I’ve always called the non-Pro Pixel phone the lesser phone, but after using it for the last couple of weeks, I don’t anymore. Repeat after me: Pixel 11, you are enough.
The 2026 version of the Pixel 11 adds new colours, including Hibiscus and Pistachio, but more importantly, it gets the new Tensor G6 chipset with 20% better power efficiency and up to 30x Super Zoom in the camera, along with a bump to 256 GB of base storage.
The Pixel 11 also gets battery improvements, with the upgrade bringing 25W wireless Qi2.2 charging support with compatible chargers, including Google’s Pixel Snap chargers.
We are at a state in which smartphones are reaching a peak in their development, so each year all we can really hope for are small incremental improvements, and that’s what we have here.
The basic specs of the Pixel 11 are:
- 152.8 x 72 x 8.6 mm (same as last year’s Pixel 10)
- 197 grams (7 grams lighter)
- Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on front and rear with aluminium frame (same)
- IP68 (same)
- 6.3-inch OLED, 120Hz, 3000 nits peak brightness (same)
- Google Tensor G6 (new)
- 256GB and 512GB (128 and 256 last year)
- Triple camera system (same)
- 48 MP Wide (ƒ/1.70)
- 13 MP Ultrawide (ƒ/2.2)
- 10.8 MP Telephoto (5x Opt) (ƒ/3.1)
- 30W wired charging (same), 25W wireless charging Qi2.2 (faster)
Design
Google really makes some great-looking phones now, and the Pixel 11 is no exception. It retains the same design language as last year, and that’s a good thing. The design of this “lesser” Pixel is stunning.
Many of these premium flagship phones use the same design language, and Google does it as well as anyone. The corners are slightly more rounded than some other flagships, which helps it sit more comfortably in your hand.
The sides of the Pixel 11 are the same design as the Pixel 10 with a satin-finish aluminium look. The rear looks mostly the same with the camera island incorporating black glass all the way across this time. The island is still the same shape though, and I’m here for it – it’s in Google’s design language, and I’m glad they’ve stuck to it.
The fingerprint sensor is once again underneath the display, and it is quick and accurate, but the Pixel 11 also includes biometric face unlock, which is even faster and even more accurate. I do like having the fingerprint sensor option, though, since some of us still have to wear masks during the workday.
Software
Last year I had a few bugs pop up with how I set up and use my phone, but this year, none. The overlays and fonts, etc all scaled well, and all software behaved as it should.
The Pixel Experience is second to none, and unless you’ve tried it, you simply cannot understand how fluid and smooth it is. It puts all other manufacturers, including Apple, to shame. Opening and closing apps and transitioning from one screen to another is buttery-smooth, fluid, and unmatched in the smartphone world.
Pixel-specific software
The software includes all the favourites that we have seen in previous Pixel flagship generations, including Pixel Screenshots, Circle to Search (now in the Camera app too), Live Translate and much more.
I say it every time, but one of my favourite things about the Pixel smartphones is the Gemini/Assistant voice-to-text. This year though, Google has improved it significantly – in some ways. It has always been incredibly accurate at determining what I was saying, using AI to infer context behind the words and then choosing the word that not only sounds like what I said but also fits best in that context.
While this “Standard” voice-to-text is still available and you may prefer it, there is a new option: Rambler.
“Rambler is a text input feature powered by Gemini in Gboard. Unlike traditional voice typing that transcribes word-for-word, Rambler transforms natural, spoken thought into clean, well-structured written text. It automatically removes filler words, formats grammar and punctuation, and allows you to edit and rewrite text using natural voice commands.”
What this means is that you just talk naturally and Gemini/Rambler will polish up the text once you have finished talking to it. The only problem with it is that you need to interact physically with your phone to use it. You need to tap the Microphone button to start voice-to-text, then tap it again when you’re done.
I love voice-to-text on Pixel devices because I can use it while driving, but having to tap the phone to use Rambler removes that option. You can also only see the text AFTER you hit the done button, not while it’s being typed. Some voice commands work, but you cannot say “Send” for the text to send, so that also makes it far from ideal (and illegal) while driving.
Maybe the next iteration of Rambler will support all voice commands, but at this stage that part isn’t as good as the “Standard” voice-to-text, which, by the way, is still far better than any other manufacturer’s, including Apple’s, voice-to-text. I’m not sure why others don’t do better, but they have a long way to go when they do start trying.
Gboard has a new Gemini feature that adds Google’s AI “writing tools” to help with your text. You can ask it for suggestions, proofreading, rephrasing, making it more professional or friendly, or even emojifying it. This seems like a lot of options for basic text entry, but it’s best for email clients that don’t already have Gemini built in. If you’ve ever used this in Gmail before, you’ll know what I mean.
Google has also upped its game on proactive assistance, with rich, visual cards offered in chats to help you based on the chat context. For example, it can offer to add an appointment or date to the calendar after checking if it is free, check flights, set alarms, and provide details about the restaurant you are planning to meet at, etc.
Camera
The Pixel 11 rear camera system is essentially the same as last year’s Pixel 10. There is a slight change in the main camera but that’s it. This year is all about the software with quite a bit of change not just to the features but also to the app and how it can be used/customised.
The camera app launches with the ability to customise your camera, with it opening to whichever type of shot you prefer – photo, video or Magic Capture. Magic Capture is new from Google, and I love it. It’s similar to Samsung’s old feature where you hit the capture button once and the camera captured all types of photos and videos of the scene – black and white, short video, vibrant colours and more.
Open Google Photos and you will be able to see the Magic Capture video and photos. Google recommends using it for kids, sports, pets and any dynamic scene. I found it worked really well for pets and my golf swing. If you prefer your own photo from the video captured during Magic Capture, simply pause the video and tap “save as photo.”
Another nice addition is Google creating a “Key Moment” from the video, letting you share just that moment, create a clip, or save a photo of it. Of course, it worked great for checking my golf swing and sharing just the swing without all the setup and fluff afterwards with my coach.
The new quick access controls in the Camera app can also be customised, as can how you prefer the default image to look (warmer etc).
The Pixel 11 is limited to 30x Super Zoom but I found that to be plenty good enough for things I needed to photograph. It is rare that you will ever use any images created at zooms greater than this – sure you can see the thing at, for example, 120x that the Pixel 11 Pro has, but it’s not really usable. For nearly everyone, as I said in the heading, the Pixel 11 is enough.
As you can see below, the Pixel 11 still takes some great shots. I took some side-by-side with the Pixel 10 Pro (basically the same camera as the Pixel 11 Pro), and the difference is minuscule to most people’s eyes.
Battery
The Pixel 11 sports a 4,985mAh battery, an ever-so-small bump up from last year. It still supports 30W wired charging with PD3.0 but the big difference is that this year, the Pixel 11 now supports 25W wireless Qi2.2 charging – the same speeds as that in the Pixel 11 Pro. I’m not sure why last year’s was gimped but it’s good to see the Pixel 11 get the full Pixel wireless charging speeds – of course, that is with a compatible charger.
Day-to-day, the battery life is the same, lasting a full day even with heavy use. Multi-day use for heavy users is still incredibly elusive.
All in all the charging solution for the Pixel 11 is much improved with the faster wireless charging. It is interesting that Google is still limiting the wired charging of ALL of its Pixel smartphones to just 30W when PD3.0 can charge much faster. Also, you still have to buy a compatible charger to reach these speeds, since one is not included in the box.
Final Thoughts
I’ve always been a fan of the pro level Pixel flagship smartphones and while they are excellent smartphones, after using the Pixel 11 this year I have come to the realisation that you really do not need the Pro level smartphone unless you want a specific camera feature only included in the pro models — and even then, there is very little the plain old Pixel 11 cannot do well.
The difference in the captured photos from the Pro-level device to the Pixel 11 is minimal at best as you can see in the comparisons above, so for nearly everyone, the Pixel 11 is enough — more than enough. At $400 less than the cheapest Pro model it has an extremely strong argument for the Pixel flagship you should be buying.
The Google Pixel 11 is one of the best smartphones on the market. For everyday use, Pixel software is streets ahead of the next place and the hardware looks good and runs well. The camera results are top-notch, and thus it is hard to find a reason NOT to buy one. If you are looking at buying a Google Pixel 11 series phone, I think you should really consider saving yourself some serious coin and buy the “lesser” Pixel, the Pixel 11. It is enough.
| Model | 256GB | 512GB | 1TB |
| Pixel 11 | $1499 | $1,699 | N/A |
| Pixel 11 Pro | $1849 | $2,049 | $2,399 |
| Pixel 11 Pro XL | $2099 | $2,299 | $2,649 |
| Pixel 11 Pro Fold | $2799 | $2,999 | N/A |
Scott is our resident open technology expert. If you can mod it, or want to use it your way, Scott has probably done it. From Laptops to phones, headphones and game consoles, he’s played with it and wants to see the next generation.
