Google is betting on Pixel Glow, but the Pixel 11 desperately needs more than that

Faster performance

Google has been using Tensor chips since the Pixel 6 lineup. The processor definitely has plenty of advantages, like:

• It better supports the AI features that have been the highlight of Pixel phones recently.
• Many Pixel-exclusive capabilities, like call screening, voice recognition, and more, work best with the Tensor SoC.
• The in-house chip also allows the company to have better control over the hardware and software department of the smartphone, just like Apple.

However, if you keep all these advantages aside, you'll find the processor isn't the best for handling resource-demanding applications. In fact, many games that run smoothly on phones of other brands that feature a Snapdragon or MediaTek processor are often reported to lag on Pixel phones.

Well, the possibility of Google ditching the Tensor chip and switching to Snapdragon seems very low, so I really hope for the tech giant to work on the performance aspect of the Tensor G6 chip that is going to power the Pixel 11 lineup.

Silicon carbon battery

Although the lithium-ion battery that Google uses in its phones has plenty of benefits, like being highly reliable, at the same time, it's also the main reason Pixel phones offer comparatively small battery capacity compared to their Chinese competitors like OnePlus and Huawei that use silicon-carbon technology. Samsung has finally embraced the latest battery technology in its Galaxy Z series phones, and there's a very high possibility that its upcoming S lineup will also use the same tech.

I really want Google to follow the same path as Samsung and other Chinese smartphone manufacturers and start using silicon-carbon technology in Pixel phones. I am not asking for a gigantic upgrade like a 10,000 mAh capacity, but the company should aim for offering at least a 6,000 mAh battery in its devices.

No more software issues, please

The biggest concern with Pixel phones these days is the various software-related issues they are dealing with. Ever since the March 2026 update, plenty of problems have been reported on these Google smartphones, which range from battery drain and bootloop to performance degradation. Fortunately, most of the reported issues have been addressed, but battery drain still remains an active concern.

I really want the tech giant to quickly release solutions for all the reported bugs, instead of delaying the fixes for multiple months.

Better videography

I use the Pixel 10 as my daily driver, and I have no complaints with its photography. However, video recording is the area where I see Google phones lagging slightly behind their competitors like the iPhone. In our in-house testing as well, there was a tie in the camera battle between the Pixel 10 and the iPhone 17.

However, in the video quality competition, the Pixel scored 138 points, whereas the Apple product won by scoring 145 points. Google would simply need to improve the sensor just a bit, and we could see its phones wearing the crown of the best camera smartphones.

12th August 2026: mark your calendars

Whether the smartphone maker would make the above-mentioned changes in the Pixel 11 series is something we would find out when the device becomes publicly available. The upcoming Google smartphone lineup will be unveiled on the 12th of August 2026.