Introducing the Google Pixel 11: more AI, the new Tensor G6, and the price remains the same

It’s an interesting paradigm shift. For years, mobile processors were judged on the basis of the number of cores, gigahertz and frames per second. Now, an increasing proportion of their value lies in their ability to run generative models without having to wait for the cloud.

Tensor G6 works in conjunction with Gemini Nano and the imaging models. It is this same architecture that enables the phone to process voice, images, translation and context-aware actions.

The Pixel 11 features a new 48-megapixel main sensor. Google claims it offers 56 per cent greater light sensitivity than the previous generation. It also comes with a 5x telephoto lens with Super Zoom up to 30x. It has 12 GB of RAM and storage finally starts at 256 GB. This is a significant move. 128 GB is becoming too limited in a generation of smartphones that produce ever-larger photos, high-resolution videos and on-device AI models. The Actua display reaches 3,000 nits. It is IP68-certified. The camera bar, one of the Pixel’s most recognisable design features, is over 40 per cent slimmer and is covered by edge-to-edge glass.

As for battery life, Google claims over 30 hours with Adaptive Battery. The Pixel 11 reaches 55% in around half an hour when charging via cable. There’s also a new ‘Extreme Charging’ mode that prioritises battery charging to speed up the process.

The two Pro models share much of the same technical specifications. The main differences lie in the screen size, battery capacity and charging speed. The Super Actua display now reaches 3,600 nits. Google also claims that it is more than twice as scratch-resistant as the previous generation.

The camera features are more ambitious. The new 48-megapixel telephoto lens has a larger sensor and 30 per cent greater light sensitivity. The computational zoom goes up to 120x. According to Google, Night Sight can produce equivalent images up to 4.5 times faster. The front-facing camera is 42 megapixels.

Here, it’s worth remembering how a smartphone zoom works. At 120x, we’re not simply ‘zooming in’ on the image as you would with a huge camera lens. The phone combines optics, stabilisation, multiple frames and processing models. It’s computational photography taken to the extreme: one part of the image is captured, another is statistically reconstructed. Rather than a telescopic lens, it’s a tiny photographic laboratory that springs into action the moment we press the button.

The 256 GB models have 12 GB of RAM, whilst the 512 GB and 1 TB configurations come with 16 GB. The Pro models also feature a vapour chamber to dissipate the heat generated by the processor and battery. It’s a detail that doesn’t make much of an impression during presentations but is important in practice: AI generates heat, and heat reduces performance.

The new HiLight feature is exclusive to Pro models and promises to help you stay informed without having to look at the screen. It’s an innovative addition to our Pro devices that will keep you connected – without distracting you – when your smartphone is face down.

Using the built-in coloured LED lights around the camera flash, HiLight will glow softly to provide you with timely information that’s visible at a glance. For example, when you give Gemini a prompt, it will light up in different patterns to indicate that it is listening, thinking or responding.

All Pixel 11 models feature Pixelsnap magnetic compatibility. The principle is the same as that popularised by MagSafe: magnets align the phone, charger and accessory, preventing the smartphone from being placed half a centimetre out of position – the great technological drama of wireless charging.

The ecosystem includes cases, stands and a Pixelsnap ring. Also included is Pixel Tag, Google’s first tracker based on Android’s Find My Device network. It can be made to ring via the Pixel Watch or located using Gemini via the Pixel Buds.

It’s a small accessory, but strategically it speaks volumes: Google is trying to plug the gaps in its hardware ecosystem.

It all starts with voice dictation: it can automatically remove filler words such as ‘um’ and transform spoken words into a more organised text. Gemini can also analyse what is on the screen and tailor its response to the user’s style.

Circle to Search appears directly in the camera’s viewfinder. Live Translate can translate videos, podcasts and voice messages whilst they are playing. There is also a built-in sign language-to-text conversion system, although various features will depend on the language and country.

The Pro models also include six months of Google AI Pro, , with a stated value of approximately 131.94 euros, featuring higher Gemini limits, 5 TB of cloud storage and Google Health Premium.

This, too, is a sign. AI on mobile phones is starting to come with a price tag. The business model could increasingly resemble that of the cloud: you buy the hardware, but the best features may be available as part of a subscription.

Google is also significantly expanding the watch’s range of straps: sporty HNBR straps, perforated silicone versions, recycled fabric, Performance Loop, leather, metal mesh and elasticated models. Some are also compatible with previous generations.

Google lists the Pixel 11 at 999 euros, the Pixel 11 Pro at 1,199 euros and the Pixel 11 Pro XL at 1,399 euros. So the prices haven’t gone up, but the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro are no longer available with 128 GB of storage. This decision has been driven by the higher cost of memory. The entry-level model now starts at 256 GB.

Like other manufacturers, Big G is also focusing primarily on launch promotions, offering trade-in allowances of between 200 and 400 euros depending on the model, plus any additional bonuses.

In Italia, pre-orders for the Pixel 11 range begin today, whilst the devices are expected to be available in shops from 13:00 on 20 August. The retailers listed by Google are Google Store, Amazon, MediaWorld, Unieuro and Euronics. The Pixel 11 will be available in 256 GB and 512 GB versions; the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL will also be available in a 1 TB version. The Pixel Watch 5 will be available in 41 and 45 millimetre sizes.

The real battleground has shifted. Apple, Google, Samsung and Chinese manufacturers are trying to work out who will control the level of intelligence that sits between the user and the apps. Google starts with a distinct advantage: it owns Android, Gemini, Maps, Gmail, Search, YouTube, Wallet and a wealth of contextual data that is difficult to replicate. With Tensor, it now also owns a growing share of the silicon. The Pixel 11 serves to bring all these pieces together in a single device. The question, therefore, is not so much whether the new Pixel will take better photos. It probably will. The interesting question is whether Gemini will really manage to make us take fewer steps, open fewer apps and look at the screen less. Because an intelligent assistant only becomes useful when we stop noticing that it’s working. Until then, it remains, at heart, a chatbot with a phone wrapped around it.