Is the Pixel 11 really worth the hype, the money, and the upgrade? I finally have an answer

Pre-order the Pixel 11 with a $100 gift card

The Pixel 11 is finally here, giving users a refined experience and a better camera. The model is already available for pre-order at Amazon, where you can get it with a $100 gift card.

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Pre-order the Pixel 11 Pro with a $200 gift card

Google's Pixel 11 Pro has just been announced, giving you a polished Android experience. The device gives you better visuals and improved camera performance. Right now, you can pre-order it with a $200 gift card at Amazon.

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Pre-order the Pixel 11 Pro XL with a $200 gift card

Prefer a larger display? The Pixel 11 Pro XL is here for you. With its 6.8-inch display, the new model gives you a larger screen real estate, plus it's already available for pre-order. Grab yours at Amazon with a $200 gift card.

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Pixel 11 Pro Fold: pre-order with a $350 gift card

The new Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold gives you a refined foldable experience with the familiar form factor. The device gives you an excellent Android experience. You can now pre-order it with a $350 gift card at Amazon.

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Pixel 11 in a nutshell

The base Pixel 11 received very limited upgrades over the Pixel 10. It gets the new Tensor G6 processor, faster wireless charging (25 W), and a 15 mAh bigger battery. The phone now starts from 256 GB of storage, unlike previous vanilla Pixel models, which also offer a 128 GB option.

The camera details are the same, but Google claims that the primary sensor now captures more light. How much it helps in improving the overall images is something we would definitely share in our in-depth review. The phone starts at $899, which is $100 more than its predecessor.

Everything about the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL

The major difference between the Pixel 10 Pro and the Pixel 11 Pro is in the chipset, with the latter offering the latest Tensor G6 chip with Titan M3 security. The camera in the new phone has been upgraded to support 120x zoom; however, the battery size has been reduced from 4,870 mAh to 4,850 mAh. The wireless charging speed for this model has also been boosted to 25 W.

The XL model delivers everything mentioned above, but unfortunately its battery size has also been slightly reduced. It features a 5,115 mAh battery, which is 85 mAh smaller than what you will find in its predecessor. However, it's worth noting that the use of the latest chipset and the MediaTek modem in both the latest Pro and Pro XL models could compensate for the reduced capacity.

Both of these Pixel variants support the all-new HiLight feature. The Big G has also added a lot of software-based capabilities to the entire new Pixel lineup, which includes Rambler, Magic Capture, Camera Looks, Creator Suite, Instant Night Sight, and a few more.

The ongoing memory shortage has affected these two phones as well, as they now start with 12 GB of RAM. You do get a 16 GB storage option in the XL variant, but the Pro option this year is only available with 12 GB of internal storage. Lastly, both phones cost $100 more than their respective predecessors, with the Pixel 11 Pro priced at $1,099 and the Pixel 11 Pro XL priced at $1,299.

The regular or the Pro: which Pixel 11 justifies the price increase

I honestly feel that the Pixel 11 Pro delivers the best package among the vanilla Pixel 11 and the two Pro models. When compared to the base variant, it has the advantage of the HiLight capability, a better zoom lens, and a slightly bigger battery.

And when you put it against the XL variant, you will find that it offers everything the same and that too at a $200 lower price. If you want a slightly bigger screen and battery, then you can definitely go for the Pixel 11 Pro XL. However, if you keep these two factors aside, the Pixel 11 Pro appears to be the ultimate winner between the regular and Pro Pixel models.

What about the Pixel 11 Pro Fold?

Other than the new processor, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold hasn't received any major upgrades. The screen brightness level has been increased from 3,000 to 3,600 nits. Its camera now delivers 30x super zoom, unlike the previous model, which caps out at 20x.

Similar to all models in the lineup, it also now supports 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging. Durability is one of the main things to consider in any foldable, and Google claims that its latest product is three times more durable than before. That's all the upgrades.

If you look past these things, you'll find that the company has downgraded an important component of the phone. The battery is now 4,750 mAh, which is 275 mAh less than what you had in last year's foldable from Google. Most importantly, the phone is $100 costlier than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

I, personally, don't think upgrading to the Pixel 11 Pro Fold makes much sense if you already have its predecessor. And if you're thinking of getting your first foldable, then I believe the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a better option. However, if you have decided that you want something from Google only, then I would recommend getting its last year's foldable, which is selling at a $300 discount on Amazon.

What about the competitors?

Now that both Google and Samsung have officially revealed their latest smartphone lineups, you might be confused about which one to get between the two. You see, I believe you should go for the Galaxy S26 phones if your priority is a well-rounded product that prioritizes UX and offers a really capable launcher. However, it's also worth noting that you might find the Pixel 11 winning the camera battle with the non-Ultra S line phones.

If you prefer Google's processed, ultra-crisp images, going with the Pixel 11 family makes sense. All that said, you should also not forget that the iPhone 18 is on the horizon, so if you are comfortable with the Apple ecosystem, then I would recommend waiting till its launch before deciding which smartphone you should get.