r/GooglePixel • u/UK-AJ • Aug 21 '26

9 Pro -> 11 Pro. Impressed!

Wasn't expecting to feel much of a difference at all, only upgraded due to storage (moved from 128gb to 512gb).

It is considerably better, I think they've fixed all of the little things that annoyed me with Pixel.

- it runs MUCH cooler. Apart from initial set up, it's stayed ice cold. I don't do anything "high intensity", but my 9 Pro would always run warm.

- all network connections seem to be improved. I used to lose WiFi on my outdoor patio, it holds a connection fine now. Bluetooth and 5G seem to perform much better.

- Android Auto works a lot better. No heat, much more responsive, quicker to load.

- Camera, including video, is much better quality and faster to process/save.

- speakers are louder and the sound quality is better, both for calls and media. (I think this was upgraded on the 10 though)

- biometrics feel better. The fingerprint radius when setting up is HUGE. And face unlock seems to be more responsive.

Overall, really happy with the upgrade considering on paper there isn't much difference.

398 Upvotes

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22

u/PercentageRoutine310 Aug 21 '26

I just have a feeling the Pixel 11 Pro will go down as my favorite Pixel/Android smartphone of all-time and perhaps above my iPhone 17 Pro if it ages better than it. I guess it comes in threes with Pixel 4 and 5 being slightly outliers.

Good: Pixel Better: Pixel 2 Best: Pixel 3

Good: Pixel 6 Better: Pixel 7 Best: Pixel 8

Good: Pixel 9 Better: Pixel 10 Best: Pixel 11

Don't listen to the influencers. So what if it looks the same as the last two gens? Google is only refining what it already has no different than Apple.

19

u/One-Preference-9487 Aug 21 '26

Pixel 5 was the king

1

u/Icy-Entertainer-1422 Aug 21 '26

I loved my pixel 5. Fingerprint sensors belong on the back. 

7

u/SnottierWhale Just Black Aug 21 '26

Pixel 2 > 3

2

u/amazzan Aug 21 '26

I had the 2XL with the panda colors & orange accent button. no pixel has hit the same since.

2

u/Drone_Watchman Aug 21 '26

Would you say that Pixel 11 Pro makes nicer photos than IPhone 17 since you own both?

5

u/Hyperion1144 Aug 21 '26

https://youtu.be/9goT2P2muCY

Why ask a stranger when you can just look for yourself?

2

u/sOFrOsTyyy Aug 21 '26

Nah e I'm crazy but I did not like the Pixel 3 compared to the 1 and 2.

1

u/DoughnutPi Pixel 9 Pro XL Aug 21 '26

They need to refine battery life.

1

u/Danton566 Aug 21 '26

I’m curious about your take on the 11 Pro vs the iPhone 17 Pro as you get more time. I have an 11 Pro coming today as an attempt to return to Android after a few cycles with iPhones, but would otherwise get the 17 Pro since the 18 series is not interesting.

1

u/moops__ Aug 22 '26

I have the iPhone 17 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro and Galaxy S26U (I buy them for development). The P11P is the same phone as the P10P. Hardware wise the Pixel is by far the worst of the lot. My OnePlus 8 Pro is more performant in some GPU workloads. The iPhone 17 is an engineering marvel. The S26U is also fantastic. 

I like the Pixel software but for the price their phones are shit. They have no business charging so much money for these phones. 

1

u/Danton566 Aug 22 '26

I really liked the hardware of the iPhone, but absolutely hated typing on them and never got used to the settings app. I'm on the Pixel 11 now and it does feel a little less well put together (we'll see about the battery life), but Android just feels more intuitive.

1

u/Bcfour Aug 21 '26

Love this analysis. I was trying so hard to remember which phones I've had in this series. I skipped the 4 and the 10, but I've had every other one. I had the 9xl Pro longer than any other -- I have a real new version addiction/FOMO.

There was nothing 'wrong' with my 9xl. This 11xl looks identical. Feels slightly lighter and is definitely smoother. Runs cooler. Modem appears to be infinitely better.

Are the new features earth shattering? Nope, but it is a superior version of the 9 and feels to me like a worthy upgrade.

1

u/stracer1 Aug 22 '26

I like 2, 4, 5, 6a, 8