Google held its Made by Google event on August 12, 2026, in New York, officially introducing the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the foldable Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Alongside the phones, the company also revealed the Pixel Watch 5 and a new tracking accessory called Pixel Tag. While the new lineup brings some genuinely useful upgrades, it also comes with a price increase that buyers will want to factor in before deciding to upgrade.
What's New Under the Hood
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At the center of this year's lineup is the new Tensor G6 chip, built specifically to handle Google's growing focus on on device AI. According to Google, the chip delivers 25 percent faster web browsing and 15 percent quicker app launches compared to last year's Tensor G5. The chip also comes with 50 percent more TPU compute power, allowing on device AI tasks to run up to 3.5 times faster while using up to 3.5 times less energy. This directly supports Gemini Nano, Google's on device AI model, which now plays a bigger role across the entire Pixel experience.
Security Gets a Meaningful Upgrade Too
Alongside the new chip, Google has also introduced its Titan M3 security chip, which works together with the Tensor G6 to bring post quantum cryptography into the phone's secure boot process. This is a forward looking move meant to keep devices secure even as future computing threats evolve.
Camera Improvements Across the Lineup
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The Pixel 11 Pro camera specs show real improvement this year. The Pixel 11 features a 48MP main sensor, while the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL step up to a 50MP main sensor, both paired with ultrawide and telephoto lenses for more flexible photography. Google has also introduced a new feature called Magic Capture, aimed at helping users get better shots more easily. On the design side, the signature camera bar is now 40 percent thinner, giving the phones a sleeker, more refined look.
Display, Charging, and Storage Changes
Display brightness has also gotten a boost, with the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL now reaching peak brightness levels of up to 3,600 nits, making outdoor visibility noticeably better. Wireless charging has improved too, now supporting Qi 2.2 technology with speeds up to 25W. One major shift this year is storage. Google has completely dropped the 128GB base storage option, meaning every Pixel 11 model now starts at 256GB as standard.
What About the Pricing
This brings us to the Google Pixel 11 price breakdown. The base Pixel 11 starts at $899, the Pixel 11 Pro begins at $1,099, the Pro XL starts at $1,299, and the foldable Pixel 11 Pro Fold comes in at $1,899. This reflects a $100 increase across the lineup compared to last year, largely tied to the doubled base storage and upgraded hardware across the board.
When Can You Buy It
Pre-orders for the Pixel 11 series are open starting now, with the phones officially arriving at the Google Store and retail partners on August 20, 2026.
The Pixel 11 series brings real, tangible upgrades this year, from a noticeably faster chip to sharper cameras and stronger security. But with prices climbing by $100 across the board, buyers will want to weigh whether these improvements are worth the added cost, especially if their current Pixel is still running smoothly. For those deeply invested in Google's AI driven ecosystem, this lineup still looks like a compelling upgrade, even with the higher price tag attached.
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