I use a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but after comparing the Pixel 11 with its rivals, I think it’s the best Android flagship you can buy<\/a> for the money right now. <\/p>\n Here are five reasons why.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n \t\t There’s more to the cheaper Pixel 11 than you thought<\/p>\n It has a 5x optical zoom camera for $899<\/p>\n The Galaxy S26 stops at 3x, while the iPhone 17 has no telephoto shooter<\/p>\n For a long time, Google’s base Pixel models had only two cameras: a main and an ultrawide sensor.<\/p>\n However, Google introduced a third 5x telephoto lens with the Pixel 10 and kept it for the new generation, while making the main sensor slightly larger.<\/p>\n This matters now because the Samsung Galaxy S26<\/a> offers only 3x optical zoom and costs $100 more. The iPhone 17 costs the same $899 as the Pixel 11 but doesn’t have a telephoto camera; its 2x zoom is a crop from the 48MP main sensor. <\/p>\n I only use my S24 Ultra’s 5x zoom occasionally to read far-away signs and other niche use cases, but it’s nice to have. Considering such lenses used to be reserved for Pro and Ultra models, getting one for $899 is a good deal.<\/p>\n It starts at 256GB and has magnets<\/p>\n Like the iPhone 17; the S26 has no magnets<\/p>\n With the Pixel 11 series, Google removed the smaller 128GB option.<\/p>\n This means the starting model has 256GB of storage and costs $899, unlike the Pixel 10, which started at 128GB and cost $100 less. It also has magnets, making it compatible with MagSafe and other magnetic accessories<\/a>. It supports up to 25W speeds via Qi2.2, like the iPhone. <\/p>\n However, Samsung still doesn’t build magnets into its devices. You’d need a magnetic case to use magnetic accessories with the Galaxy S26. Plus, it charges wirelessly at a slower 15W.<\/p>\n It features a new Tensor chip and gets updates on day one<\/p>\n It’s no Snapdragon, but it’s good enough<\/p>\n The Pixel 11 launched with the Tensor G6 processor, built on TSMC’s 3nm node<\/a>. <\/p>\n Its raw power is somewhat lacking compared to the S26, which features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and the iPhone 17, which boasts Apple’s A19 processor.<\/p>\n Still, it’s a modest upgrade over the Pixel 10’s Tensor G5, with the biggest improvements in on-device AI. The gap is much bigger against the Pixel 10a, which uses the older Tensor G4.<\/p>\n The Pixel also gets updates as soon as Google releases them, including Pixel-exclusive ones.<\/p>\n You get Google’s smartest features without paying for a Pro<\/p>\n The Pixel 11 series has several new software features, and most are available across the lineup.<\/p>\n Gemini Intelligence, for example, includes several advanced AI features like task automation, Rambler, Create My Widget, and Intelligent Autofill, and it’s available on all four Pixel 11 models.<\/p>\n So are Magic Cue’s contextual suggestions and Call Screen, which filters unknown callers for you<\/a>. <\/p>\n All four devices also get a host of camera tools, like Magic Capture, which analyzes about 400 frames to save a well-timed 12MP shot, Camera Looks, which gives you nine color presets to shoot with, and Creator Suite, which adds a teleprompter and video editing tools.<\/p>\n The Pixel 11 Pro<\/a> and Pixel 11 Pro XL get specialized camera features like 120x Pro Zoom, full-resolution photos, manual controls, Instant Night Sight, Video Boost, and Pro Stable Video, to take advantage of their better hardware. <\/p>\n They also add the HiLight LED, Wi-Fi 7, and UWB.<\/p>\n Unless you need these features, you won’t miss much by going for the much cheaper base Pixel 11.<\/p>\n Its biggest rivals just got more expensive<\/p>\n The Galaxy S26, the iPhone 17, and even the Pixel 10a<\/p>\n When Google released the Pixel 11 for $899 on August 20, it seemed like a price hike, given that the Pixel 10 started at $799. Even then, all Google did was remove the 128GB storage version.<\/p>\n However, the Pixel 11 is starting to look more and more like a bargain, thanks to competitors raising their prices.<\/p>\n The Galaxy S26 launched at the same $900 but now costs $1,000. Even with the better processor, that’s still $100 more than the Pixel 11 for the same storage, with a shorter 3x zoom and a smaller 4,300mAh battery (the Pixel 11 has 4,985mAh).<\/p>\n The Apple situation is a little more interesting. It released the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max on September 18, but the base iPhone 18 reportedly won’t be available until spring 2027.<\/p>\n That leaves us with last year’s iPhone 17, which launched at $799. However, instead of dropping in price with the new model’s arrival, it now costs $899, one year after launch.<\/p>\n Even Pixels are not exempt from the price hike. The Pixel 10a, which launched at $499, now starts at $599 for 128GB and a Tensor G4 from 2024.<\/p>\n That leaves only a $300 difference between it and the Pixel 11 with double the storage, a telephoto camera, and a chip two generations newer.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\tA week with the Pixel 11: 5 upgrades I already fell in love with
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