Google's latest lineup of flagship Android phones is finally up for pre-order, with full retail availability beginning next week. I played around with each of the four new Google Pixel 11 models, and it's hard to ignore the elephant in the room: the price. Smartphone costs are soaring thanks to RAM shortages, and every Pixel 11 variant is more expensive this year. There is a silver lining, though. Of all the Pixel 11 phones I tried, the cheapest one is the model I'd want in my pocket.

The calling card of the "Pro" phones is HiLight, a glowing orb that consumes the traditional white camera flash to display status information. It's what makes the Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold unique compared to the base Pixel 11, and it's simply not as exciting as I hoped. Instead, the truly captivating change of the Pixel 11 series is only available on the base model. The standard Pixel 11 has a miniscule camera bump that makes the entire chassis feel attractive and slender. Since many core specs are shared throughout the entire Pixel 11 lineup, I'd gladly choose the entry-level $899 phone over the higher-priced Pro models.

Google Pixel 11 series pricing, specs, and availability Every model is more expensive this year

Google launched the Pixel 11 series at a Made by Google event on Aug. 12, 2026, and all four phones became available for pre-order that same day. The official release date for the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold is Aug. 20, and that's when you'll see the newest Google flagship hit shelves. Here are the prices for each Google Pixel 11 model:

• Google Pixel 11 (12GB/256GB): $899
• Google Pixel 11 Pro (12GB/256GB): $1,099
• Google Pixel 11 Pro XL (12GB/256GB): $1,299
• Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold (16GB/256GB): $1,899

Google upgraded the base storage to 256GB on the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro, but it didn't do it for free. So, the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro cost $100 more than last year's models, but they cost the same as their 256GB storage equivalents. The Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold see a $100 price hike without a storage boost.

• 	Google Pixel 11	Google Pixel 11 Pro	Google Pixel 11 Pro XL	Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
  Brand	Google	Google	Google	Google
  SoC	Google Tensor G6	Google Tensor G6	Google Tensor G6	Google Tensor G6
  Battery	4985 mAh	4850 mAh	5115 mAh	4750 mAh
  Ports	USB-C 3.2	USB-C 3.2	USB-C 3.2	USB-C 3.2
  Operating System	Android 17	Android 17	Android 17	Android 17
  Dimensions	6.0 in (height) x 2.8 in (width) x 0.3 in (depth)	6.0 in (height) x 2.8 in (width) x 0.3 in (depth)	6.4 in (height) x 3.0 in (width) x 0.3 in (depth)	6.1 in (height) x 3.0 in (width) x 0.4 in (depth) folded; 6.1 in (height) x 5.9 in (width) x 0.2 in (depth) unfolded
  Colors	Frost, Pistachio, Hibiscus, Obsidian	Canyon, Olive, Fog, Obsidian	Canyon, Olive, Fog, Obsidian	Olive, Obsidian
  Weight	6.9 oz	7.2 oz	8.0 oz	8.4 oz
  IP Rating	IP68	IP68	IP68	IP68
  Wi-Fi connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E	Wi-Fi 7	Wi-Fi 7	Wi-Fi 7
  Bluetooth	Bluetooth v6	Bluetooth v6	Bluetooth v6	Bluetooth v6

In fact, the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL base models ship with fewer gigabytes of memory this generation. The phones now start with 12GB, and you have to upgrade to the 512GB or 1TB storage configurations of the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL to get the 16GB of RAM that was standard on the Pixel 10 Pro models.

With pricing considerations in mind, it's a good sign that the only Pixel 11 variant under $1,000 is the one I enjoyed using the most.

Only the base Pixel 11 gets this incredible design upgrade Somehow, the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL feel less premium beside it

I've been critical of Pixel design and build quality, as prior phones have been thicker and heavier than their iPhone and Samsung Galaxy competitors. The truth is, Google didn't completely address the Pixel's thickness and weight problems with the Pixel 11. The new model weighs 195.6 grams, which is a welcome change compared to the 204-gram Pixel 10, but is still on the heavier side. The body still isn't as thin as the Galaxy S26. That said, Google is using the same strategy it used on the Pixel 9a and Pixel 10a for the Pixel 11. If you're going to make a thicker phone, you might as well make the camera bump as slim as possible.

As you can see in the photos above, the base Pixel 11 still has an oval-shaped camera bar on the back, but it doesn't protrude as much. Specifically, the camera bump is 40% slimmer on the Pixel 11 than the Pixel 10. This makes the Pixel 11 more true to its dimensions than phones with a slim body and a gigantic camera bump. I couldn't believe how nice it felt to hold the Pixel 11 with this slender camera bar, and with a case, the protrusion essentially disappears. If you're tired of phones with wonky balance on flat surfaces, the Pixel 11 is for you.

You might expect the slimmer camera oval to extend to the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL, but that isn't the case. The camera bar on those phones feels just as large as their Pixel 10 series counterparts, and frankly, it looks ancient compared to the Pixel 11. I understand why the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL camera bumps are larger — they have better secondary cameras — but that doesn't change how much I love the base Pixel 11's look.

The camera bump on the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL protrudes significantly more from the back than the base Pixel 11.

Speaking of appearances, the Pixel 11's matte aluminum side rails and glossy glass back make for a great combination. It's available in Pistachio, Hibiscus, Frost, and Obsidian. The green Pistachio and hot pink Hibiscus looked better in person than I expected. The polished metal rails on the non-Obsidian colorways of the Pixel 11 Pro and the Pixel 11 Pro XL don't speak to me as much as the matte Pixel 11 hues.

Google didn't skimp on the Pixel 11's performance The base model has quite a bit in common with the Pro, XL, and Pro Fold

With the Pro models seeing fewer gigabytes of base RAM than their predecessors, the starter Pixel 11 is as fit to compete with its higher-priced siblings as ever. The base Pixel 11 has the same Google Tensor G6 processor, the same Titan M3 security processor, the same 12GB of RAM, and the same 256GB base storage as the Pixel 11 Pro and the Pixel 11 Pro XL. This year, the regular Pixel 11 adds Zoned UFS storage for all configurations, plus Qi2.2 25W fast wireless charging support. Features that were once exclusive to the Pixel 11 Pro or Pixel 11 Pro XL are now available on the base model.

Speaking of battery and charging specs, the Pixel 11 supports 30W wired charging speeds identical to those of the Pixel 11 Pro. The base Pixel 11's battery capacity (4,985mAh) is also the sweet spot between that of the Pixel 11 Pro (4,850mAh) and the Pixel 11 Pro XL (5,115mAh). Of course, the Pixel 11 still has internal Qi2 magnets for MagSafe and Pixelsnap chargers and accessories — this is one of the biggest reasons to choose a Pixel over a Galaxy.

I don't expect the Tensor G6 chip to all of a sudden beat the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy inside the Samsung Galaxy S26. Both the Pixel 11 and the Galaxy S26 cost the same, and if you want the best performance, the latter is probably your best option. However, it's easier to accept those performance compromises in an $899 phone like the Pixel 11 than a $1,299 phone such as the Pixel 11 Pro XL. This is why, despite the price hike and Pixel 10 similarities, the Pixel 11 stood out in this lineup.

Why the entry-level Pixel 11 isn't a slam dunk The cameras and display aren't as good as the Pro models

There are still drawbacks that come with the Pixel 11 that could be off-putting, especially considering the price. Notably, the phone's 6.3-inch display isn't as sharp or as bright as the Pixel 11 Pro version. While the primary shooter is a larger, 48MP wide lens with a 1/1.56-inch image sensor size, the secondary rear cameras are still limited to a 13MP ultrawide and a 10.8MP telephoto. The Pixel 11 Pro's camera system is undoubtedly better, but it's hard to knock the Pixel 11 too much for that. Compared to phones in its class, like the Galaxy S26 and the iPhone 17, the Pixel 11's camera specs don't look out of place.

At a time when just about everything costs more than it did a year ago, I'm thrilled to report that the Pixel 11 phone that blew me away isn't the $1,299 Pixel 11 Pro XL or the $1,899 Pixel 11 Pro Fold. It's the Pixel 11, a phone that looks poised to be one of the best Android flagships under $1,000.