Hands-on with the Pixel 11 Pro XL
TechCrunch reviewer Ivan Mehta spent nearly a week with the Obsidian Pixel 11 Pro XL and came away with a mixed verdict: the phone is "still solid and feels good to use," but the updates are largely iterative. The device looks similar to previous models, and Mehta notes that buyers may have to proactively tell people they have the latest phone unless they follow every launch. The main aesthetic changes are new colors and a small glowing light on the back called HiLight.
HiLight is an LED notification light that activates only when you use Gemini or receive calls from favorite contacts—not texts. It lights up in green, yellow, pink, purple, or white.
New AI and Camera Features
A standout addition is Rambler, an AI-powered dictation tool that removes filler words like "um" and "ah" and formats speech. Mehta reports it handles switching between languages and noisy environments well, and says Google's tool is on par with top dictation apps like Wispr and Willow.
The Gemini Proactive Suggestions feature surfaced context-aware suggestions, though not always accurately, according to Mehta. Gemini's agentic capabilities, such as placing food orders, are available in the U.S. but not testable from India, where Mehta was based. Live Translate now allows translation of live streams or videos without captions, but requires downloading specific languages.
On the camera front, the Pixel 11 Pro XL has a larger main and telephoto sensor compared to the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Night Sight is faster, and Pro Res Zoom improved with maximum zoom increased from 100x to 120x. A new "Looks" feature acts like filters but changes the computational photography pipeline, with four core defaults and additional styles. One-touch quick access controls are customizable. Magic Capture lets you initiate a video clip and use AI to pull top moments as photos, though Mehta notes it doesn't do well with moving subjects and saves only 12-megapixel resolution.
Pricing and Configurations
Google scrapped the 128GB base model, and the 256GB model is priced the same as last year's version for both the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro. However, RAM was reduced from 16GB to 12GB. The Pixel 11 Pro XL received a $100 price increase over last year. Mehta attributes these changes partly to a "component crunch," but does not assign blame for feature limitations.
Case Recommendations for the Pixel 11 Pro
TechRadar's Collections Editor Ruth compiled a separate guide to cases for the Pixel 11 Pro, which is one of the new additions to Google's flagship lineup alongside the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. The Pro's screen is the same 6.3-inch size as the standard Pixel 11 but is brighter and higher-resolution. Build quality is a step up over the basic model, and the rear camera setup is more advanced.
Ruth recommends reliable, tough cases from Otterbox and Spigen, noting they are generally pricier. She also includes cheap-and-cheerful Amazon alternatives from no-name brands, which can be hit-and-miss, but she says she has stuck to options backed by reassuring reviews. For quirky options, she points to Casetify as the best place to add personality to the phone. The guide includes options in the US and UK, and notes that Pixel 11 Pro preorder deals are available.
Both articles were published in the context of the Pixel 11 launch, with TechCrunch offering a hands-on review and TechRadar focusing on protective accessories.