Tecno always manages to bring some crazy concepts to trade shows. Last year, we saw the company debut an iPhone Air competitor — even before the iPhone Air became a thing — that too with a huge 5,160 mAh battery inside.

Then at MWC 2026, we saw its modular phone concept. And Tecno isn't holding back at IFA 2026 either, as it has just shown off a new concept phone with practically zero bezel around the display.

Now, for those unfamiliar, the bezel is basically the black border that surrounds the display on your phone. Smartphone makers have been trying to shrink it for years, with the ultimate goal of maximizing the screen-to-body ratio and making the display take up as much of the front as possible.

There was slow but steady progress for a while, but bezel innovation has sort of stalled over the past couple of years. And to be fair, I don't think we really needed much more progress. Flagships like the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra already have incredibly thin bezels, to the point where they barely bother me anymore.

But Tecno's new concept proves that it's technically possible to go even further and shrink those bezels to (almost) zero.

The company has managed to practically eliminate the black border around the display, as long as you don't mind the actual frame of the phone still being there. Tecno says this is strictly a concept for now, but it could give us an early look at where smartphone displays are heading next.

The concept phone features a 6.78-inch display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, and a screen appears to go all the way to the furthest edges of the device. Of course, the physical frame is still there to hold everything together, but there's virtually no visible black border separating it from the display. If you look closely from certain angles, you can still make out a teeny-tiny border, but you really have to look for it.

In isolation, though, I don't think you immediately realize how different it looks. So I put the Tecno concept next to an iPhone 17 Pro Max, and that's where the difference became much easier to see. The iPhone already has incredibly thin bezels at around 1.36 mm, but next to Tecno's concept, even those look slightly noticeable.

Getting the bezel this thin wasn't simple. Tecno says it had to completely redesign the display manufacturing process to achieve it. The company had to invent an inverted screen assembly process, which means the entire display module is now inserted from the back of the phone instead of from the front, as is usually the case.

Apart from the bezel-less display, the rest of the phone isn't quite as exciting, but then again, this is a concept device, so it doesn't really need to be.

One thing that did surprise me was the weight, or rather the lack of it. The phone felt incredibly light in the hand, and that's coming from someone who daily-drives an iPhone Air.

What's even more impressive is that Tecno has managed to fit a massive 6,000 mAh battery inside. The concept is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300e, which obviously isn't going to win any benchmark competitions, but performance isn't really the point of this device.

The star here is that zero-border display, and Tecno has shown that something like this is actually possible. It's a shame that the phone may never make it beyond the concept stage, because after seeing it in person, I definitely want this kind of display on a phone I can actually buy soon.

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Google Messages waited far too long to join the personalization party. iMessage and apps like Whatsapp have long offered custom background, while Android's primary texting app kept users locked into plain designs.

That changed recently with the arrival of dedicated chat themes. You can now abandon the default look, swap out boring backdrops for vibrant wallpapers, and give every group chat or contact its own distinct personality.

Interestingly, these changes are only visible to you, so you can go as bold as you like without affecting anyone else's view.

What you need to change your background

Custom themes are built into recent versions of Google Messages, so if your app updated recently, you may already have the feature waiting for you.

However, if you open a chat and do not see the theme settings yet, you simply need to update the app through the Google Play Store.

Open the store, tap your profile icon in the top-right corner, select Manage apps & device, and install any pending updates for Google Messages. Chat themes are available on both standard releases and beta builds.

You also need to make sure Rich Communication Services are active, as custom themes rely on RCS technology. Open Google Messages, tap your profile icon, navigate to Messages settings, and select RCS chats to confirm that the feature is toggled on.

Find the chat theme menu

Opening the theme customization menu takes only three quick taps from inside any conversation thread.

First, open Google Messages and select the specific text thread you want to design. Next, tap the three vertical dots located in the top-right corner of the screen and select Chat theme from the dropdown list to open the visual design editor.

Pick your chat colors and backgrounds

The first customization option is chat colors. By default, your color matches your system accent color, but you can choose from eight additional styles. Each color option changes your conversation background, chat bubbles, and interface elements like the voice recorder button.

Wallpapers offer even more personalization. Google provides pre-selected images organized by category — Animals, Architecture, Landscapes, Space, and others. If these don't appeal to you, tap Choose a photo to select any image from your phone or Google Photos.

What feature are you waiting for next? Now that Google has finally delivered custom chat themes, what should the next feature drop be? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

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Instead of redesigning its hinge or eliminating the crease, Motorola has given its iconic Razr foldable a major, exterior glow-up as part of its Brilliant Collection, complete with 35 individual Swarovski Crystals.

This isn’t the first time that Motorola has worked with both Swarovski and Pantone to reimagine one of its foldables. However, unlike the Ice Melt Razr from 2025’s collection, this new edition based on the Motorola Razr 70 sports a much darker hue.

After holding this device myself, I really like how it feels and if I were after something more elegant as my daily driver, the new Motorola Razr with Crystals by Swarovski might be reason enough to give one of the best foldable phones a try.

Here’s everything you need to know about the latest addition to Motorola’s Brilliant Collection along with the price which is surprisingly affordable for a crystal-studded foldable.

The crystal-studded foldable returns

The new Motorola Razr with Crystals by Swarovski is essentially a special edition of the Razr 70 (the standard Motorola Razr 2026 in the U.S.) in a new color with 35 hand-positioned Silver Night crystals. As for the color, the device is wrapped in Pantone Meteorite.

When I first saw the phone, I was struck by the sense of elegance throughout. It feels great thanks to the leather-inspired texture of its exterior though Motorola is including a clear protective case to keep all of those crystals — and your pockets — safe from scratches.

On the outside, there’s a 3.6-inch external display that you can run full apps on, check notifications, reply to messages and more. When unfolded, you’re met with a smooth 6.9-inch Extreme AMOLED display powered by a 4,800 mAh battery that delivers up to 36 hours of battery life on a single charge.

As for the cameras, the Motorola Razr with Crystals By Swarovski sports a dual 50MP main camera system. Since this is a foldable, you can close its lid and use these for even more glamorous selfies too.

While there are crystals throughout the diamond-shaped pattern around back, the one that really stuck out to me is embedded in the device’s hinge. Likewise, there are also three crystals across the top of the phone’s smaller outer display.

Style beyond the fold

Foldables are certainly becoming more mainstream as we saw with the recent release of the Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra. Then with the foldable iPhone Ultra on the horizon, I expect we’ll soon see more foldables while out and about than ever before. However, even that phone won’t turn heads like the Motorola Razr with Crystals by Swarovski.

So what does this crystal-studded foldable cost? A lot less than you’d think actually. While we’ve seen custom-made iPhones covered in gems before which start at $10K and go all the way up to the hundreds of thousands of dollars, Motorola is selling this one for just $899.

The latest device from Motorola’s Brilliant Collection will be available in select markets in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Turkey, Africa and Latin America soon, though we don’t have an exact release date.

The Motorola Razr with Crystals by Swarovski certainly won’t be for everyone but if you want a phone that stands out from the crowd while looking absolutely stunning doing so, this is the one to get.

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I’ve been using Pixel devices for years, and I’ve always appreciated the way Google approaches smartphones. Pixels always deliver a mix of clean software, clever camera tricks and the confidence that they don’t need to outdo Apple and Samsung when it comes to raw performance.

But after spending the last two weeks with the Pixel 11 Pro, that charm is starting to wear thin for me. Not because the phone is bad — it’s actually good in plenty of areas — but because Google seems content to coast. And with 2026, packed with powerhouse devices all trying new things, coasting is a dangerous strategy.

This year’s big improvements

First, let me point out that the Pixel 11 Pro nails the basics. The camera is still one of the most reliable point‑and‑shoot experiences around, and the display is genuinely impressive this year. As detailed in our combined Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL review, its screen hits 2,860 nits peak brightness, while its larger sibling reaches 2,877 nits, making them the brightest phone screens we’ve ever tested. That’s brighter than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra at 2,687 nits, and more than double the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 1,281 nits. Out in the Australian sun, that difference is immediately apparent.

Camera performance is strong, too. Its 5x telephoto lens produces crisp long‑range shots, and as detailed in our review, Google’s AI‑boosted 120x zoom actually outperforms Samsung’s 100x attempt in clarity. The new Magic Capture mode, which records a video and simultaneously extracts high-quality stills from it, works quite well, and Rambler, which uses Gemini AI to transcribe your rambling speech into well-structured text, is quite impressive. Live Translate for media is also genuinely useful, allowing you to dub content into another language in real-time — it’ll even keep the voice and accent of the original speaker, which is actually kind of mind-blowing.

Impressive AI features, but do they justify a new phone?

Despite being sold as the ultimate AI phone, the Pixel 11 Pro isn’t exactly a compute monster. In fact, our benchmarks show its Tensor G6 chipset landing well behind its rivals in Geekbench AI tests — a surprising result for a device built around on‑device AI features. And that’s what makes this year’s Pixel 11-exclusive AI features feel a bit arbitrary. Rambler, Magic Capture, Live Translate for media — they’re clever tools, but none of them appear to require any dramatic hardware leap. The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL simply aren’t delivering the kind of AI throughput that would justify locking these features to new devices.

Google has a long history of keeping software tricks exclusive to the latest Pixel, even when older hardware could clearly cope — think Photo Unblur (exclusive to Pixel 7 at launch) or Audio Magic Eraser (exclusive to Pixel 8 at launch) — and that pattern seems to continue with this year’s lineup. So while the AI perks are fun to play with, they’re far less exciting to me than a refreshed design or a meaningfully upgraded camera system would’ve been. If Google wants the Pixel to feel essential again, it needs to deliver real hardware upgrades — not just software that likely could’ve shipped to last year’s phones.

The feeling of sameness is hard to shake

After two weeks with the Pixel 11 Pro, the sameness is impossible to ignore. The last few Pixels have looked and felt nearly identical. Same silhouette, same camera bar, and same “good enough” approach to performance. I can pick up a Pixel 9 Pro, 10 Pro or 11 Pro and my muscle memory barely registers the difference. That’s not consistency; that’s stagnancy.

And stagnancy becomes even more obvious when you look at the hard numbers. The Pixel 11 Pro’s battery life is 13 hours 25 minutes, which is actually worse than last year’s Pixel 10 Pro at 13 hours 43 minutes. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro hits 15 hours 21 minutes, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra lasts 16 hours 10 minutes. Those are meaningful gaps for devices that aren’t too far off from each other in terms of price.

No meaningful performance gains

It’s a similar story when it comes to performance: the Pixel 11 Pro’s Geekbench 6 scores — 2,649 single‑core / 7,164 multi‑core — are an improvement over the Pixel 10 Pro, but nowhere near Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra (3,785 / 11,563) or the iPhone 17 Pro Max (3,871 / 9,968). And the aforementioned AI benchmark is downright brutal: the Pixel 11 Pro scores 9,148, while Samsung hits 83,047 and Apple reaches 48,549. When a flagship is being outpaced by that margin, especially one that’s being sold as a class-leading AI-centric device, it’s hard to pretend everything’s fine.

Even the exclusive Gemini features — as polished as they are — don’t change how the phone feels in the hand, or how it performs under load, or how long it lasts on a busy day. They’re clever additions, but they’re still additions. They don’t fix the underlying issue: Google hasn’t meaningfully pushed its hardware forward in years.

Good enough is no longer enough

And then there’s HiLight, the only visually distinct hardware update Google has made this year. It’s basically a tiny LED that blinks when Gemini is listening or when an assigned contact calls. It’s cute, but it’s hardly the kind of innovation that keeps a brand relevant. Nothing has been offering similar features for years and to be honest, it never really impressed anyone.

A meaningful redesign would go a long way. And I’m not talking about slightly smaller bezels or a slightly tweaked camera bump — I mean a proper refresh. Something that signals Google is hungry again. Maybe that means an Ultra-style device that actually competes with the big players, or a foldable that doesn’t feel like it’s two years behind the competition. It also wouldn’t hurt if the next Pixel had a Tensor chip that could go toe-to-toe with higher-range Snapdragon chips, or a battery that charges fast and lasts long.

Maybe it’s time to go back to the drawing board

Of course, the Pixel 11 Pro’s biggest problem isn’t its performance, battery or price — though all three could be better. It’s that it feels like Google is playing it safe, and that’s risky in a market where everyone else is swinging for the fences.

Google clearly wants the Pixel line to sit alongside Samsung and Apple as one of the industry’s top‑tier smartphone brands, but the reality is that it’s falling behind fast‑moving competitors like Motorola, Xiaomi and Oppo. These brands are pushing aggressive hardware innovation, competitive pricing and rapid release cycles, while Google’s hardware strategy has remained relatively unchanged.

If Google genuinely wants to make a meaningful impact in the smartphone space, it needs more than incremental updates. I want Google’s Pixel line to take risks again and surprise me.

I want a Pixel phone that doesn’t feel like it was designed by a committee trying not to rock the boat. Because if Google keeps serving up “good, but boring,” the Pixel line won’t just fall behind — it’ll fade into the background entirely.

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This has been an amazing year for foldables. Now more than ever, fierce competition is forcing phone makers to innovate at a rapid pace. With the iPhone Ultra poised to make its debut at Apple’s upcoming “surprise and shine” event in just over a week, it will no doubt go toe-to-toe against the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

That’s why I’m exploring the iPhone Ultra vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra matchup, breaking down what the latest leaks and rumors reveal about Apple’s upcoming foldable. Then, I’ll detail how it stacks up against what I’ve tested and experienced with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra — all to see which one truly deserves the title of best foldable phone.

A form-factor preference

The first and arguably biggest difference between them is the form factor. While the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra sets a high bar with its remarkably thin, lightweight build, ergonomics often come down to aspect ratio. The taller profile of Samsung's foldable line contrasts sharply with the broader, passport-like shape rumored for Apple's debut.

Leaks and renders indicate Apple is embracing a wider footprint for the iPhone Ultra, which fundamentally changes day-to-day usability. When closed, that shorter, stouter profile should make one-handed operation far more comfortable, unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, where reaching the top corners of the cover display remains a stretch. Unfolded, the iPhone Ultra’s rumored 4:3 main screen offers a natural, book-like canvas that excels for split-screen multitasking and reading.

Dimensions will play a major role as well. While Apple is tipped to make the iPhone Ultra roughly 4.8mm thin when unfolded with a weight between 8.1 and 8.5 ounces, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra holds the edge on raw numbers at 4.22mm thin and just 7.8 ounces.

Even so, I’d gladly trade a fraction of a millimeter and a few grams for the iPhone Ultra’s broader silhouette and superior everyday practicality.

Crease-less display: I'll believe it when I see it

Eliminating the display crease has long been the holy grail of foldable engineering. While Samsung has steadily refined the technology with each generation, the seam still persists. Frankly, though, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra’s crease doesn't bother me — it has never hindered me from watching videos, multitasking, or running apps.

Rumors suggest Apple is attempting to achieve the impossible with a virtually invisible crease on the iPhone Ultra. If Apple genuinely manages to deliver a completely flat, crease-free panel out of the gate, it would be an engineering triumph that instantly resets industry benchmarks and puts every other foldable maker on notice.

Still, I can’t help questioning the physics of bending ultra-thin glass thousands of times without wear and tear eventually leaving a trace. More importantly, the practical reality is that absolute perfection simply isn't necessary.

Samsung has refined the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra’s hinge and teardrop display structure so effectively that its shallow crease disappears when viewing the screen straight on. Sure, I can still feel a subtle dip under my finger or catch a stray reflection off-axis, but in everyday use, it’s far from a deal breaker.

If Apple pulls off a miracle, kudos to them —but for most buyers, living with a minor crease is hardly a sacrifice.

Camera versatility

When it comes to cameras, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra holds the upper hand in both hardware and software. Leaks strongly suggest the iPhone Ultra will settle for a dual-camera system — a 48MP main sensor paired with a 48MP ultrawide — leaving out a dedicated telephoto lens entirely.

I know first-hand that Apple’s computational photography and color science are stellar. Time after time in my photo shootouts, iPhones prove to be front leading contenders for the best camera phone title. For effortless point-and-shoot reliability, Apple rarely misses.

However, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra offers the sheer versatility that serious photographers and mobile creators like me crave. Samsung didn't compromise on hardware, packing a triple-lens system headlined by a massive 200MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide, and a dedicated 10MP 3x telephoto lens.

That optical reach makes a noticeable difference when framing distant subjects without sacrificing clarity — something my colleagues demonstrated clearly in their Galaxy Z Fold 8 vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra camera shootout.

Beyond the lenses, Samsung’s software ecosystem provides a deeper roster of creative tools. Features like Horizon Lock keep action shots level during rapid movement, while full Pro Video and Expert RAW modes grant granular manual control over shutter speed, ISO, and white balance. While I have no doubt the iPhone Ultra will capture gorgeous images, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is the clear winner for creative flexibility.

Power and battery

Foldable phones are simply more demanding than your average slab, so performance can’t be shorthanded. I’ve seen how incredibly finessed Samsung’s foldable is with a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy running under the hood. Benchmark performance scores prove it’s already a beast, which puts pressure on Apple to succeed with its rumored, next-gen A20 Pro chip that's supposedly using a 2nm manufacturing process. I don’t doubt that the A20 Pro will give the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 a run for its money, but history has shown me this isn’t a significant buying decision.

What I will say, though, is the class-leading performance of the Z Fold 8 Ultra’s battery life. Packed with a 5,000 mAh battery, it sets a high bar for the iPhone Ultra because the Fold 8 Ultra recorded a time of 14 hours and 33 minutes on Tom’s Guide’s battery drain test. That’s more than 2 hours longer than what we recorded with the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Apple’s reportedly going to lean on a split-battery design totaling around 4,883 mAh. While that capacity is slightly smaller than Samsung's cell, it’ll ultimately come down to Apple’s unmatched silicon efficiency and aggressive iOS background power management could level the playing field.

The true dark horse is the software

While hardware upgrades often grab the headlines, software optimization remains the real battleground for foldables — and it’s where Apple could quietly land a major blow. Even after years of development, Google and Samsung still wrestle with app scaling across irregular foldable aspect ratios.

I know this first-hand from playing some of my favorite games. While a title might scale properly on the cover display, opening the main screen — or simply rotating the device — frequently produces stretched-out layouts that fail to showcase the true benefits of a foldable screen.

If Apple enforces its strict developer guidelines and leverages a familiar iPad-like aspect ratio, the iPhone Ultra could deliver seamless app scaling out of the gate, taking full advantage of every square millimeter.

Still, Samsung has proven that raw productivity remains its top priority. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra effortlessly runs up to four apps simultaneously, while Samsung DeX elevates the hardware into a true desktop-like workstation when connected to an external monitor. It sets a towering standard for mobile productivity — and I'm eager to see whether Apple can counter with a comparable multitasking solution.

Outlook

Price will ultimately be the elephant in the room for this matchup. While the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra already commands a staggering $2,099 premium, early leaks and analyst projections suggest the iPhone Ultra could blow past that threshold—potentially landing anywhere between $2,000 and upwards of $2,500. That’s an eye-watering figure that's difficult to stomach for any smartphone, regardless of pedigree.

Yet, if Apple executes on its core hardware and software promises, the iPhone Ultra might just justify that astronomical investment over Samsung’s latest flagship.

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Earlier this week Samsung announced the Galaxy S26 FE, a cut-price flagship phone that sits somewhere between the $899 Galaxy S26 and the $549 Galaxy A57. The general idea being that you get more flagship features without necessarily having to cough up the full price of a premium device.

Unfortunately, the small amount of time I've spent with the Galaxy S26 FE suggests that Samsung has fumbled the release of the new phone. We shouldn't really be surprised, considering how lackluster the last few Fan Edition releases have been. We're at the point now where it's time for Samsung to scrap the whole line-up and let the A-series step up to the plate.

Too expensive to be cheap, too compromised to rival flagships

The Fan Edition series has always been about lowering the price but making cuts elsewhere. You can't have the same specs as a Galaxy S26 for a lower price, because that's just not economical. That typically manifests itself in worse cameras, cheaper materials and slightly worse performance.

In the case of the Galaxy S26 FE, those compromises come in three key areas: the screen, the camera and the performance. This is not a phone that has the latest flagship Snapdragon chips, nor does it have the latest Exynos 2600 chip that powers international variants of the S26. Instead it has the Exynos 2500, which was released last year, alongside 8GB of RAM rather than the now-standard 12GB.

Admittedly, on paper, the lower specs on the S26 FE don't seem too bad or different from that of the standard S26. It's little things that help drop the price tag, such as weaker display glass, lower resolution telephoto lenses, and the loss of premium materials like the shiny matte glass back panels. But these things all add up, and while that keeps the price down, it also makes the S26 FE a much less appealing purchase.

The starting price of $699, which gets you 128GB of storage, may make this the cheapest Galaxy S26 you can buy, but it's still not particularly cheap as far as smartphones go. Sure, it's almost half the price of something like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but it doesn't directly fall into the cheaper phone categories like the S57 or A37.

Easily the worst part of all this is the fact that Samsung has (at the time of writing) discounted the standard Galaxy S26 by $100. This means the cheapest model, with 256GB of storage, can be purchased for $799. Meanwhile the 256GB variant of the Galaxy S26 FE is also $799, which means you're getting a worse phone for the same amount of money.

Sure there is a cheaper storage option that costs $100 less, but is it really worth losing out on everything the S26 has to offer to save that much? In most cases, I'd argue no.

The Galaxy A series keeps getting better

As much as the Galaxy S26 FE isn't a huge amount worse than the Galaxy S26, it also doesn't seem to be that much better than the Galaxy A57. In fact Samsung's mid-range phone is one of the best cheap phones you can buy because, despite the sacrifices you inevitably have to make, it's an exceptionally good phone for its price tag.

It's a lot easier to see where the Galaxy A57 made the cuts in contrast to the S26 FE. The main sticking point for me is the terrible macro camera, which always feels like an absolute waste of hardware compared to a dedicated macro camera mode other smartphones utilize. It also looks a lot cheaper, and the performance hardware is more noticeably inferior.

It doesn't matter if you don't know anything about phone chips, the fact that the A57 has an Exynos 1680 means it might as well have a giant neon sign declaring that it won't outperform the S26 FE's Exynos 2500.

That being said, we've been seeing pretty big gains in the mid-range phone market over the past several years. They're starting to feel a lot more premium, and they're coming with AI and software features that you previously wouldn't see outside ultra-premium models. The yearly upgrades aren't exactly stellar, but that seems to be a problem all phones are facing right now — no matter the price point.

A Galaxy A-series phone is never going to be as good as a flagship S-series, but it still offers a lot of the things you might need from a phone, including solid cameras, battery life and so on. There's even some solid AI features thrown in, if you're the kind of person who really likes using Galaxy AI and Bixby.

Admittedly, the Fan Edition phones have all done this too, but they also cost more and don't offer as much of a discount compared to other Galaxy S-series phones.

Bottom line: Galaxy FE phones lack purpose

Few phone companies take the approach Samsung does when it comes to cheaper-than-flagship phones. In fact, Samsung is the only one I can think of that offers two distinct devices that are meant to sit below the entry level premium model. The likes of Google, Apple, Nothing and others typically only have the one.

With two devices that sit in such close proximity, from both a price and hardware perspective, differentiating them becomes a much harder task. We end up in a situation where the Galaxy S26 FE feels awkwardly placed in a bizarre, paradoxical middle ground.

In the past Samsung was a lot more inconsistent about releasing the A50-series phones in the U.S., which arguably gave the Fan Edition release a lot more breathing room. There's clearly demand for a cheaper Galaxy phone, and the lack of competition from itself meant Samsung could continue to push the more premium option.

These days, it feels like these phones are released out of obligation, rather than a pressing need to actually build them. And it's about time Samsung threw in the towel, and gave the Fan Edition line-up a trip to the farm upstate.

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If you've ever tried to snap photos of an unpredictably moving target, you'll know that a smartphone is not the best tool for the job. There's no burst mode in a lot of default camera apps, and actually tapping the shutter button by hand isn't always fast enough. Google thinks it's figured out a solution, though.

In our Google Pixel 11 review, we weren't overly enthused by the phone as a whole, but its "Magic Capture" camera mode is something I've found truly useful. It works by recording a video clip, then uses AI to analyze each frame and pull out the most appropriate stills. It's not quite a dual-capture mode, but it's probably the closest thing Pixel phones actually have right now.

The question is, can Magic Capture actually do what Google has promised? HiLight has turned out to be a colossal disappointment, and the Pixel 11 is about as exciting as beige paint. So can Google recapture user enthusiasm through the camera? I tested it to find out.

How to use Magic Capture

In my experience, a lot of new AI features can be difficult to find, even if you know where to look. That's not the case with Magic Capture. Google has put it front and center in the Pixel 11's camera app. It is prominently displayed at the bottom of the screen, next to the Photo and Video toggles that have been around for years.

Tap it, and the camera interface suddenly gets a whole lot cleaner. Your only serious options are to tap the shutter button and control the level of zoom. There is a settings toggle that lets you control whether you have Video Boost switched on too, should you prefer things that way.

All you need to do is tap the shutter button and your phone will start recording. Once you've finished, the onboard AI will analyze the footage and figure out which frames are worthy of becoming photos. Those new photos then get added to your camera reel automatically.

It's surprisingly simple, and that's one of the things I really like about Magic Capture. You don't need to do a bunch of research to figure out how it works, or what you can gain from it. The button is positioned front-and-center, and it works just like every other video camera mode on your phone.

There are some restrictions on how it works

As simple as Magic Capture is to use, there are a few limitations. The first is that you can't actually capture more than two minutes of video at a time. If you start getting close, a warning message will pop up on screen counting down to the moment the video will stop.

In my experience, you are limited to five photos from each video. It doesn't matter whether it's 30 seconds long, or the full two minutes, Magic Capture seems to have imposed that hard limit.

Google hasn't explained why these limits are in place, but my guess is that it didn't want the AI analysis running indefinitely. A two minute and five photo limit ensures that Magic Capture doesn't try to keep running and eat up too much space on Google's AI servers. Because, yes, this feature does rely on the internet.

You can still film Magic Capture clips while offline, and the on-board AI will find you a single photo that's automatically added to your library. However, if you want the other four, you will need to connect to the internet. The good news is that your video will be effectively held in a pending queue, waiting to connect to either Wi-Fi or cellular data networks — at which point it will process and hand over the missing photos.

Overall, it's a great new feature

The time I've spent with Magic Capture has been, for the most part, very enjoyable. It's so easy to just click on the video, knowing that Google's AI will end up capturing some of the best stills and converting them into standalone photos.

If you are planning on using Magic Capture yourself, I'd suggest tempering your expectations on what it can do. It's not a miracle worker, and it won't suddenly be able to create amazing images out of the shortest and scrappiest video clip you can capture. Likewise, because these photos are being ripped from moving video, you may end up with some blurring and signs of motion in the final result.

The actual resolution and overall size of each photo varies as well, which is worth remembering if you're concerned about that sort of thing. Just remember that high resolution doesn't automatically equal good quality.

But, overall, this is a very handy feature to have. While the restriction on video length and the number of available images is kind of a drag, Magic Capture does make it a heck of a lot easier to grab some photos of awkward targets — like my insanely energetic labradors. It's all hands-off, and it sure as heck beats going frame-by-frame in a video or mass-deleting photos that were taken during an overzealous use of burst-mode photography.

More from Tom's Guide

• I wrote and edited this article with Pixel 11's 'Rambler' dictation feature — and things did not go according to plan
• Apple 'surprise and shine' event set for September 9 — iPhone Ultra, iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, and more
• Samsung Galaxy S26 FE hands-on review: I'm not sure if this phone needed to exist

Earlier this year, I decided to try and write an article with my voice sampling the different dictation software available on iPhones and Google Pixel phones. Both Apple and Google had been hyping up the capabilities of their new dictation software aided by brand new AI models. The results weren't awful, but they were fairly mixed.

At the time, Google had just announced the new Rambler AI dictation software but hadn't revealed exactly how it was going to roll out. Earlier this month, it confirmed that Rambler would be arriving on the Pixel 11 series, allowing a whole new kind of voice-to-text software that uses natural language AI to ensure the most accurate dictation possible — or so Google says.

Naturally, I decided to test the system and see if Rambler really does live up to Google's lofty claims. I was also curious to see whether the natural language systems would be capable of better understanding verbal commands and allow me to edit my work as I speak. Here's what happened.

How Rambler Works

According to Google's original announcement back at Google I/O in May, Rambler is a way to ensure that users "don't have to worry about getting your words exactly right before you start.” It is designed for you to speak naturally to your phone and then use the AI to filter out all the unnecessary little parts of speech that you don't actually want transcribed. The ums, ahs and all the other verbal tics that you say without even thinking.

This essentially means that you can focus on what you're saying and the actual content of your work without having to worry about going back later and filtering out all those little things that would need to be removed later on.

Considering editing was the biggest issue I had with dictation software earlier this year, the idea that you could minimize that, or at the very least verbally make changes to text on the fly certainly piqued my curiosity.

Rambler is powered by Gemini AI, and according to Google, it can understand multiple languages at once, allowing users who can speak multiple languages to switch between them as and when they see fit.

Google claims it's all about speed and accuracy, and Rambler is accessible at the top of your keyboard, replacing the old dictation functionality. While it originally launched on Pixel 11, Google has since confirmed that it will be coming to Gboard on Android, Gemini on macOS, and the Chrome Browser.

How my time "typing" with Rambler is going

So far I've been pretty impressed with how Rambler has done things. Not only has it been able to pick up what I'm saying with impressive clarity, it's also been able to do a lot of the formatting and punctuation without actually requiring me to specifically ask for it.

Generally speaking, as long as I can actually keep my words concise and my thoughts aligned, Rambler is having absolutely no issues with transcribing what I'm saying.

Of course, the main limitation is that I'm not very good at doing that. I find it much easier to write or type than I do to speak, especially when that involves speaking off the cuff; organising my thoughts and relaying them to my own mouth in short order. This isn't a problem with Rambler itself; it's just how my brain works.

Then again, it feels like Google could have done a lot more to make the process a little bit smoother. When you start up Rambler, you get a little bar at the top of your keyboard that features a little visualisation based on what your microphone actually picks up. The more it hears, the higher the visualisation goes and so on. What Rambler doesn't include is a preview of what it has understood you've said, which makes organising your thoughts all the more difficult, especially if you try and correct a mistake mid-flow.

Having that preview would be a small improvement, but it would make a huge amount of difference, at least to me, in ensuring that I can continue my train of thought despite knowing that I just made a blunder or wanted to rewrite part of a sentence.

Despite the advances that Google has made with conversational AI and voice recognition, it is far from perfect — especially with relation to my own accent. For some reason, it recognised the word "other" as "are there" and "asking of it" as "asking for it."

Accent recognition has plagued voice control systems since their inception, and clearly more work needs to be done in this area.

There are some big issues that need addressing

If anyone can tell, the previous paragraph was typed out from scratch, rather than using my voice. That's because attempting to get Rambler to edit and configure the text ended up wiping multiple paragraphs from this article for reasons I cannot understand.

Thankfully Google Docs was kind enough to let me undo those changes, but there were a lot of them, and my dedication to producing this article through voice alone meant I didn't notice for some time — and could have ended up losing about an hour of work in the process. If AI is supposed to make our lives better and improve productivity, it's going to have to avoid doing stupid things like this.

Anyway, back to using my voice, as promised.

Rambler can be used to edit what you've written, but in my brief time testing the feature it has been remarkably inconsistent. Obviously, that culminated in paragraphs of work being erased seemingly out of nowhere, but there have been instances where it seemingly struggles to understand what I'm trying to ask of it.

Naturally, the fact that there is no preview of what it has understood does make the editing process a little harder. You have to be able to memorise what you just said, while simultaneously thinking about what you're about to say, and still have the ability to tell Rambler that you need changes to be made.

Editing text that has already been pasted into the document, especially in such a large block like this, is not something that Rambler is very adept at doing. Sometimes it works, but in other cases it'll mess the whole thing up and that level of inconsistency is far from ideal. If Google just showed you what you said without having to paste it into the document, all of this could be avoided.

Naturally, the fact that it can automatically recognise what you're saying and format it appropriately before you even get to the editing stage is a big help. The way Gboard dictation used to be, you would just end up with huge blocks of text that needed punctuation scattered through it where appropriate—assuming you didn't physically say it while you were dictating.

You can still add your own punctuation when necessary. For instance, I'm very fond of using em-dashes in my work, while Gboard and Rambler are not.

Likewise, if I want to put something in quotation marks, I have to specifically ask for it, and this usually leads me to sprinkle in other punctuation throughout the piece as and where I deem it necessary, because we can't always trust AI to make the correct decisions for us.

Bottom line

Credit where it's due, Rambler is a huge improvement over other kinds of free voice dictation we've been getting bundled with our smartphones. I specifically mean the dictation services afforded by iOS 27 and other Android devices through the Gboard app.

There are issues that people need to be aware of, and you do need to be vigilant about what Rambler is doing. Otherwise, like me, you could end up with huge chunks of your work just being erased because you accidentally said the wrong thing or it misunderstood what you actually wanted.

The editing commands could also be improved and the lack of a preview is quite an oversight on Google's part.

Rambler does have a pretty good grasp of what you're trying to say and the commands you're trying to give, but it does seem to be better suited for smaller blocks of text rather than feature-length articles like this one. The more text there is, the easier it is for things to start going wrong and the more likely it is that you're not going to notice them until it's far too late.

Still, if you find yourself in a situation where you can't type with both hands on your phone, or you simply prefer to express your thoughts verbally, even if you're sending an email or a text message, Rambler is actually doing a pretty good job and it is a massive improvement on what was available before.

Is it the best dictation software out there? I doubt it. There are probably premium options that do this sort of thing absolutely flawlessly, but for free software that is included on your phone's keyboard, it's doing a pretty good job so far.

More from Tom's Guide

• I've been testing Pixel 11 Pro XL for a week — here's why HiLight is the most disappointing new feature
• I tried this MagSafe game controller and it puts other Bluetooth gamepads to shame — plus it’s $20 off right now
• Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra design leaked — and it could cause ‘the most intense wave of criticism in Galaxy history’

If you're looking for a premium Galaxy smartphone experience, but can't quite justify the cost of a standard Galaxy S26, then Samsung is hoping that the Galaxy S26 FE might be for you. This is the latest in the long line of "Fan Edition" phones and the idea is that Samsung cuts a few features, but in the process offers a near-flagship experience for a lower price.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE certainly does that, though it may take things a little bit too far. I spent a little bit of time with the S26 FE ahead of today's announcement, and started to wonder who this phone is really for. After all, the Samsung Galaxy A57 already captures the lower-priced mid-range segment and recent discounts to the standard Galaxy S26 make it more accessible than before.

The Galaxy S26 FE seems to occupy the same awkward middle ground as its predecessors. The specs aren't good enough to qualify it as a true flagship, but at the same time, it isn't cheap enough to be a true budget option.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE hands-on review: Specifications

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE hands-on review: The Ups

The cost of entry isn't too high

In a world of price hikes and RAMageddon, it's no surprise that the Galaxy S26 FE is more expensive than the S25 FE. That said, a $50 price hike isn't actually a lot, and that helps keep the cost of buying into the Galaxy S26 lineup much lower than it was before. The fact that Samsung has kept the 128GB model around means the $699 starting price is $200 less than the standard Galaxy S26 was at launch.

Admittedly that benefit only really matters if you plan on buying the 128GB model, and can't justify spending an extra $100 more. Why? Because, at the time of writing, Samsung's online store is selling the 256GB Galaxy S26 for $799 — the exact same price as the 256GB S26 FE.

In other words spending an extra $100 can get you a phone with better hardware. However, if you want to keep costs low and want access to the flagship capabilities of a Galaxy S26, then the FE is an option for you.

More premium than most cheap phones

The main benefit for the S26 FE, compared to the likes of the A57, is that you do get a slightly more premium build and feature set. All without having to pay quite as much as you would if you picked up a Galaxy S26 or one of its larger siblings.

The glossy glass back isn't quite as impressive as the matte glass on the back of the Galaxy S26. Honestly, seeing my own silhouette reflected in the back of the phone instantly made me think of the Galaxy A57, which is a shame when you remember that past FE devices had the matte glass to offer that instantly-premium look.

Still, the Galaxy S26 FE doesn't really feel cheap. It's reminiscent of the Galaxy S26 Plus due to its size, and there's definitely some weight to it that makes it feel more important than an A-series Galaxy. The brushed metal frame certainly helps in this respect, as does the solid-coloring of the camera bar — a design trait borrowed from other S26 phones.

Great selection of AI and software features

Like any device hoping to be considered close to flagship, the Galaxy S26 FE does come with a huge range of AI features. There's nothing new here, which isn't a huge surprise, but it does come with the best things Galaxy AI has had to offer on other phones — including my favorite Galaxy Z Fold 8 feature, My Fan Cam.

In fact, there are a bunch of cool software features that we've seen on other Galaxy flagships, but still haven't had the option to use on cheaper devices. That includes the Horizontal Lock video camera mode, the Samsung Document Scanner, Audio Eraser, AI-powered photo editing with Photo Assist, Now Brief, Circle to Search with multi-object recognition, as well as Now Nudge with support for cross-app functionality and third party apps.

Samsung also promises that the upgraded ProVisual engine is also here. This offers improved low light performance, reducing noise in the photo and lowering the overall color distortion. Though we haven't been able to test this for ourselves just yet.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE hands-on review: The Downs

Camera quality seems iffy so far

I will caveat this point by making it clear I haven't done any extensive camera testing with the Galaxy S26 FE, but the few sample photos I have taken so far were not very impressive. In fact, the four cameras on the S26 FE seem to struggle when compared to those on the Galaxy A57.

From a hardware perspective, things are a little disappointing. There's a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide, 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom and a 12MP selfie camera. That's pretty similar to the A57, albeit with a telephoto lens instead of a crappy 5MP macro lens.

That minor change in third-camera hardware means that there's a big difference in the zoomed in photo I took. Since the A57 relies on its main lens, it's using a higher resolution lens and cropping it down — rather than actually zooming in. The camera defaults to 12MP, and while not great it is obviously higher than what an 8MP lens can accomplish.

The main lens on the S26 FE is a little better, with some extra clarity that lets you make out the sugar crystals a little more easily, though it does come out much darker and less vibrant. The same is true when looking at this photo of a plant, with both 50MP lenses offering similar quality — but wildly different brightness levels.

The selfie camera is a step in the opposite direction, though. While the A57 washed out the color from my face compared to the S26 FE, there's a lot more detail and clarity compared on the cheaper phone. The S26 FE is slightly blurrier, and struggles to pick up the finer details including hair and skin complexion.

As you'd expect the regular Galaxy S26 outmatches them all, with more true-to-life colors and general clarity exceeding both the A57 and S26 FE. Even if my attempt at a selfie did not come out particularly well during my hands-on time. Still, the fact that the Galaxy A57 manages to offer some serious competition to the S26 FE, despite it being $150 cheaper, is not a good look for the Fan Edition phone.

Upgrades are minimal

Incremental upgrades with few major hardware upgrades are not uncommon, and the Galaxy S26 FE seems to be the latest example of that to come from Samsung HQ. Checking over the specs compared to last year's Galaxy S25 FE really highlights how few upgrades there are this year. If you didn't know any better, you could easily mistake the S26 FE for an older model, and only real changes are the newer Exynos chipset and the glass enclosure around the rear camera lenses.

Everything else, from the cameras to the battery are essentially identical, which means Samsung is relying more on software upgrades to help sell the phone over its predecessors. Which is not a terrible plan, considering the number of flagship features Samsung has added to the Galaxy S26 FE. But it doesn't suggest that the phone is a must-have. Especially when you remember the Galaxy A57 exists.

The Galaxy A57 is right there

The minimal upgrades wouldn't be so bad on their own, but we can't forget the fact that the Galaxy A57 is still around — and costs a good $150 less than the cheapest Galaxy S26 FE. There are a bunch of ways the Galaxy A57 falters compared to the S26 FE, particularly when it comes to performance and the availability of AI features. That price cut has to come from somewhere, and Samsung can't save all that money by cutting premium materials.

Still, at the same time, the A57 shares a lot of the same hardware with the Galaxy S26 FE. The camera hardware is more or less identical, and puts up a good fight against the S26 FE's cameras, and both screens share the same size, resolution and brightness. The A57's battery is actually larger, weirdly enough, and they both support up to 45W wired charging speeds — though the A57 lacks wireless charging.

We can't do a full comparison just yet, and we'll need to get the S26 FE into the lab to figure out exactly what its deal is. Because there's only so much you can glean from a list of hardware specs. Still, things don't look great. Especially considering the $50 price hike, and the fact that the 256GB Galaxy S26 costs the same as the equivalent FE.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE hands-on review: Outlook

The Galaxy S26 FE certainly shows promise, I'm struggling to understand why Samsung is releasing it in the first place. The Fan Edition series has been losing relevance for a while, especially now that Samsung is consistently releasing A-series phones in the U.S. and the Galaxy S26 FE doesn't really do much to help salvage the line-up's reputation in any way.

Based on my limited time with the phone, it seems that it is too similar to the Galaxy A57 to justify the higher price tag. At the same time, the price is too close to that of the Galaxy S26 to make many of these compromises worthwhile. It's that weird middle ground where it's not a cheap phone, but it's too cut back to be a true flagship.

So who is this phone for? It does offer more AI and Samsung-exclusive software features than cheaper options, and the fact that the 128GB storage option is still around means the cost of entry is noticeably lower. If you're an AI superfan that doesn't have a lot of money, this might be the Samsung phone for you, but otherwise you may as well pick up a different model.

Of course we'll have a much better idea of what the Galaxy S26 FE can do when we get the phone into the Tom's Guide lab for testing. That could change everything, or it could cement the idea that the S26 FE needs to die. We'll just have to wait and see.

I was so enamored with the Pixel 10 when I reviewed it last year that I didn't hesitate to call it the biggest update to the series in years — going as far as to say it was without question my favorite Pixel in the lineup at the time. It was a massive leap forward over the Pixel 9, thanks to meaningful hardware additions like a dedicated telephoto camera, noticeably brighter display, and a slew of helpful AI features that made daily use a breeze.

With the Pixel 11, however, Google is raising the stakes — and the price tag — by asking for $100 more. At this new premium, I have higher expectations for a return given that steeper upfront cost. Quite frankly, it needs the upgraded hardware and day-to-day performance to back it up.

In my Pixel 11 review, I’ll break down whether these newest additions truly justify the higher cost or if it’s a pass.

Google Pixel 11 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? Google’s standard flagship phone for 2026, serving as the successor to last year’s Pixel 10 while offering top-tier hardware for a little less money than the Pros.
• Who is it for? Buyers who want the pure Android experience with helpful AI features that make daily tasks a breeze in a more compact form factor — especially those who don't want to pay $1,000 for a flagship.
• What does it cost? Pricing starts at $899 for the 128GB base storage configuration, reflecting a $100 price increase over the previous model.
• What do we like? An even brighter Actua display that holds up in direct sunlight, expanded camera tools, helpful new AI features, and a noticeably thinner camera plateau.
• What don’t we like? The $100 price hike is tough to swallow given the minimal year-over-year hardware upgrades, Tensor G6 performance still lags behind rivals, and battery endurance remains mostly middle-of-the-road.

Google Pixel 11 review: Specifications

Google Pixel 11 review: The ups

A much brighter display

On paper, the screen doesn’t seem any different from before — a 6.3-inch Actua display — but don’t be fooled, as it packs a serious brightness boost.

Outdoor visibility gets a noticeable lift this year, backed up by solid numbers in our lab testing. This OLED panel reaches a peak brightness of 2,480 nits, up from the Pixel 10’s 2,333-nit peak rating. Whether I’m streaming rich 4K video or previewing high-contrast photos I’ve shot outdoors, this display delivers punchy highlights and excellent clarity without washing out details.

Helpful AI features

Despite the hardware upgrades being more subtle this time around, Google continues to take the lead when it comes to delivering some of the best AI features around.

Gemini is integrated more deeply into daily workflows, and that’s what I continue to love about its task automation feature, which now extends to even more third-party apps than when I first tried it on the Galaxy S26. In fact, I asked Gemini to find and book dinner reservations at a nearby restaurant — and it handled everything seamlessly up until the final step, leaving only the booking confirmation to me.

Everyday assistance also feels considerably more intuitive thanks to Proactive Assistance, which intelligently surfaces contextual information right when I need it — like suggesting showtimes and calendar invites when friends mention a movie night in a group chat.

I’m even finding myself typing messages less frequently because Rambler, a new voice dictation tool in Gboard, is smart enough to filter out all the imperfections in natural speech, including filler words like "ums" and "ahs." Together, they prove once again that Google’s AI features are built around practical utility rather than gimmicks.

Thinner camera plateau

Google’s signature camera cutout gets a much-welcomed refinement this year, slimming down so it isn't nearly as raised as before. Personally, I like how the elongated cutout accentuates the camera setup, but this subtle redesign positions the housing significantly closer to the back glass.

While it’s still technically raised, pairing it with Google’s official case makes the plateau sit completely flush with the rest of the phone — leaving the back entirely flat.

More Camera tools for creators

The Pixel lineup has consistently delivered some of the best camera phones around, and despite the hardware remaining mostly unchanged this year, Google adds even more tools for creators. Leading the charge is Magic Capture, which lets me shoot video while automatically analyzing every frame to extract picture-perfect snapshots — like catching bright smiles right in the moment.

Camera Looks allows me to bypass aggressive post-processing enhancements in favor of a specific aesthetic, applying distinct photographic styles that I can easily dial up or tone down to my liking.

Finally, vloggers and content creators will find the new Creator Suite within the camera app especially handy. It bundles social media framing gridlines, a live audio visualizer, upgraded Speech Enhancement, and my personal favorite, an in-camera teleprompter, making video recording feel far more seamless.

Google Pixel 11 review: The downs

Tensor G6 continues to underperform

While Google’s Tensor silicon has never been about topping benchmark charts, the Tensor G6 powering the Pixel 11 still trails its main rivals like the Galaxy S26 and iPhone 17.

In Geekbench 6, it averaged a single-core score of 2,664 and 7,347 with multicore — only a marginal boost over the Pixel 10’s scores. Don’t get me wrong: the phone still feels exceptionally fluid navigating around the interface and running Google’s on-device AI models, but the fact that these scores remain nowhere near competing top-tier chips is still disappointing.

Graphics testing paints a similar story, with the Pixel 11 posting an average overall score of 14,074 and an average frame rate of 84.28 fps in 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited. It’s capable enough for mainstream gaming, including titles I frequently play like Diablo Immortal and Age of Origins, but power users looking for bleeding-edge frame rates will notice the performance gap.

Flat battery life

After putting the Pixel 11 through the Tom’s Guide battery drain test, I’m honestly underwhelmed by the results, as endurance stays firmly in place rather than taking a meaningful step forward.

Its average time of 12 hours and 45 minutes is actually a step down from the 13 hours and 13 minutes posted by last year's Pixel 10. Although I still find it sufficient in my real-world use — easily powering me through a typical workday — it could've been better. At least it still pulls in longer endurance than other flagships, but it does benefit from a much larger battery capacity.

Charging speeds are equally stagnant, reaching just 27% in 15 minutes and 52% after 30 minutes using a standard charger. On the plus side, Google’s magnetic PixelSnap feature is still here, offering seamless alignment for Qi2 wireless chargers and full compatibility with all of my favorite magnetic accessories.

No major camera improvements

There’s no denying that the Pixel 10 was a dramatic leap last year, introducing a dedicated telephoto lens to the baseline flagship for the first time. However, the Pixel 11’s triple camera setup doesn’t move the needle all that much for me — carrying over a 48MP main shooter, 13MP ultrawide, and a 10.8MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom.

Side-by-side shots I’ve captured against the Pixel 10 look nearly identical across most everyday shooting scenarios, delivering virtually the same contrast, color rendition, and fine detail across the sensors.

The only subtle distinction surfaces in low-light conditions, where the updated Night Sight processing produces slightly darker, more underexposed frames compared to the brighter exposures of the Pixel 10. The tradeoff, however, is a noticeably cleaner image with less visible digital noise in shadowy areas.

$100 price hike

At a starting price of $899, the Pixel 11 represents a 12.5% price increase over the Pixel 10’s $799 launch tag — a hike that I think is hard to justify given how minimal the gains are.

For an extra $100, you’re primarily getting a brighter display, minor low-light noise tweaks, and software features that could very well trickle down to older hardware in future Pixel Drops. With processor performance, battery life, and core camera hardware remaining largely static, the added cost simply doesn’t deliver a matching leap in value.

In fact, if you can find the Pixel 10 discounted at retailers or carrier promotions, it remains the smarter buy.

Google Pixel 11 review: Verdict

The Pixel 11 is a solid Android phone, but it doesn’t quite match the excitement I had for its predecessor. The biggest incentives to pick one up are undeniably the smarter Gemini AI capabilities and handy new camera tools, both of which genuinely elevate daily use. While there are a few welcome hardware refinements, like a brighter display and a slimmer camera plateau, the generational leap isn't nearly as dramatic as what I saw with the Pixel 10.

When you factor in the $100 price hike, the value proposition takes a hit. If you're currently holding onto a Pixel 9 or an older device, the Pixel 11 offers a rewarding step up in camera versatility, screen quality, and on-device intelligence. But if you already own a Pixel 10, there simply aren't enough hardware gains here to justify the upgrade cost.

Over the weekend, a series of renders and drawings purported to reveal a redesigned Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra with some surprising subtractions. The images came from two prominent Samsung leaks and appear to show a new horizontal bar design that's more reminiscent of the iPhone 17 Pro or a Google Pixel 11 Pro.

The leaks started with a cryptic message from Samsung leaker Ice Universe, who posted a drawing and said, "I can't say anything."

They followed it up with a full-body drawing of the back of the phone. Those images appear to show a circle that is probably a Qi2 magnet for wireless charging.

From Ice Universe's sketches, it appears the Galaxy S27 Ultra loses a camera, going from the current triple stack to two, with the LED light and lenses in their own little pill. In another post, Universe noted that a new 5x telephoto lens will move into the LED pill and replace the current 3x version.

Yesterday, tipster Sonny Dickson posted renders of the S27 Ultra, claiming that Samsung will offer the Ultra in two sizes. Rumors suggest Samsung is working on two sizes for the Ultra model, one of which will likely be the S27 Pro.

It would make Samsung's offerings more similar to Apple's Pro and Pro Max models.

Ice Universe seemed to confirm that the Pro model is coming today with new renders and a post that claims the speaker on the bottom of the phone will be moved to the right side for the S27, S27 Plus and S27 Pro. The S27 Ultra will supposedly have its speaker on the left side.

Based on every drawing and render we've seen over the weekend, the new iPhone-esque plateau will only be available on the Ultra and Pro models. The base S27 and Plus models would have the stack.

With Samsung's foldables behind us, the rumor mill is starting to spin up in earnest for the company's flagship phone line. More renders will leak in the coming months, but we won't totally trust the leaks until we see some dummy units, which will probably leak in the fall.

As for the phones, Samsung will likely release the S27 lineup in the early part of next year. This year, the S26 series launched in February, and we expect Samsung will keep a similar schedule, give or take a week or two.

More from Tom's Guide

• The best Samsung phone might not be the best for you — take our quiz to find out which you should buy
• I've been training with the Galaxy Watch 9 for a month — 3 things I like (and 3 I don't)
• We've tested the best Android phones available right now from Samsung, Google and Motorola

I'm not a big fan of the Pixel 11 Pro. As I mentioned in my Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL review, these are not bad phones but it feels as though Google hasn't done enough to help justify their existence. One of the few hardware changes the phones do include is the HiLight LED, which lives on the camera bar.

HiLight is part of the camera flash on the back of the Pixel 11 Pro, utilizing a range of colored LED lights. It's essentially a modern day take on the notification light smartphone companies mostly ditched years ago.

Unfortunately, the way HiLight works right now feels like a missed opportunity, but there is potential if Google is willing to put some effort into it.

What HiLight can do

Looking at the back of the Pixel 11 Pro, you'd never know that HiLight was actually there. Though if you are familiar with Pixel phones you may recognize that the flash is totally different, with a smooth solid-colored surface rather than the fresnel-looking lens utilized on the likes of Pixel 10 Pro.

Here's how it works. When you place your phone face down, and whenever the right trigger occurs HiLight will flash one of six colors. Blue is reserved for Google Gemini, but at the moment the HiLight icon can also flash teal, yellow, magenta, purple and white. Unfortunately, the feature is limited in what it can actually do.

The way Google described HiLight, you might have assumed that it would support a bunch of different notification types. I know I did, but that isn't the case. As it stands, HiLight will only flash for two reasons. The light will flash blue whenever you're talking to Google Gemini, but it can also be set up to flash one of the five other colors when your starred contacts are calling you.

At the moment, that is all HiLight can do. Any other kind of notification is completely off limits, and there's no way to set up HiLight to flash up when you get an email, text message or something else entirely.

It's also worth noting that HiLight won't engage if your phone screen is not facing directly down. It doesn't have to be a flat surface, only that your phone screen is pointing towards the ground. In fact, you can test this yourself, because HiLight will actually turn off if you tilt your phone too far in any other direction.

The limitations are disappointing — but it didn't have to be this way

It feels like Google has only done half a job with the way it's rolled out HiLight to the Pixel 11 Pro. The limited functionality means that the one thing that could have become the Pixel 11 Pro's standout feature is nearly pointless for me.

I can't tell you how many times my starred contacts actually bother to call me. Usually they send me a text message, or call me via WhatsApp — which is not compatible with HiLight.

Honestly, it feels like Google hasn't put a lot of effort into making HiLight a feature that people will actually get much benefit from. Everything about it is limited, from the compatibility to the color options.

Google did state that HiLight will be updated with more features at some point in the future, but the only specific detail we've been given is that HiLight will flash when you get messages from favored contacts. We just don't know when that might happen, or what further plans Google has in store for the feature.

App developers have been hard at work trying to crack the system behind HiLight and give users the freedom to utilize the LED however they want. One of them claims to have succeeded, which is crazy considering we're just a few short days out from the phones' official release.

Developers step in

HiLight Studio has garnered attention for its bold claims, promising that users can control the rear-lights colors, and program the lights to activate with an even larger range of apps. I haven't been able to test it for myself, because the setup process is a lot more complicated than simply installing an APK file. This is a system level feature, after all, and it's not one that Google will want you messing with.

In other words, this is for people with patience and technical ability to get everything going. The fact that you need to relaunch the service every time your phone reboots is enough to put me off.

Still, it shows that HiLight is not necessarily limited to the few features Google has graced the Pixel 11 Pro with so far. It's a lot more versatile and potentially a lot more useful than I initially gave it credit for — or it could be.

Bottom line: HiLight could be a lot better than it is

I can see potential in HiLight, and the ability to keep tabs on your notifications without constantly checking your phone screen. In an ideal world you could map different notifications to a veritable rainbow of different colors and use that to determine whether you should actually open up your phone or not.

But in its current state, HiLight is basically a non-starter. It's only compatible with two features, and while I understand why Gemini was chosen I have no idea why Google decided adding support for phone calls was a priority. Actually receiving a phone call is unusual enough that it grabs my attention, I don't need a colorful light to go with it.

HiLight could be something, but it's going to rely on Google actually rolling out a bunch of updates to improve the usefulness of the entire mechanism. But if things stay the way they are, it's just one more phone feature destined for the scrap heap.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple's big September event is coming — but don't expect these 5 products
• Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold review: Falling behind the foldable curve
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The Honor Robot Phone is no longer just a concept. We went hands-on with the final version of the Honor Robot Phone, and it's officially going on sale in China starting August 20 for RMB 9,999 (around $1,480), putting it roughly in the same price bracket as the iPhone 17 Pro Max in the country.

While I compared the Honor Robot Phone with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, one question has been on my mind ever since I first used the device: Is it actually better than a dedicated pocket gimbal camera?

I tested the Honor Robot Phone alongside the Insta360 Luna Ultra to find out, and the answer surprised me. The dedicated gimbal is still better overall, but Honor has gotten so close that you might not need to carry one anymore.

Honor got surprisingly close to a dedicated gimbal on its first try

The most impressive thing about the Robot Phone is just how similar the shooting experience feels to using an actual pocket gimbal camera. Honor has mounted a 200MP f/1.6 camera on a physical arm that can move around to stabilize footage and follow subjects.

Of course, the form factors are completely different. The Luna Ultra is designed specifically to be held as a camera, so it's naturally more comfortable when you're recording for longer durations.

But the core idea is pretty much the same on both. Even on the Robot Phone, you're getting pretty much the same moving gimbal setup as the Luna Ultra, except it's built into a standard slab smartphone that doesn't feel ridiculously thick.

There are a few small differences, though. In my testing, I found the Luna Ultra slightly faster to get up and running. You can pull it out and start recording almost immediately, whereas getting into the Robot Phone's gimbal camera takes an extra second or two.

Interestingly, both devices also share the same limitation when it comes to vertical video. Neither physically rotates its main sensor when you switch to portrait recording. Instead, both crop into the horizontally oriented sensor, meaning vertical footage tops out at roughly 2.8K rather than native 4K.

Even the software experience is remarkably similar

Speaking of similarities, the software experience on both devices is surprisingly close as well. Both offer subject tracking, letting you lock onto a person and have the gimbal automatically follow them to keep them in the frame.

In my testing, I expected the Luna Ultra to have an advantage here, but it really doesn't. I tried tracking a person in a busy Shenzhen bay area while walking alongside them, and the Honor Robot Phone easily matched the Luna Ultra at keeping the subject in frame.

The difference only really becomes noticeable when the subject moves quickly toward the edge. During normal movement, though, the Robot Phone had no trouble staying locked on, even with other people moving around the scene.

The Robot Phone also offers a Super Steady mode that adds another layer of stabilization on top of the physical gimbal, something the Luna Ultra doesn't offer. That said, I don't think you're missing much without it. Footage from both devices already comes out incredibly stable.

One software advantage the Robot Phone does have is Honor's partnership with ARRI. If you're into filmmaking or more serious content creation, you can use ARRI's cinematic color science while shooting video, which isn't something you get on the Luna Ultra.

On the other hand, newer pocket gimbals like the Luna Ultra and DJI Osmo Pocket 4P have dedicated zoom hardware. Honor doesn't have that on its gimbal-mounted camera, but the 200MP sensor gives it plenty of room to crop in, offering up to around 4x zoom. So you're not completely missing out there either.

I'd still buy the dedicated gimbal, but Honor got incredibly close

On the whole, if I had to spend my money, I'd still probably go with the Luna Ultra. There are a few small things it simply does better. It's quicker to launch, more comfortable to hold for longer shoots, has dedicated zoom hardware, and I found the subject tracking to be ever so slightly better.

Plus, you can actually buy it in the U.S., whereas the Robot Phone remains limited to China for now.

But then again, the Robot Phone isn't just a camera. For the same money, you're getting the gimbal hardware inside a full-fledged flagship phone with a 7,060mAh battery, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 512GB of storage, and a flagship display.

And I think that's where Honor has really surprised me. I went into this comparison expecting the Luna Ultra to easily come out on top because, well, that's literally what it's built for. It still does, just not by the margin I expected.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve been living with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for 3 weeks — and I was wrong
• Insta360's gimbal camera has just hit shelves, and there's one factor that has me lining up to purchase one stat
• I’ve tested a ton of cameras and drones in 2026 — and these are my 5 favorites (so far) from DJI, Canon, Leica and more

I'm torn on the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL.

While these are not exactly bad phones, it's hard not to feel disappointed about what Google has released this year. There are few noticeable upgrades on paper, and the phones themselves have endured a $100 price hike that makes the apparent lack of progress sting even more.

But there's a lot more to a phone than what we can see on a specs sheet, and I was hoping that the Pixel 11 Pro could impress me in ways that I hadn't previously anticipated.

So I've been spending time with the phones to see whether Google's latest premium phones are actually worth picking up. Sadly, like the Pixel 10a, it turns out that this phone is just another lazy update that feels like half a step backward from last year's models.

Read on for our full Google Pixel 11 Pro and Google Pixel 11 Pro XL review.

Google Pixel 11 Pro & Pixel 11 Pro XL review: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? The latest Pro-tier Pixel flagships, available in regular and XL sizes set to replace the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL.
• Who is it for? Those people who want the Google-led Android experience, with fast updates and a heavy focus on cameras and AI. Ideally people who haven't upgraded their phones for a few years
• What does it cost? Prices for the Pixel 11 Pro start at $1,099 / £1,079 / AU$1,849 while the Pixel 11 Pro XL starts at $1,299 / £1,279 / AU$2,099. Both phones offer 256GB of storage and 12GB RAM, though higher storage tiers are available with 16GB of RAM
• What do we like? The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL have the brightest screen we've tested, alongside a scratch-resistant display, excellent AI-centric features and noticeable improvements to the cameras.
• What don't we like? Overall this is a fairly mediocre upgrade, continuing the longstanding Pixel tradition of weak performance, unimpressive battery life, reduced RAM on the cheapest models, and very little to make it an appealing purchase for a lot of people.

Google Pixel 11 Pro & Pixel 11 Pro XL review: Specs

Google Pixel 11 Pro & Pixel 11 Pro XL review: The Ups

The moment I got into testing these new Pixel 11 Pros, the small refinements jumped out at me. A lot of it comes down to the software running in the background, but there is one hardware upgrade (especially in the midst of a very bright summer) that I especially appreciated.

Brighter displays

The Pixel 10 Pro XL was the brightest phone we ever tested with peak brightness of 2,555 nits. Recently the phone was beaten by the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's 2,687 nits. Well now it seems the Pixel 11 Pro XL has reclaimed that title, with peak brightness of 2,877 nits — closely followed by the Pixel 11 Pro's 2,860 nits.

That's well in excess of the iPhone 17 Pro Max's 1,281 nits brightness, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra's 1,806 nits. This ensures that the 11 Pro and Pro XL excel in brighter conditions, which I am currently plagued by in the heat of August. That being said, they do lack the anti-reflective display of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and S26 Ultra.

Both Pro models do come with a special anti-scratch display, which should help prevent mini scratches from appearing when you're looking at the screen under bright light. While I haven't deliberately tried to scratch up the screens, I haven't noticed any of them mysteriously appear, either.

Cameras have improved

At first glance, the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL's cameras don't seem to have changed all that much compared to last year — but that's not the case.

The main camera and selfie cameras are functionally identical, that much is true, but the ultrawide and telephoto lenses have gained new larger sensors. While the Pixel 11 Pro misses the mark in a lot of areas, the camera quality is not one of them.

The main camera lens is capable of going head to head with the Galaxy S26 Ultra's 200MP main camera, despite the obvious gap in resolution. The colors are a little more vivid on the Pixel, but the overall quality is fairly equal - to the point where you can see a lot of similar grain when you zoom in on the printed lettering.

The quality of the ultrawide seems fairly equal to the Pixel 10 Pro at first glance, but look a little closer and you can see that the Pixel 11 Pro's picture is a lot sharper. Whether that will affect casual appreciation of ultrawide-angle photos isn't clear, but it shows that Pixel 11 Pro is putting the larger camera sensor and Tensor G6 to good use.

It's a similar situation with the telephoto lens at 5x magnification. At first glance they don't seem all that different, but close in and you can see that the general quality on the Pixel 11 Pro's photo is clearer and sharper.

That's more noticeable at 10x magnification, with the Pixel 11 Pro XL's 10x "optical quality" camera picking up a lot more of the smaller details than the 10 Pro XL.

The AI-enhanced 120x zoom is where Google's AI capabilities really shine, especially compared to Samsung's 100x zoom capabilities. Despite offering 20% more magnification than Samsung, the 11 Pro managed to create a much-clearer image than Samsung does - with brighter colors and a lot more detail.

But that's not just the AI, the unenhanced version of the photo (above) also looks a heck of a lot better than what Samsung managed to create with AI help.

The quality of the selfie camera is generally fine, but they don't even come close to the detail afforded by the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The iPhone camera manages to pick up a lot more of the smaller details, and doesn't make me look like a vampire that's never seen sunlight before.

It's very much the same situation with Portrait mode. However I prefer Google's bokeh effect, especially with how it singles my head out without offering quite so much blurring around the edges.

Low light quality is also pretty admirable, though the pictures often came out slightly darker than they did with the Pixel 10 Pro. I'd say that the 11 Pro produces a better picture, and the Instant Night Sight feature does make the process of low-light photography a lot easier to pull off.

That said, the process isn't actually instant. The camera still needs two seconds to shoot a photo, rather than the three to six seconds required by Night Sight on the Pixel 10 Pro. Still, it's amazing how much of a difference even a single second can make to the photography process — and that third second feels so much longer.

Cool new software features

There aren't a whole lot of new software features coming to Pixel this year, but the ones that have been released are pretty impressive. The main trio include the Rambler dictation software, Magic Capture in the camera and Live Translate for media — though that's limited to YouTube videos for the time being.

Magic Capture might just be my favorite, since it lets you record video of a situation and uses AI to identify which frames are actually worth keeping.

In other words it's a great way to get photos of moving targets, like children or pets, without having to try and time your shutter with the perfect situation. It's kind of like an alternative to a burst mode, which the Pixel 11 doesn't have, but instead of recording a series of still images, you get a short video clip instead.

Live Translate is also pretty impressive, since it will automatically translate videos you're watching in real time. I have seen features like this on other phones, including the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, but always found them to be a little finicky.

Google's version seems to work in a much simpler way, so long as you've downloaded the appropriate language packs in the system settings. The feature only works with YouTube right now, but once you load up the appropriate foreign-language video, you'll see a pop-up offering to translate the page — similar to how you would in a web browser.

Once the translation mechanism is engaged, it will feed you an English-version of whatever is said on screen while preserving some sense of accent and realism. In other words it's not a robotic AI voice that you'll find in some parts of the internet. I tried it in French and Spanish, and found that it worked pretty well — though the AI did fumble at times due to the speed at which some Spanish people speak.

Rambler is also very interesting because it completely redesigns the voice-to-text feature in the Gboard app. I recently tested Gboard against iOS 27 beta's dictation capabilities and found that they were at a very similar level. Rambler blows them both out of the water.

Not only was it able to figure out all the verbal tics humans add to speech, and ignore them, it's able to differentiate between voice typing and giving it commands.

Better still it could go back and make alterations to existing text, which is not something I've seen freely-available dictation software do before. I may be a big fan of traditional ways of typing (mostly pen and paper), but my early experience with Rambler could make a good attempt at changing that.

256GB on the Pro

I've spent years complaining that 128GB of base storage was no longer enough, and this year is the year Google finally made it happen for everyone. Of course, the Pixel 10 Pro XL got the higher base storage last year, and Pixel Folds have always started with 256GB of space. But this year marks the first time the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro have started with 256GB of storage.

Effectively this means the cheapest Pixel 11 Pro has double the amount of storage as last year's equivalent — which is perfect for storing all those files and photos you need to keep around. Though the downside is that you have to pay $100 more for the privilege this year, and won't get as much RAM.

Google Pixel 11 Pro & Pixel 11 Pro XL review: The downs

I know that upgrades between generations are always going to be more about the minor refinements. But the Pixel 11 Pros struggle to clear even that hurdle — all while charging $100 more and giving you less RAM at the baseline.

Minimal upgrades

By far the biggest issue with the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL is that the hardware has barely changed since last year. The real changes include the addition of the Tensor G6, different sensors for the cameras, replacing the thermometer sensor with HiLight and offering a brighter display on both models.

There is a new modem and the Titan M3 security chip, though these are hardly additions that will have any noticeable impact on ordinary user experience

The Pixel 11 Pro also gets the additional 256GB of base storage and 25W wireless charging, both of which were already available on the Pixel 10 Pro XL last year.

These updates are incremental at best, and considering the jump from Pixel 9 Pro to Pixel 10 Pro also featured minimal hardware changes, I had hoped that Google would offer a little more with the Pixel 11 Pro. But alas that does not seem to have been the case, and that's rather disappointing.

HiLight is probably the most interesting Google has offered, and even that seems like a half-baked addition to the phone. The LED works really well when your phone is left face down, but it also only works for two features right now. Specifically it flashes blue when you're talking to Gemini, and one of five custom colors that will flash when a starred contact calls you. But that's all it can do right now.

Google says it will be able to do more in future, but at the moment HiLight can only flash up for these two features and in these colors. Without better customization options and support for more kinds of notifications, it comes across as a gimmick more than an actually useful feature.

Price hike

The other main issue with this year's batch of Pixels is that the price has gone up. It's been a long time since Pixel phones were seen as the affordable option, but the Pixel 11 series pushes that to the extreme — and it feels worse for the Pixel 11 Pro XL.

Both phones' base models are $100 more than the equivalent Pixel 10 Pro. This means the 11 Pro starts at $1,099 while the 11 Pro Xl is now $1,299. The trade off for the Pixel 11 Pro is that the base model now comes with 256GB of storage, rather than 128GB — which is a good thing.

Sadly Google already made 256GB standard on last year's Pro XL and increased the price by $100 to compensate. This year's Pro XL has no such improvement, which means the price has been increased with no additional benefit to the user.

Reduced base RAM

The other big issue is that the standard 256GB model actually comes with less RAM than the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL. That means those of you wanting the same 16GB as last year will have to pay for a 512GB of 1TB storage model. That's obviously going to cost a fair bit more.

The 512GB Pixel 11 Pro is $1,219, while the 1TB is $1,449. For the Pixel 11 Pro XL, you'll have to pay $1,419 for 512GB and $1,649 for 1TB. It's a lot more to ask for, but it's likely down to the fact RAM prices have skyrocketed over the past several months.

Why does this matter? Because RAM is super important for running on-device AI features. Without a healthy pool of memory to work from, your device's AI prowess is going to be increasingly reliant on the cloud. Not only does this have obvious issues with privacy and data security, it also takes slightly longer to process and relies on having an active internet connection.

All of which means that buying the cheapest Pixel 11 Pro model means paying more for a phone that likely has worse AI processing performance.

The return of inconsistent Pixel battery life

Pixel phones are not known for having strong battery life, even if things have been improving over the last few years. Sadly the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL barely make any progress in improving the battery life — which is not surprising considering Google added smaller battery packs this time around.

The Pixel 11 Pro XL lasted 14 hours and 28 minutes in our custom battery test, which involves continuous web browsing over a 5G connection. That's only eight minutes more than the Pixel 10 Pro XL's 14 hours and 10 minutes. In comparison the Galaxy S26 Ultra lasted 16 hours and 10 minutes, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max lasted even longer at 17 hours and 54 minutes.

The Pixel 11 Pro actually does worse than last year's Pixel 10 Pro, with a battery life of 13 hours and 25 minutes compared to the 10 Pro's 13 hours 43 minutes. This is worse than the iPhone 17 Pro's 15 hours 21 minutes, but it is better than the Galaxy S26 Plus's 13 hours 13 minutes. Sadly it also still lags behind the larger flagships — and last year's Pixels.

Performance languishes in the shadow of more powerful phones

Pixels have never been a paragon of performance power, and the Tensor G6 is absolutely no exception to that. The general performance is better than you'd get from the Pixel 10 series, and the Tensor G5, but graphics performance has dropped this year. Likewise the Tensor G6 is still so far behind Samsung and Apple that it's almost as though Google isn't really trying.

Compared to the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL, the 11 Pro series has had a pretty hefty boost in raw performance. Both phones offer an increase in single-core and multi-core performance using the Geekbench 6 benchmarking test. Pixel 11 Pro rose to 2,649 and 7,164 versus 2,335 and 6,375. Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 Pro Xl did a little better with 2,713 and 7,453 against the 10 Pro XL's 2,322 and 6,286.

Graphically both new phones actually did worse, with Pixel 11 Pro scoring 3,113 in the 3DMark Wildlife Extreme Unlimited benchmark, with an average framerate of 18.65. Pixel 10 Pro score 3,134 and 18.77. The Pixel 11 Pro XL came out with 3,249 and 19.46fps, while the 10 Pro XL recorded a score of 3,462 and average frame rate of 20.73 fps.

All of it pales in comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max, though. In fact the Galaxy's graphics benchmark scores are roughly double that of both new Pixels. Worst of all, the Pixels' NPU scored ridiculously poorly on Geekbench's AI benchmark, with four-digit scores that pale in comparison to both Samsung and Apple's 5-digit scores.

Considering the Tensor chips are supposed to be built for AI (alongside photography and security), this is a really embarrassing result for a phone that doesn't have a lot else going for it.

Google Pixel 11 Pro & Pixel 11 Pro XL review: Verdict

The Google Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL are not bad phones by any means, but they're also not anything particularly special. The upgrades Google has included do offer some enhancements compared to previous phones, but it also isn't enough to help the Pixel lineup catch up with some of its biggest rivals. Especially when you consider the 11 Pro's weaker battery life and the reduced amount of RAM on the cheapest models.

From a purely Pixel point of view, the 11 Pro and Pro XL both offer better cameras, AI features that could potentially be very useful, and a boost in overall performance. Not to mention brighter displays and increased base storage on the standard Pro model.

But at the same time the Pixel still lags behind its flagship rivals in both performance and battery life, and reduces the amount of RAM available on the cheapest models. That, combined with the $200 price hike and the meager selection of upgrades makes me think that the better purchase might actually be a Pixel 10 Pro — for as long as you can still get one, that is.

Four generations in, Google's foldable phone experiment should be hitting its stride — right? When the original Pixel Fold arrived, it was the company’s opportunity to move outside its usual stable of slab phones into something much more exciting. We’re now at the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which, more than ever, can’t afford to come up short.

Google no longer has the luxury of being graded on a curve. Having tested the best foldable phones over the last six months alone, I know this space is a fiercely contested battleground, with rival devices like the Motorola Razr Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra vying for consumer attention.

While class-leading hardware has never been the line’s biggest strength, Google has taken a different approach by doubling down on its outstanding AI features. In my Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold review, you’ll see if it has the hardware, software, and performance to come out on top. But make no mistake: it needs to be firing on all cylinders, because even the smartest software can't stop the Pixel 11 Pro Fold from slipping behind the pace.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold review: Specifications

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold review: Price and release

The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold officially arrives on August 20, but it costs $100 more than last year’s model — pushing the starting price to a steep $1,899 for the base 256GB version.

While no one likes seeing a price hike, it still manages to undercut key rivals like the Motorola Razr Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Considering this is the first time Google's foldable line has seen a price bump, and that it still rings in cheaper than other book-style flagships, the markup isn't an outright dealbreaker.

Just like previous generations, color choices remain minimalist: Obsidian and Olive.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold review: Design

At first glance, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold doesn't look all that different, sticking closely to the design language Google established over the past couple of generations. But where it truly pulls ahead is durability. By retaining its rare IP68 rating, it offers superior dust-tight protection alongside submersion resistance — so yeah, it’s ready for beach outings, unlike the IP48-rated Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Yet despite that durability win, the design still lacks the high-end refinement found on its closest rivals. It remains noticeably thicker in hand than Samsung's ultra-sleek powerhouse, the bezels framing both displays are wider, and the inner screen still exhibits a deeper crease.

Google nails the ruggedness, but on pure ergonomics and fit-and-finish, it still feels a step behind the curve.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold review: Display

Setting a new record, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold features the brightest screen of any foldable phone that has passed through the Tom’s Guide labs — reaching a blinding peak brightness of 2,982 nits on its main 8-inch Super Actua Flex display.

Whether I’m scrolling through reels or working across two apps simultaneously, the main screen doesn’t disappoint, delivering crisp detail, vibrant colors, and outstanding outdoor visibility. Its 6.5-inch outer cover screen is equally impressive.

The only thing that continues to irk me is how underutilized that outer display remains when the phone is propped up in tabletop or tent mode. While rivals have embraced dedicated desk-clock and smart display standby experiences — like what I get on the Motorola Razr Fold — the Pixel 11 Pro Fold fails to offer a proper StandBy mode on its cover screen. The closest it gets is the basic ambient screen that kicks in when placed on a wireless charging dock.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold review: Cameras

On paper, the camera setup on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold looks almost identical to last year's model. You get a triple rear system consisting of a 48MP main camera, 10.5MP ultrawide, and 10.8MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom. That telephoto lens continues to be a major standout, offering the longest native optical reach on any book-style foldable. Both the cover display and the inner screen house identical 10MP selfie cameras.

Despite the familiar spec sheet, Google has swapped in a new primary sensor that reportedly captures more light for improved low-light and Night Sight performance, while the revamped telephoto setup now extends digital reach up to 30x Super Res Zoom.

Over on the software side, I’m ecstatic about the updates that make the camera app far more robust. For instance, new Camera Looks apply professional-grade film styles for a distinct aesthetic, while handy quick controls give instant access to manual parameters like exposure, focus, and ISO.

Unfortunately, my low-light snapshots contradict Google’s claims. Just browse through the gallery above to see what I mean — quite frankly, the differences between the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Pixel 10 Pro Fold are minimal. Across exposure, fine detail, and clarity, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold simply doesn't offer any dramatic gains.

Despite boasting the longest native optical reach, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold proves that hardware specs alone can’t guarantee the sharpest telephoto results. Even though the Pixel's 30x snapshot manages to edge out the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, the Razr Fold’s superior computational photography and AI enhancements deliver class-leading clarity, rendering the roof shingles and foreground brush with noticeably finer definition.

Here’s another example of how the Pixel 11 Pro Fold stacks up against its rivals at 30x zoom. This time, I pointed them at a distant sign to see how effectively each phone cleans up the shot.

Once again, the Razr Fold surprised me by leveraging superior AI upscaling to carve out sharp text edges and rich wood-grain definition. Still, Google's 30x Super Res Zoom easily outperforms the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which falters with aggressive digital noise and muddier textures across the fence.

For pure color accuracy and balanced exposure, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold comfortably captures the most authentic snapshot of the floral arrangement above. It delivers remarkably true-to-life color temperature and natural saturation, allowing the yellow sunflowers and deep pink carnations to pop without blowing out subtle highlight details on the petals.

When it comes to framing quick portraits, I recommend sticking to the cover screen camera, as it produces noticeably better results than the inner shooter. Under tricky indoor restaurant lighting, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold's 10MP outer selfie camera captures the most lifelike skin tones, authentic facial texture, and natural contrast of the bunch. While the Razr Fold tends to overexpose and soften fine facial features, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra leans noticeably warm, Google's color tuning and computational processing make for clean, well-balanced shots every time.

Another standout addition to the camera experience is Magic Capture, which takes the stress out of trying to nail the perfect action shot in real time. Instead of forcing you to choose between shooting a video or firing off a burst of photos, Magic Capture continuously records short clips while the phone analyzes every frame behind the scenes.

It automatically detects peak moments — spotting genuine smiles, sharp motion freeze, and open eyes — to extract high-resolution stills straight from the footage. Even when I had someone else record my shameless inspection of the apple section at Trader Joe’s, Magic Capture worked exactly as intended, consistently plucking sharp, print-worthy stills from the video without any extra effort on my part.

Content creators and solo vloggers will adore the new Creator Mode, which transforms the foldable into a self-contained production studio. The standout perk is the built-in teleprompter tool, which scrolls through my script smoothly across the display at customizable speeds and text sizes, keeping my eye line locked directly onto the lens.

Best of all, Google took full advantage of the dual-screen form factor because Creator Mode seamlessly supports the cover screen paired with the flagship rear cameras. It completely eliminates the need for a dedicated camera operator or a secondary monitor, making solo video production faster, sharper, and far more intuitive.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold review: Performance

Benchmark tests reveal that Google’s latest chipset, the Tensor G6, continues to trail behind key rivals powered by Apple’s A19 Pro and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. While I don’t place a lot of emphasis on synthetic benchmarks — since they don’t always translate directly to real-world performance — they remain ideal for comparing objective processing performance.

In Geekbench 6, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold delivers a single-core score of 2,687 and a multicore result of 7,381. While those marks represent a modest bump over the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, they're far from the chart-topping numbers posted by competing flagships. Thankfully, real-world operation tells a smoother story: day-to-day use exhibits snappy app launches, fluid split-screen multitasking, and effortless navigation across the UI.

Graphics processing sees a marginal boost as well, with 3DMark’s Wild Life Unlimited benchmark yielding an overall score of 14,623 and an average frame rate of 87.56 fps. I loaded up my go-to test titles, including Age of Origins and Diablo Immortal, and both ran smoothly on the massive 8-inch canvas without any major hiccups or stutter.

While Tensor silicon has historically prioritized on-device AI efficiency and computational smarts over raw benchmark supremacy, I still would have liked to see Google close the gap with its direct competitors at this price point.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold review: Battery and charging

In our custom battery drain test, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold clocks an average time of 12 hours and 31 minutes — a modest 15-minute bump over the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. That’s one of the slimmest year-over-year gains I’ve seen in a while, doing little to bolster its overall value proposition. Still, while it doesn't dethrone the longest-lasting foldables on the market, 12.5 hours is more than enough to get me through a full day of typical use.

Similarly, there are no major improvements with charging, as it retains the same 30W wired and 25W wireless ratings. Plugged into a compatible wired adapter, it reachess 29% in 15 minutes and climbs to 56% after 30 minutes.

On the upside, I’m glad to see PixelSnap support return: it doesn't just enable seamless magnetic charging with Qi2 and MagSafe chargers, but also lets me snap on magnetic accessories like my Nomad MagSafe Wallet.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold review: Software and AI

Software is where Google typically pulls away from the pack, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold delivers some genuinely brilliant AI-powered productivity perks.

One of the most impressive additions is the new Rambler feature in Gboard, which uses Gemini Intelligence to automatically strip out filler words, format messy thoughts into clean sentences, and accept natural voice edits without missing a beat. It has quickly become one of the phone's most underrated features, working so reliably in my daily testing that it has noticeably loosened my reliance on traditional on-screen typing.

I also appreciate the proactive suggestions that surface contextual shortcuts based on on-screen content. For example, when a text message arrives about setting up a dentist appointment, the system automatically offers a quick action to log it directly into Google Calendar.

At the same time, expanded third-party app support for Gemini task automation allows the assistant to handle multi-step actions across more apps than ever. When I asked it to book a dinner reservation at a local restaurant, Gemini researched table availability based on my preferences and prompted me to confirm the final booking. The way it executes complex tasks behind the scenes is not only slick, but a genuine time-saver.

Multitasking also gains a major boost from the new app bubbles system, letting me dock floating mini-windows in the bottom corner of the unfolded display or overlay a third app on top of an active split-screen view.

Yet, despite these clever software highlights, the foldable experience still stumbles over familiar quirks. Google still hasn't fully solved app scaling and layout consistency: certain third-party apps remain awkward when switching between portrait and landscape orientations, occasionally refusing to scale smoothly or leaving letterboxed dead space.

Making matters worse, transitioning from the cover screen to the main 8-inch inner display — and vice versa — can still force apps to refresh their states rather than providing an uninterrupted handoff. It’s a frustrating foundational issue that continues to hold back large-screen Android devices.

On the longevity front, you still get class-leading support with seven full years of major Android OS and security updates. However, when it comes to Google's top-tier AI features, you only get six months of complimentary Google AI Pro access before a monthly subscription kicks in.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold review: Verdict

Honestly, I want to like the Pixel 11 Pro Fold — but not like this. It simply feels too underwhelming, especially after testing standout rivals like the Motorola Razr Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. While new AI additions like Rambler, expanded Gemini task automation, and Magic Capture are undeniably neat, the hardware fails to deliver the generational leap I expected.

The Tensor G6 continues to trail rival silicon in raw processing muscle, battery endurance sees only a negligible 15-minute bump, and real-world camera performance does little to move the needle.

Compounding these modest hardware gains are persistent large-screen software annoyances that still hold the device back. Moving apps between the cover display and the 8-inch main canvas frequently triggers frustrating state refreshes rather than seamless transitions, while orientation switches still suffer from awkward scaling and wasted dead space.

For a premium foldable commanding a top-tier price tag, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like an iterative update that struggles to truly impress.

When it comes to the best foldable phones, I strongly prefer flip-style ones for their compact footprint and effortless one-handed use. On top of that, they’re undeniably far more versatile for vlogging than notebook-style foldables, letting me frame shots on the outer cover screen using the superior rear cameras.

For years, I’ve praised Samsung’s flip-style foldables — but this year’s Galaxy Z Flip 8 has me concerned. It’s not just that it represents the most painfully lazy upgrade in the series’ history, but also that Samsung’s focus seems to have largely shifted elsewhere.

Pairing that with the glowing reception for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and it’s clear Samsung is at a tipping point with its Z Flip line. Here’s why.

Motorola has a way more robust selection

Despite being an early pioneer in the space, Motorola lagged behind Samsung for years with its Razr phones, plagued by awkward hinge designs and lackluster performance. But the narrative has shifted dramatically over the last couple of generations.

Instead of treating clamshell foldables as a one-size-fits-all product, Motorola built out a lineup with broader appeal. That strategy has culminated in today's lineup of three clamshell foldables alongside a book-style model. By offering varied price points, Motorola gives consumers the freedom to choose what fits their budget and needs. In contrast, Samsung has stuck to releasing just a single flip phone each generation.

Cameras are not an afterthought

Just as crucially, the Razr Ultra (2026) finally dismantles the long-standing stereotype that Motorola’s flip cameras are an afterthought. With upgraded high-resolution sensors, refined image processing, and superior low-light performance, it no longer forces users to compromise camera quality for pocketability. Just look at some of the snapshots I captured above to see how far Motorola's has come.

No mention of a Galaxy Z Flip FE this time

Perhaps the most glaring absence at Unpacked was any sign of a Galaxy Z Flip FE follow-up. When the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE launched alongside the Z Flip 7 last year, my colleagues and I were highly critical of the move — one we felt wasn't necessary since it was essentially a rebadged Z Flip 6. It certainly didn't help that it still carried a hefty $899 price tag.

Making matters worse, Samsung didn't just stick to minor hardware upgrades for the Flip 8 — it also tacked on a $100 price bump. In my Galaxy Z Flip 8 review, I noted that "Samsung's baby-step approach feels tough to defend."

While the switch back to a flagship Qualcomm chip delivers notable performance gains, I was shocked by the negligible battery life improvements. Instead of adopting the ultra-thin profile of the Z Fold 8 or delivering substantial hardware innovations, the Z Flip 8 feels more like yet another rehash.

I want a Galaxy S27 Ultra Flip

If the Z Flip line is going to survive, Samsung needs to stop playing it safe and introduce a true Ultra model. We’ve seen the company pour top-tier resources into the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Z Fold 8 Ultra — and the flip form factor deserves that exact same flagship treatment.

The most logical candidate would be something along the lines of a Galaxy S27 Ultra Flip. To truly make a statement, it would require an ultra-thin chassis, uncompromising battery life, and, crucially, a versatile triple-camera system that finally brings a dedicated telephoto lens to a Samsung clamshell.

Packing that level of hardware into a flip phone would inevitably command a steeper price tag. But considering what buyers are already willing to shell out for premium competitors like the Razr Ultra (2026), power users and creators would happily pay for a clamshell that refuses to cut corners.

Samsung has reached a critical tipping point with the Z Flip series. Iterative spec bumps and unjustified price hikes won't cut it anymore — the lineup desperately needs a major overhaul to breathe real excitement back into the category.

More from Tom's Guide

• Google bamboozled me into paying for Google Photos a decade ago — and now it’s doing something similar with the Pixel 11 Pro
• I held the Pixel Tag and it does one critical thing that the AirTag doesn’t — here’s what it is
• I tried the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and it's more 'Ultra' than Samsung's foldable (for $200 less)

If you've been paying attention to the news, you've probably heard about GrapheneOS. The Android-based mobile OS hit the news a few weeks back over a dispute at the U.S. border, in which a traveller is alleged to have wiped their GrapheneOS-powered phone using a "duress" password — and now faces charges of destroying evidence.

You may have heard about GrapheneOS but never gave it much thought for one reason or another. I know that was the case with me, and while I knew it was based on Android I hadn't ever done much digging into exactly how it differed from the Google-provided Android experience.

But this news got me curious, and I realized that it was about time I got to grips with what Graphene actually has to offer.

What is GrapheneOS?

GrapheneOS is an open source mobile operating system that emphasizes both security and privacy. It's completely free to install, and the project is supported by donations.

The software is built with the Android Open Source Project, and is focused on one of the biggest issues many people have with Google's mobile OS — the fact that it's severely lacking when it comes to protecting user privacy.

GrapheneOS also strips out most Google systems and bloatware, which means you won't set up your phone and find that it's filled with a bunch of apps that you can't remove. The software also features a bunch of dedicated privacy features that you won't find on most Android phones.

GrapheneOS device support: Which phones does it work with?

GrapheneOS is currently only officially compatible with Pixel phones, with the site listing all Google-made phones up to (and including) the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The Pixel Tablet is also supported.

The software's official support pages confirm that other devices do support GrapheneOS "at a source level," but without official support it means that more work is needed to actually install the software — which makes everything a lot more complicated.

Earlier this year Motorola confirmed it had partnered with GrapheneOS, with the aim to "strengthen smartphone security and collaborate on future devices engineered with GrapheneOS compatibility. " In other words, future Motorola devices will eventually support GrapheneOS as well. But we don't know which devices will offer it, or when they will be released.

How do you actually install it?

I've never really been one for tinkering with software, and it's never really been something that interested me. I did try my hand at rooting one of my Android phones about ten years ago, to see what I might be missing out on, but never made much progress.

The phones I had at the time came from companies that weren't very big on letting people mess with their phones' software, and trying to root them proved to be a task worthy of Sisyphus himself. Obviously, being the quitter that I am, I gave up and never bothered to try that sort of thing ever again.

That's partly why I never gave GrapheneOS a second thought. I wasn't sure what to expect when I finally decided to try and install it on one of my older phones.

GrapheneOS has a full guide on how to install the software on a compatible phone, and at first glance looks a little intimidating. It has its own table of contents, and that's never something you want to see when you don't really know what you're doing. Fortunately, the whole process is actually pretty simple, and based on my experience it's quite difficult to screw up.

I'll admit that I did screw up a couple of times because I wasn't reading the instructions carefully, and the worst thing that happened was that I had to wait for my phone to restart — at which point I ended up exactly where I left off.

All the actual hard work is done by GrapheneOS's Web Installer, which makes the process more or less idiotproof. Best of all, you don't even need to root your phone.

Reverting back is proving to be a little trickier for me, simply because I couldn't get GrapheneOS's web installer to recognize that my phone is available and needs its bootloader unlocked. That's going to require some troubleshooting on my end.

What is GrapheneOS actually like?

The first thing I noticed about GrapheneOS is just how sparse the software selection actually is from a design point of view. This is a version of Android software that is effectively free of all Google influence, and that means the number of pre-installed apps is at its bare minimum.

After years of using smartphones running Android and iOS, this is actually quite refreshing. It's like finding yourself in a quiet, minimally-furnished room after walking off a crowded city street. The lower emphasis on Google products also makes the setup process a lot smoother, since you don't have to link to Google accounts or deal with setting up features like Gemini.

It's a similar story with the built-in App Store. Since there are no Google apps pre-installed, this is the place that lets you install certain Android features like Android Auto, the Thermometer app (if you have a compatible Pixel) and other app stores — including Google Play. There are only 14 apps available, and anything else you need has to be acquired from a different source.

The distinct lack of color when GrapheneOS loads up for the first time is rather jarring, if I'm being totally honest. But that's a non-issue that quickly solves itself once you actually start using the phone.

If you're familiar with stock Android or Google's Pixel Launcher skin, then GrapheneOS isn't going to be that much of a surprise. The developers haven't taken many, if any, liberties with the general feel of the software. This means navigating and accessing the various settings menus is pretty simple, and doesn't require having to relearn where everything is. You can't say that for other smartphone brands.

It's not exactly the same under the hood, though, and there are some extra optional features that are designed for security and privacy reasons. This includes the duress password, PIN scrambling, and a bunch more things I don't have room to list here. There's a lot to come to grips with, and so far I haven't actually made a huge dent.

Sadly, there is one catch I've found so far, and that's the fact my phone always warns me that I'm loading up a different operating system. It doesn't require you to confirm you want this to happen, but it is a little annoying that you don't seem to be able to switch this off.

The Google Play conundrum

You may wonder what the point of having GrapheneOS is if you're just going to install Google Play? The sad thing about Android is that some apps won't work without Google Play Services installed, which means sideloading or using a third-party app store won't work.

Banking apps are the one that caught me off guard, and it meant that I would either have to rely on browser-based banking (which is not ideal) or bite the bullet and install Google Play.

Thankfully, GrapheneOS does have a compromise, and sandboxes Google Play Services so that it doesn't have the same level of privileged access you'll see with a typical Android OS. This effectively means you can still enjoy access to apps that are only compatible with Google Play, but without handing over unfiltered access to the software.

As this thread on Reddit put it, the idea behind Graphene isn't to deGoogle. The software comes with a Chromium-based browser after all, albeit with more security-focused features than the stock Chrome app. You can deGoogle if you like, but that's not something that is forced upon you.

Sideloading is possible, since Graphene is an Android-based operating system, but it's up to you to decide which app-installation option is the right one for you.

Bottom line

The switch over to GrapheneOS wasn't as drastic as I expected it would be. Not only was the installation an absolute cinch, the fact it looks and feels so close to stock Android means that there isn't much of a learning curve when it comes to getting started. All you really need to do is figure out where all the extra privacy and security features are.

The switch rom Google services is certainly very appealing. While I wouldn't go completely cold turkey (I need my banking apps), the fact that Google Play is available in a sandbox means that you don't appear to be missing out on much by ditching the Pixels' particular brand of Android. It's rather like having the most important parts of the Android ecosystem, but without compromising your own personal privacy in the process.

Switching back to the Pixel's Android OS has proved a little difficult, and I'm not entirely sure where the problem lies. So for now, I recommend that anyone hoping to try GrapheneOS for themselves either knows more than I do about installing Android software, or tests it out on an older device first to make sure they like it.

More from Tom's Guide

• The Pixel 11's Tensor G6 chip isn't 2nm despite the rumors — opening the door for iPhone 18 Pro
• iOS 27 brings 5-star ratings to Photos — here is how to use them
• I've been using Pixel phones for the past 5 years, but the lack of Pixel 11 upgrades is indefensible

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in testing phones for over 20 years, it’s that there’s a difference between reviewing a device and living with it. And now that I’ve spent three weeks with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, I can say that my opinion has changed and that I was right about some things — and wrong about some others.

The cameras are good enough!

First, let’s talk about the cameras. I stand by what I initially wrote about it being a bummer that the Fold 8 doesn’t have a telephoto zoom. For $1,900 you deserve one. But I have since tested the Fold 8 vs the 3x optical zoom on the Fold 8 Ultra in a series of tests and I didn’t notice a huge difference until I got to 10x.

My point here is that you can more than get by with the Fold 8’s dual rear shooters. And I especially appreciate the improved low-light performance versus the Fold 7. The Nightography is just better.

If you really care about zoom performance, you’re better off getting the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and its 5x optical zoom, or going with a different foldable altogether with the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which also packs a 5x telephoto.

No Flex View is not a dealbreaker

The ability to use your foldable phone as a mini laptop certainly comes in handy, but the Fold 8 ditches this feature because of the way the hinge is designed. So, for example, you can’t play videos with the content up top and controls down below. Or take a Google Meet call without having to hold the phone.

It’s a bummer, but at least there’s a hands-free alternative for watching videos. You can just use the outer display on the Fold 8 and put it in tent mode. It’s a nifty way for me to catch up on that day’s First Take episode while I’m on lunch break at work or doing the dishes.

TikTok Is dangerously addictive. YouTube Shorts needs a fix

I admit that I scroll on TikTok way too much, but my addiction has gotten worse on the Fold 8. That’s because the front display is perfect for snacking content while I’m waiting for my bus ride home.

Open up to the main 7.6-inch display, and TikTok is even better if you love to read comments. They pop in from the right side in a dual-pane format. Even better, as you scroll through TikTok’s with the comments upon, they’ll automatically refresh for each video.

Too bad YouTube Shorts isn’t similarly optimized. You have to X out of the comments before you scroll to the next video, which is dumb. This also speaks to my issue with apps in general on the Galaxy Fold — too many aren’t optimized for the wider display. It’s something Samsung is going to have to fix, because you know Apple will be working with developers to make sure apps look amazing on the iPhone Fold/Ultra.

The shape is just right (but not in my pocket)

Initially I thought the Galaxy Z Fold 8 might be awkwardly wide when closed, especially when trying to use the phone quickly with one hand to scroll through notifications. But overall I haven’t had any issues, and I find myself responding to Slack messages on the cover display all the time.

When I’m on the go, however, I’ve found that the wide design of the Fold 8 is actually not as comfy in my front pocket as the Fold 8 Ultra. The former’s wider body is a bit more awkward when I’m walking. So I often put the Fold 8 in my back pocket instead.

It’s my new favorite e-reader

I’ve been trying to get back into reading more, starting with Joanna Stern’s “I Am Not a Robot,” which is about her journey of using nothing but AI tools for a year. And the Fold 8 is the perfect e-reader stand-in for two reasons.

One, when you flip around the main display you get a 3:4 aspect ratio that’s very Kindle-like. And, two, the anti-reflective coating makes reading outside a lot easier than I thought. There’s a lot less glare than previous foldables.

Plus, as I get ready for “Avengers: Doomsday,” I asked Gemini which Marvel comics I should be ready to get up to speed on Dr. Doom’s origin and powers. So I subscribed to Marvel Ultimate and I find the Fold 8 is a pretty sweet format for diving in.

How good is the battery life?

Now that I’ve been using the Fold 8 as a daily driver, I’ve discovered that it has pretty good staying power. On most days starting at 7 am with moderate usage — which includes streaming Spotify on the go, checking Slack and email, and watching videos to and from on my commute — I’m down to about 45 to 50% by the time I get home around 7 pm.

That’s pretty solid for one of Samsung’s first silicon carbon batteries.

Bottom line

The best thing I can say about the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is that it’s really growing on me. My initial skepticism around why the world needs a wide foldable phone has now all but been erased. And despite how Samsung is marketing this device as an ultimate content consumption phone I think it’s a great device for productivity.

You can still run up to three apps at once like on the Fold 8 Ultra. You just don’t get the same height for fitting more content on screen, though flipping around to 3:4 mode helps for the main display. I think this could very well be the foldable to beat, and the upcoming iPhone Ultra has a high bar to clear.

I've been using Pixel phones for the past five years now, starting with the Pixel 6 Pro. Over the years I have learned to live with the various disappointments that come with Pixel hardware, for the simple fact that Pixel software is the only mainstream mobile OS that I actually like using. But it's getting to the stage where Google's decisions are becoming indefensible.

Google just had its annual "Made by Google" event, and with it came the official launch of the Pixel 11 series of phones — plus a new Pixel 5 watch and a Pixel Tag Bluetooth tracker. I haven't spent a lot of time with the new Pixels yet, but my overall impression based on what Google has revealed is that it's an incredibly lazy upgrade.

It's not as lazy as the Pixel 10a, which was easily one of the worst "upgrades" I've seen a phone company try and hawk throughout my career. But it isn't far off, and it's enough to make you wonder why Google is still bothering to make phones.

The Pixel 11 problem

If you look at the Pixel 11 series and compare it to what's come before, you'll notice that there isn't a whole lot of difference between them all. I'm not just talking about the design, which has only had minor tweaks to the camera bar and, in the case of the Pro models, a new scratch-resistant coating on the display.

The hardware is more or less the same on paper, and the upgrades that we do get feel like the absolute bare minimum of what Google could actually offer. There's the usual incremental stuff, like the Tensor G6, and the brighter Super Actua Displays, alongside small quality of life upgrades like 256GB of base storage and faster 25W wireless charging speeds.

Those last two were also found on the Pixel 10 Pro XL last year, which means that the largest Pixel 11 model really got the short end of the stick when it comes to new stuff.

Pixel 11: Where are the big camera upgrades?

I have very mixed feelings about the camera, because at first glance it seems as though things are identical to the Pixel 10 Pro. That's not entirely true, but considering the Pixel 10 Pro's cameras were the same as the Pixel 9 Pro's, and produced photos that were indistinguishable, the lack of new hardware is still rather disappointing.

The Pros' main lens is the same, though the official specs show that the ultrawide and telephoto lenses both have larger sensors. This means both lenses will capture extra light, which improves low-light performance and captures much cleaner images in a variety of conditions.

The Pixel 11 also promises to have a larger sensor on the main lens, though the rest of the cameras don't seem to have changed.

To make matters worse, the cheapest Pro models, which have 256GB of storage, have actually had a RAM downgrade. Considering RAM is essential for on-device AI, the loss of 4GB is just another proverbial kick in the head.

I don't imagine that the Pixel 11 will be a bad phone, but there's nothing really exciting about these devices. In fact, the upgrades we do have here feel as though Google is phoning it in because they have to release something.

Obviously, things might change once we can test the Pixel 11 and find out whether it's had a magical boost to performance or battery life. But until then it feels as though everything has been put together with cool disinterest, if not active laziness.

It feels like Google is getting lazy

There's far more to a new phone than having a bunch of flashy hardware, and you can't have incredible game-changing upgrades every single year. But it still feels as though the Pixel 11 series lacks the thing that would actually make the phone appealing to people. Because the Pixel 11 Pro's HiLight feature sure as heck doesn't make me want to drop over a grand on a new device.

The Pixel 11 isn't nearly as lazy as the Pixel 10a, which was left with the same Tensor G4 chipset as the Pixel 9a. Back in February, I claimed that there was no good reason to buy a Pixel 10a, at least not while the Pixel 9a was still on sale, and I stand by that assessment.

I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say that the Pixel 11 is a pointless upgrade. It's certainly uninspiring and lacking in any exciting qualities. Even the new AI features, which Google has spent a great deal of time and money pushing with each successive Pixel launch, are rather disappointing this year. Not in terms of what they can do, but because there are so few of them this year.

Rambler sounds great, especially since Apple's own AI-powered dictation model is coming as part of iOS 27, and real-time speech-to-speech translation will never not be useful. Gemini Omni is not something I personally care about, but if it improves the quality of Gemini's generative capabilities and makes them easier to use then I can certainly see the importance of it. Similarly, 120x Super Pro-Res Zoom is a nice upgrade to the existing 100x zooming capabilities

But that's all there is, and like the hardware side of things it feels like Google just does not care about what the Pixel 11 series has to offer on the software side. The same is true for Android 17, come to think of it, and off the top of my head I can't recall anything particularly noteworthy in the update. I certainly didn't notice any change when my phone auto-updated during the middle of the night.

Figuring out a way to make people care about your next wave of devices, and the software running on it, is the end goal. But first Google needs to get off its behind and actually put the effort in.

Bottom line

The question I keep asking myself is this: Why should anyone go out and buy one of these phones? And honestly, I'm really struggling to come up with a solid answer. People that are still rocking older Pixels, such as a Pixel 6 or Pixel 7, would probably gain a lot here — especially if battery life is anything like the Pixel 10 series.

Pixel 8 would be borderline, but Pixel 9 and above? These phones haven't actually changed that much over the past two generations to warrant upgrading. Your best argument would be for non-users, since the standard Pixel 9 only offers two cameras, but even then you have to ask whether the money you're spending is worth it.

Last year I admitted that swapping a Pixel 9 Pro for a Pixel 10 Pro was a mistake, and the new phone didn't offer enough to make the switch worthwhile. The Pixel 11 Pro takes that to a whole new level, and I know for a fact that my Pixel 10 Pro is more than good enough to last me until the launch of the Pixel 12 Pro next year — and likely beyond that.

If Pixel phones are supposed to be the idealized version of what an Android phone can be, then Google seems to be doing a pretty shoddy job of it. And it could fix that problem by actually making a phone that elicits a response beyond "huh, ok then."

More from Tom's Guide

• Google bamboozled me into paying for Google Photos a decade ago — and now it’s doing something similar with the Pixel 11 Pro
• I held the Pixel Tag and it does one critical thing that the AirTag doesn’t — here’s what it is
• I tried the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and it's more 'Ultra' than Samsung's foldable (for $200 less)

There are two types of rumors in the run-up to device launches like the new Pixel 11 series. One kind of rumor includes annual claims that some feature will finally make its debut, like the constant claim that Apple will drop the current Face ID for under-display tech.

The other type is more specific to the device and tends to be correct, more often than not. However, sometimes they're wrong.

It was rumored that the new Tensor G6 silicon in the new Pixel 11 series would be made using TSMC's 2nm process, the first smartphone that would feature the more efficient CPU platform. This would have beat Apple to the punch, which typically gets the latest chip upgrades.

But it turns out that isn't true.

In an interview with the Chinese publication CNA, Peng Yu-chun, a VP of Hardware at Google, revealed that the G6 was built using TSMC's 3nm process.

That means that either the iPhone 18 Pro series will likely be the first smartphone to feature a 2nm chip.

What does Tensor G6 offer?

Despite not featuring the 2nm platform, Google claims the G6 has several upgrades.

That includes "25% faster web browsing, 15% quicker app launches" and 50% more TPU compute. It does feature an upgraded Titan M3 security chip, which was previously rumored and should make the phone more secure.

The chip also enables an upgrade Image Signal Processor to support the new Night Sight and a claimed upgraded digital zoom.

A worrying weakness

There was some excitement about a 2nm process because it would have been able to feature more nodes and deliver efficiency and power upgrades.

Pixels have long lagged behind Apple and Samsung's flagship phones. Unfortunately, that may continue. Just before yesterday's Made by Google event, a new Geekbench listing popped up that revealed a weak CPU. That listing showed a multicore score of 5,196 and a single-core score of 2,112. It's 50% slower than the S26 Ultra.

At Tom's Guide, we run our own tests; we'll see if the listing is an outlier or not. But at first blush, things aren't looking good.

More from Tom's Guide

• The Pixel 11 is available to pre-order, but you probably shouldn't right now — here's why
• After 10 years of Pixels, why is Google still making phones?
• I checked out the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL — here’s the one I recommend

Google has officially revealed the Pixel 11 series, and pre-orders are now open ahead of an official release date of August 20. The four new phones don't offer amazing upgrades compared to the Pixel 10 series, but there's enough that some of you are probably prepping to pre-order this phone as soon as you can. I'm here to tell you why you shouldn't do that.

The thing about Pixel phones is that they're like video games. You could buy them as soon as they're released, and pay full price to experience them right away, but you're just spending money that could be better used for other things. And it all comes down to the fact Pixel phones are essentially the mattresses of the smartphone world.

Considering how often, and how quickly the newest Pixel phones go on sale, paying full price is essentially agreeing to be ripped off.

Pixel discounts happen regularly, and quickly

Imagine you're looking at a new phone that's just been released. The $900 price tag is a little expensive for your tastes, but you know that waiting for a major discount is a fool's errand. Maybe you'll be able to save a bit of money during the next sales event, like Black Friday or Prime Day, but there's never any guarantee that it'll actually happen — or how much money you might save.

For the last few years I've noticed that this isn't the case with Pixel phones. In fact, sometimes the discounts can start coming within a few weeks of the phone actually going on sale. If you're willing to wait for the Fall Prime Day sale, or the Black Friday season, you could be looking at a pretty hefty discount.

Admittedly I am making an assumption about what the future holds for the Pixel 11 series. I don't have a crystal ball or magic powers that let me see into the future. But this is not the first time I've noticed this trend, and I would be very surprised if the Pixel 11 broke rank.

Pixel 10 discounts we spotted last year

The first Pixel 10 discount we spotted was at the start of September 2025, during Amazon's Labor Day sales. The phone didn't get any discounts, per se, but buying one did net you a free $200 Amazon gift card. While it's not the same as cold-hard cash, Amazon's ubiquity means that this is almost as good as getting $200 off your total.

I should mention at this point that the Pixel 10 was released on August 28, with pre-orders opening eight days earlier on August 20. This means the first Pixel 10 retailer deal happened just four days after release day.

The first actual discount happened in early October, during Amazon's fall Prime Day, with the $799 price tag dropping to $649. That's just on Amazon too, and further price drops did happen elsewhere — including Mint Mobile who started selling the Pixel 10 for $549 around the same time.

Further discounts towards the end of the last year eventually saw that price matched at Amazon, with occasional discounts to that same price happening in the early months of 2026

Price trackers show similar trends with the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL — though the larger phone's discounts are a little more erratic. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold took longer to go on sale, and didn't get any meaningful discount until November, with the likes of Amazon, Google and Best Buy all knocking $300 off.

This trend isn't exclusive to Pixel 10 either

The quick discount situation is an ongoing trend for Pixel phones and it is pretty common to see those prices dropping within a couple of months of release date.

Pixel 9 prices first dropped in October 2024, following the late August launch, though the price tracker does seem to have more ups and downs than a rollercoaster during the later months of 2024.

We saw the price drop as low as $548 during that year's Black Friday sales, though prices seemingly stabilized until before the Pixel 10 launch — after which they started to dip even further and more frequently.

Things never seem to get quite as low as the Pixel 8, which has been spotted for as low as $399. However, that low price happened in February 2025, almost a year and a half after it was first released.

I don't think waiting that long is worth it, but the price trackers do show the first dips in price happening around the Black Friday and holiday shopping seasons — occurring less than 2 months after the phone's October 2023 release.

The Pixel 7 followed a similar trend, eventually tapering out at around $449 almost a year after its initial release.

Though going back, it seems the Pixel 6 wasn't quite so quick to drop in price, and the price trackers don't have a lot of information from that far back. But considering the Pixel 6 started at $599, there wasn't a lot of room for price cuts until much later in its life cycle.

Regardless, we've seen that the last four generations of Pixel phones have enjoyed generous discounts very soon after release. Which tells me that we should certainly wait and see whether the Pixel 11 follows the same trend — because odds are that it will.

The Pixel 10 might be the better option right now

Saving money is all well and good, but there is one more question you need to ask yourself before you pick up a Pixel 11 series phone. And that is, "would you be just as happy with a Pixel 10 instead?"

Not only are Pixel 10 series phones cheaper than their Pixel 11-series counterparts, the differences between them aren't actually that extreme. Whether you're looking at the standard model or the Pixel 11 Pro XL, you're not getting a lot of upgrades.

There's a new modem, 256GB of base storage, faster wireless charging (25W vs 15W) and the Tensor G6 chipset. There's also a smaller battery, which doesn't fill me with much confidence.

The difference on the Pixel 11 Pro XL is even worse, since the 10 Pro XL already came with 25W wireless charging and 256GB of storage as standard. It apparently charges a little faster, gaining an extra 5% battery in half an hour, but that's the only extra upgrade it has compared to the smaller 11 Pro.

Admittedly we haven't done any lab testing with the Pixel 11 series yet, so we don't know how much of a change there is in terms of performance and battery life. So our opinion on the Pixel 11 upgrades may change later.

It's also worth noting that the Pro models also suffer from reduced RAM on their cheapest option, with 12GB of memory on models with 256GB of RAM. Meanwhile 16GB was standard on all Pixel 10 Pro and XL variants, including 128GB and 256GB storage variants.

Considering additional RAM is essential for on-device AI features, this actually puts the cheapest Pixel 10 Pro models at an advantage compared to their successors.

You can pick up a Pixel 11 Pro or Pro XL with 16GB of RAM, but you'll need to pay out for the higher 512GB and 1TB storage variants. That'll cost you an extra $120 for 512GB or $350 for 1TB. All while the equivalent Pixel 10s are available with heavy discounts, even if that means you need to pick up a refurbished model.

Bottom line: It all comes down to pre-order bonuses

The one thing that may affect your decision to pre-order or wait are the pre-order bonuses that are on offer. Google is offering increased trade-in credit during the pre-order window, gift cards with each new phone sold and discounts on the Pixel Watch 5. However the amount you get will vary depending on the device you buy and what you trade-in, and different retailers may have their own promotions in mind.

Pro buyers get up to $600 trade-in credit, a $200 gift card and $250 off a Pixel Watch 5. Meanwhile Pixel 11 owners are restricted to $500 trade-in credit, a $100 card and $130 off the Watch 5. This could be enough to sway you into buying, especially if you were planning on buying a Pixel Watch 5 and other Google accessories anyway.

But if all you're interested in is the new phone, then you are better off waiting. A little bit of patience could save you a few hundred dollars compared to buying the phone outright, especially if you weren't planning on trading in your old device — or it's in such bad condition you wouldn't get much for it. Because, odds are, in a couple of months we'll have seen the first Pixel 11 deals already, and you might be kicking yourself for paying the newly released prices right away.

And if the prices somehow don't go down in the next few months, it's not like you lost out on anything by waiting.

More from Tom's Guide

• Google bamboozled me into paying for Google Photos a decade ago — and now it’s doing something similar with the Pixel 11 Pro
• After 10 years of Pixels, why is Google still making phones?
• iPhone 18 Pro could see absolutely massive price hike according to researchers

Google new Pixel 11 lineup released in Australia on August 20, and while that means that it's officially too late to take advantage of any pre-order bonuses, it's still possible to nab one of the new handsets at a great price from Australia's major retailers and carriers.

If you missed out on the lineup's announcement, here's a rundown: the 6.3‑inch Pixel 11, the entry flagship, available from AU$1,499. Next comes the Pixel 11 Pro, also 6.3 inches, starting at AU$1,849, followed by the larger 6.8‑inch Pixel 11 Pro XL at AU$2,099. Topping the range is the premium foldable Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which sports a 6.5-inch outer display and 8‑inch inner display, priced from AU$2,799.

While the starting price for each device in the lineup has jumped by AU$100-AU$200, it's worth noting that Google has done away with the 128GB variant, with the base storage increased to 256GB.

The Pixel 11 series is powered by Google's new Tensor G6 processor, which is said to deliver a 20% increase in power efficiency, 25% faster browsing and 15% faster app loading. Meanwhile, the new Titan M3 chip offers stronger security via post-quantum cryptography.

Each device in the Pixel 11 range sports a redesigned camera bar with edge-to-edge glass and a metal frame for increased durability, while the Pro models get a new RGB ambient light system dubbed HiLight, which provides users with visual cues for caller ID, notifications and interactions with Gemini.

Cameras have also received some notable upgrades across the board — while raw megapixel counts have remained the same since last year's Pixel 10 series, the sensors themselves have been redesigned to let in more light, faster capture speeds and increased zoom up to 120x.

Pixel 11 pre-orders have closed, but there are still some bonuses and discounts available from Australia's top carriers and retailers — these are the best Pixel 11 deals and plans currently available.

Best Pixel 11 offers

While the pre-order period has technically closed, there are still some discounts and bonuses up for grabs for early adopters. On the telco side, Optus is offering up to AU$1,000 off for customers who stay connected to an eligible plan for 12, 24 or 36 months. You'll have to hurry though, as this offer expires on September 6, 2026.

For outright buyers, JB Hi‑Fi is bundling a Fitbit Air with the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL, upgrading audio perks to Pixel Buds 2a for Pixel 11 Pro buyers and Pixel Buds Pro 2 for Pixel 11 Pro XL pre‑orders. The biggest sweetener lands with the Pixel 11 Pro Fold: a Pixel Watch 5 (45mm) in Olive. You can find out more about these deals below.

Best Pixel 11 plans

Best Pixel 11 Pro plans

Best Pixel 11 Pro XL plans

Best Pixel 11 Pro Fold plans

I remember the old days when you got a new Android phone and, even before you finished the setup process, you were given the option to get free Google Photos backup. Really, who would pass up an offer like that? Alternatively, when I reviewed the Moto X, I was floored by its promotion offering 50GB of free Google Drive storage for two years.

Clearly, I got hooked on all of these free offers and didn’t think much about how dependent I’d ultimately become on cloud storage. So, when all of the promotions expired, I was forced to shell out for a subscription. And you know what? This same strategy is playing out all over again with the Pixel 11 launch.

While some people question why Google is still making phones, I think the hardware portfolio functions as a digital lure — pulling us into an ecosystem that we can’t live without. And that’s what I love and hate about Google AI Pro. Here’s why.

Pixel 11 Pro launch follows a similar strategy with Google AI Pro

Just a couple of years ago, when the Pixel 9 Pro launched, Google was offering a free one-year trial of Gemini Advanced with your purchase. That was my first real taste of Google’s new AI features, and it served as my introduction to Gemini Live.

I was skeptical about how AI could transform my daily life, but as I spent more time exploring Gemini Live and the other features on the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL — like Reimagine, Pixel Studio, and Pixel Screenshots — I became increasingly reliant on them.

Naturally, there are a few impressive new capabilities unlocked with Google AI Pro on the Pixel 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL, and 11 Pro Fold. For example, I got to try out one of Google’s latest models on the Pixel 11 Pro, Gemini Omni, which can create and edit videos for me. I’m not just talking about generating clips from text prompts because it can take existing videos I’ve shot and apply real edits — like adding effects, replacing backgrounds, and much more.

What’s truly impressive about this model is how intuitive it is. You simply launch Gemini, attach your video, and type out your requests. After a couple of minutes, it pulls off edits that would be nearly impossible for me to execute manually in my professional video editing software.

Having worked in retail past, I know that services and subscriptions are high-margin revenue drivers. That's part of the reason why Google continues to make phones. If you’re like me and these AI tools become indispensable to your workflow, you’re far more likely to pony up down the road just to keep them.

Proof that software is more critical than hardware

Google’s long-term play has always been about software. Even now, the company’s hardware lacks the design innovation I see from its rivals — specifically, the ultra-thin build of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the durable construction of Motorola’s Razr foldables, or the built-in Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Honestly, it gets confusing keeping track of all the subscriptions and services I’ve been locked into over the past few years. I eventually moved up from a simple Google Photos backup tier to a larger Google One plan for expanded Google Drive storage—and even that wasn’t enough.

Late last year, I finally caved and consolidated my Google subscriptions into a single Google AI Pro plan, which costs $19.99 per month and includes 5TB of Google Drive storage. These days, I find myself leaning heavily on Gemini Live for all sorts of tasks.

For example, I use it to quickly pull the best sequences from client video shoots by feeding it the transcript alongside timestamps of the spoken dialogue. Rather than scrubbing through hours of raw footage, Gemini analyzes the text and serves up the exact clips I need. It’s an undeniable timesaver and something I’ve come to deeply appreciate.

I think Google realizes it doesn't need to win the hardware volume war against Apple or Samsung to succeed. By prioritizing AI-first features that quietly become critical to our daily workflows, Google is banking on its software and services to move the needle. Quite frankly, it's effectively selling a subscription service that just happens to come wrapped inside a phone.

More from Tom's Guide

• After 10 years of Pixels, why is Google still making phones?
• Made by Google event — how to watch and what to expect
• iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro pre-order date just tipped — here's when you can get yours

Google’s latest hardware drop has officially arrived and, just like last year, consists of a trio of flagship models: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL. They all pack upgrades over their predecessors, including a first for the series: a Tensor G6 chip built on a new 2-nanometer manufacturing process.

That’s not all they share, either, because they all come with built-in Pixelsnap magnetic wireless charging, refreshed IP68 dust and water resistance, and a suite of new AI features. Then there’s the matter of their pricing, with each model seeing a $100 price bump — which at this point is inevitable with most gadgets.

I spent solid hands-on time checking out the trio, so I’ll tell you exactly what the base Pixel 11 lacks compared to the Pros. While the Pixel 10 emerged as my recommendation last year, you might be surprised by which one gets my vote this time around.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Specifications

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Price and availability

Yes, there’s a $100 price hike across all three models. That brings the starting price of the Pixel 11 to $899, while the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL go for $1,099 and $1,299, respectively.

Meanwhile, Australian pricing for Google's new lineup starts at AU$1,499 for the Pixel 11, AU$1,849 for the Pixel 11 Pro and AU$2,099 for the Pixel 11 Pro XL. That works out to starting price increases of between AU$100-AU$200 depending on model.

While the price increase isn't surprising at this point, the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro do see their base storage upgraded to 256GB. Unfortunately, the Pixel 11 Pro XL doesn’t get the same upgrade boost, remaining at 256GB just as before. Preorders are live now, with all three officially hitting shelves on August 20.

Personally, I’m drawn more to the standard Pixel 11 colors because they’re much bolder and richer compared to the muted colorways of the Pro models. If I had to choose, Hibiscus is easily the standout option on the Pixel 11.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Design

While all three phones sport the same signature look that made the previous lineup distinctive, I wouldn’t say there’s anything too different this time around apart from their colorways. Well, the Pixel 11’s camera cutout actually gets trimmed down by 40% — so when it’s paired with one of the new cases, the entire backside remains perfectly flat. The same can’t be said for the Pros, as their camera compartments still stick out.

The one big design addition on the Pros is the introduction of the HiLight LED on the back, which acts as a notification system for your contacts. Depending on who calls, you can set custom colors to coordinate with specific callers. It’ll also activate when you initiate Gemini, so you know it’s listening to your voice command.

It’s certainly a fresh hardware feature that’s great for quick glances when the phone is face down, but I feel it’s a bit gimmicky. At the same time, it doesn’t yet work with things outside of phone calls — like new text message notifications. I’m still a bit confused about why it’s here, especially when it doesn’t feel fully integrated into the experience.

Despite this, I’ll admit that all three devices feel superb in the hand. The Pixel 11 opts for a polished glass back matched with a satin aluminum frame, while the Pros have a matte glass back paired with a polished frame. However, the Obsidian colorway on the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL features a matte frame. Not only do they look premium, but they’re also plenty durable thanks to their drop resistance and IP68 ratings for dust and water protection.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Display

Taking a look at the specs, there doesn’t appear to be much change to their displays. The Pixel 11 packs the same 6.3-inch Actua display as before and delivers the punchy visuals that make it ideal for watching videos.

Similarly, the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL feature the same 6.3-inch and 6.8-inch Super Actua displays — which Google rates as its brightest ever at 3,600 nits, besting the previous year’s rating. It was hard to discern much of a difference when I loaded up the same HDR videos on YouTube, but I will admit that they’re gorgeous with their vibrant colors, wide viewing angles, and deep, pitch-black contrast.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Cameras

Just because the camera specs don’t look like a complete overhaul, you shouldn’t dismiss what Google is offering in its new Pixels. For starters, the Pixel 11 features a larger sensor on its main camera — which reportedly offers a 56% improvement in light sensitivity. This should make a substantial difference in action and low-light situations by capturing more light in the same amount of time. If that’s not enough, the 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom can now shoot even farther with support for up to 30x Super Zoom.

Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL get a new main camera sensor as well, while their 48MP telephoto shooter gets a larger sensor with 32% better light gathering, support for 5x Portrait Mode, and even farther reach with an updated 120x Pro Zoom. I got a demo of the latter with an Android figurine hidden across the room, resulting in a crisp shot that almost looked like I took it up close.

And since they’re powered by the new Tensor G6 chip, it unlocks even more powerful creative tools for serious shooters. Camera Looks are available to get your photo looking distinct right at the point of capture. Unlike standard photos that get processed after you press the shutter, Camera Looks preserve a specific look based on the aesthetic you choose. It sort of reminds me of LUTs (lookup tables) that color grade footage, and it can definitely elevate your photos.

The other intriguing feature powered by the Tensor G6 is Magic Capture. It’s a camera mode that intelligently analyzes frames to pull out high-quality still photos while recording video. It looked pretty impressive during a demo I saw of a pair of ballet dancers, delivering picture-perfect moments with clear facial expressions and great poses.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Performance

Powered by the new Google Tensor G6, every device in the Pixel 11 family feels snappy out of the gate. That’s crucial given how previous Tensor silicon has lagged behind competing flagship chips, making this year’s hardware a key proving ground.

Google claims the Tensor G6 boosts web browsing speeds by 25%, app launch times by 15%, and on-device AI execution by an impressive 3.5x. While it's impossible to fully evaluate those benchmarks during my quick preview, all three phones felt exceptionally fast and responsive in hand — including how fast it processed videos with Magic Capture to find those perfect snapshots at full resolution.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Battery and charging

Strangely enough, the Pixel 11 is the only model to gain a larger battery than its predecessor — packing a 4,985 mAh capacity. I suspect it’ll yield a noticeable improvement in endurance simply due to that larger capacity combined with its smaller screen and the power efficiency of the Tensor G6.

Conversely, the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL actually feature slightly smaller capacities, coming in at 4,850 mAh and 5,115 mAh, respectively. Again, I think the reasoning here is that Google feels confident in the efficiency gains of its new silicon.

Even though the Pixel 11 Pro XL doesn’t gain any charging speed upgrades, its 45W wired and 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging speeds are still solid by today’s standards. I’m happy to report, though, that the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro are now treated to the same 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging speed as their top-tier sibling.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Software and AI

Shipping with Android 17 right out of the box, Google’s latest hardware puts Gemini Intelligence front and center. Powered by the Tensor G6 chip, on-device AI tasks process up to 3.5 times faster while using significantly less power.

Beyond context-aware cards across your apps and proactive lock screen insights, one standout addition in Android 17 that I found especially superb in action is Rambler — a new Gemini-powered voice input feature in Gboard built for the way people actually speak. Instead of forcing you to speak without any mistakes, Rambler automatically filters out filler words like "um" and "ah," transforming your scattered dictations into clean, concise text on the fly.

Media creation and global communication get a massive boost, too. Android 17 taps into Gemini Omni, Google’s generative model that makes creating and editing video through natural conversation as seamless as editing a photo. I tried this out on an existing video by asking Gemini to swap out the logo of a bear for a chrome-looking pizza slice — and it did exactly that with impressive accuracy.

Meanwhile, Live Translate offers real-time, speech-to-speech translation that automatically dubs foreign-language videos, podcasts, and audio content directly into your preferred language. Google has focused heavily on AI over its last few generations, and this year’s suite convinces me that these are still the best AI phones on the market.

Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro vs. Pixel 11 Pro XL: Outlook

After getting hands-on time with all three, the Pixel 11 Pro emerges as my top recommendation because it strikes the ultimate sweet spot in Google's lineup. It offers the exact same flagship camera array as the Pixel 11 Pro XL (including 120x Pro Zoom and the upgraded main sensor), the brilliant 3,600-nit display, the ambient HiLight rear LED, and Google's full suite of Gemini AI capabilities.

On top of that, it gains faster 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging and double the starting storage at 256GB — all for $200 less than the XL. For most buyers, the standard Pro easily delivers the best value. Of course, my final verdict could shift once they're put through our rigorous lab testing, but for now, the Pixel 11 Pro leads the pack.

More from Tom's Guide

• After 10 years of Pixels, why is Google still making phones?
• Made by Google event — how to watch and what to expect
• iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro pre-order date just tipped — here's when you can get yours

It’s easy to write off the Pixel 11 Pro Fold when Samsung has the shiny new wide Fold 8. But Google’s new foldable phone is more of a direct competitor to the Fold 8 Ultra. It’s for people who actually want bigger and taller displays.

And you could argue that the Pixel 11 Pro Fold ($1,899 / AU$2,799) is an even better value. It’s not just $200 cheaper than the Ultra. It has a brighter display, better durability and even smarter AI features.

I went hands on with the new Pixel 11 Pro Fold and came away pretty impressed with its upgrades — with the exception of the gimmicky HiLight. Here’s how it stacks up.

Pixel 11 Pro Fold specs

Price and release date: $100 Hike

At $1,899 / AU$2,799, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is $100 more than its predecessor and the same exact price as the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Pre-orders are available now and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold release date is August 20.

Design: Tough and comfy, but still kinda bulky

Right off the bat, I prefer the Pixel 11 Pro Fold to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra because its front 6.5-inch screen is less squished. There’s more room for typing and your apps, thanks in part to Google slimming down the bezels.

I also appreciate the rounded corners on this design. They dig into your hands less than the Fold 8 Ultra's pointy corners.

Pick these phones up though and you’ll immediately notice Samsung’s portability and thinness advantage. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is a hefty 8.4 ounces and measures 5mm thick when open and 10.1mm when closed. That’s a definitive improvement over the Pixel 10 Pro Fold (9.1 ounces, 5.2mm/10.8mm), but the Fold 8 Ultra is still the featherweight champ of big screen foldables.

What Google gives you is more durability. Not only is this phone IP68 rated against water and dust — it’s just water for Samsung — Google gave the back a glass composite back that’s shatterproof.

The color options are Obsidian and Olive and the latter is the one I’d get because it’s a lot more fun.

HiLight (or LowLight?)

I can’t quite make up my mind if this feature is cool or just gimmicky but right now I’m thinking more of the latter.

HiLight is colorful LED on the back of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold that can glow different colors you set based on who’s calling. So if your phone is face down you can tell right away who’s on the other end.

The HiLight can also animate when you’re chatting with Gemini Live, which I guess is cool but not really necessary.

Displays: Brightest ever

Google’s foldable has a more noticeable crease than Samsung, but both the main and cover display are super bright. We’re talking 3,600 nits for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, compared to 3,000 for the Fold 8 Ultra.

And, I noticed the difference when I put both phones side by side, both set to max brightness. The black bars are very much there when watching YouTube, but I like how you can pop comments in on the right side while watching YouTube Shorts.

The Pixel Pro Fold also has a laptop mode that puts the content up and controls on the bottom, similar to the Flex Mode on the Fold 8 Ultra.

Multitasking: Bubbles everywhere!

While the Pixel 11 Pro Fold limits you to two open apps side by side, compared to three for Samsung, Google has a new trick up its sleeve.

You can turn apps into a floating window called bubbles and place them anywhere around the screen. And it’s simple to add more apps to your bubble and toggle between them.

Cameras: More light, more 'magic'

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold packs a triple rear camera system that starts with a 48MP wide sensor that lets in 58% more light.

In my very brief testing the Pixel 11 Pro Fold captured sharp and bright images, but this was under pretty ideal conditions.

You also get a 10.5MP ultra wide camera and a 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, compared to just 3x for the Fold 8 Ultra.

The selfie cameras are limited to 10MP, but you can always take rear camera selfies by flipped the front display around for maximum resolution.

The coolest camera feature on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is Magic Capture. Enter this special mode and press the shutter button, and the Pixel 11 Pro will automatically start shooting both photos and videos, picking out what it thinks are the best moments. Google had a couple of dancers for our demo and Magic Capture seemed to work pretty well.

Another nifty feature is Creative Studio, which you can use to record videos complete with a built-in teleprompter, sound level controls and more.

AI: Getting Pro-active

This is a Pixel phone so you know the 11 Pro Fold is going to have a boatload of AI features. But there’s a handful of useful ones that you won’t find on the Fold 8 Ultra.

Gemini Spark can perform tasks on your behalf in the background while you do other stuff. For example, you can ask Gemini to summarize emails related to your party RSVPs and have it create a spreadsheet of everyone’s dietary preferences.

Speech recognition also gets a boost with the Pixel 11 Pro Fold thanks to Rambler. You can say all the “uhs” and “ums” you want and this Foldable will edit them out on the fly.

Gemini’s Proactive Intelligent Suggestions builds on the hit-or-miss Magic Cue from previous Pixel phones, surfacing the right info just when you need it. For example, if someone asks if you’re available on a certain day and time, you’ll see a prompt for previewing your calendar — without having to leave the app.

This works for everything from being able to preview flight info to peeking at a restaurant. You can even book a table from within your messages with the tap of a button.

Performance and Battery: Breaking the 2nm barrier

The Pixel 11 Pro packs a new Tensor G6 chip that is among the first in the world built on a 2nm process. And that means you should expect a speed boost along with longer battery life — even with a smaller battery than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

For example, Google promises an Instant Night Sight feature for taking low-light photos with virtually no processing time. But we’ll have to test this out to see how it works.

And with a much faster TPU on board, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold should be able to perform on-device AI tasks much faster than before.

The 4,806 mAh battery inside the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is smaller than the 5,000 mAh battery for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but Google is still promising up to 24 hours of battery life. That’s because the G6 chip is designed to be 20% more efficient.

However, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a 5,015 mAh battery with newer silicon carbon tech, while the Pixel Fold is still stuck on Lithium Ion, so we’ll have to see which foldable lasts longer.

When it comes to wireless charging, Google has an advantage because it has Qi2 magnets built into the phone. With Samsung you have to buy a case.

Outlook

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is a much improved foldable phone. It’s lighter, thinner, tougher and faster. Plus, it has a longer zoom than the Z Fold 8 Ultra, a wider front display and — eureka! — you can actually take it to the beach.

Add in the brighter screens and shatterproof back and you have some pretty solid reasons for picking the Pixel 11 Pro Fold over Samsung.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is noticeably thinner and lighter; it has a less visible crease; and it packs sharper main and ultrawide cameras. Plus, you have the ability to run three apps at once.

I don’t see the HiLight feature being all that useful on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. More practical to me are Gemini proactive suggestions, as well as camera features like Magic Capture.

Overall, I’d be pretty torn between the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. But I’ll have to do some in-depth testing to see which one I’d buy with my own money. Stay tuned for my full review.