GoKawiilJoe Maring / Android Authority
I’ve carried both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro as my daily drivers since they launched. In fact, I’ve used every single Pixel phone ever made, and I still think Google offers the best Android experience you can buy today. So when Google confirmed its annual Made by Google event for August 12, I was genuinely excited.
On paper, the Pixel 11 Pro looks like a pretty significant overhaul. In fact, between the process switch and the new modem, it could be Google’s biggest under-the-hood hardware overhaul in years. The problem is that it arrives at a point where upgrading from a recent Pixel flagship simply doesn’t make much sense for me.
Do you plan on getting any of the new Pixel 11 phones? 7282 votes Yes, I'm already sold on the leaks/rumors. 7 % Maybe, but I'm waiting for the official announcement. 25 % No, I'm happy with my current Pixel. 49 % No, I'm not interested in Google's Pixel series. 18 %
A decent enough overhaul on paper
From everything we’ve seen so far, the Pixel 11 Pro addresses many of the long-standing complaints about Tensor-powered Pixels. It reportedly brings a more efficient Tensor G6 chip built on TSMC’s 2nm process, a long-awaited switch to a MediaTek modem, and a handful of refinements across the display, cameras, and battery life. If you’re upgrading from a Pixel 7 or even a Pixel 8, those changes could be worth the upgrade.
But for anyone who purchased a Pixel over the last two years, I don’t think they’re worth another $1,100. Not by far.
Before we even get to the new hardware, there’s the price to consider. Google is reportedly dropping the 128GB storage option for the Pixel 11 Pro, making 256GB the new entry-level configuration. That’s a welcome move in isolation. 128GB shouldn’t even be an option in 2026. However, it also pushes the starting price to a rumored $1,099.
Yes, you’re getting more storage, but you’re also paying $100 more just to get in the door. Meanwhile, what makes that price even harder to justify is yet another rumored change. While the higher-capacity models are expected to ship with 16GB of RAM, the base 256GB version may come with just 12GB — a downgrade compared to the Pixel 10 Pro.
If you bought a Pixel in the last two years, I don't think the Pixel 11 Pro makes a compelling case for itself.
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