Photos link to these and even more photos below.
Pixel 11 Camera Samples (Google Photos Link)
Battery and Charging: Pixel 11 comes fitted with a 4,985mAh battery, larger than the Pixel 11 Pro’s 4850mAh. Google says it’s capable of 30+ hours of life. The way I use my phone lately, I suppose it’s possible, but let me break down my days as of late. We have a new puppy, so my schedule is all over the place. I am woken up around 6:30-7am, then hitting the hay around 10:30pm. When I go to bed, I either have around 20% battery life left or I’ve had to plug in my phone in during the early evening because I’ve been busy taking photos and videos of the dog. I’m one of those puppy parents. I can’t miss a single cute moment. I average around 5 hours of screen on time, but my figures will always differ from yours because we live different lives.
Charging on these phones has been improved. Google says you can get up to 55% battery life in about 30 minutes via a 30W or higher charger. Additionally, the phone supports wireless charging of up to 25W (Qi 2.2 certified). And yes, Pixelsnap is still a thing and one of my favorite aspects on the latest Pixel phones.
What Could Be Better
What’s Missing: When using the Pixel 11, I get this feeling that I’m missing out on things. Pixel 11 Pro offers HiLight, and as far as I can tell, the only thing keeping the Pixel 11 from offering the same thing would be software. It has the same diffuser covering the LED emitter on its backside, but maybe Google opted for an entirely different emitter on the Pro series? And it’s not as if people are clamoring about how cool HiLight is. No one talks about it, but this is still a $900 phone.
The big piece that irks me, for no real good reason, is the absence of a Google AI Pro trial. I am not some huge AI advocate, but I am an advocate for value. Pixel 11 Pro models come with six months of AI Pro, so why couldn’t Google toss that same thing in for the Pixel 11 or at least 3 months? If people like it, then maybe they would continue paying for it? Also irking me is the fact that Samsung just announced the $699 Galaxy S26 FE. It comes with six months of a Google AI Pro subscription. Google, how are you gonna let Samsung outdo you on this? Unacceptable, but again, a lot of folks seem to not care about AI.
You of course have spec differences between the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro that are worth noting. The Pixel 11 Pro has a higher pixel density (495 PPI vs. 422 PPI) with wider refresh rate of 1Hz-120Hz, a brighter display with the Pro topping out at 3600 nits, and of course, the cameras are upgraded across the board. On paper, all of these things would be worth the extra $200 to me. Which is why the Pixel 11 at $899 kinda hurts. It’s in a weird price spot, not really giving the nearly $1,000 vibe that I would be looking for. This is the first time where I’ve reviewed this base model and came away thoroughly convinced that you should spend the extra money and get the Pro model if you are actively in the market for a phone.
Other Notes
- Software Updates: Google guarantees seven years of OS Upgrades and security updates on this device. As we’ve seen on past Pixel devices, they have been keeping to the schedule quite well, so if you’re a first time Pixel buyer, you should have no fears about getting updates. Plus, you’ll be one of the first to try new versions of Android via beta builds and all of that fun stuff. If you’re an Android fanboy, it’s hard to deny that Pixel provides a wonderful software (upgrade) experience.
Pixel 11 Specs
| Colors | Frost, Pistachio, Hibiscus, Obsidian |
| Display | 6.3-inch Actua display (OLED, 20:9 ratio) • Resolution: 1080 x 2424 at 422 PPI • Refresh Rate: Smooth Display (60–120Hz) • Brightness: Up to 2000 nits (HDR), up to 3000 nits (peak) • Glass: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Dimensions & Weight | • 6.0 in (H) x 2.8 in (W) x 0.3 in (D) • Weight: 6.9 oz |
| Processor & Security | • Google Tensor G6 • Titan M3 security coprocessor • Quantum-safe secure boot in hardware & Trusty TEE |
| Memory & Storage | • 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage • 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage (Zoned UFS) |
| Rear Camera System | Triple Rear Camera Setup: • Wide: 48 MP Quad PD (ƒ/1.70, 85° FOV, 1/1.56″ sensor) • Ultrawide: 13 MP (ƒ/2.2, 120° FOV, 1/3.1″ sensor) • Telephoto: 10.8 MP Dual PD (ƒ/3.1, 5x optical zoom, 23° FOV, OIS) • Zoom: Up to 30x Super Zoom |
| Front (Selfie) Camera | 10.5 MP Dual PD with autofocus (ƒ/2.2, 95° ultrawide FOV) |
| Battery & Charging | • Battery: 4985 mAh typical (4840 mAh minimum) • Battery Life: 30+ hours • Wired Charging: Fast charging up to 55% in ~30 min (30W USB-C PPS or higher) • Wireless Charging: Pixelsnap wireless charging (Qi2.2-certified) up to 25W |
| OS & Support | • Android 17 at launch • 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates |
| Authentication | Fingerprint Unlock, Face Unlock, Pattern, PIN, Password |
| Durability & Materials | • IP68 dust and water resistance • Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back with polished finish • Spacecraft-grade aluminum frame (100% recycled content) |
| Connectivity | • Wi-Fi 6E (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz, 2×2 MIMO) • Bluetooth v6 • NFC & Google Cast • Dual Band GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo) • USB Type-C 3.2 |
| SIM Support | Dual eSIM (supports 2 active eSIMs, stores 8 or more) |
| Safety Features | Satellite SOS, Emergency SOS, Car Crash Detection, Earthquake Alerts, Theft Protection |
| Sensors | Proximity, Ambient light, Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Magnetometer, Barometer |
Pricing and Availability
Pixel 11 starts at $899 for 12GB/256GB, going up to $1019 for 12GB/512GB. That’s a lot of money for a base model device and I’ve already stated multiple times, I think Google could have done better to sweeten the deal. Why one of the world’s richest companies can’t toss in an AI Pro subscription is beyond me.
If the Pixel 11 is your next, and you should consider it if you are still on a Pixel 7 or Pixel 8, you can find it widely available at all major US retailers and carrier stores. Looking over Google’s current trade-in offerings, they actually aren’t too bad. Your aging device might be worth more than you think, so it’s worth a look.
Buy Pixel 11 on Google Store
The Verdict
Two things can be true. The Pixel 11 can be an incredible phone and it can also cost too much. Sorry, but if I’m already spending nearly $1K, I might as well spend $200 more and get the Pro, which then unlocks much more. Samsung just announced the Galaxy S26 FE at $699, which not only looks like a good phone, but also comes with six months of Google AI Pro. This phone, a Google phone, costs $899 and comes with zero months of AI Pro. Google almost seems to be forcing your hand to get the more expensive device, simply to make the purchase worth it.
Another way we can look at this, if you own a Pixel 8 or Pixel 9, upgrading to the Pixel 11 would be a fine choice. The Tensor G6 is a good step up, plus the camera improvements would likely be noticeable. However, if you’re on last year’s Pixel 10, I see no reason to make the upgrade. I’d stay put.
TL;DR: This phone is awesome, but $899 is really pushing the limits of what people should consider spending on a “base” model device.
Read the original post: Pixel 11 Review: Great Phone, But $900 Feels a Little Steep
This articles is written by : Nermeen Nabil Khear Abdelmalak
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