Alternative offers
The Pixel 11 Pro XL starts at €1399 for the Google 12GB/256GB base version, while the 16GB/512GB one goes for €1529. The 16GB/1TB trim will set you back €1789. That’s a pretty penny, true, but it’s not that different from what other brands are asking for their flagships.
Google did not bring that many improvements compared to the Pixel 10 Pro XL, so when evaluating the market alternatives, the €1000 Pixel 10 Pro XL would be the first direction to look at. It’s notably cheaper, and yet it offers pretty much the same level of features – except for the battery life and charging speed, where it’s objectively behind.
If you are looking for a more premium and versatile camera experience, you may want to consider Xiaomi 17 Ultra for its expandability with the Photographic Kit. You may find the phone and the kit in a bundle at a price close to the Pixel 11 Pro XL. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a more powerful device; it offers longer battery life and faster charging, and its Leica-powered imaging hardware is something many consider the best camera kit on the market.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is cheaper; it’s more powerful; it has an S Pen; it comes with similar camera skills; and it will get some of the pure Android 17 features soon, if not already. It’s a bestseller for a reason.
And, if you want to pay for the most advanced cameraphone on the market, that’s the €1899 vivo X300 Ultra. It has a premium 1440p OLED, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and camera hardware that’s unmatched – a 200MP primary with gimbal stabilization, a 200MP 3.7x-8x telephoto/telemacro, 50MP AF ultrawide, and a 50MP AF selfie. You can get some incredible expansion kits, too.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL • Xiaomi 17 Ultra • Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra • vivo X300 Ultra
Our verdict
The Pixel 11 Pro XL is a very good smartphone. It has a high-end build and premium look. Its display is outstanding with an incredibly dynamic refresh rate and HDR support. It impressed us with its battery life, and its charging speed is quite all right. And the speakers turned out pretty great.
The Pixel is known for its stellar camera experience, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL does deliver. It captured solid photos and videos day and night, even if it doesn’t really shine by any metric. Still, the larger sensor of the zoom camera did help with improved quality.
The software experience was stellar. Android 17 is snappy and fluid; it’s feature-rich, and you can easily make it yours. Android works and looks best on the Pixels, and that remains true for the 11 Pro XL.
Google’s Tensor chips have never been benchmark chart-toppers, and the Tensor G6 is no different. Sure, it delivers the promised CPU and AI boost, but the CPU is quick to throttle down under sustained load and the graphics chip is far from the competition in its capabilities.
And the single truly unique feature of the Pixel 11 phones – the HiLight on the back – turned out to be quite limited in functionality, and it’s not the notification light many had hoped it would be.
Overall, the Pixel 11 Pro XL is a solid smartphone and worth considering. But at this price, you’d better check out the alternatives first.
Pros
Premium design and feel, cool colors.
Bright high-res screen, dynamic 1Hz-120Hz switching, HDR10+.
Great battery life, fast to charge.
Loud speakers, great output.
Very good photo quality across the board.
Great daytime videos from all cameras, solid low-light results from the main camera and the telephoto.
Android 17 feels very responsive, with 7 major OS updates.
Cons
Heavy CPU throttling.
The choice of GPU for Tensor G6 is not gaming-oriented.
Telephoto can’t focus close; nighttime selfies aren’t much good.
HiLight has very limited functionality.