The Google Pixel 11 costs $100 more than last year’s model, and reviewers keep returning to that figure. The phone itself gets mostly warm words. The price, and how little has changed, draw the complaints.
This summary draws on published reviews from BGR, Trusted Reviews, GSMArena and CNN Underscored. Ezetimes has not tested the phone.
Price and what you get
According to BGR, the Pixel 11 starts at $899, up $100 from the Pixel 10. Every model in the Pixel 11 range rose by the same amount. GSMArena lists the base 256GB version at $899, £879 or €999. The 512GB version costs $1,019 or €1,129.
Trusted Reviews calls it the priciest standard Pixel yet. It says the switch to 256GB of base storage softens the blow, but the price still feels hard to justify.
What is new
GSMArena says Google has largely carried over the design, display, battery and wired charging from last year. The changes it highlights are:
- a larger main camera sensor
- 256GB of base storage
- the new Tensor G6 chip
- Qi2.2 wireless charging
CNN Underscored cites Google’s claim that the bigger sensor gives up to 56% more light sensitivity than earlier generations. The phone runs Android 17. GSMArena describes the software as smooth and polished, and notes that Google’s software support commitment is among the best around.
Cameras, battery and speed
Cameras draw the most consistent praise. BGR’s reviewer says the phone takes excellent photos with almost no effort. CNN Underscored found low-light shots of buildings better than the iPhone’s, with the Galaxy S26 performing similarly well but with more saturated colour. It was less keen on the selfie camera, a 10.5-megapixel unit. It preferred the colours from the iPhone 17 and the sharper detail from the Galaxy S26.
Battery life is solid. CNN Underscored measured 21 hours and 11 minutes of continuous 4K video playback. The Galaxy S26 lasted 27 hours in the same test. GSMArena notes the cell is roughly 5,000mAh, which is not large by current Android standards, but still calls battery life quite good.
Everyday speed is not a concern. GSMArena says CPU gains over the Tensor G5 are quite substantial. CNN’s reviewer ran many apps and Chrome tabs, plus a demanding racing game, without noticeable slowdown.
Where reviewers push back
Graphics are the weak point. GSMArena says GPU performance has barely moved from last year. The chip has no hardware ray tracing, and it is considerably slower than recent flagship chips from Qualcomm, MediaTek and Apple. BGR cites Android Authority’s stress test, in which the Tensor G6 held about 79% of its peak graphics performance over 20 runs. That is better thermal behaviour than most rivals, BGR says, but the peak is well behind them.
The display is bright and sharp, with peaks of up to 3,000 nits according to Trusted Reviews. Yet BGR says it is largely unchanged from the Pixel 10 and visibly less refined than the screen on the Pixel 11 Pro. The Pro gets LTPO, a higher resolution and a scratch-resistant coating. GSMArena adds that the Pixel 11 only switches between 60Hz and 120Hz, rather than adapting more finely, and it had limited success getting games to run above 60Hz. Trusted Reviews also flags the lack of LTPO as a poor fit for the price.
On design, BGR says the 6.9oz phone is noticeably lighter than the Pro models and carries IP68 water and dust resistance. Trusted Reviews finds it comfortable to hold, with rounded corners that do not dig into the palm, though the Galaxy S26 is slimmer and lighter.
The verdict so far
The reviews broadly agree. BGR calls it very easy to recommend but hard to get excited about. GSMArena judges it a very good phone on its own terms, with the problem being that very little feels new. Trusted Reviews is the most sceptical, calling it a tricky sell that matches or beats the Pro in places but does not offer obvious value.
For owners of the Pixel 10, the sources suggest few reasons to upgrade. For buyers coming from an older phone, or those who value camera consistency and long software support, the Pixel 11 looks like a safe choice. Gamers and anyone who wants the best screen should look at the Pro, or at rivals.