Google Pixel 11 (256GB)

By Google · Smartphones · Phones & Computers

  • 6.3-inch Actua OLED display, 1080 x 2424, 422 PPI, 60-120Hz
  • 4,985mAh typical battery, up to 55 percent in about 30 minutes (30W USB-C PPS)
  • Google Tensor G6 processor, Titan M3 security coprocessor
  • 48MP wide + 13MP ultrawide + 10.8MP 5x telephoto camera system

Lowest price seen
~$899.00 (approx.)
from $899.00 at Amazon

Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

The Pixel 11 is Google’s 2026 base flagship: a 6.3-inch Android phone with the Tensor G6 chip, a 48 MP main camera and a 5x telephoto, sold in 256 GB and 512 GB versions. Check two things before you buy: there is no charger in the box, and gaming performance trails similarly priced rivals.

Strengths

  • Battery endurance is a standout: Engadget saw the phone stay above 50% at the end of ordinary days.
  • The 5x optical telephoto is rare on a base model; the iPhone 17 has none and the Galaxy S26 uses a 3x lens.
  • The main camera gained a larger sensor, and daytime photos are strong.
  • The display is bright, rated to 3,000 nits and measured at 2,480 nits by Tom’s Guide.
  • Owners of the base model report the new MediaTek modem improves reception over older Pixels.
  • Google provides seven years of OS and security updates.

Weaknesses

  • Tensor G6 trails the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Apple A19 in gaming, and some demanding titles are effectively unplayable.
  • The display is not LTPO, so it cannot dip below 60 Hz for static content.
  • The launch price rose $100 over the Pixel 10 for mostly iterative hardware.
  • There is no charger in the box, so advertised charging speeds need a separate 30 W PPS charger.
  • The ultrawide and 5x telephoto are weak in low light.
  • US models are eSIM-only, with no physical SIM tray.

Verified specifications

ModelGoogle Pixel 11, base model, 256 GB storage, 12 GB RAM.
Display6.3-inch Actua OLED, 1080 x 2424, 422 ppi, 20:9, 60-120 Hz variable refresh, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, up to 2,000 nits HDR and up to 3,000 nits peak.
Not LTPOthe refresh rate only switches between 60 Hz and 120 Hz, so it cannot drop to 1 Hz.
ProcessorGoogle Tensor G6 (3 nm), Titan M3 security coprocessor.
Storage256 GB UFS 4.0; the 512 GB model uses Zoned UFS 4.0.
Battery4,985 mAh typical (4,840 mAh minimum).
Charging30 W wired USB-C PPS, up to 55% in about 30 minutes with a charger sold separately; Pixelsnap wireless charging, Qi2.2-certified, up to 25 W.
Rear cameras48 MP wide (f/1.7, 1/1.56"), 13 MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 1/3.1"), 10.8 MP 5x telephoto (f/3.1, 1/3.2", OIS); Super Zoom up to 30x; optical quality at 0.6x, 1x, 2x, 5x and 10x.
Front camera10.5 MP (f/2.2, 95° ultrawide, autofocus).
Videorear and front 4K at 24/30/60 FPS; rear digital zoom up to 20x.
Connectivity5G sub-6 GHz and mmWave, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, USB-C 3.2, dual eSIM on US models with no physical SIM tray. No UWB or Thread on the base model.
ModemMediaTek, replacing the Samsung Exynos modems used on earlier Tensor phones.
DurabilityIP68, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back, aluminum frame.
Software supportseven years of OS and security updates.
Dimensions6 × 2.8 × 0.3 in (152.8 × 72.0 × 8.6 mm); 6.9 oz (197 g).
In the boxa short USB-C to USB-C cable; no charger and no SIM ejector tool.
Warrantyone-year Google limited hardware warranty in the US and Canada; 90 days for refurbished devices.
Full research notes and sources

Battery and charging

PCMag’s video rundown ran 19 hours 13 minutes, more than six hours longer than the Pixel 11 Pro’s 13 hours in the same test despite the standard model’s smaller battery. Charging is quick rather than record-setting: Trusted Reviews measured 0-50% in 28 minutes and 0-100% in 90 minutes, pulling about 26 W, while CNET reached 52% wired in 30 minutes and 29% wirelessly. Google rates 30 W wired charging with up to 55% in about 30 minutes, but only with a separate 30 W USB-C PPS charger. In the September battery thread, one owner reported about six hours of screen-on time with roughly 30% left after a day on mobile data. CNET’s 45-minute mixed test dropped 100% to 95%, and a 3-hour video test dropped 100% to 81%.

Performance and gaming

The Tensor G6 is fast in normal use but trails rival chips in graphics. Geekbench 6 scores land around 2,657 to 2,742 single-core and 7,326 to 7,498 multi-core. In Tom’s Guide’s 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited run the phone hit 84.28 fps against 171.6 fps for the Galaxy S26 and 130.97 fps for the iPhone 17. Trusted Reviews found Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves effectively unplayable and Destiny Rising stuttering at its lowest setting; CNET saw Fortnite struggle on Low at 30 fps while Fall Guys ran at 60 fps.

Cameras and zoom

The 48 MP main sensor is the only genuinely changed camera; the 13 MP ultrawide and 10.8 MP 5x telephoto carry over from the Pixel 10. The 5x optical zoom is unusual in a base phone and useful for reach. The 30x Super Zoom is a hybrid of 5x optical and digital/AI upscaling, not 30x optical, and optical quality holds to about 10x. Engadget found 30x shots lost detail under close scrutiny but were roughly comparable to an iPhone 17 Pro at the same zoom. Daytime results are strong, but the ultrawide is washed out and grainy at night and the 5x telephoto gets mushy in low light.

Display and build

The 6.3-inch Actua OLED runs 1080 x 2424 at 60-120 Hz. With no LTPO, it cannot drop below 60 Hz, which limits always-on display options. Tom’s Guide measured peak brightness at 2,480 nits, up from 2,333 nits on the Pixel 10 and below Google’s 3,000-nit rating. The body is IP68 with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back and an aluminum frame, measuring 152.8 × 72.0 × 8.6 mm and weighing 197 g. It ships with a short USB-C to USB-C cable and no charger or SIM ejector tool.

Owner reports and reliability

Owner discussion centers on the modem. One September owner moving from a Pixel 9 reported stronger cell reception, snappier performance and better speakers; another coming from the Pixel 10 said reception improved where older Tensor Pixels struggled and still called the modem excellent six weeks later. Not everyone is happy: one owner reported recurring signal drops while switching between 4G and 5G and considered a return, though commenters in the same thread said the issue was not universal. Google’s September 2026 update fixed camera crashes, gaming lag and higher temperatures during graphics-heavy tasks, and one owner reported occasional Gemini “Hey Google” failures and taps that did not respond, the latter easing after the first days. Nobody has published a failure rate, so treat the signal reports as a known annoyance to test during the return window rather than a defect.

Running costs, parts and repairs

There are no mandatory consumables or subscriptions beyond your cellular service. The extras are one-time: Google’s 45 W USB-C Power Charger costs $29.99 and the Pixelsnap case for Pixel 11 costs $49.99 (Google Store, 2026). If you already own a 30 W-class PPS charger, you can skip the charger entirely. Repair pricing is not yet published: iFixit has a Pixel 11 repair page, but its Google parts catalog does not list Pixel 11-specific battery, screen or camera prices, so a repair cost cannot be estimated reliably yet. Google’s warranty covers a new phone for one year against defects, with refurbished devices getting 90 days.

Is it worth it?

The 256 GB Pixel 11 lists at $899, up $100 from the Pixel 10, with the 512 GB model at $1,019 (Google Store, 2026). The street has already moved: Best Buy listed the unlocked 256 GB model at $749 and Google Store ran a $100 unlocked discount through October 11 (2026), while the older Pixel 10 was $599 at Best Buy and $649 at Google Store. At $750 or less the Pixel 11 is a strong buy for anyone who values the camera, 5x zoom, clean Android software and seven years of updates; from $751 to $800 it is fair, and above $800 value weakens sharply as the cheaper Pixel 10 presses from below. At the full $899 it meets the iPhone 17 at the same price, and gamers should compare the iPhone 17 or the Galaxy S26 ($999) instead. Reviewers split: PCMag, CNET and Engadget rate the base model as the strongest value in the Pixel 11 family for sharing the Pro’s chip and software, while Trusted Reviews and Tom’s Guide call the $100 rise hard to justify.

Which model this is

The base Pixel 11 is sold with 256 GB or 512 GB of storage and 12 GB of RAM, in Hibiscus, Frost, Pistachio and Obsidian, and runs Android 17. This page uses ASIN B0H8339LG7; the exact color and variant behind it could not be confirmed, and reviewers list the 256 GB model under B0H836MLYT and B0H82Z7G4C, so check the model and storage before buying. Google announced it on 12 August 2026 and released it on 20 August 2026. Don’t confuse it with the Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL or Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which have different displays, cameras, batteries and prices.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Parts and stores:

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