The Google Pixel 11 leaks are steadily increasing in volume, but while we still know little about its Pixel Glow feature, we have a good idea of the phone’s price.
A leaked report on the Pixel 11 lineup’s European pricing reveals an effective €100 price hike across the range.
Unfortunately, the bad news doesn’t stop there. If other leaks are legitimate, we may also see a decrease in RAM on the Pixel 11 Pro.
The good news is that these leaks have made it clear which is the best Pixel to buy in 2026.
The price hikes are more complex than they seem
But don’t go looking for good news
Technically, Google is not implementing a price hike, according to the leaks.
Instead, Google is discontinuing the cheapest 128GB model across the lineup and introducing a 512GB tier for the base model.
For the 256GB devices, prices are remaining stable. But if you have already ditched 128GB devices (a good decision when space is at a premium on modern Android phones), don’t celebrate yet.
An earlier leak indicated that the Pixel 11 Pro and its XL variant will ship with two RAM configurations: 12GB and 16GB.
While this leak appears authentic against the backdrop of the ongoing RAM shortage, it’s not mentioned in the European pricing leak.
Nevertheless, it seems likely that the Pixel 11 won’t be winning awards for best value on launch. Instead, the Pixel 10 will be the phone to buy in 2026.
QuizGoogle Pixel phone series
Trivia challenge
From the original Pixel to the latest flagships — how well do you really know Google’s smartphone lineup?
HistoryHardwareSoftwareCameraDesign
In what year did Google release the very first Pixel smartphone?
Correct! The original Google Pixel and Pixel XL were announced on October 4, 2016. They replaced the Nexus line as Google’s flagship Android devices and were the first phones to carry the Pixel branding.
Not quite. The first Google Pixel was launched in October 2016. It marked a major shift for Google, moving away from the Nexus program to a fully Google-branded hardware experience.
Which Google Pixel series was the first to introduce a dual rear camera system?
Correct! The Pixel 4 was the first Pixel to feature a dual rear camera setup, adding a telephoto lens alongside the main sensor. Earlier Pixels famously relied on a single rear camera and Google’s computational photography to compete.
Not quite. The Pixel 4 was the first in the series to use dual rear cameras. One of the most impressive things about earlier Pixel phones was how competitive their single-camera systems were against multi-lens rivals.
What is the name of Google’s in-house chip that debuted in the Pixel 6 series?
Correct! Google Tensor was introduced with the Pixel 6 in 2021, marking Google’s move away from Qualcomm Snapdragon chips. Tensor was designed with AI and machine learning tasks at its core, powering features like on-device speech recognition and real-time translation.
Not quite. The answer is Google Tensor, which debuted in the Pixel 6. It was a landmark moment for Google, giving the company much greater control over how hardware and software work together on Pixel devices.
Which Pixel phone was the first to ship with Android 12 and its ‘Material You’ design language out of the box?
Correct! The Pixel 6 launched in October 2021 as the first device to ship with Android 12 pre-installed, introducing the bold ‘Material You’ design overhaul. Material You lets the system generate a personalised colour palette based on your wallpaper.
Not quite. The Pixel 6 was the first phone to ship with Android 12 out of the box. The accompanying ‘Material You’ design system was one of the most significant visual refreshes Android had seen in years.
Which Pixel model introduced the now-iconic horizontal camera bar stretching across the back of the phone?
Correct! The Pixel 6 introduced the distinctive horizontal camera visor bar in 2021, a bold design choice that set Pixel phones apart from the competition. The two-tone colour scheme and camera bar became a signature look carried forward into later generations.
Not quite. It was the Pixel 6 that debuted the horizontal camera bar design. This striking visor-style bar was a deliberate statement from Google that Pixel phones should have a unique and recognisable identity.
Which company manufactured the hardware for the original Google Pixel and Pixel XL in 2016?
Correct! HTC manufactured the original Pixel and Pixel XL under a deal with Google. Though Google designed the phones, HTC handled production — a partnership that eventually led to Google acquiring a portion of HTC’s smartphone design team in 2018.
Not quite. HTC was the manufacturer behind the original Pixel phones. The relationship between Google and HTC eventually led to Google purchasing part of HTC’s phone division for around $1.1 billion in 2018.
What computational photography feature, first introduced on the Pixel 3, lets users capture moments that happened before they pressed the shutter button?
Correct! Top Shot, introduced with the Pixel 3, uses the phone’s camera to continuously capture frames before and after the shutter is pressed, then suggests the best shot. It’s particularly useful for photos of moving subjects like children or pets.
Not quite. The feature is called Top Shot, and it debuted on the Pixel 3. By buffering frames before and after you tap the shutter, it helps ensure you always get a sharp, well-timed photo even in tricky situations.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, released in 2024, competes directly in which smartphone category?
Correct! The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is Google’s foldable smartphone, competing with devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series. It features a large inner display when unfolded and a more compact form factor when closed, combining tablet-like screen real estate with pocket-friendly portability.
Not quite. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold sits in the foldable phone category. Google entered the foldable market to take on Samsung’s established Z Fold lineup, bringing its Tensor chip and Pixel camera software to a book-style folding design.
Your Score
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The Pixel 10 is the perfect phone to buy in 2026 and beyond
It holds up now, and it’ll hold up for a lot longer
I’ve used the Pixel 10 Pro as my daily driver since I snapped it up for 40% off shortly after launch.
While I had to perform a fair amount of software surgery to stop it from wasting gigabytes of RAM and storage, it’s been a reliable performer since.
However, I think I made an unnecessary purchase.
I was pleasantly surprised with many of the phone’s features, but today I think I would have been just as happy with the base model.
The Pixel 10 is the perfect compromise between performance, battery life, and camera quality. But why buy it over a brand-new Pixel 11?
According to leaks, the only notable hardware upgrades the Pixel 11 will offer over the Pixel 10 are increased CPU performance and new camera sensors. (No, I’m not counting Pixel Glow).
But here’s the thing. The Pixel 10’s CPU already performs great. The performance bottlenecks are due to the GPU. The Pixel 11 will reportedly use the same PowerVR CXTP-48-1536 GPU.
There’s a chance that the new CPU will improve AI processing speed, but Google is already outsourcing these tasks to the cloud as its Tensor chips aren’t sufficient.
A camera upgrade is equally irrelevant. The jump in quality from the Pixel 9 to Pixel 10 was massive, but I don’t see an upgrade necessary this time around.
Finally, there’s the price.
Ignoring the 128GB variant of the Pixel 10 for a moment (incidentally, I have been using the 128GB version of the Pixel 10 Pro and have encountered only minor storage issues), retail prices will apparently be identical.
A glance at the US Google Store reveals a sale that knocks $200 off the 256GB Pixel 10, bringing it to $699.
So even if you want to purchase a new phone directly from Google, that’s a $200 saving on a phone that will perform just as well as the Pixel 11.
The Pixel 11 leaks hammer home a long-standing truth
It’s ludicrous to expect good value from a new phone in 2026
You don’t need to buy a new phone every year. That’s been the case since the first iPhone, and it’s even more true today in the age of incremental upgrades.
However, I would go one step further with the Pixel 11. Even if you are rocking a Pixel 3 and have finally decided to give it up, I would still recommend the Pixel 10 over the Pixel 11.
While the Pixel 11 will inevitably go on sale a few months after release, it’ll take a lot longer before it comes close to offering the value of the Pixel 10.
Perhaps in late 2027 or 2028, the Pixel 11 will be the best Pixel to buy, but right now it loses to its predecessor.
Don’t get distracted by flashy features
Google is also gearing up to launch the Googlebook in fall 2026. This marks a significant milestone for the Google ecosystem and Gemini.
Marketing the Pixel 11 and Googlebook as a rival to Apple’s ecosystem is a bold move, but one that could theoretically pay off if the value was there.
But so far, what we’ve seen is a Magic Cursor feature that barely works and a feature copied from Nothing.
Not exactly groundbreaking stuff.
I’m intrigued to see how Google rebrands its hardware this year, but I’ll be watching from the sidelines. My wallet will be firmly stuck in 2025.
9/10
- SoC
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Google Tensor G5
- RAM
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12GB
- Storage
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128GB / 256GB
This striking-looking addition to the Pixel line offers a slew of Gemini features, a 5x telephoto lens, and seven years of updates, making this a smartphone that will last you a while.
