Brighter and Tougher Display
The display gets a useful upgrade as well.
Peak brightness increases from 3,000 nits to 3,600 nits, representing a 20% increase. For users in bright environments, particularly under Singapore’s strong sunlight, the additional brightness should make the screen easier to see outdoors.
No wonder it looks super bright when displaying HDR contents.
Google is also claiming 2x improved scratch resistance, providing additional protection against everyday wear.
Thinner and Lighter
Despite adding new hardware and capabilities, Google has managed to make the Pixel 11 Pro XL slimmer and lighter.
Thickness drops from 8.5mm to 7.6mm, while weight falls from 232g to 227g.
That almost 1mm reduction in thickness should make the large flagship more comfortable to hold, while the five-gram reduction helps as well.
An Enhanced Telephoto Camera
The camera system gets one of the most significant hardware upgrades.
The Pixel 11 Pro XL features a physically larger 48MP 5x periscope telephoto sensor measuring 1/1.95-inch, compared with the previous 1/2.55-inch sensor.
The larger sensor should capture more light, improving image quality in challenging lighting conditions.
Google is also pushing computational zoom to up to 120x Pro Zoom.
As always, the real test isn’t the maximum zoom number but how much usable detail remains at extreme magnifications.
With a larger telephoto sensor combined with Google’s computational photography, the Pixel 11 Pro XL could be a formidable long-range camera phone.
Magic Capture: Shoot Video Without Missing the Perfect Photo
One of the more interesting camera features is Magic Capture, which solves a familiar problem when photographing fast-moving moments.
Normally, you have to decide whether to take a photo or record video. If you choose video, you may end up missing the exact moment you wanted as a properly framed still image.
Magic Capture takes a different approach.
Instead of worrying about pressing the shutter at exactly the right moment, you can record the moment as video using Magic Capture mode.
The Pixel then analyses the footage and automatically extracts the best photo shot from the video, selecting a frame that is properly framed and suitable for use as a still image.
This is particularly useful for situations where the subject is moving or the moment is unpredictable.
You can concentrate on filming the action rather than constantly thinking:
“Should I stop recording and take a photo now?”
With Magic Capture, the video becomes the source material from which the phone can find the best still image.
It is another good example of Google’s computational photography approach — using software and AI to reduce the pressure on the person holding the camera.
Impressive 4K Video — Without a Gimbal
Still photography isn’t the only area where the Pixel 11 Pro XL impresses.
After testing the phone, its 4K video stabilisation is particularly impressive. The phone can produce remarkably steady 4K footage without requiring a gimbal, making it much more practical for handheld video shooting.
But there’s another important detail for video creators: the Pixel 11 Pro XL can shoot 4K video in 10-bit HDR using HLG.
This gives video footage significantly more colour information and dynamic range than conventional 8-bit SDR recording. HLG is also designed to work well with HDR displays while maintaining compatibility with standard workflows.
Combined with the phone’s strong stabilisation, this makes the Pixel 11 Pro XL a surprisingly capable handheld video camera.
For creators who shoot while walking, travelling or covering events, being able to record stabilised 4K 10-bit HDR (HLG) without carrying a gimbal is a major advantage.
Unfortunately, Google still hasn’t addressed one issue that will matter to more serious videographers.
The Pixel 11 Pro XL still doesn’t offer 25fps or 50fps recording options.
For casual users, this may not matter much. But for creators who regularly combine smartphone footage with footage from mirrorless cameras, cinema cameras or other professional equipment, 25fps and 50fps are important frame-rate options.
So while the Pixel’s stabilisation and 10-bit HLG capability are impressive, Google’s video controls still aren’t quite as flexible as they should be.
Main Camera Gets an Update Too
The primary camera has also been updated with a new 50MP sensor.
While the telephoto upgrade is clearly the headline hardware change, the updated main sensor should give Google’s image-processing algorithms a better foundation for everyday photography.
This is where Gemini and Google’s computational photography expertise could become increasingly intertwined.
The Pixel is no longer simply capturing an image. Google’s software is increasingly interpreting the scene, understanding the user’s intent and deciding how the final image should look.
Night Sight Gets 4.5x Faster
Low-light photography is another area receiving a major improvement.
Google claims Night Sight capture times are 4.5 times faster.
That should make computational night photography feel considerably more responsive, particularly when shooting moving subjects.
The camera also gains new software capabilities such as Camera Looks, while Magic Capture adds another layer of computational photography to the shooting experience.
HiLight Ambient LED
Google is also replacing the Pixel’s niche temperature sensor with something considerably more visible.
The new HiLight Ambient LED can be customised to provide visual notifications, including pulsing for VIP alerts and Gemini activity.
It is another example of Google shifting the Pixel’s hardware towards features that support the broader AI experience.
Extreme Charging and Qi2.2 Pixelsnap
Charging also gets an upgrade.
The Pixel 11 Pro XL introduces Extreme Charging Mode, designed to improve charging performance when users need a quick top-up.
Wireless charging is also upgraded to Qi2.2 Pixelsnap, improving compatibility with magnetic wireless charging accessories.