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Dear Google: the Pixel 11 is missing the one upgrade Pixel fans have been desperately craving

Google is making the Pixel 11 series a tougher sell.

This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
Pixel 11 Pro in Pine color.
Pixel 11 Pro in Pine color. | Image by MyMobiles
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In less than two weeks from now, we will be seeing the launch of the Pixel 11 lineup, which is expected to feature four different models: the base Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Leaks regarding each model have started to surface more frequently as we are getting closer to the scheduled release date. However, one of the recently reported leaks suggests that none of the upcoming Google phones are going to feature the one upgrade Pixel fans have been asking for.

People are certainly looking forward to Pixel


Pixel phones are well-known for their stock Android experience, exceptional computational photography, and unique AI features. The upcoming Pixel 11 series is expected to offer all of these; as a result, our readers are looking forward to getting a new Pixel. According to one of our recent poll results, almost 40% of the voters say that they want to get the new Pixel 11.

As someone who daily drives the Pixel 10, I would definitely like to welcome more users to the Pixel family. But I have a strong feeling that some of those 40% of voters that have shown their interest in getting the upcoming Google phone would start giving a second thought to their decision after knowing that the devices aren't reportedly seeing any upgrade in one of the most important departments: battery.

The Pixel 11 series could disappoint everyone with its mediocre battery


The results of another poll used in a Pixel-related story suggest that Pixel fans want longer battery life in the Pixel 11 line more than any other upgrades. If you also voted (or would have voted) for the same option, then I'm sorry, but I have to break some bad news to you. Let alone the talk of an increase in battery capacity, the Pro models are reported to come with less battery capacity than their respective predecessors.

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What is the one thing you need to see in the Pixel 11 line?
481 Votes
 

Many sources, which include Amazon listings and reliable tipster Roland Quandt, claim that the Pixel 11 Pro would feature a 4,850 mAh battery, which is 20 mAh less than the Pixel 10 Pro. The Pixel 11 Pro XL, on the other hand, is reported to get a 5,115 mAh cell, which is 85 mAh less than the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The base Pixel 11 is definitely seeing an upgrade over its predecessor, but that too is of only 15 mAh.

Some staunch Pixel fans would definitely argue that the Tensor G6 processor, the new MediaTek M90 modem, and better software optimization would help the upcoming Google phones to deliver more on-screen time than previous models. I highly agree. But would it be enough to compete against some of its main rivals like OnePlus, which offers a comparatively bigger battery in its recent flagship phones like the OnePlus 15… a big NO.

Why might Google not offer bigger batteries in its Pixel 11 lineup?



The Pixel 10 Pro XL features the biggest battery among all the Pixel 10 phones. We put the device head-to-head against one of its main competitors, the OnePlus 15, which features a 7300 mAh cell and, in fact, costs $300 less than the Google Pixel XL variant. Unsurprisingly, the OnePlus phone completely destroyed the XL model in battery testing.

In our test, we found that the OnePlus 15 offered an on-screen time of 10 hours and 44 minutes, whereas the Pixel 10 Pro XL ran out of charge after 6 hours and 58 minutes. The gist is that software optimization and chipset efficiency definitely matter, but we also can't keep relying on them and not increase the battery capacity. In case you're wondering how OnePlus is able to offer such a massive cell in its smartphone, it's because of silicon-carbon technology.

Samsung has already embraced this new battery tech in its latest Z series smartphones and is reported to use it in its upcoming S lineup as well. Google, on the other hand, is likely to use the same old lithium-ion batteries in its upcoming phones; as a result, we could see the same battery capacity in the Pixel 11 family as in their last year's models.

I'm not upgrading this year


I was genuinely thinking of ditching my Pixel 10 for the Pixel 11, but literally none of the leaked specifications of the upcoming devices excite me. As a result, I have decided to wait for another year and get the Pixel 12.

I have a strong feeling that the tech giant will definitely adopt silicon-carbon technology in the Pixel 12 lineup, thereby offering greater battery capacity. The reason behind this is that Samsung, which is one of its main Android rivals, has already started using this tech, so Google would not want to be seen as a firm that knows a certain innovation could improve its product' battery life yet chooses not to use it.

Plenty of interesting leaks regarding the Pixel 11 family have surfaced online
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