iDevice review
Google Pixel 11 review: a bright, dependable phone that barely moved forward
Better battery and a screen you can read in the sun, with a chip that can stutter and heat up.
Thumbs up
- Bright, legible 6.3-inch screen
- Better battery than the Pixel 10
- Pixelsnap Qi2.2 charging
- Real 5x telephoto
- Compact, IP68 build
Thumbs down
- Marginal speed gains
- Occasional lag and heat
- Not for heavy gaming
- No charger in the box
Take the Pixel 11 outside on a sunny afternoon and the screen stays easy to read. Google rates the 6.3-inch Actua display at up to 3,000 nits at peak, and it's sharp at 1080 x 2424. It's the kind of screen you stop thinking about, because you can read it outside.
Under the hood, the Tensor G6 gives only a marginal boost over the Pixel 10 in performance, and you may hit laggy animations and moments where the phone gets warm.
Battery
Battery life is a real step up. The bigger battery outlasts the Pixel 10's, and most people get a full day of use without thinking about it. You can leave the house in the morning and skip the midafternoon top-up. With lighter use, you can go a couple of days between charges.
With a 30W USB-C PPS charger you'll reach about 55% in 30 minutes, but the charger is sold separately, and the box has just a USB-C cable. Pixelsnap magnetic charging is built in, Qi2.2-certified at up to 25W.
Speed
Messaging, maps and photos run fine, but don't expect a gaming powerhouse. A long session of a demanding game is where you'll feel it. It comes with 12GB of RAM. Expect occasional lag and some heat when you push it.
Cameras
You get three cameras on the back: a 48MP main camera with macro focus, a 13MP ultrawide and a telephoto with 5x optical zoom and stabilization. A real 5x lens on the standard Pixel is the standout. You can frame a stage, a skyline or a kid across the field without walking closer, and Google's zoom goes up to 30x past that.
Video records in 4K at up to 60 frames per second with 10-bit HDR. The 10.5MP selfie camera has autofocus and also shoots 4K.
Build and connections
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covers the front and back, with a satin aluminum frame, and it's IP68. At 72mm wide and 8.6mm thick, it's easy to hold in one hand. Stereo speakers and three mics handle audio, with Spatial Audio support.
It runs Android 17, supports two active eSIMs in the US and has a 5G mmWave model. It works with Android Auto.