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Pixel 11 hands-on: Better, but no longer a bargain at $899 [Video]
![Pixel 11 hands-on: Better, but no longer a bargain at $899 [Video]](https://9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/08/Pixel-11-color-family-3.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1600)
After three runs, the Pixel 11 comes in hot as Google’s vision of the perfect base Android phone for the next year. Just how is it? Find out here.
As the entry-level model in Google’s lineup for 2026 and 2027, the company has seen fit to make some changes to the formula that has been iterated on since the introduction of the Pixel 9 in 2024. The Pixel 11 is Google’s new baseline flagship device, backed by Google’s advanced Gemini Intelligence suite at a lesser $899 starting price tag.
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The more things change, the more they stay the same as the saying goes and I can’t help but feel this nails the Pixel 11 more so than anything else.
Just like last year with the Pixel 10, you could easily be forgiven if you failed to spot anything noticeably “new” on the Pixel 11. Aside from the return to a glass camera bar, which does look a lot better in my opinion, the new colors are the standout design change on Google’s entry for late-2026.
Pre-release renders are never truly representative of the real product, but with a Pixel phone, that seems to be way more apparent or pronounced. I implore you to go and at least seek out a physical representation of these devices, as I had initially balked at some of the color options, only to be pleasantly surprised in person.
The Pistachio colorway is one such example. I did not like this when I first saw the renders. Having held it and seen it up close, it has grown on me drastically. The “Hibiscus,” or pink to the normies, is undoubtedly the most vibrant color this year and exudes so much Barbie pink energy that it simply demands you pay attention to it.
I’m a little annoyed that we still haven’t had a decent Porcelain follow-up. Sure, the “Frost” option is close, but its light blue-gray hues are just not quite as inviting. Obsidian, well, that’s just another utilitarian classic.
Until someone pointed it out, I hadn’t even noticed the return of an all-glass camera bar. It’s a sleek visual change, but I didn’t hate the metal frame. I’m unsure how this will affect durability. It looks even more like a visor than ever before – and I mean that in a good way.
Sadly, the HiLight glowing LED is not available on the base model. It’s locked to the Pro models, which is a little bit of a disappointment given the price increase and lack of major changes elsewhere.