Google unveiled the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL on 12 August 2026. Pre-orders are open now and all three land on shelves on 20 August.

The bit that actually matters

Every model in the range now starts at 256GB. That has been the sore point on Pixel for years, because 128GB does not survive a family that films everything, and the jump to 256GB used to cost you real money. Google has moved the floor. The Pro models go on to 512GB and 1TB with what Google calls Zoned UFS for faster performance.

The other everyday change is the camera bar. Google says it cut the thickness by 40 per cent compared to earlier base-model Pixels, which makes the phone close to bumpless in a Made by Google case and stops it rocking when it is flat on a table. Small thing, and you notice it every day.

Chip, charging and durability

All three run the new Google Tensor G6. Against the Tensor G5 at launch, Google claims 25 per cent faster web browsing, 15 per cent quicker app launches, 50 per cent more TPU compute, and on-device AI running up to 3.5 times faster while using up to 3.5 times less energy. Those are Google's own figures from internal testing on pre-production hardware, so treat them the way you would treat any manufacturer benchmark.

Charging gets a genuine bump. Pixelsnap is built in, Qi 2.2 at 25W is new to the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro, and Google says the Pixel 11 Pro XL can pull 15 hours of battery life out of a 15 minute wired charge using its 45W charger, which is sold separately.

On the Pro phones the display goes to 3,600 nits peak with a new anti-scratch coating that Google says more than doubles the scratch resistance of the previous generation. Paired with the drop-resistant design from the Pixel 9 series, Google is calling these its most durable Pro phones.

Cameras

The Pixel 11 gets a larger 48MP main sensor with 56 per cent more light sensitivity than the Pixel 10, and its 5x telephoto now stretches to 30x Super Zoom.

The Pro pair go further: a new main sensor, an upgraded 48MP telephoto with a bigger sensor and 30 per cent more light sensitivity, Portrait Mode at 5x, and Pro Zoom up to 120x. Google also says Night Sight now captures up to four and a half times faster. Google's Australian store lists the Pro camera stack as 50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide and 48MP telephoto, with a 42MP front camera and 8K video.

HiLight

New on the Pro models is HiLight, coloured LEDs built around the camera flash that glow when something needs you while the phone is face down. Gemini pulses in different patterns while it is listening or answering, and you can assign colours to specific contacts for incoming calls. Google says more will be added over time, including message notifications from chosen contacts.

Price and Australian offers

Google's own announcement gives United States pricing of $899, $1,099 and $1,299 for the Pixel 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL. Australian pricing was not published on the Google Store pages I could read, and Australian outlets including Finder are reporting the Pixel 11 Pro XL from A$2,099, up A$100 on the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Treat that figure as reported rather than confirmed until it is on Google's own store listing.

The Australian Google Store is running launch offers alongside it. Buy a Pixel 11 Pro XL and you get A$599 off a Pixel Watch 5 or the same value in store credit, or A$449 worth of the same on a Pixel 11 Pro. Both run while stocks last and end 27 August 2026. There is also up to A$700 back on an eligible Pixel 10 Pro or 10 Pro XL trade-in, ending 4 September 2026.

Every phone in the range carries seven years of operating system, security and Pixel Drop updates, and the Pro models come with six months of Google AI Pro.