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Confession: I've spent the past two weeks speed-dating. Not people, but phones. Some were overly luxurious, offering flashy features and bold promises that were simply too lavish for my lifestyle. Others were quietly compelling.
The new Pixel 11 is a bit of both camps. It's like the classic movie trope: the quiet nerd who takes off their glasses, puts on a swipe of hibiscus-pink lipstick, and suddenly has everyone's full attention.
Also: Pixel 11 XL Pro: Google's big flagship is more Pro than ever, but the camera is no big thing
That's what it felt like when I first unboxed the handset, with its magenta hues making the most of golden hour by my living room window. I've seen this story play out for years now, as Google often treats its base model Pixel with the "fun" colors, but to my surprise again, the Pixel 11 quickly became my favorite of the four that launched this summer.
A slimmed-down affair
Besides the fancy new Hibiscus color, there actually isn't much that's new to the base Pixel's hardware this year. You're still getting a 6.3-inch AMOLED display, a nearly symmetrical design (from the bezels to the bottom-firing speaker), and a blend of polished glass and matte-treated side rails.
Let me geek out for a moment: I'm a big fan of the material choice for the Pixel 11 because the glossy back glass has the unintentional effect of becoming grippier as your fingers build up sweat (naturally) throughout the day. So, unlike the Pro models, which have a matte finish on the back, the Pixel 11 is less slippery to use one-handed -- to the point that I feel comfortable using it without a case.
Also: Google Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 9: Why I'm considering the upgrade this year
Google has also slimmed down the camera bar to nearly half the size of last year's, making it feel even sleeker. So, if you do decide to slap on a case, the camera bar should now fit beneath the protective layer, rather than potentially being exposed still to drops and scratches. It's quite an impressive feat, considering the company upgraded the main sensor to improve light-gathering. More on that later.
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