{"id":862753,"date":"2026-09-27T19:32:20","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T19:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/862753\/"},"modified":"2026-09-27T19:32:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T19:32:20","slug":"ive-used-the-pixel-11-pro-xl-and-pixel-8-pro-why-its-time-to-finally-upgrade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/862753\/","title":{"rendered":"I’ve used the Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 8 Pro. Why it’s time to finally upgrade"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"google<\/p>\n

Stephen Radochia \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Add Android Authority on Google: <\/p>\n

I\u2019ve defended Pixels for a few years now. Not because I\u2019m beholden to any manufacturer, but because I genuinely appreciate the effort Google\u2019s made to improve its phones. At one point, I was kicked off Team Pixel because I didn\u2019t appreciate the early Tensor performance and thought the company was headed in the wrong direction.<\/p>\n

The Pixel 8 Pro changed that perception for me, and it was the first time I felt Google could actually deliver on its vision for Pixel. I\u2019ve been a fan of the phone ever since, and I\u2019ve told people to resist the temptation to upgrade.<\/p>\n

However, after using the Pixel 11 Pro XL<\/a>, it\u2019s harder than ever to tell people to hold out another year \u2014 and it may be time to enjoy Google\u2019s latest and greatest.<\/p>\n

Pixel 11 Pro XL vs. Pixel 8 Pro: Do you think it’s worth the upgrade?<\/p>\n

139 votes<\/p>\n

Yes, the Pixel 11 Pro XL is well worth it.<\/p>\n

43%<\/p>\n

No, the Pixel 8 Pro is still great.<\/p>\n

57%<\/p>\n

What I love about the Pixel 11 Pro XL<\/p>\n

\"Google<\/p>\n

Shimul Sood \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been using the Pixel 11 Pro XL for about a week, and it\u2019s hard to be too critical. Yes, gaming performance could be better, but plenty of buyers just won\u2019t care. I\u2019ve become more of a proponent of the idea that not every phone has to be for everyone, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL offers plenty of user-experience perks that Samsung and others haven\u2019t matched. Those won\u2019t get the same column inches as Google\u2019s gaming shortcomings, because casual buyers don\u2019t generate that kind of online fervor.<\/p>\n

Still, the Pixel 11 Pro XL is a fantastic smartphone. If you\u2019ve used a Pixel 9 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro<\/a>, you won\u2019t notice any huge departures, but that\u2019s not a bad thing. The phone does feel a touch more refined and lighter in the hand, while still being a premium flagship. I don\u2019t usually like black colorways on smartphones, but the matte finish and color-matched aluminum frame work well together on the Pixel 11 Pro XL.<\/p>\n

\"google<\/p>\n

Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Viewing the Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 8 Pro side by side reveals that not all Super Actua panels are created equal. The former\u2019s 6.8-inch display is gorgeous, and noticeably brighter and more vibrant than its older sibling. I\u2019m thankful the days of drab Pixel displays are long gone, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL is the best panel the company has shipped.<\/p>\n

Unless you\u2019ve been living under a rock, you know the Pixel 11 Pro XL is powered by the much-maligned Tensor G6<\/a> chipset. I\u2019m sorry, but I refuse to hate on Tensor like everyone else. If you actually use the Pixel 11 Pro XL for an extended period, you\u2019ll see it runs smoothly and doesn\u2019t overheat. The model I tested has 16GB of RAM, but I doubt the experience is much different on the 12GB variant. The Pixel 8 Pro holds up well, but you\u2019ll definitely notice an improvement when you move to the Pixel 11 Pro XL.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sorry, but I refuse to hate on Tensor like everyone else.<\/p>\n

As expected, buying the latest and greatest means you get all of the new software perks Google offers. Whether they matter to you is a matter of personal preference. However, as a Gemini Intelligence<\/a> skeptic, I can tell you that the Pixel\u2019s AI extras are finally starting to come around. Rambler works surprisingly well, and I can fire off two paragraphs or more of natural, spoken text, and Google\u2019s software polishes it enough to send.<\/p>\n

Live Translate has also improved, and cross-app AI integration is better \u2014 something that desperately needed improvement. Google\u2019s done a decent job trickling down some of these new features to older devices, but I can\u2019t promise the Pixel 8 Pro will get all of them, or that they will be in the same state when they arrive. So, if you\u2019re into Gemini Intelligence, the Pixel 11 Pro XL is your best bet.<\/p>\n

\"PixelSnap<\/p>\n

Robert Triggs \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

The Pixel 11 Pro XL\u2019s triple camera setup is undoubtedly improved this year. I get the same sharp, detailed photos I\u2019m used to from Pixels, but with a touch more saturation. I don\u2019t feel the need to edit anymore to get a social-media-ready image. You can tweak as needed, but I appreciate that the default is more colorful. You can tell the telephoto lens has a larger sensor this year. I\u2019ve always loved the telephoto on Pixels more than other phones, and this just makes it better. You\u2019ll also notice faster Night Sight processing, so if you\u2019re a shutterbug, there\u2019s a reason to upgrade.<\/p>\n

Battery life has been improving for years on Google\u2019s smartphones, but my experience has been outstanding on the Pixel 11 Pro XL. I can easily make it two days on a single charge, and for the first time I can remember on a Pixel, I can stretch it into a third day if I need to. The phone\u2019s just-over-5,100mAh battery does the job, and I\u2019ve grown to love my Pixelsnap accessories \u2014 which you won\u2019t find on the Pixel 8 Pro. However, the older Pixel isn\u2019t completely helpless.<\/p>\n

What I still love about the Pixel 8 Pro<\/p>\n

\"Google<\/p>\n

Stephen Radochia \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

The Pixel 8 Pro<\/a> is one of my favorite Google smartphones for a reason. It was when the company really turned a corner. The design was more refined and felt better in the hand than its predecessors, and Google finally addressed many of buyers\u2019 major complaints. The Tensor G3 chipset was a massive improvement, and I finally felt confident in a Pixel phone\u2019s battery life.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, much of what I\u2019ve always loved carries forward into 2026, as the Pixel 8 Pro has aged well. Thanks to extended support, the phone will remain viable for a few more years, and Google has done an excellent job of bringing new software to older hardware. It\u2019s not enough to just slap an update on an old device. The optimization is solid, and I haven\u2019t noticed any significant slowdowns after updates.<\/p>\n

\"Google<\/p>\n

Stephen Radochia \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Material 3\u2019s Expressive design on Android 17 is smooth on my Pixel 8 Pro, and while you\u2019ll definitely notice the Pixel 11 Pro XL\u2019s exterior upgrades, the Pixel 8 Pro still feels modern. Sure, you won\u2019t get all the latest Gemini Intelligence bells and whistles, but there is plenty to enjoy on Android 17 on the Pixel 8 Pro. Generative AI edits make it easier to get your photos just right, since you can give the tool natural-language instructions on what you want. Night Sight provides detailed snaps in low light, and Pixel extras like Now Playing are here.<\/p>\n

Battery life has held up well. I can\u2019t match the nearly three days of use I get from the Pixel 11 Pro XL, but my Pixel 8 Pro lasts a full day. The battery has definitely lost a step or two over the last three years, but not enough to make me toss it into a drawer.<\/p>\n

The Pixel 11 Pro XL is more than worth it<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re choosing between the two, the Pixel 8 Pro has a clear advantage. While the Pixel 11 Pro XL will run you around $1,300, you can get decent Pixel 8 Pro models for under $400. That\u2019s a fantastic deal on a phone with years of support left, and that runs well. If you want a Pixel and midrange phones don\u2019t speak to you, it\u2019s an excellent entry point.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m all for people keeping phones in their pockets longer, and if you\u2019re so inclined, the Pixel 8 Pro has done nothing to lose its spot. However, I can confidently tell you that you\u2019ll notice a significant enough upgrade this year to the Pixel 11 Pro XL that you might consider making the jump \u2014 in a way I couldn\u2019t recommend with the Pixel 9 or even the Pixel 10.<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL<\/a>\"Google\"AAGoogle Pixel 11 Pro XL<\/a><\/p>\n

Excellent cameras \u2022 7 years of Android updates \u2022 Built-in magnets with Qi 2.2<\/p>\n

The top Pixel<\/p>\n

The Google Pixel 11 Pro XL is a premium Android flagship powered by Tensor G6, with a 6.8-inch 1-120Hz Super Actua display, upgraded triple cameras with 120x Pro Zoom, a 5,115mAh battery, Pixelsnap Qi2.2 charging, and seven years of updates.<\/p>\n

Thank you for being part of our community. Read our\u00a0Comment Policy<\/a> before posting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Stephen Radochia \/ Android Authority Add Android Authority on Google: I\u2019ve defended Pixels for a few years now.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":862754,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[168,2635,132259,97623,165,74],"class_list":["post-862753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mobile","tag-google","tag-google-pixel","tag-google-pixel-11","tag-google-pixel-8","tag-mobile","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/862753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=862753"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/862753\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/862754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=862753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=862753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=862753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}