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Google Pixel 11 Series Announced: New Tensor G6 Chip, Cameras, AI Features and Prices

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Google Pixel 11 Pro, part of the newly announced Pixel 11 lineup

Google has officially unveiled its Pixel 11 lineup, made up of the standard Pixel 11, the Pixel 11 Pro, the larger Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the foldable Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Every model runs Google's new Tensor G6 chip and leans heavily into Gemini-powered AI features, with meaningful camera upgrades across the board and one major surprise: the standard Pixel 11 finally gets a telephoto camera.

Released on August 20, 2026, the Pixel 11 series is Google's most unified lineup yet. Rather than reserving the biggest upgrades for the Pro models, Google gave every phone in the family the same Tensor G6 chipset, the same Gemini-driven software features, and Qi2 magnetic wireless charging. The differences this year come down to display size, camera hardware, RAM, and price, not chip performance, a shift that makes the standard Pixel 11 a far more compelling option than in previous generations.

Quick Comparison: The Pixel 11 Lineup

Model Display RAM Battery Starting Price
Pixel 116.3" OLED, 120Hz12GBNot specified$899
Pixel 11 Pro6.3" LTPO OLED, 120Hz12GB4870mAh$1,099
Pixel 11 Pro XL6.8" LTPO OLED, 120Hz12GB / 16GB5115mAh$1,299
Pixel 11 Pro Fold8.0" inner / 6.5" cover16GB4750mAh$1,899

Tensor G6: The Same Chip Across the Whole Lineup

The headline change this year isn't any single feature, it's Google's decision to put the identical Tensor G6 chipset in every Pixel 11 model, including the standard Pixel 11. In previous generations, the base Pixel often ran a step behind the Pro models. That gap is gone in 2026. Whether you buy the $899 Pixel 11 or the $1,899 Pixel 11 Pro Fold, you get the same processing power, paired with a Google-designed GPU built specifically to accelerate on-device AI tasks.

RAM is where the lineup still separates: the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro both ship with 12GB, the Pixel 11 Pro XL offers a 16GB option on its top storage tier, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold starts at 16GB across the board, reflecting the heavier multitasking foldable owners are expected to do.

Cameras: A Telephoto Lens Finally Comes to the Standard Pixel

Google Pixel 11 with new telephoto camera

The most notable camera change belongs to the standard Pixel 11, which gains a 10.8MP telephoto lens with up to 30x zoom, a first for a non-Pro Pixel. Paired with its 48MP main sensor and 13MP ultrawide, the Pixel 11 now offers a genuinely complete triple-camera system rather than the two-lens setup Google has shipped on base Pixels for years.

The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL step up further, with a 50MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 48MP periscope telephoto lens capable of up to 120x Pro Res Zoom, Google's combined optical-and-AI zoom system. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold gets its own camera overhaul, introducing a new 48MP main sensor alongside its ultrawide and 5x telephoto lens, with up to 30x Super Zoom, plus dual selfie cameras split between its cover and inner displays.

AI and Software: Gemini Front and Center

Every phone in the Pixel 11 lineup runs new AI-first software features built around Gemini, including Camera Looks for stylized photo edits, Magic Capture for automatically identifying and cropping the best moment from a shot, and deeper integration with Google's on-device Gemini assistant. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold specifically ships with Android 17, ahead of the rest of the lineup, and is described by Google as "designed for Gemini," with software tuned around the phone's larger multitasking-friendly display.

Google is backing all four phones with seven years of OS and security updates, matching the commitment it introduced with the Pixel 10 series and keeping pace with Samsung's current flagship policy.

Editor's Note Giving the entire lineup the same chip and a seven-year update promise means the choice between these four phones now comes down almost entirely to display size, camera range, and form factor, not long-term performance or support.

Charging and Battery

Qi2 magnetic wireless charging is standard across the entire Pixel 11 lineup for the first time, alongside fast wired charging and reverse wireless charging for topping up accessories. Battery capacity scales with phone size: the Pixel 11 Pro carries a 4870mAh cell, the larger Pixel 11 Pro XL steps up to 5115mAh, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold uses a smaller 4750mAh battery split across its folding design, offset somewhat by faster 30W wired and 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging.

Pixel 11 Pro Fold: The Biggest Design Change

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold with 8-inch inner display

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold represents Google's biggest hardware shift this generation. It's thinner and lighter than the outgoing Pixel 10 Pro Fold, weighing 239 grams, and both its 8.0-inch inner display and 6.5-inch cover display now reach up to 3600 nits of peak brightness, matching the non-folding Pro models. Crucially, Google added IP68 dust and water resistance, bringing the Fold's durability rating in line with a standard flagship phone rather than trailing behind it, as most foldables have historically done.

Price and Availability

The Pixel 11 starts at $899, the Pixel 11 Pro at $1,099, the Pixel 11 Pro XL at $1,299, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold at $1,899. All four phones became available starting August 20, 2026, through Google's own store and major carriers. As with previous launches, expect broader retail availability and carrier-specific promotions to roll out over the following weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Google Pixel 11 series released?
Google officially released the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold on August 20, 2026.
What chip does the Pixel 11 series use?
Every phone in the Pixel 11 lineup, including the standard Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, uses Google's new Tensor G6 chipset paired with a Google-designed GPU.
How much does the Google Pixel 11 series cost?
The Pixel 11 starts at $899, the Pixel 11 Pro starts at $1,099, the Pixel 11 Pro XL starts at $1,299, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold starts at $1,899.
What is new about the Pixel 11 series cameras?
The Pixel 11 gains a new telephoto camera for the first time on a non-Pro Pixel, the Pro models get an improved 50MP main sensor and up to 120x Pro Res Zoom, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold adds a new 48MP main camera with up to 30x Super Zoom.
Does the entire Pixel 11 lineup support wireless charging?
Yes, Qi2 magnetic wireless charging is standard across all four Pixel 11 models for the first time, alongside fast wired charging and reverse wireless charging.
Is the Pixel 11 Pro Fold water resistant?
Yes, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold carries an IP68 rating, giving it dust and water resistance on par with a standard, non-folding flagship phone, a first for Google's foldable line.

Conclusion

The Pixel 11 series shows Google narrowing the gap between its cheapest and most expensive flagships rather than widening it. Giving every model the same Tensor G6 chip and seven years of software support means the decision between the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold now comes down to display size, camera range, and price, not raw performance. For a closer look at how each model stacks up individually, check our full reviews of the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL.

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