Pixel 10 vs Pixel 11: is it worth upgrading?

The specifications of both phones side by side

Design and display: almost identical

Put both phones side by side, and you’ll hardly see a difference. Both have a 6,3-inch display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, so scrolling and games look equally smooth.

What did change on the outside

Google made the camera bar on the back 40 percent thinner. This means the phone wobbles less when you lay it flat on a table. The glass now also covers the entire bar.

Both phones also use Pixelsnap, the built-in magnetic ring that lets you attach accessories without a case.

What changes the most

The real differences are in the hardware you don’t see: the camera, the chip and the storage.

A new main camera

The main camera has 48 megapixels on both phones, but the sensor in the Google Pixel 11 is larger. According to Google, this larger sensor captures 56 percent more light.

For photos in daylight, both phones are close. Google has stood out for years with its image processing, and both phones get that software.

You see the difference in low light: less noise and more detail. Do you take a lot of photos indoors, in restaurants or in the street at night? You’ll notice it straight away.

Zoom further, but only digitally

The zoom range has also gone up. Where the Pixel 10 reached 20x digitally, the Pixel 11 reaches 30x. Both zoom in 5x optically, so anything beyond that is a calculated image.

The telephoto lens itself is unchanged: 10,8 megapixels on both phones. The same goes for the 13-megapixel Ultra Wide and the 10,5-megapixel selfie camera on the front.

The Tensor G6

According to Google, the new chip lets you browse up to 25 percent faster and open apps 15 percent faster than the Tensor G5. The built-in AI processor has 50 percent more computing power. As a result, AI tasks on the phone run up to 3,5 times faster. Like its predecessor, the Tensor G6 is made on 3 nanometres.

More storage in the entry-level model

The Pixel 11 starts at 256 GB of storage, where the Pixel 10 started at 128 GB. Google does charge € 100 extra for this, as the recommended price went from € 899 to € 999.

Do you take a lot of photos and videos? 128 GB fills up quickly these days. RAM stays at 12 GB on both phones.

Performance and AI features

In everyday use, you notice little of the difference in chips. Both phones handle messaging, scrolling, navigating and watching videos equally well.

The difference is in AI tasks that run on the phone itself. Think of editing photos, live translation or asking Gemini for help. The Tensor G6 is noticeably faster here.

The modem: a switch with consequences

With the Pixel 11, Google switched from a Samsung modem to a MediaTek one. For years, Pixels had problems with unstable connections and overheating. This switch should improve that, but it still has to prove itself in practice.

Battery life and charging

Battery life is very similar. Google states over 30 hours for the Pixel 11 with normal use. The Pixel 10, with its 4.970 mAh battery, also easily lasts a day.

There is a difference in charging. The Pixel 11 charges wirelessly at 25 W, versus 15 W for the Pixel 10. With a cable, the Pixel 11 reaches 50 percent in half an hour, about a quarter faster than its predecessor.

Software, security and updates

Both Google phones get 7 years of Android and security updates. For the Pixel 10, that runs until August 2032, for the Pixel 11 until summer 2033.

So if you buy a Pixel 10 now, you still get years of software updates. The Pixel 11 also has a new security chip, the Titan M3.

Price: € 100 difference at launch

The Google Pixel 11 has a recommended price of € 999 for 256 GB and € 1.129 for 512 GB. The Pixel 10 started at € 899 for 128 GB last year, but has dropped a lot in price since. That makes the price difference in shops much bigger. So always check the current price of both phones, and consider how much storage you really need.

Looking for a new plan as well as a new phone? The Pixel 10 is extra affordable at Simyo. You currently pay € 576 (128 GB of storage) or € 624 (256 GB), combined with affordable bundles and the reliable KPN network. The Pixel 11 is now also available at Simyo, with 256 GB or 512 GB storage. These currently cost € 672 and € 768.

What do you get for the extra cost?

Better photos in low light, 128 GB of extra storage, a faster chip and 1 more year of updates. Whether that is worth the extra cost mainly depends on how often you take photos in the dark.

Mainly looking for a good Google Pixel phone for everyday use? The Pixel 10 is currently the more affordable choice.

When do you choose the Google Pixel 10?

• you want a strong Pixel without paying the top price
• 128 GB of storage is enough for you
• you mainly take photos in daylight
• updates until August 2032 are more than enough for you
• you want as much phone as possible for your money

When do you choose the Google Pixel 11?

• you often take photos in low light
• you need 256 GB of storage or more
• you use AI features a lot and want the fastest chip
• you want software updates for as long as possible
• you have had problems with an unstable connection on a Pixel before

Coming from another Pixel?

Do you have a Pixel 10 now? Upgrading is rarely worth it. You pay almost the full price of a new phone for better photos and more storage, while the rest of the hardware stays the same. Your current phone also gets updates until 2032.

Coming from a Pixel 8 or older? The step up is big enough to notice. In that case, first check whether the Pixel 10 is enough, as it is a lot more affordable.

How to buy a Google Pixel at Simyo

At Simyo, you combine a Pixel with a plan. You pay for the phone in 24 monthly instalments on top of your bundle, so you spread the costs instead of paying the full amount in one go.

You can currently choose from 3 Google phones:

• the Pixel 10a, the most affordable entry-level model
• the Pixel 10, with 3 cameras including a telephoto lens
• the Pixel 11, witht the latest improvements

See the current prices and more details on our page with Google phones .

Already have a phone you’re happy with? Choose a Sim Only plan and put together your own bundles. You can change them every month, including to a smaller one.

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