GoKawiilGoogle unveiled a brand-new slate of handsets for 2026: the Pixel 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL and 11 Pro Fold. The Pixel 11 series has a number of improvements over its predecessors, including more efficient Tensor G6 processors, camera advancements such as Magic Capture and overall spec upgrades.
While there aren’t many design differences compared with the Pixel 10, the Pixel 11 Pro devices in particular do have one notable addition: HiLight. Initially rumored as the “Pixel Glow,” HiLight is essentially an array of ambient LED lights built around the camera’s flash that provide visual cues depending on the type of notification you’re getting. It hearkens back to the BlackBerry’s notification LED.
The Pixel 11 series also showcases many of Gemini Intelligence’s latest features, such as voice-to-text capabilities that filter out filler words when sending a message, or the ability to communicate in ASL via the Pixel camera.
The Pixel 11 series is now available to preorder. Wondering which new Pixel to buy? Here’s how the Pixel 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL compare against one another.
Pixel 11 vs. 11 Pro/11 Pro XL: Design and display
The Pixel 11 Pro XL’s screen is brighter than previous Pixel Pro models.
At first glance, the Pixel 11 series doesn’t look too different from its predecessors. The Pixel 11 and 11 Pro still have a 6.3-inch OLED screen, and the 11 Pro XL has a 6.8-inch OLED display. The Pixel 11 has a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, but the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL both have peak brightness increased to 3,600 nits (up from 3,300 on the 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL).
One major design change is that the Pixel’s camera bar is now made of edge-to-edge glass, giving it a much more seamless look. This camera bar is also home to the new HiLight ambient LED feature, though it’s exclusive to just the Pixel 11 Pro devices.
The aim of the HiLight feature is to provide visual cues about who is calling you when the phone is face down. According to Google, the feature integrates with your contacts list, so your favorite contact’s custom color will light up if they’re trying to call you.
Size-wise, the Pixel 11 and 11 Pro both measure 6 by 2.8 by 0.3 inches and the Pixel 11 Pro XL is 6.4 by 3 by 0.3 inches. Interestingly, however, they seem to weigh a tiny bit less than the Pixel 10 series. The Pixel 11 weighs in at 6.9 ounces (down from 7.2 ounces), the 11 Pro is 7.2 ounces (down from 7.3 ounces), and the Pixel 11 Pro XL is 8 ounces (down from 8.2 ounces).
... continue reading