Pixel 11 Review: The One to Get?

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The Pixel 11 is a confident, polished upgrade that delivers an excellent camera, smooth performance, and a design you'll love - all without needing to spend flagship money. If you're upgrading from an older Pixel or making the jump from iPhone, this is the one to get.

The Good

1. Outstanding camera for its price tier
2. Slimmer, refined design with great colour options
3. Tensor G6 delivers fast, reliable everyday performance

The Not So Good

1. Telephoto and ultra-wide largely unchanged year-on-year
2. Costs more than its predecessor

• User Ratings (1 Votes)
  7.4

My review of the Pixel 10 from last year is one of the biggest videos I’ve ever published on my YouTube channel.

I think this is partly because of the angle I took: Pixel or iPhone? That always gets people going. Were people really switching from iOS to Android in droves and landing on Google’s regular Pixel? It certainly sparked lots of debate in the comments section, not least because the Pixel in question was, I suggested, one of the best Google has ever released.

This year’s Pixel 11 series launch has attracted as much criticism as it has praise. Like any phone launch these days, I guess. I sit in the latter camp; I think Google understands that, unless you’re willing to experiment with different foldable form factors, we’ve reached the age of iteration for smartphones.

Big annual updates are a thing of the past.

And that’s ok.

No, really. It is.

If you’re reading this, there’s a strong chance you’re considering upgrading to the Pixel 11, or, potentially, swapping from iOS to Android. Whatever the reason, I’ve been giving Google’s latest ‘standard phone’ a good ol’ thrashing (in my own, unique style).

If you’re also weighing up the Pixel 10 before committing, check out our Google Pixel 10 review for more.

Specs and pricing

The Pixel 11 starts at £879/$899. Just like pretty much everything in 2026, it is more expensive than the product it replaces, in this case by around £80/$80 for every storage tier.

Although, Google has doubled the starting storage to 256GB, which softens some of the blow.

They’ve upgraded a few things, too. Obviously. The chip has moved from the Google Tensor G5 to the G6, the battery life has increased from 24 to 30 hours, the main camera lets in 56% more light, digital zoom tops out at 30x versus 20x, and wireless charging speeds have increased to 25W, thanks in part to the introduction of Qi2.2.

The display is the same 6.3 inches with 3,000 nits of peak brightness and a 60-120Hz variable refresh rate. Wired charging speeds are the same, and the telephoto and ultra-wide cameras are nigh-on identical to last year’s. As is the inclusion of PixelSnap (the magnetic attachment feature on the rear of the phone).

That means you’re essentially paying £80/$80 extra for a new chip, a bigger main camera sensor, and double storage. In 2026, them’s the breaks, but I don’t consider that to be a bad deal at all. Plus, literally no one will be upgrading from the Pixel 10 to the Pixel 11.

If you’re coming from an earlier device, mind you, it’ll be quite the jump.

Pixel 11 vs Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL

So, why go for the regular Pixel 11 over the Pro or Pro XL? What separates them?

There’s one obvious differentiation, which is the fact that there are two sizes of the flagship device. Therefore, if you want a bigger display than the Pixel 11 offers, you’ll need to stump up for the Pro XL. And that means several hundred pounds or dollars extra out of your bank account.

What do you get for that beyond a bigger display? A different and slightly more premium design (although with a thicker camera bump), and a significantly improved camera. On paper; the biggest difference being the zoom lengths available and the number of megapixels packed into every camera on the 11 Pro and Pro XL. Oh, and the flagship phones shoot 8K video, too.

The 11 Pro and Pro XL also get HiLight, which is Google’s take on Nothing’s flashy rear lights. This extends as far as turning the camera flash into a notification beacon for calls (both standard and WhatsApp) and Gemini. It’s the most first of first versions and, to be honest, you’re not missing much if you go for the Pixel 11.

Design

I’m a big fan of the Pixel design. It’s extremely recognisable, and the camera bump is positioned in such a way that the phone doesn’t wobble when placed on a flat surface – something I know annoys people immeasurably with other devices.

The Pixel 11 looks nigh-on identical to the Pixel 10, save for a slightly and noticeably slimmer camera bump (the Pro and Pro XL weren’t treated to that diet).

As I noted in my Pixel 11 Pro XL review, Google continues to lean into its colour selection with every new Pixel launch, and I’m glad they do. In my opinion, they choose some of the best colours out there. The Pixel 11 comes in Frost, Pistachio, Obsidian, and Hibiscus (the one I was sent to review, which is about as pink as phones come). Even the names of the colours are nice.

Camera

As noted, the Pixel 11 has a somewhat downgraded camera system when compared against its two more expensive siblings. But that’s on paper and, I’ll be completely honest, bar the occasional need for a slightly better quality zoom, I didn’t miss the 11 Pro XL camera while testing the Pixel 11.

This is where a huge dose of common sense needs to be applied to tech reviews in 2026.

Buy any new smartphone today, and it’ll take great photos when you open the camera app and hit the shutter button. You only notice the difference between budget, mid-range, and flagships when you start reaching for longer zooms or placing yourself in very poorly lit environments.

Curious how the Nothing Phone (4a) handles its camera at a lower price point? Read our Nothing Phone (4a) review for a direct comparison.

But here’s the catch – the Pixel 11 is so good, camera-wise, that you need to sit down and think about what you might be missing. It’s never particularly apparent. Which means it doesn’t matter to the vast majority of smartphone buyers. If it matters to you, well, that’s when you spend more money and get the flagship instead.

The Pixel 11 takes beautiful photos just like every Pixel that has come before it. It’s fast, reliable, and adds just enough drama to photos without making them look annoyingly processed. I love it.

Performance

Google tells us that the Tensor G6 chip is 25% faster for browsing, 15% quicker at app loading, and 20% more efficient. The TPU (the AI bit) is a whopping 50% more powerful than last year’s G5, and Night Sight photography is now 4.5x faster thanks to the new silicon.

What does that mean in practice for the average user (I count myself among that crowd)? Very little – this is still a super-speedy, smooth, and enjoyable phone to use.

Just like every smartphone released these days.

I genuinely have nothing else to add, and that’s a wonderful thing to say, because it means if you buy the Pixel 11, you won’t be disappointed by its performance. If you need more performance, you know you need more performance.

Conclusion

This feels like one of the swiftest smartphone reviews I’ve published all year, but for good reason.

If you’re considering upgrading to the Pixel 11 from an earlier Pixel, I would do so without hesitation – you’ll be extremely happy. If you’re considering switching from iOS to Android, the Pixel 11 should be among the top contenders for that leap, mainly because it is the most iPhone-like Android phone out there.

It may not be for you. Which is absolutely fine, too. If you’re after an Android device in 2026, you’re spoilt for choice.

What a world we live in, eh?

Shop the Google Pixel 11 below!