Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: A glowing upgrade

The Google Pixel 11 series is finally here, and the best traditional smartphone in the lineup is the Pixel 11 Pro XL. It's the latest and greatest Google has to offer, with a slimmer design, new processors, and an upgraded camera system. Unfortunately, it also comes with a higher price. If you're a Google Pixel 10 Pro XL owner considering an upgrade, or are choosing between the new model and the old one, these are the upgrades you need to think about.

Put simply, the Pixel 11 Pro XL offers more upgrades than you may spot at first glance. There are subtle changes, like a slightly faster-charging battery, a brighter display, and new camera lenses that you won't spot from the outside. Plus, there are more obvious tweaks, like a thinner and lighter build paired with a "HiLight" glow dot on the back. Here's how the Pixel 11 Pro XL compares to the Pixel 10 Pro XL — and which Google smartphone is right for you.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: Design and display

The Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro XL look similar at a glance, but there's a lot more to the story. The newer Pixel 11 Pro XL is more compact than its predecessor by every measure. It's just 7.6mm thick, shaving off almost a full millimeter of thickness compared to the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Plus, the upgraded Pixel is lighter, at 227 grams. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL feels much heftier thanks to its 8.5mm thickness and 232-gram weight.

Google says the camera bar in particular is 40% smaller, and that's a big deal. The company explains that it is "wobble-free on flat surfaces" with an official Google case. It's frustrating when companies cheat thickness by including gigantic camera bumps on their phones, so I love this move for the Pixel 11 Pro XL. And it's not even the biggest Pixel 11 Pro XL design change to hit the camera bar.

That would be "HiLight," previously rumored as Pixel Glow. The feature adds a colorful glow around the Pixel 11 Pro XL's rear camera flash. It's designed to relay hints of information, like when Gemini is responding to your request or when an important contact is calling. It's a neat feature, and HiLight could expand to more utilities in the future. Google may be taking a page from Nothing and its Glyph Interfaces with this new initiative, and I'm a fan.

The Pixel 11 Pro XL features the same built-in MagSafe-compatible Pixelsnap magnets, so you won't need a case to use the best MagSafe accessories for Android phones. This also means you can stick with the Pixel 10 Pro XL and still enjoy an excellent magnetic accessory ecosystem.

The Pixel 11 Pro XL features the same 6.8-inch AMOLED display as the Pixel 10 Pro XL, but it's up to 300 nits brighter now at its peak. There's also a new Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covering with an anti-scratch shield. Overall, the display and form factor will be similar between the two models.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: Battery life, performance, and specs

The Google Pixel 11 Pro XL received the expected boost to the Tensor G6 mobile platform, but it also got an unexpected upgrade: a new Titan M3 security coprocessor. This upgraded security chip further bolsters the Pixel 11 Pro XL's security, adding quantum-safe, hardware-based secure boot. Meanwhile, the Pixel 10 Pro XL runs on the Tensor G5 chip and the Titan M2 security coprocessor.

Both the Pixel 11 Pro XL and the Pixel 10 Pro XL ship with either 12GB or 16GB of memory, and either 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage.

Notably, the Pixel 11 Pro XL has a smaller 5,115mAh battery compared to the Pixel 10 Pro XL's 5,200mAh battery. However, there's faster wired charging, and Qi2.2 25W wireless charging speeds remain. Is the slimmer design worth the battery trade-off? You tell us.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: Camera and software

Despite some awesome new features, I was largely unimpressed with the Pixel 10 Pro XL's camera last year. While it still did a great job of capturing objects in motion (like kids and pets), I found the telephoto camera strangely unreliable. We'll have to put the Pixel 11 Pro XL to the test to see how it improves, but there's good reason to be hopeful.

Google swapped out the 50MP primary shooter with a new sensor for the Pixel 11 Pro XL, and there's also a larger 48MP telephoto tensor. That, paired with image-signal processing improvements brought by the Tensor G6 chip, is a good sign.

The new sensors and ISP improvements mean the Pixel 11 Pro XL cameras can shoot faster. In Night Sight mode, the camera can now process captures up to 4.5 times faster. Plus, there are exclusive Pixel camera features arriving on the Pixel 11 series, like Magic Capture, Camera Looks, and Creator Suite. You can also use Circle to Search directly in the camera viewfinder for the first time.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: Which should you buy?

I have to say, the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL looks like a more well-rounded smartphone than the Pixel 10 Pro XL on paper. It isn't as thick or as heavy, and there are consequences to that (like the smaller battery), but it's a breath of fresh air overall. The new design, upgraded camera sensors, and chip refresh make the Pixel 11 Pro XL attractive — if you can stomach the $100 price hike.

Otherwise, you may be better off getting the Pixel 10 Pro XL at a discount if you can find one. I bet some owners will swear by the larger battery and familiar design. Still, the Pixel 11 Pro XL pre-order deals might sway you to choose the newer model.