GSMArena Team, 6 September 2026

Google Pixel 11 Pro review

6. Alternatives, pros and cons, verdict

Competition

The base 12GB/256GB variant of the Google Pixel 11 Pro currently starts at $1,100 in the US and €999 in Europe (and even €1200 if you buy directly through Google).

The higher starting price is somewhat expected given the fact that there is no longer a 128GB entry-level tier. The 256GB 11 Pro costs about the same as last year's 256GB Pixel 10 Pro. But the competition hasn't exactly been sitting still.

The Pixel 10 Pro has been all but discontinued in the States, so the only other alternatives there are the Samsung Galaxy S26 and the iPhone 17 Pro. Mind you, the iPhone 18 Pro is just around the corner, so you might want to wait a little longer to see what it has to offer before pulling the trigger. The Pixel 11 Pro does have its merits compared to the S26, like the more potent camera hardware, but the Galaxy S26 is at least $300 cheaper, so it's hard to argue with such a big price gap, and it's currently the best compact Android phone to get in the US.

Samsung Galaxy S26 • Apple iPhone 17 Pro

In European markets, we could only find the 128GB Pixel 10 Pro at reasonable prices, about €300 less than the 256GB Pixel 11 Pro, so we'd probably go with the 256GB Galaxy S26 instead, which is also around €300 cheaper than the 11 Pro. But markets like the EU enjoy a much wider choice of brands, so you might also want to consider some Chinese competitors, such as the vivo X300 (€830 for 256GB) and the Xiaomi 17 (€760 for 256GB). Both devices are in the same size category and are similarly priced to, or even cheaper than, the Galaxy S26. They offer longer battery life, faster charging and arguably more capable camera setups than the Pixel 11 Pro. They are also notably more powerful and offer a few extra display features that the Pixel lacks, so they are well worth considering.

Xiaomi 17 • vivo X300 • Google Pixel 10 Pro

Verdict

The Pixel 11 Pro may look like another incremental update, but Google has actually addressed some of the weaknesses of its predecessor. Battery life has finally caught up with the likes of Samsung and Apple, wireless charging is now faster at 25W, and the already excellent display is even tougher thanks to its new scratch-resistant coating while retaining its class-leading maximum brightness. Speaker quality has improved, too, even if it's still not quite up there with the best.

There are also a couple of advantages that are easy to overlook when comparing spec sheets. The built-in magnets make the Pixel 11 Pro one of the very few Android phones that can offer an iPhone-like MagSafe experience without a special case, while Google's satellite SOS service remains something most Android competitors can't match.

Unfortunately, some long-standing Pixel weaknesses haven't gone anywhere. The Pixel 11 Pro is unusually heavy for such a compact phone, outweighing Android rivals, some of which even manage to fit larger batteries. Wired charging remains slow despite the new Extreme charging mode, and while CPU and AI performance have improved, graphics performance has barely moved and is still closer to a 2023 flagship than a current one. The base 256GB model even drops from 16GB of RAM on last year's Pro to 12GB this time around. And the HiLight on the back feels more like a gimmick than a meaningful addition.

Camera-wise, the Pixel 11 Pro does well. It delivers very good photos and video from all of its cameras, but it's hardly the industry-leading package the Pixel name used to signify. There is no properly good solution for close-ups, for instance, and the telephoto camera's video stabilization leaves something to be desired. Rivals can offer more versatile and, in some cases, outright better camera hardware.

That leaves software as one of the strongest reasons to buy the Pixel 11 Pro. Google's polished, sometimes barebones take on Android, the Pixel-exclusive features, and long-term software support remain compelling. And unlike previous generations, you no longer have to accept mediocre battery life to get them. The problem is that Google is asking flagship money for a phone that still makes quite a few hardware compromises.

That is particularly difficult to overlook at launch price levels. The removal of the 128GB version raises the price of entry, while the base model gets less RAM than last year's equivalent. In the relatively limited US Android market, the Pixel 11 Pro still makes plenty of sense, especially if you value Google's software, camera experience, magnetic accessories and satellite SOS. But elsewhere, where similarly sized flagships can offer faster charging, substantially more performance, more ambitious camera hardware and sometimes better battery life for less money, the Pixel 11 Pro becomes a much harder sell.

Ultimately, the Pixel 11 Pro is the best version yet of Google's compact flagship formula, but it isn't the best compact flagship on hardware or value alone. It makes the most sense for someone who specifically wants the Pixel experience. If that's not high on your list of priorities, there are simply better-equipped phones for the money.