Google Pixel 11 Pro XL review: Android’s fab, flawed North Star

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Google’s Pixel 11 series refines the concepts introduced with 2024’s Pixel 9. The Pixel 11 Pro XL, the largest non-folding model, is a robust smartphone with excellent cameras, smooth software, and a stunning display. However, priced at £1,279/$1,299, it presents a significant financial commitment.

This price increase is attributed to the global RAM crisis, which has elevated component costs. Consequently, the 11 Pro XL might be a challenging sell in 2026, especially considering the Tensor G6’s limitations and the absence of significant improvements over its predecessor.

Despite these challenges, my experience with the 11 Pro XL has been positive due to its thoughtful design by Google. Alternatively, the Pixel 11 is available for £879/$899, offering fewer compromises compared to the Pro versions.

Design & Build

• Matte glass back and shiny sides, unless you get the black one
• HiLight light replaces temperature sensor
• Big and heavy

The standout feature of the Pixel 11 Pro XL is its large, beautiful display, complemented by a bigger battery. The design remains consistent with the smaller 11 Pro model, offering appealing colors like Canyon (pinkish), Olive, and Fog (tested here) with matte glass backs to minimize fingerprints. However, the glossy aluminum side rails quickly accumulate grease.

Google has also introduced an all-matte Obsidian (black) model, which may be preferable if you wish to avoid frequent cleaning—though most users will likely keep the device in a case.

Without a case, the phone feels bulky and heavy at 226g, though the trade-off is its excellent build quality. It feels as premium as the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. The device boasts IP68 dust and water resistance, and its screen is claimed to be twice as scratch-resistant as the Pixel 10 Pro’s, despite using the same Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

The back of the phone features a slimmer camera bar covered in black glass. The temperature sensor from the 2022 Pixel 8 Pro has been replaced with a HiLight flash, a key new feature of the 11 Pro XL.

However, HiLight isn’t particularly useful. It functions as a multi-colored light that activates only when the phone is face down, a position I generally avoid to prevent scratches. It lights up when you say “Hey Google,” triggering the Gemini feature.

HiLight’s other function is to illuminate when a designated contact calls. You can assign one of five colors to a contact through the app, but it’s limited to phone calls and doesn’t activate for text messages or app notifications like WhatsApp. This limitation reduces its practicality.

In some respects, it seems Google is encouraging users to limit phone use and only be alerted for important calls, which could imply urgency. However, HiLight is less functional than the Glyph lights on certain Nothing phones and doesn’t match the utility of older Android LED notification lights. Google hasn’t indicated plans to improve its functionality.

The phone’s haptics are impressive, providing satisfying feedback when typing or interacting with the interface. This attention to detail is commendable, as poor haptics can make high-end phones feel less premium.

The device is IP68 dust and water-resistant, maintaining its robust construction.

Screen & Speakers

• 6.8-inch 120Hz LTPO OLED
• Crystal clear and very bright
• Dual stereo speakers

The screen is the standout feature of the Pixel 11 Pro XL, offering a stunning 6.8-inch OLED panel, surpassing the 6.3-inch display on the 11 Pro. It’s exceptionally bright, reaching up to 3600 nits, ensuring visibility even in direct sunlight. In high brightness mode, it achieves 2400 nits, which is more than sufficient.

The display features a 120Hz refresh rate with a 1344 x 2992 resolution and LTPO technology, allowing it to refresh as low as 1Hz when displaying static content or the always-on display, conserving battery life. It adjusts to the highest refresh rate when needed.

The display is well-calibrated, offering vibrant colors without the oversaturation seen on some competitor devices. I preferred the ‘adaptive’ color mode, though there’s also a ‘natural’ mode. Additional features include ‘Comfort View,’ which adjusts colors based on ambient lighting, and ‘Night Light,’ reducing blue light for nighttime use.

The dual stereo speakers provide excellent sound for hands-free calls and video chats, with sufficient bass for podcasts or casual listening. However, as expected, music playback lacks depth compared to dedicated audio devices.

The under-screen ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is responsive, and the face unlock feature integrated into the selfie camera is reliable. Unlike many Android phones, Google has certified this for biometric security, allowing it to function similarly to Apple’s FaceID for app logins.

Specs & Performance

• Mostly solid performance
• Tensor G6 can’t handle high-end gaming
• Less RAM as standard than 10 Pro XL

Two concerns for potential buyers of the £1,279/$1,299 base 256GB Pixel 11 Pro XL are its 12GB RAM—less than the cheaper 10 Pro XL from 2025—and its inability to handle high-end games like Genshin Impact.

Purchasing the £1,399/$1,419 512GB model, which includes 16GB RAM, still didn’t provide the power to run Genshin Impact smoothly.

In 2026, it’s disappointing for a phone at this price point to struggle with such tasks, particularly when less expensive devices with mid-range Snapdragon chipsets perform better. Other games like Wuthering Waves and Call of Duty Mobile faced similar issues, though the latter fared better.

Personally, I don’t engage in mobile gaming, so this shortcoming wouldn’t impact my use, but it’s a significant drawback for others.

Outside of gaming, the Pixel 11 Pro XL performed flawlessly during my testing. The Tensor chip excels in AI tasks, with Gemini efficiently managing tasks in Google Tasks and quickly responding to voice or text prompts.

However, the 11 Pro XL relies on mobile data or Wi-Fi for many AI functions, as much processing occurs in the cloud. Camera features like Magic Capture and Video Boost also require cloud connectivity, possibly justifying the reduced RAM this year, though it remains a disappointment.

Pixel 11 Pro XL benchmarks

• Geekbench 6 single core: 1605
• Geekbench 6 multicore: 4766
• 3DMark Wildlife Extreme: 3409
• 3DMark Wildlife Extreme Stress Test: 76.9% stability
• Charging with Belkin 45W charger from 0% in 15 minutes: 21%
• Charging with Belkin 45W charger from 0% in 30 minutes: 37%

Cameras

• 50Mp f/1.7 main sensor
• 48Mp f/1.7 ultrawide
• 48Mp f/2.8 5x periscope telephoto
• 42Mp selfie camera

While the Pixel 11 Pro XL’s cameras are excellent and versatile, they fall behind some Chinese competitors. Devices like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, Vivo X300 Ultra, and Oppo Find X9 Ultra offer superior results, often at similar price points, though they have their own drawbacks.

The Pixel is close behind, offering a straightforward shooting experience with advanced features like Camera Looks. This includes filters such as Digi, which mimics vintage digital cameras, Black Tie for black-and-white photography, and Classic for a film-like feel.

The 50Mp main lens is an upgrade from the 10 Pro, delivering crisp, high-contrast images characteristic of the Pixel line. While some shots may appear overly sharp, affecting realism, I was generally satisfied with the results—more so than with point-and-shoot photography on current Samsung phones.

The Pixel excels at capturing motion, making it ideal for photographing pets and children. The enhanced 5x periscope telephoto sensor offers the best zoom capabilities yet on a Google phone. Images are detailed, and if you’re positioned correctly, you can achieve excellent street and portrait photography.

I am not a fan of SuperRes Zoom, a software feature that activates at 30x zoom and now extends to 120x (previously 100x). It uses AI to create details the camera cannot capture, sometimes resulting in images that never existed. Smartphone cameras should not be misleading in this manner—it’s a questionable feature.

Video quality is adequate but doesn’t match the smoothness and clarity found in the latest iPhones. Default settings can sometimes result in washed-out footage, but for casual videos of family, vacations, and events, it’s sufficient. However, given the phone’s price, one might question if this performance meets expectations. The ‘Pro’ label is not justified in the video capabilities.

Battery Life & Charging

• One to two days of battery life
• 45W wired charging and 25W wireless
• Pixelsnap puts Samsung to shame

Equipped with a 5115mAh battery, the 11 Pro XL suggests that Google maximized battery capacity, though it still uses lithium-ion technology instead of the newer, higher-capacity Silicon-Carbon.

As a result, the phone easily lasts a day and can extend to two days with lighter use, but it falls short of battery champions like the OnePlus 15 and Vivo X300 Ultra. Our usual PCMark battery benchmark failed several times, so you’ll have to trust my assessment.

The phone doesn’t come with a charger, but using a 45W Belkin charger and cable, it reached 37% in 30 minutes during my tests. Google claims it can reach 75% in that time with the appropriate fast charging tech (PPS).

A notable feature is the Pixelsnap magnets integrated into the phone, even though Google didn’t announce any new own-brand devices this year.

Alongside Apple, Google and Motorola are the only major phone manufacturers currently employing this technology, allowing the Pixel 11 Pro XL to work with Qi2 charging and MagSafe accessories, simplifying wireless charging. It’s also useful for car mounts without needing a case with magnets, which Samsung and other Android users currently require.

While 25W wireless charging isn’t particularly fast, its integration with magnets and Qi2.2 ensures better alignment. By placing a magnetic charger at home, you can enjoy convenient charging without cable clutter.

Software & Apps

• Seven years of updates
• Gemini, but not all of it
• Clean Android 17 at launch

I appreciate Google’s Android design, which has evolved from the ‘stock’ appearance of earlier Pixels and Nexus models to a playful interface with charming animations. While other Android skins focus on functionality, Google’s design is friendly and enjoyable.

Google has further integrated Gemini, its AI assistant, which replaces the older Google Assistant. Gemini can perform basic tasks like setting reminders or alarms, as well as conducting deep web searches or offering advice on various issues.

Gemini Intelligence represents Google’s latest iteration of phone-based AI, though I couldn’t test most features as they are unavailable in the UK at launch. Proactive Assistance is a new tool designed to combine on-screen data with location information to suggest actions within the UI, such as in the At a Glance widget or suggested words in chat apps.

I can’t verify its usefulness or accuracy, but a new tool I tested is Rambler, an improved voice-to-text model. Rambler outperforms Google’s previous system and surpasses the iPhone’s. It allows you to speak naturally, removing pauses and filler words while understanding commands to edit the transcription.

For instance, I can send a shopping list to my spouse by dictating a message. If I say, “actually, we have juice, remove juice,” Rambler will edit the original list without including those words. It worked nearly flawlessly during my testing.

The Pixel 11 Pro XL also features AirDrop compatibility without needing additional apps, allowing users to share photos and files with Apple devices. This feature is also available on some Samsung Galaxy phones.

Other AI tools, like video creation and daily briefs, require a Google Gemini subscription, but features like Rambler are free. Although Gemini can be intrusive, I found it mostly unobtrusive when ignored.

Google promises seven years of Android updates for the Pixel 11 Pro XL, extending to Android 24, with security patches until 2033. This matches Samsung’s update policy, providing long-term support, although a battery replacement might be necessary to maintain the phone’s longevity.

Price & Availability

The Google Pixel 11 Pro XL starts at £1,279/$1,299 for the 256GB version with 12GB RAM. The price increases to £1,399/$1,419 for the 512GB/16GB model, and there’s a £1,629/$1,649 1TB/16GB version available exclusively in Obsidian.

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra has the same price of £1,279/$1,299 for the 12/256GB configuration, but Google offered a lower price for 16/256GB in 2025 with the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at £1,199/$1,199 with 256GB storage, and other premium Android devices like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra are priced at £1,299 as well. However, Google’s main competitor is itself. The standard Pixel 11, while not inexpensive, provides triple cameras and a similar design with nearly identical software for £899/$899 with the same 12/256GB setup.

Check out our top 10 best phones to see the official rankings.

Should you buy the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL?

The Pixel 11 Pro XL represents a significant investment, both due to its high price and its embodiment of Google’s smartphone vision since the Pixel 6 Pro in 2021. The design of the camera bar has reached maturity, and while HiLight is a letdown, the cameras are excellent, paired with a large phone offering an exceptional display and the best battery life on a Pixel to date.

However, gamers might want to look elsewhere, as the Tensor G6 chipset struggles with demanding games. This phone is tailored for everyday use and AI functions, from the convenient Rambler voice-to-text feature to image generation and Gemini Intelligence, though the latter isn’t available in the UK yet.

The build quality is premium, and the Android software is attractive and refined. Yet, when asked to spend nearly £1,300/$1,300, it’s reasonable to expect a device capable of handling demanding games and offering more RAM than the previous generation.

Despite these concerns, I enjoyed using the Pixel 11 Pro XL