The Google Pixel 11 Pro arrives as a modest update to its predecessor, presenting a comfortable, compact design and a capable camera system. However, it doesn't push boundaries in terms of groundbreaking features or raw performance, positioning it as a good, though not exceptional, Android flagship.
Design and Display
The Pixel 11 Pro retains the compact and comfortable form factor of previous models, with only minor changes in weight and dimensions compared to the Pixel 10 Pro. It features Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides and an aluminum frame, offering decent durability. New color options include Canyon, an orange-pink hue, and Olive green, alongside the more subdued Fog and Obsidian. The prominent camera bar, while adding to the phone's thickness, helps prevent wobbling when placed on a flat surface.
A new coating on the display aims to improve scratch resistance, showing promise in initial testing with fewer scratches on the front than the back. The phone maintains IP68 dust and water resistance. The display itself is a 6.3-inch OLED with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz and a peak brightness of 3,600 nits, an incremental improvement over last year's model. Stereo speakers are present, though the earpiece speaker is notably weaker than the bottom speaker, diminishing the stereo effect. The in-display fingerprint sensor and facial recognition are reported as quick and reliable.
One notable design choice is the exclusive use of eSIM, which, while convenient for some, limits options for users who prefer physical SIM cards. Connectivity is robust, featuring 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6.0, with added support for satellite connections. The USB-C port supports 10Gbps data transfer and can output to an external display for a desktop mode, though navigating this environment requires external input devices.
Software and Features
Running Android 17, the Pixel 11 Pro is promised seven years of software and security updates, alongside ongoing feature enhancements. However, concerns about the long-term performance and hardware reliability of Pixel phones persist.
A new feature, Rambler for Google Keyboard, enhances speech-to-text capabilities by tidying up spoken input and allowing on-the-fly revisions. This feature relies on online processing and is exclusive to the Pixel 11 series, a limitation given its potential as a system-wide Android feature. The effectiveness of Rambler is hampered slightly by its delayed output, requiring users to wait for processing before seeing results.
Google's Camera Looks feature offers preset processing styles for photos, allowing for fine-tuning. While a welcome addition for some, its utility may be limited for those who prefer shooting in RAW format for greater post-processing control. For casual users, these presets may function similarly to simple filters.
Magic Capture is another new addition, enabling users to record video and then have the phone automatically extract still photos. This feature proved functional, even assisting in capturing selfies with the rear camera system.
The much-touted HiLight feature, intended as a notification indicator and camera flash, is a controversial addition. Replacing the temperature sensor, it offers limited customization, functioning only for Gemini interactions and calls from favorited contacts. The restricted color options and app support undermine its potential usefulness, especially compared to similar, more flexible features found on other devices.
Gaming and Performance
Google's Tensor chips, including the new Tensor G6, do not aim for class-leading raw performance, lagging behind competitors like the OnePlus 15 or RedMagic 11 Pro in gaming benchmarks. While the Pixel 11 Pro handles day-to-day tasks smoothly, its gaming capabilities are more compromised.
Testing with the game "Neverness to Everness" revealed significant performance issues. Compiling shaders caused the device to overheat, and even at Balanced settings, gameplay exhibited frequent hitches, particularly during combat. At Cinematic settings, these hitches were more pronounced, impacting even general exploration of the game world. The phone's PowerVR GPU, a carryover from the previous model, appears to be a bottleneck for demanding gaming experiences.
Storage has been increased to a base of 256GB, an improvement over previous models. However, the base memory has been reduced to 12GB from the 16GB found in the Pixel 10 Pro lineup. The 4850mAh battery offers all-day use for moderate users, though two-day longevity may be challenging. Wired charging supports up to 30W, while Wireless Qi2 charging is now faster at 25W.
Cameras
The Pixel 11 Pro features an updated camera system with slightly larger sensors in some cases, but largely retains the same resolutions and apertures. The telephoto sensor sees a significant upgrade with a larger sensor, improving low-light performance and compensating for its narrower aperture.
The camera setup includes a 50MP wide lens, a 50MP ultrawide, a 48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 42MP selfie camera. The main sensor captures detailed images with natural colors and effective background blur. The ultrawide lens maintains color consistency with the main sensor, minimizing noise in darker conditions. The telephoto lens performs well up to 10x zoom, but beyond that, images show noticeable softness and digital artifacts. The 42MP selfie camera, while capable, produces softer results than expected, with fine facial details appearing blurred.
Pricing and Availability
The Pixel 11 Pro starts at $1,099 for the 256GB model with 12GB of RAM. A 512GB model with 16GB of RAM costs $1,219, and a 1TB model with 16GB of RAM is priced at $1,449. Google is offering promotional incentives, including discounts on the Pixel Watch 5 or Google Store credit for orders placed before August 27.