Pixel 11 Is the Pixel Most People Should Buy Despite Modest Upgrade, TechRadar Review Says

The review, based on a month of using the Pixel 11 as a daily driver, says Google’s new Pixel 11 range mostly brings iterative updates over the Pixel 10 lineup. Every handset received a new processor, a brighter display, and camera and software improvements. The standard Pixel 11, however, has relatively few changes over its predecessor.

According to TechRadar, the Pixel 11 builds on last year’s Pixel 10 with the new Google Tensor G6 chipset, an upgraded main camera, and a camera bump that is 40% slimmer. The reviewer found the phone’s 6.3-inch screen, 197g chassis, and thin camera bump made it easy to live with, a change from the 6.7- to 6.9-inch handsets tested throughout the year.

The test unit came in the new Hibiscus color, which some colleagues called “hot pink” and which drew compliments, according to the review. TechRadar says the cameras produce rich, vibrant photos, and the inclusion of a proper telephoto lens is a strong addition for the price. It lacks the Pixel 11 Pro’s more advanced camera controls and features, but the review says the standard model has more than enough camera technology for most people. The simpler setup also helped Google shrink the camera bump, which disappears when a case is fitted.

The review’s biggest argument for the Pixel 11 is that, in everyday use, it is difficult to separate from the more expensive Pro. Whether multitasking, gaming, running resource-intensive apps, or using AI features, the reviewer could not discern any meaningful performance difference between the two phones and doubted most people would either. Both have 30W wired and 25W Qi2 wireless charging through PixelSnap, IP68 durability ratings, ultrasonic fingerprint sensors, and the same seven years of Android updates and security patches.

TechRadar says the reviewer did not miss features such as the Pro’s new HiLight notification LED, an anti-scratch coating for the front cover glass, and Wi-Fi 7 support. The reviewer also preferred the Pixel 11’s matte metal edges over the Pro’s shiny ones.

Pricing is central to the review’s conclusion. The Pixel 11 starts at $899 / £879 / AU$1,499, higher than the Pixel 10’s launch price of $799 / £799 / AU$1,349. However, the base model now includes 256GB of storage instead of 128GB. The 256GB Pixel 10 launched at $899 / £899 / AU$1,499, so TechRadar says there is technically no price increase for the same capacity, and UK buyers pay £20 less.

The Pixel 11 Pro starts at $1,099 / £1,079 / AU$1,849, roughly the same as the 256GB Pixel 10 Pro, though the UK price for that model was cheaper at £999. TechRadar highlights one questionable change: the base Pixel 11 Pro now comes with 12GB of RAM, down from 16GB in last year’s model, matching the standard Pixel 11. The review says 12GB is more than capable, but removing a specification that previously helped justify the Pro’s higher price without lowering the price makes the extra $200 / £200 / AU$350 harder to justify when the cheaper Pixel 11 delivers the same everyday performance.

The review does not dismiss the Pixel 11 Pro entirely. TechRadar says its more sophisticated camera system will appeal to photography enthusiasts, while Wi-Fi 7 and HiLight add extra capabilities. For buyers who value those features, the Pro remains a solid choice, the review says. The 512GB and 1TB Pro variants also retain 16GB of RAM, but cost $1,219 / £1,199 / AU$2,049 and $1,449 / £1,429 / AU$2,399, respectively.

For most people, TechRadar concludes that the cheaper Pixel 11 is the smarter buy. It delivers the same everyday performance and many of the same features as the 256GB Pixel 11 Pro while saving $200 / £200 / AU$350. The review describes the Pixel 11 as a relatively boring upgrade over the Pixel 10, but still the most compelling Pixel in Google’s new lineup.