# Google Pixel 11/Pro Review: Poker Face Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANmTVYkEtLw Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/ANmTVYkEtLw Generated: 2026-09-05T22:03:27.537+00:00 --- ## The Gist The Google Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro are great mainstream phones with strong software support and solid cameras, but they fail to justify their high prices due to lagging GPU hardware and average battery charging speeds. ## Quick Overview Google builds solid smartphones, but the Pixel 11 series suffers from a mismatch between high prices and mediocre underlying hardware specs like charging and graphics. Marques Brownlee reviews the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro after two weeks of international testing, breaking down their hardware performance, camera upgrades, pricing, and software features. **Key Points:** - Marques Brownlee tested the Pixel 11 Pro for two weeks across Spain, Ireland, and Wisconsin. - The new Tensor G6 chip offers about a 20 percent CPU speed increase over the previous generation but lags far behind competitors in GPU benchmarks. - Battery charging maxes out at a disappointing 30 to 35 watts, far slower than competitors like OnePlus that charge at 80 watts. - The base Pixel 11 starts at 900 dollars, while the Pixel 11 Pro starts at 1100 dollars and ranges up to 1400 dollars for the 512 gigabyte model. - Both the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro feature improved camera hardware, including larger primary sensors and a versatile 5x zoom camera. - Android 17 runs exceptionally smoothly on the devices, featuring helpful UI touches like custom app icon tinting and quick sharing animations. - Google provides seven years of software updates, making the base Pixel 11 the best value recommendation for buyers. ![Screenshot at 01:06: The introductory title card for the Pixel 11 review.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ANmTVYkEtLw/00-01-06.jpg) **Context:** Marques Brownlee reviews Google's latest flagship smartphones, the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro, evaluating whether their high price points match their hardware and software capabilities compared to competing flagships. ## Detailed Analysis Marques Brownlee shares his two-week experience reviewing the Google Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro, highlighting their strengths in software, design, and camera quality, balanced against weaknesses in hardware performance, charging speeds, and pricing. While the Tensor G6 chip delivers good CPU performance and Android 17 runs smoothly with seven years of software support, the phones lack high-end GPU power and fast charging capabilities. Marques concludes that the base Pixel 11 is a worthwhile purchase, but the high cost of the Pro models makes them hard to recommend given their hardware limitations. ### Hardware and Specs The exterior build quality is strong, but the internal hardware specs reveal significant weaknesses. - The Pixel 11 phones feature the new Tensor G6 chip, which delivers about a 20 percent speed increase in single-core and multi-core CPU tasks compared to the Tensor G5. - Graphics processing performance falls significantly behind competitors like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. - Charging speeds reach only 30 to 35 watts during extreme charging, lagging far behind Samsung at 45 watts and OnePlus at 80 watts. ![Screenshot at 02:16: A geekbench benchmark chart comparing the Tensor G6 chip to previous generations.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ANmTVYkEtLw/00-02-16.jpg) ### Camera Performance Camera hardware sees notable improvements, particularly in sensor size and zoom capabilities. - The base Pixel 11 features a new larger primary sensor and a 5x telephoto camera, while the Pro models upgrade to 50 megapixel main sensors. - Night sight performance benefits from larger sensors that let in more light, producing sharper and less noisy photos in dark conditions. - Zooming beyond the 5x optical limit results in watercolor-like overprocessing, making it less effective than dedicated ultra-zoom phones. ![Screenshot at 05:29: A side-by-side comparison showing a processed image versus the RAW 50 megapixel mode.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ANmTVYkEtLw/00-05-29.jpg) ### Software and User Experience Software remains the standout strength of the Pixel line, delivering a smooth and feature-rich experience. - Android 17 runs smoothly through daily tasks, handling social media, email, and web browsing without notable lag. - Software details include app icons that automatically match custom phone color specs and a clean quick-share animation. - Google promises seven years of software updates, cementing its position as a leader in long term support. ![Screenshot at 07:34: The Android 17 startup and customization screen on the Pixel 11.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ANmTVYkEtLw/00-07-34.jpg) ### Pricing and Verdict High prices make it difficult to justify buying the Pro models over the base version. - The base Pixel 11 starts at 900 dollars and offers the best value for users wanting Google software and a solid camera. - The Pixel 11 Pro starts at 1100 dollars, and upgrading to 512 gigabytes on the Pro XL pushes the price to 1400 dollars. - Marques recommends the base Pixel 11 for most buyers, advising against the Pro models due to their high cost relative to hardware upgrades. ![Screenshot at 09:18: The physical design and pink colorway of the Pixel 11.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ANmTVYkEtLw/00-09-18.jpg)