The best gets better
Google’s best Pixel is getting an upgrade in 2026. The Pixel 11 Pro XL is said to feature a faster, much more power-efficient processor, a cool LED ring around the back camera island, better gaming support, and plenty of surprises when it debuts on August 12.
Pros
- New Pixel Glow feature
- Updated Vulkan support should mean better gaming performance
- Battery life should be notably improved
- Pixelsnap MagSafe magnet support
- Potential camera upgrades
- Should have the same great accessory support
Cons
- Likely still underperforms vs Qualcomm chipsets
- Low PWM rate
- Pixels have a history of being buggy
Last year’s best Pixel
The Pixel 10 Pro XL looks a whole lot like the Pixel 11 Pro XL, and that’s a particularly great thing in a year when smartphones are getting more expensive. Buying a year-old phone is always a great budget option, and this may be the best year yet for that tactic.
Pros
- Pixelsnap Qi2 implementation is brilliant
- A host of unique Google Pixel apps and services
- Many AI features are processed on-device
- Excellent accessory ecosystem (first and third party)
- Notably improved gaming performance vs Pixel 6-9
Cons
- eSIM-only in the U.S.
- Forced battery throttling at 200 cycles
- Doesn’t support the latest version of Vulkan
- Performance is less than half of Qualcomm’s at times
- PWM rate is still bad
The Google Pixel 11 family is right around the corner, and that means now is a great time to start considering whether you’re going to upgrade to this year’s phone, or save money and grab last year’s best with a solid deal (or a second-hand offer).
In a year with rapidly rising technology prices, 2026 might be the best year ever to consider buying last year’s phone, especially with the rumor that Google isn’t giving the Pixel 11 Pro XL a massive overhaul. If you’re choosing between the Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro XL, or are considering upgrading year-over-year, here’s everything you need to know!
Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: Design and display
The Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro XL will likely look identical at a glance, but at least one key change will catch your eye and make you at least a tiny bit jealous. I’m talking about Pixel Glow, a new type of LED that appears on the Pixel 11’s camera bar, seemingly as part of the camera flash unit.
Google may be taking a page from Nothing with this new initiative, likely offering ways to light up the camera bar whenever you receive notifications, talk to Gemini, or interact with specific apps or features on your Pixel 11.
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I’ve already received Pixel 11 cases from Thinborne, one of Android Central’s favorite case manufacturers, and the changes seen here showcase what we can expect from Pixel Glow. That lip around the camera island is where the subtle LED glow should emit from, and it’s going to give Pixel 11 a unique look among all smartphones.
Elsewhere, we see subtle changes in microphone placement and a slight downward shift of the power and volume buttons on the Pixel 11.
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We expect the Pixel 11 Pro XL to feature the same built-in MagSafe-compatible Pixelsnap magnets, so you won’t need a case to use the best MagSafe accessories for Android phones.
Based on rumors, we’re not expecting any major changes to the Pixel 11 Pro XL’s display, although it may receive a slight peak brightness bump as Pixels have in the past. Google has been good about introducing new display accessibility features, like Comfort Filters and last year’s “sensitive eyes” feature, so I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised by the PWM dimming rate at the August 12 event.
Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: Battery life, performance, and specs
All signs point to the Pixel 11 Pro XL being the most efficient phone in Pixel history. The more efficient Tensor G6 and the new MediaTek modem inside the Pixel 11 Pro XL are said to bring a 20-30% improvement in efficiency. This, plus a slight improvement in battery capacity, should be a great upgrade over any previous Pixel phone.
The Tensor G6 processor expected to power the Pixel 11 Pro XL should be manufactured on a 2nm process, resulting in performance gains of around 15% in daily use. Google is also said to be using a newer PowerVR GPU that’s compatible with Vulkan 1.4, so mobile games will look and run better than on the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
|
Category |
Google Pixel 11 Pro XL (rumored) |
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL |
|---|---|---|
|
Display |
6.8-inch Super Actua QHD+ OLED, 120Hz |
6.8-inch Super Actua QHD+ OLED, 120Hz |
|
OS |
Android 17 |
Android 16 (upgradable to Android 17) |
|
Processor |
Tensor G6 |
Tensor G5 |
|
RAM |
12GB / 16GB |
12GB / 16GB |
|
Storage |
256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
|
Rear Camera 1 |
50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide) |
50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide) |
|
Rear Camera 2 |
48 MP, f/1.7 (ultrawide) |
48 MP, f/1.7 (ultrawide) |
|
Rear Camera 3 |
48 MP, f/2.8, 5x (periscope telephoto) |
48 MP, f/2.8, 5x (periscope telephoto) |
|
Front Camera |
42 MP, f/2.2 |
42 MP, f/2.2 |
|
Ingress Protection |
IP68 |
IP68 |
|
Connectivity |
5G (sub-6GHz, mmWave), Wi-Fi 7, UWB, Bluetooth 6.0, eSIM only (in U.S.) |
5G (sub-6GHz, mmWave), Wi-Fi 7, UWB, Bluetooth 6.0, eSIM only (in U.S.) |
|
Battery |
5,000mAh |
4,870mAh |
|
Charging |
45W wired, 25W wireless Qi2 |
45W wired, 25W wireless Qi2 |
|
Dimensions |
162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm |
162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm |
|
Weight |
TBA |
232 grams |
Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: Camera and software
Despite some awesome new features, I was largely unimpressed with the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s camera last year. While it still did a great job of capturing objects in motion (like kids and pets), I found the telephoto camera strangely unreliable.
Hopefully, Google fixes these problems in the Pixel 11 Pro XL and gets back to that top-tier Pixel camera experience. Google still needs to work on its video recording quality, which was substantially improved with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, but continues to lag behind rivals like Apple and Samsung.
Pixels regularly make headlines with buggy updates and major problems, and it’s generally a bad look for Google’s otherwise great brand. Pixel Drop updates bring new features every quarter, and I hate to see this sort of support marred by carelessness.
I fully expect the Pixel 11 Pro XL to launch with some exclusive features, but Google is usually good about bringing those features to older Pixel phones after some time. So while Pixel 10 Pro XL users may have to wait to get any fancy new features announced in August, it’s almost certain they won’t miss out.
Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: Which should you buy?
I’m going to hedge my bets and say the Pixel 10 Pro XL will be a better buy given the price increases we’re seeing on this year’s new smartphones. Undoubtedly, the Pixel 11 Pro XL’s new processor, GPU, larger battery, and fancy new lights on the back will be great reasons to upgrade, but I’m not sure they’ll make the gulf in price worthwhile for most people.
