Google Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 10: Should you upgrade? Here's what I think after a year with the Pixel 10

The Pixel 10 is one of our favorite smartphones of 2025, but now that we approach the Pixel 11 launch, I'm taking a speculative look at both phones to determine whether it's worth upgrading from the Pixel 10. Or at least which phone you should consider buying.

For now, we don't have any official information on the Pixel 11, aside from rumors and leaks. Fortunately, there have been plenty of both, allowing us to paint a pretty good picture of what to expect. And having reviewed the Pixel 10 myself, I'm more than interested to see what upgrades Google is bringing to its successor.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 10: More of the same design with one illuminating mystery

From the leaks we've seen, the Pixel 11 won't look that much different from the Pixel 10. The dimensions are supposedly mostly the same, although the Pixel 11 may be a hair thinner at 8.5mm. The Pixel 10 is already pretty thick, so we welcome any way Google can reduce that, especially given the battery bump.

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More noticeable design changes may appear on the rear. The camera visor appears to have removed the aluminum bit housing the camera flash on the Pixel 10. Instead, the entire housing appears to be covered in glass for a more uniform look.

There's also the matter of this mysterious Pixel Glow. We're not entirely sure what this could be, but it might be a light bar that appears on or around the camera housing. This could be a visual indicator for notifications or AI interactions, similar to what we expect with the upcoming Googlebooks, but we're not entirely sure how this will be implemented.

There's also a chance this won't be available on the base model, but I have my fingers crossed!

On the front, the display won't change much either. It will likely remain a 6.3-inch OLED panel, and Google may improve display brightness, as companies usually do with each generation, but we don't expect much change in eye care. With any luck, Google could include some of the accessibility features introduced with the Pixel 10 Pro, but we won't hold our breath.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 10: Rumored specs point to some important changes

The biggest changes to the Pixel 11 will mostly be under the hood. The phone is expected to be powered by the Tensor G6, likely a 2nm chipset built by TSMC, which should make it more efficient. I didn't have many problems with the Pixel 10's performance, but any improvements here are welcome.

One benefit of the Tensor G6 may be a new MediaTek-built modem. This could mean we'll see marked improvements in connectivity, which users often complain about on Pixel phones with Samsung modems.

Interestingly, the Pixel 11 may come with an outdated GPU, so you probably won't count on it for heavy gaming. Fortunately, compatibility should improve, especially after the Pixel 10 initially lacked updated GPU drivers, which made games look a little wonky.

Unfortunately, there probably won't be much in the way of battery gains, but I didn't have any issues with battery life on the Pixel 10. I hope Google improves charging speeds from the Pixel 10's 30W wired and 15W Qi2 wireless, but I won't hold my breath.

One thing I'm excited to see with the Pixel 11 is the new base storage. These days, 128GB just doesn't cut it for a flagship, so I'm happy to see that 256GB may become the new standard. Unfortunately, this may come with a higher price tag for the base Pixel 11, with rumors pointing to a $100 increase to $899.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 10: How will the Pixel 11 enhance the software and AI experience?

One good thing about Pixels is that the software experience will be pretty much the same across models. The Pixel 10 adopts Material 3 Expressive, so it's very colorful and full of fun shapes. I actually enjoyed the Pixel software experience for the first time with Android 16, thanks to improvements like the customizable Quick Settings menu and the notification organizer.

That extends to the AI experience, which has been enhanced with the Tensor G5 chip. Google introduced some neat new AI features, like Camera Coach and automation that lets Gemini place orders for rideshares and food deliveries on your behalf. And with features like Gemini Live, the Pixel 10 is the full package.

The Pixel 11 will no doubt improve upon the software and AI experience, especially with Gemini Intelligence set to arrive this summer. The Pixel 10 will likely receive many of these features as part of the upgraded AI experience, but a new chipset could bring exclusive capabilities to the Pixel 11.

For now, we don't know what features the Pixel 11 will launch with aside from the potential Pixel Glow light array. It's expected to launch with Android 17 out of the box, and since we're still waiting on some previously announced features to arrive, there's a good chance they'll come with the Pixel 11.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 10: Welcome camera improvements in tow

Last year's Pixel 10 featured a 48MP primary camera "downgrade," although it still took great photos. Thanks to the addition of a third 5x telephoto sensor, zoom photos were excellent. For the Pixel 11, rumors suggest Google is returning to a 50MP primary sensor, which could improve noise reduction and low-light performance.

Overall, we could see minor improvements in image quality compared to the Pixel 10. However, I would like to see the Pixel 11 receive the same camera features as the Pro models, since the Pixel 10 missed out on a few.

Google Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 10: So should you upgrade?

If you already have the Pixel 10, I expect there will be little reason to upgrade to the Pixel 11. The Tensor G5 is a very capable chipset and will likely support most of the new features coming to the Pixel 11. And even so, I doubt any new features will be enough to convince many to swap their device.

Plus, with seven years of OS upgrades and security patches, the Pixel 10 still has a lot of life left in it.

Still, the Pixel 11 may be a good phone to consider for anyone who doesn't own a Pixel 10. That is, if you can handle the rumored base price increase (which will likely include double the storage, mind you). Perhaps if you're coming from a Pixel 9 or earlier, the Pixel 11 could be worth the upgrade, especially if it means you're getting a third camera lens.