Google Pixel 11: our first impressions of the new range

Google has just unveiled its new Pixel 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL and 11 Pro Fold. At first glance, this new family does not appear to reinvent the category. In practice, though, Google is continuing to refine its formula and has arguably produced the most fully realised smartphones currently available.

Initial impressions could almost be underwhelming. There is no dramatic break from the past, no radical form factor and no gimmicky feature designed to steal the spotlight. Indeed, the Pixel 11 phones look remarkably similar to the Pixel 10, which were themselves already close in appearance to the Pixel 9.

Even so, my first few minutes with these four new flagships convinced me that Google has got nearly everything right. In my view, it is exactly because the brand is not trying to dazzle us that it has created today’s most accomplished phones.

The line-up comprises four handsets - the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL and 11 Pro Fold - each powered by the new in-house Tensor G6 chip and supplied with 256 GB of storage. Their overriding purpose is to demonstrate Google’s artificial intelligence expertise. Pixel 11 devices therefore combine the best software, including Gemini Intelligence AI, with hardware that can, for the first time, match the market’s leading devices.

Our first thoughts on the Pixel 11, on video

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Pixel 11 prices and availability in France

• Pixel 11: from €999
• Pixel 11 Pro: from €1,199
• Pixel 11 Pro XL: from €1,399
• Pixel 11 Pro Fold: from €1,999

Every model starts at 256 GB of storage. The 512 GB and 1 TB Pro versions increase RAM to 16 GB. Pre-orders are already open, with delivery scheduled for 19 August 2026.

Google Pixel 11 256 GB: best price

Base price: €999

Retailer	Price
Amazon	€999	View offer
FNAC	€999	View offer
Darty	€999	View offer
Rakuten	€999	View offer

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Google Pixel 11 Pro 256 GB: best price

Base price: €1,199

Retailer	Price
Amazon	€1,199	View offer
FNAC	€1,199	View offer
Darty	€1,199	View offer

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL 256 GB: best price

Base price: €1,399

Retailer	Price
Amazon	€1,399	View offer
FNAC	€1,399	View offer
Darty	€1,399	View offer

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold 256 GB: best price

Base price: €1,999

Retailer	Price
Amazon	€1,999	View offer
FNAC	€1,999	View offer
Darty	€1,999	View offer
Rakuten	€1,999	View offer

See more offers

Tensor G6 and Gemini everywhere

To compete with the market’s benchmark devices, Google needed to overhaul its in-house chip, which had a reputation for lagging behind rival processors. The new Tensor G6 delivers “double-digit” improvements: its processor is roughly 12% faster, memory bandwidth has increased and, crucially, the TPU’s computing power is up by 50%. While this may not sound especially exciting to the general public, this technical upgrade completely changes the Pixel 11 experience.

Paired with the Gemini Nano model, all AI features running directly on the handset - notification summaries, transcription and Recorder - become three times faster while using two and a half times less energy.

Put simply, Google runs its artificial intelligence locally through this chip rather than routing it through the cloud. This addresses both latency and security concerns. There is also a new Titan M3 security chip, said to be resistant to future quantum threats. It is the sort of component users will never notice in day-to-day use, but it matters nonetheless.

Gemini is consequently embedded throughout these new Pixel 11 phones, without ever overwhelming the user. The chip integration primarily turns it into an on-demand assistant that offers help whenever it is relevant. Gemini, for instance, makes contextual suggestions within conversations - about a flight or a restaurant - that can be saved to Maps, Calendar or Wallet.

The new “Rambler” feature lets users dictate a message or note in highly natural speech - including repetitions, restarts and stumbles. The AI understands what is meant and removes the excess, retaining only what the user genuinely wanted to save. Circle to Search is, naturally, still included. Real-time audio dubbing for selected videos arrives through Live Translate. Even migration from an old handset - including passwords, passkeys, eSIMs and call history - along with Quick Share ↔ AirDrop compatibility, follows the same principle: the AI aims to be helpful and unobtrusive.

Photography, naturally

The Pixel range earned its reputation through Google’s photography expertise. The company long outperformed its rivals thanks to the abilities of its AI engineers, although the growing strength of Chinese competitors has unsettled that position in recent years. Google has no intention of falling behind.

Google has therefore added a new 48-megapixel main camera that is 56% more light-sensitive, alongside a telephoto lens offering up to 30x zoom on the Pixel 11 and 120x on Pro models. The Pro phones also receive a redesigned 48-megapixel telephoto sensor, while the range includes a 42-megapixel front camera and an improved Night Sight mode.

Let us start with the latter: thanks to the new sensor and AI processing, Night Sight is up to 4.5 times faster. That means low-light shots can be taken without the usual 3-to-5-second wait for the shutter to activate. Frame the shot, press the shutter and the phone captures it. Google says it developed the feature so that users do not miss life’s moments, even in unfavourable lighting.

Another compelling addition is Magic Capture. With the user’s consent, the AI reviews around 500 images from a video sequence to automatically extract the best moment in HDR+ quality, making subtle edits where needed.

Camera Looks offers six visual styles that can be selected before taking the picture, much like film emulation - comparable to Styles on iPhone. Finally, Creator Suite brings together a teleprompter, framing grids, an audio visualiser and a Google Photos storyboard to support content creators. A banger!

Familiar Pixel 11 design, with one flourish

Google has not exactly pushed itself on design. The Pro models feature an edge-to-edge glass camera bar and a fully matt finish on the Obsidian colourway, plus a screen coating said to double scratch resistance. Displays reach 3,600 nits, which should make them easy to read in direct sunlight. The Pixel 11 comes in Frost, Hibiscus, Pistachio and Obsidian, while the Pro models are available in Canyon, Fog, Olive and matt Obsidian. Nothing ostentatious, then: Google knows what works.

The only truly playful feature is called “HighLight”. Available on Pro versions, it replaces the space used last year for a thermometer. In 2026, goodbye to the thermometer used by two people worldwide - according to the official statistics of Professor Aude Oimouillé - and hello to coloured LEDs around the flash, which light up when the phone is placed face-down on a table. This small light can indicate a call from a loved one in their preselected colour, or show that Gemini is in use.

Google has therefore introduced a minor flourish that few of us will embrace, but which at least has the virtue of existing. The company explained that it wanted to help users reduce their screen time (lol) by preventing them from checking every single notification.

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the only model with even a slightly revised look. It is around 10% lighter and 1 mm thinner, but more importantly, it is three times more resistant than the previous generation thanks to a fibreglass composite rear and a redesigned hinge, all backed by IP68 certification. Its internal “Super Actua Flex” display is more robust and reaches 3,600 nits. The Tensor G6 is joined by 16 GB of RAM, while “Bubble Anything” turns any app into a floating bubble.

Lastly, Live Transcribe now supports sign language across both screens, representing a genuine accessibility improvement delivered with the understated elegance of quietly considerate people.

My first impressions of the Pixel 11

The Pixel 11 will not knock you off your chair. That may be its greatest strength. While competitors tend to pile on theatrical flourishes, Google has chosen maturity. Pixel 11 phones use a familiar yet effective design, offer excellent on-paper durability for the folding model and, above all, put artificial intelligence at the user’s service.

The real changes to these Pixels are actually very subtle, beginning with the Tensor G6 chip. Beyond its performance uplift, it chiefly enables Google to run its powerful AI locally, assisting users every day. As a result, every task becomes faster and more secure. Take that, Apple Intelligence.

With its Pixel phones, Google is not trying to impress; it is seeking to offer the best possible platform for its artificial intelligence. By that measure, the gamble looks well on its way to succeeding. Naturally, these encouraging first impressions will need to stand up to everyday use. See you after the summer break?