Pixel 11 vs Pixel 10: How Google’s New $899 Flagship Compares With the Old $799 One

Google’s new Pixel 11 is finally here. It has a more efficient Tensor G6 processor, improved camera software and some new Gemini Intelligence features, like Magic Capture that uses AI to pull the best still images from a video clip – great for parents. 

However, some of the more interesting new features in the Pixel 11 series, such as the HiLight ambient LED array that lights up different colors to notify you of an incoming call and the 120x Pro Zoom, are exclusive to the 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL. The Pixel 11, therefore, is actually not too different from last year’s Pixel 10. 

The entry point for the Pixel 11 is $100 more expensive because Google has dropped the 128GB storage option. The Pixel 10’s 128GB variant is priced at $799, but the 256GB model is $899. Yes, the 256GB pricing hasn’t changed with the Pixel 11, and now it’s also the most affordable version you can get. 

And while Google hasn’t discounted the Pixel 10’s starting price, at the time of writing, there are sizeable discounts on last year’s phone. Best Buy has a 128GB Pixel 10 for $600 when activated on Verizon. The Pixel 11 is now available to preorder and will be in stores starting Aug. 20.

To help you decide which Pixel to get, here’s how the Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 compare in more detail.

Pixel 10 vs. 11: Design and display

When viewed from the front, the Pixel 11 and Pixel 10 look practically identical. Both have a 6.3-inch OLED screen with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. They also both have a 60-120Hz variable refresh rate and the same dimensions – 6 by 2.8 by 0.3 inches – though the Pixel 11 is ever so slightly lighter at 6.9 ounces (the Pixel 10 is 7.2 ounces). That difference is about the same as the weight of a mini “fun size” chocolate bar.

The camera bar on the back brings the biggest differences in design. The Pixel 10’s three-camera array is covered in glass, but the LED flash is housed in a metal enclosure to its right. The Pixel 11’s camera bar, on the other hand, is edge-to-edge glass, which looks a lot sleeker and seamless in appearance. 

Color-wise, the Pixel 10 is available in indigo, frost, lemongrass and obsidian, while the Pixel 11 is available in frost, pistachio, hibiscus and obsidian. 

Pixel 10 vs. 11: Cameras

Both Pixel phones have the same triple-camera array on the back with a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto. The Pixel 11 does add a new, longer 30x digital zoom, and Google says it has improved light sensitivity and larger sensors. CNET Senior Editor Mike Sorrentino is obsessed with the Pixel 11’s expanded digital zoom and spent much of his time at a press briefing trying it out.

Most of the Pixel 11’s camera changes are software-based. There’s a new Magic Capture mode that uses AI to select the best still frames from a short video clip. Magic Capture seems perfect for parents, so they don’t have to take a photo at the ideal moment. Another feature is Camera Looks, think Photographic Styles on the iPhone, that let you add unique color tones and analog film styles to the photos you take.

Pixel 10 vs. 11: Battery and power

The Pixel 10 has a 4,970-mAh battery while the Pixel 11 has a 4,985-mAh battery. That’s a rather marginal difference, though Google said the Pixel 11 has an Adaptive Battery feature that should deliver 30-plus hours of battery life on a single charge. We’ll have to give it further testing to verify those claims. 

Aside from that, the Pixel 11 ships with the Google Tensor G6 while the Pixel 10 has the older Google Tensor G5. On paper, the Tensor G6 processor should make the Pixel 11 more efficient and faster than the Pixel 10 but we’ll have to do more testing to find out for sure. Since both phones receive major OS updates and security patches for seven years, it’s worth considering that the Pixel 10 will be a year old at that point.

You can see more differences between the two phones in the specs chart below.

Google Pixel 11 specs vs. Pixel 10

I started my career with CNET all the way back in 2005, when the (original) Motorola Razrs were all the rage. Since then, I’ve written about everything from consumer electronics to internet culture for outlets like CNET, Engadget and Yahoo. Outside of work, I’m a big fan of baseball, board games, tabletop RPGs and improv comedy.

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