Google Pixel 11 Pro XL review

Design, build quality, handling

The Pixel 11 Pro XL is an incredibly captivating phone, whether it is in Fog (ours), Olive, Canyon, or Obsidian. Google has made a couple of meaningful improvements, which have given this Pixel a more refined and premium look.

For starters, the Pixel 11 Pro XL is a dual-glass device with two flat Gorilla Glass Victus 2 panels and an aluminum chassis and frame. All models feature back panels with a matte finish, while the frame is polished in all but the Obsidian version.

The camera bar now features edge-to-edge glass, which makes it look seamless and, well, better. Its metal housing has a matching color and finish with the frame - matte for Obsidian and polished for the other models.

We like the long camera bar, as it gives the Pixel a sort of stability when lying down on a desk and it balances out the large and heavy battery rather well.

The Pixel 11 Pro XL has seen no improvements to its ingress protection. It is still IP68-rated for standard dust and water resistance.

Google claims that both the 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL have a new screen coating that should provide twice the scratch resistance compared to the Pixel 10 Pro series. It's a bold claim for sure, but we haven't been able to put it to the test.

Now, let's take a closer look at the Pixel 11 Pro XL.

The front features the same 6.8-inch OLED panel we saw on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, but it can be a bit brighter now. It has thin and even bezels and a small perforation for the 42MP selfie camera.

The Pixel 11 Pro XL features an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner underneath its screen. It is incredibly reliable and fast, even more secure than the optical sensor, and it works even when your hands are dirty or sweaty.

There is an almost invisible earpiece above the screen, which doubles as a stereo speaker.

The back panel of the Pixel 11 Pro XL has two things of interest: the raised camera bar and the mirrored G logo.

The camera bar has a single glass edge to edge and it houses a lot of stuff. There are the three major cameras - main, ultrawide, telephoto. A microphone and laser emitter and receiver are also around.

The last dot is the LED flash, but now it's more than just a simple light. This is also the spot for the HiLight feature, which shows colorful animation for when you are using Gemini or getting calls from your favorite contacts. It's cool, sure, but of a rather limited use.

The polished frame of the Pixel 11 Pro XL is a sight we liked looking at, when not covered in smudges, that is. There is nothing on its left side.

The volume and lock/Gemini key are on the right side. The lock key is above the volume rocker, which may be a bit annoying for newcomers to the Pixel series.

The top has another microphone and the SIM tray. It can take one nano-SIM card. Alternatively, you can also use an eSIM or both if you want to use dual-SIM functionality.

Finally, the other stereo speaker, the USB-C port, and the primary microphone are all at the bottom.

The Pixel 11 Pro XL measures 162.7 x 76.5 x 8.5 mm and weighs 226 grams. That's the same size as the Pixel 10 Pro XL, but the new model is 6 grams lighter.

The Pixel 11 Pro XL is a large phone that should be used with two hands most of the time. It is a balanced slab with a premium look and feel. The polished frame makes the phone grippy enough, while the matte back keeps smudges away. That said, if you get the all-matte Obsidian model, it will be free of smudges, but the grip there is minimal.

Google has made subtle but visible changes to the design, which makes the Pixel 11 Pro XL not only look different than the 10 Pro XL, but also better. And we are fans of the new colors, the Canyon especially.