Pixel 11, 11 Pro & Fold: Google is showing smartphones and a long overdue novelty

Google has unveiled its latest generation of Pixel smartphones, including the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the new Pixel 11 Pro Fold, during a recent product launch. The company announced price increases for all models due to rising costs associated with components such as chips and memory. The Pixel 11 starts at 999 euros, which is 100 euros more than the previous model, the Pixel 10. Similarly, the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL have increased in price by 100 euros each, now costing 1199 euros and 1399 euros respectively. The foldable variant, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, carries a significantly higher price tag of 1999 euros. The price hike comes alongside an upgrade in storage options. Google has eliminated the outdated 128 GB version and now offers a minimum of 256 GB, with an option to purchase up to 512 GB for an additional cost. The Pixel 11 features 12 GB of RAM, while the Pro variants offer an optional 16 GB configuration. The foldable model consistently includes the larger storage capacity. Visually, the devices remain largely unchanged. The camera bar introduced with the Pixel 9 continues to be used, allowing the phones to sit flat on surfaces without tilting. The compact model retains a screen size of 6.3 inches (approximately 15.7 cm), while the XL variant measures 6.8 inches (around 17.2 cm). The Pixel 11's OLED display has a resolution of 1080 x 2424 pixels. The Pixel 11 Pro, with the same screen size, boasts a higher resolution of 1280 x 2856 pixels, achieving a finer detail density of 495 dots per inch (dpi), compared to the Pixel 11’s 422 dpi. The larger Pixel 11 XL offers a resolution of 1344 x 2992 pixels and 486 dpi. All screens support a variable refresh rate of up to 120 Hz for smooth playback. When the content does not change, the 11 Pro and 11 XL can reduce their refresh rate down to as low as 1 Hz to conserve power, whereas the Pixel 11 reduces to 60 Hz. The external display of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold has a diagonal measurement of 6.5 inches (about 16 cm) with a slightly narrower 19.5:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1080 x 2342, providing a pixel density of 399 dpi. The internal screen, when unfolded, reaches an impressive 8 inches (approximately 20 cm) with a resolution of 2076 x 2152 pixels (372 dpi), offering ample space for viewing. The color options for the phone cases are diverse, moving beyond the standard gray-black to include subdued shades of blue, green, and red. All Pixel 11 models are powered by the sixth-generation Tensor SoC. The Pixel 11 is equipped with at least 12 GB of RAM, while the Pro and Pro XL models offer an optional 16 GB configuration. According to Google, the TPU performance for local AI tasks has been improved by 50 percent compared to last year’s processor. In everyday use, app launching and web browsing speeds are reportedly faster by 15 and 25 percent respectively. Previous Tensor chips from Google have lagged behind competitors such as Apple, MediaTek, and Qualcomm in benchmark tests. While the Pixel 11 models should provide sufficient power for daily applications and most games, they still fall short of the overall performance offered by other flagship smartphones. On the back of the Pro models, there is a status LED named HiLight beside the camera. According to Google, improvements have been made in efficiency, which had previously been a concern with earlier Tensor generations. Users need not worry about the Pixel 11 overheating under load and subsequently throttling CPU performance. Efficiency improvements are highlighted in the sixth-generation Tensor chip, according to rumors.