Google Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 10 Pro: The glowing camera bar is just the start

We've lived with the Google Pixel 10 Pro for a year, but it's time to turn the page to the Pixel 11 Pro. Google's newest compact flagship is here, once again cramming top-tier specs into a smaller 6.3-inch form factor. With so much uncertainty surrounding the smartphone landscape in 2026, you're probably wondering whether the Pixel 11 Pro is actually a better value than the Pixel 10 Pro — and it's complicated.

For starters, the Pixel 11 Pro costs more than the Pixel 10 Pro. In some ways, the Pixel 10 Pro actually beats the Pixel 11 Pro's hardware. That said, the Pixel 11 Pro does make a compelling case for being your next smartphone, despite the $1,099 price point. Here's how the newest Pixel Pro phone compares to the one it replaces.

Google Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 10 Pro: A familiar face

The Google Pixel 11 Pro shares the same general design with the Pixel 10 Pro, but there are key differences. Most notably, the Pixel 11 Pro's camera bump is 40% smaller. This is a tweak that doesn't show up in the spec sheet, but it will make the Pixel 11 Pro feel much slimmer. It'll also mean the phone won't rock or wobble on a flat surface, especially with a case installed. The design is slimmer overall, with a 7.6mm thickness and a lighter weight of 204 grams.

The other major camera bump change is called HiLight — previously rumored as Pixel Glow. It turns your Pixel 11 Pro camera flash into a colorful glowing light, and it can show when Gemini is active or when someone you know is calling. It's limited in the early stages, but there could be some potential here. Meanwhile, the Pixel 10 Pro has the thicker camera bar, and it doesn't glow.

Both phones also share the same 6.3-inch 120Hz Super Actua OLED display, except for the Pixel 11 Pro's extra 300 nits of peak brightness. The two phones have IP68 water and dust resistance, but the Pixel 11 Pro adds an anti-glare coating atop Gorilla Glass Victus 2. All told, it's a great year for Pixel design. The new Canyon, Olive, Fog, and Obsidian colorways are sure to stand out.

Google Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 10 Pro: Hardware and specs

The new Tensor G6 chip powers the Pixel 11 Pro, but the changes run deeper than that. The base Pixel 11 Pro comes with only 12GB of RAM, whereas all Pixel 10 Pro models shipped with 16GB. That's tips the scales slightly in favor of the older model, but the newer Pixel has the latest Titan M3 security coprocessor. This makes the Pixel 11 Pro quantum-safe, according to Google.

The two phones support the latest connectivity standards, including Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Remember that each phone will be eSIM-only in the U.S. In the rest of the world, you'll get an eSIM and a physical SIM slot.

The Pixel 11 Pro swaps the main and telephoto sensors on the Pixel 10 Pro for more capable units. They're larger, and paired with a new image-signal processing pipeline in the Tensor G6 chip, they can shoot faster. In fact, the Night Sight mode on the Pixel 11 Pro is 4.5 times faster.

While the 11 Pro finally starts at 256GB instead of 128GB on the base model like the 10 Pro, it's also $100 more expensive at its $1,099 starting price.

To make the Pixel 11 Pro thinner, Google cut some battery. The Pixel 11 Pro has a 4,850mAh capacity, and it's only marginally smaller than the Pixel 10 Pro's 4,850mAh battery. That said, the newer Pixel 11 Pro does charge faster, supporting Qi2.2 25W speeds.

Google Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 10 Pro: Software and AI features

Google promises seven years of OS and security updates on both phones, and Pixels are always first in line for the latest updates. Pixel users also enjoy monthly feature drops, keeping them fresh.

The Pixel 10 Pro runs Android 16 out of the box, but the Pixel 10 series has already started to receive the Android 17 over-the-air update. This means that the software on the Pixel 10 Pro and 11 Pro is identical, outside of the new exclusives. Owners of both will get to enjoy the best features of Android 17 like Bubbles, custom widgets, Rambler, an improved new UI, lots of Gemini goodies, and more!

Naturally, the 11 Pro will also retain all of the Pixel 10 Pro's AI features while gaining some exclusive capabilities. Aside from Gemini Intelligence, the Pixel 11 Pro camera also gets Magic Capture and Camera Looks as new AI features.

Google Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 10 Pro: Which should you buy?

We've waited a while for the Google Pixel 11 Pro, but does it live up to the hype? It's a mixed bag, like many 2026 smartphone releases. There's a lot to like, such as the new design, upgraded chip, and fresh cameras. That said, the higher price, limited base memory, and smaller battery represent questionable choices. The Pixel 11 Pro is attractive with pre-order promotions, but at full price, you may want to score a discount on the Pixel 10 Pro.