Google has just unveiled its new Pixel 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL and 11 Pro Fold. On the surface, this new family does not appear to reinvent the category. In practice, Google is continuing to refine its formula and has, without doubt, delivered the most polished smartphones currently available.
At first glance, it would be easy to feel almost underwhelmed. There is no dramatic break from the past, no unprecedented form factor and no gimmicky feature designed to make headlines. Indeed, the Pixel 11 models look strikingly similar to the Pixel 10, which already bore a close resemblance to the Pixel 9.
Yet my first few minutes with the four new flagships convinced me that Google has got nearly everything right. In my humble view, it is precisely because the company is not trying to dazzle that it has created the most accomplished phones of the moment.
The range comprises four handsets - the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL and 11 Pro Fold - all powered by the same new in-house Tensor G6 chip and supplied with 256 GB of storage. Their central purpose is to showcase Google’s expertise in artificial intelligence. The Pixel 11 range combines the best software, including Gemini Intelligence, with hardware capable, for the first time, of matching the market’s leading devices.
Our first look at the Pixel 11 range, on video
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Pixel 11 prices and availability in France
- Pixel 11: from €999
- Pixel 11 Pro: from €1,199
- Pixel 11 Pro XL: from €1,399
- Pixel 11 Pro Fold: from €1,999
Every model starts with 256 GB of storage. The 512 GB and 1 TB Pro versions increase memory to 16 GB of RAM. Pre-orders are already open, with delivery scheduled for 19 August 2026.
Google Pixel 11 256 GB at the best price
Base price: €999
| Retailer | Price |
|---|---|
| Amazon | €999 |
| FNAC | €999 |
| Darty | €999 |
| Rakuten | €999 |
See more offers
Google Pixel 11 Pro 256 GB at the best price
Base price: €1,199
| Retailer | Price |
|---|---|
| Amazon | €1,199 |
| FNAC | €1,199 |
| Darty | €1,199 |
Google Pixel 11 Pro XL 256 GB at the best price
Base price: €1,399
| Retailer | Price |
|---|---|
| Amazon | €1,399 |
| FNAC | €1,399 |
| Darty | €1,399 |
Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold 256 GB at the best price
Base price: €1,999
| Retailer | Price |
|---|---|
| Amazon | €1,999 |
| FNAC | €1,999 |
| Darty | €1,999 |
| Rakuten | €1,999 |
See more offers
Tensor G6 and Gemini everywhere
To compete with the market leaders, Google needed to overhaul its proprietary chip, which had a reputation for being less capable than its rivals. The new Tensor G6 chip offers “double-digit” improvements: a processor roughly 12% faster, greater memory bandwidth and, most importantly, 50% more computing power for the TPU, the element dedicated to artificial intelligence. It may not sound especially exciting to the general public, but this technical change enables Google to transform the Pixel 11 experience completely.
Combined with the Gemini Nano model, all AI processes running directly on the device - including notification summaries, transcription and Recorder - become three times faster while using two and a half times less energy.
Put simply, the chip means Google can run its artificial intelligence locally, rather than relying on the cloud. This addresses latency and security concerns. There is also a new Titan M3 security chip, described as resistant to future quantum threats. It is the kind of component users will never notice day to day, but it matters.
Gemini is therefore present throughout these new Pixel 11 phones, without ever overwhelming the user. Above all, the chip integration turns it into an assistant available when needed, offering to step in at appropriate moments. For instance, Gemini provides contextual suggestions in conversations - about a flight or restaurant, for example - which can then be saved in Maps, Calendar or Wallet.
The new “Rambler” feature lets users dictate a message or note in entirely natural language - including repetitions, restarts and hesitations. The AI understands the request and removes the unnecessary parts, retaining only what the user genuinely intended to save. Circle to Search naturally remains available. Real-time audio dubbing for selected videos arrives through Live Translate. Even migration from an old phone - passwords, passkeys, eSIM and call history - along with Quick Share ↔ AirDrop compatibility, follows the same principle: the AI is intended to be useful and unobtrusive.
Photography, naturally
The Pixel range built its reputation on photographic expertise. Google long outperformed the competition thanks to the abilities of its AI engineers, though the rise of Chinese rivals has unsettled its position somewhat in recent years. Falling behind is not an option.
Google has therefore added a new 48-megapixel main camera that is 56% more sensitive to light, alongside a telephoto lens offering up to 30x zoom on the Pixel 11 and 120x on the Pro models. The Pro phones also receive a redesigned 48-megapixel telephoto sensor, while the range includes a 42-megapixel front camera and a revised Night Sight mode.
I will begin with the latter: thanks to the AI work and the new sensor, Night Sight is up to 4.5 times faster. This allows low-light shots to be taken without the usual 3 to 5-second wait before the shutter activates. Frame the shot, press the shutter and the phone captures it. Google says it developed this feature so people do not miss life’s moments, even when lighting conditions are poor.
Another notable addition is Magic Capture. With the user’s consent, the AI examines around 500 images from a video sequence to automatically select the best moment in HDR+ quality, applying light adjustments.
Camera Looks offers six visual treatments that can be selected before taking a picture, in the style of film emulation, much like Styles on iPhone. Finally, Creator Suite brings together a teleprompter, framing grids, an audio visualiser and a Google Photos storyboard to support content creators. Brilliant!
Looks can be deceptive
On the design front, Google has made very little effort to change things. The Pro models feature an edge-to-edge glass camera bar and a fully matt finish in Obsidian, along with a display coating said to double scratch resistance. The panels reach 3,600 nits, which should make them readable in direct sunlight. The Pixel 11 comes in Frost, Hibiscus, Pistachio and Obsidian, while the Pro models are offered in Canyon, Fog, Olive and matt Obsidian. Nothing showy, then: Google knows what works.
The only genuinely playful addition is called “HighLight”. Available on the Pro versions, it takes the place previously occupied by a thermometer last year. In 2026, goodbye to the thermometer supposedly used by two people worldwide - according to the official statistics of Professor Aude Oimouillé - and hello to coloured LEDs around the flash, which illuminate when the phone is placed face down on a table. This small light can indicate a call from a loved one in their assigned colour, chosen beforehand, or show that Gemini is being used.
Google has thus introduced a minor flourish that few people are likely to adopt, but which at least has the merit of existing. The company told us it wanted to help users reduce their screen time - lol - by stopping them from checking every single notification.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the only model with even a slightly different look. Around 10% lighter and 1 mm thinner, it is above all three times more resistant than the previous generation, thanks to a fibreglass composite rear and a redesigned hinge, all with IP68 certification. Its internal “Super Actua Flex” display is tougher and reaches 3,600 nits. The Tensor G6 is paired with 16 GB of RAM, while “Bubble Anything” turns any app into a floating bubble.
Lastly, Live Transcribe now supports sign language across both displays, a real accessibility improvement presented with the quiet elegance of people who do not need to make a fuss.
My first impressions of the Pixel 11 range
The Pixel 11 models will not make you fall off your chair. That may well be their greatest strength. While competitors tend to pile on the theatrics, Google has chosen maturity. The Pixel 11 range combines a familiar but effective design, excellent claimed durability for its foldable model and, above all, artificial intelligence that serves the user.
The real innovations in these Pixel phones are in fact highly discreet, starting with the Tensor G6 integration. Beyond the performance gains, the chip chiefly allows Google to offer its extremely capable AI locally to assist users every day. Every task is consequently faster and more secure. Take that, Apple Intelligence.
With its Pixel devices, Google is not trying to impress; instead, it aims to provide the best possible platform for its artificial intelligence. On that front, the bet looks set to pay off. Naturally, these encouraging first impressions will need to be tested in everyday use. See you after the summer holidays?
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