Smartwatches are a good way to receive phone notifications without looking at your phone. But some smartphone makers, including Nothing, have taken that idea and moved it to the back of the phone itself. Now Google has joined this elite group of keeping you informed without requiring you to lift your phone, courtesy of the new Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL—more on that in a bit.
So yes, the new Google Pixel has been announced. As with the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, the two are differentiated mainly by how much screen, battery, and, of course, the physical dimensions and weight. The only decision to make between the two is basically the size.
The Pixel 11 Pro has a 6.3-inch Super Actua LTPO OLED display with a 1,280 x 2,856 resolution, while the Pro XL stretches to 6.8 inches and 1,344 x 2,992. Both offer adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rates, 3,600-nit peak brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and a new anti-scratch coating. The smaller model weighs 204 g (7.2 oz); the XL reaches 226 g (8 oz), giving your pocket something meaningful to carry.
Powering both is Google’s Tensor G6 processor with the Titan M3 security chip. The 256 GB configurations receive 12 GB of RAM, while the 512 GB and 1 TB models move up to 16 GB and faster Zoned UFS storage. They launch with Android 17 and receive seven years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates.
Photography is handled by a 50 MP main camera, 48 MP ultrawide with Macro Focus, and a redesigned 48 MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom. Google says the telephoto captures 30% more light, while Pro Zoom now reaches a frankly nosy 120x. A 42 MP autofocus camera handles selfies.
New camera tricks include Magic Capture, Camera Looks, Camera Coach, faster Instant Night Sight, 50 MP portraits, and Pro Stable Video. Video recording reaches 8K at 24 or 30 FPS through Video Boost, while 4K is available at up to 60 FPS.
Another exclusive feature is HiLight, a ring of colored LEDs surrounding the flash. It can indicate what Gemini is doing or assign colors to incoming callers while the phone rests face-down. Yes, the notification LED has returned after attending finishing school.
The Pixel 11 Pro houses a 4,850 mAh battery and can reach 55% in around 30 minutes. The Pro XL carries 5,115 mAh and reaches a claimed 75% over the same period using a suitable 45 W charger. Both support 25 W Qi2.2 Pixelsnap magnetic charging and promise more than 30 hours of regular use.
Other specifications include IP68 protection, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, NFC, Ultra-Wideband, stereo speakers, face and fingerprint unlocking, Satellite SOS, and dual eSIM support on U.S. models. Colors include Canyon, Olive, Fog, and Obsidian.
Pre-orders are open, with sales beginning August 20. The Pixel 11 Pro and the Pixel 11 Pro XL start at US$1,099 and US$1,299, respectively. Unfortunately, yes, both models have a price bump.
Images: Google.