Traditionally, Google has got down to make useful units. The Pixel 11 Professional continues that with Gemini Intelligence, whereas introducing a brand new narrative about how you need to use your cellphone much less with HiLight.
HiLight
Narratives matter, and the one round HiLight is frankly extra attention-grabbing than the {hardware} function because it exists at this time.
I don’t assume “use your cellphone much less” is spin. Google is responding to the very actual sentiment that folks love their telephones however are more and more overwhelmed by them. The alternative of genuinely making an attempt to construct {hardware} that meets the second is what I contemplate paint-by-numbers design. The one precedence there may be to hit a spec or temporary with out actual imaginative and prescient or regard for the way it comes collectively.
At launch, HiLight simply doesn’t accomplish what it got down to do. Folks do put their telephones face down when they should focus. Realizing when an vital name is available in just isn’t a foul thought, however having that function the primary of solely two capabilities just isn’t sufficient.
The Gemini standing lights for listening, pondering, and responding mimic a sensible speaker. I don’t actually need them for voice command affirmation since hotword detection is fairly dependable nowadays. That mentioned, I do use it each evening when my Pixel 11 Professional is (wired) charging face down on my nightstand and I ask Google to show off the lights. There’s a non-zero quantity of caprice that I can respect. One other approach you need to use (demo) it’s when your cellphone is face down and the ability button is ready to invoke Gemini.
Not like software program (extra on the Magic Cue to Proactive Help improve beneath), a {hardware} function that doesn’t do sufficient looks like wasted area. I’d go so far as saying that sticking with the temperature sensor for one more yr to permit the software program for HiLight to mature might need been the higher transfer.
HiLight can be appreciated by some customers, nevertheless it’s not there but for me or most individuals till it helps messaging. It kills me that “Who will you HiLight?” is definitely an excellent line that would have gone viral, particularly if Google connects it to Pixel VIPs, which I nonetheless assume is their best software feature in ages.
Hopefully, Google will allow messaging help as quickly as potential — precise weeks, not the “within the coming weeks” that at all times means months — however thus far HiLight has not made an excellent first impression.
Gemini Intelligence
Gemini Intelligence is only a model that I’m undecided will acquire significant recognition, nevertheless it does present a extra cohesive branding umbrella in comparison with the previous two generations.
The primary of two tentpole options is Proactive Help. Earlier than we dive into the performance, what’s reassuring to me is Google’s year-over-year iteration on Magic Cue. Final yr’s premise of delivering contextual data and actions primarily based on what’s taking place in a dialog was right. Nevertheless, my response to seeing them was “not fairly.”
This yr, the real development is giving Proactive Help a consumer interface. Normally, tapping slides up a backside sheet with extra context, like seeing your calendar for a selected interval. That gives sufficient reassurance that the AI is right in figuring out your schedule is definitely empty earlier than including a brand new occasion. Seeing inline place listings as a substitute of opening your complete Google Maps app retains you within the dialog and feels much less distracting. Exhibiting your flight particulars with out opening Google Search is equally fast and useful. On the backside of this sheet, you possibly can choose what will get shared, and I respect that there are actually choices.
There’s an adjustment interval to Gboard Rambler that’s not instantly apparent. The transcription doesn’t seem in actual time as you communicate. As an alternative, you faucet the nook microphone button, discuss, and hit the checkmark as soon as executed. The transcription seems after a second with none pauses or filler phrases due to the processing that happens. Rambler then allows you to edit and remodel the output. It’s extra like prompting in that regard.
Within the span of every week, I’ve not adjusted to this. Greater than as soon as, I’ve forgotten to faucet the checkmark and ended up ready for a transcript that can by no means come. With the ability to instantly see what I’ve mentioned permits me to verify and make keyboard edits, which helps extend the voice session.
Google allows you to return to the earlier “Customary” expertise, however I haven’t taken that choice but to present it extra time. Rambler is inherently a extra voice-first, if not voice-only, expertise that doesn’t allow you to combine and match enter strategies. There needs to be extra of a center floor, possibly only a preview for Rambler’s outcomes once you pause lengthy sufficient, however earlier than you truly finish the session. Till then, a good suggestion may be letting you shortly change modes relying on the scenario proper from the recommendations strip with out having to go to Gboard settings.
One other Gemini Intelligence addition I fairly like is checking a Google Maps itemizing and opening a ride-sharing app to seek out that place provided as a one-tap suggestion with out having to manually copy the tackle.
Utilizing job automation remains to be not second nature to me. Trip hailing is my major use case, however I discover that after I name a automotive, I’m often in a rush. My default conduct in these moments is to madly kind and faucet, as Gemini’s cellphone management is simply not quick sufficient but.
At a Look can now present membership playing cards once you go to a retailer. That is Google lastly taking full benefit of the devoted area it has reserved on the prime of your lock and homescreen for the reason that begin. The function remains to be in “preview,” nevertheless it’s already promising.
{Hardware}
Previously yr, my each day drivers have been the Pixel 10 Professional from August to March, adopted by the Pixel 10a till early July. I got here again to the ten Professional forward of this overview and my principal takeaway is that I miss the platonic supreme of a cellphone that’s the flat and light-weight Pixel 10a. As seen with the bottom Pixel 11 shrinking how far its Digital camera Bar protrudes and the plateau disappearing with a case, I consider Google has its eyes on that design objective. No bar means no assortment of mud and small fibers on the Bar out of your pocket or bag, an incidence I observed instantly after switching to the flagship.
I like how clear this edge-to-edge Digital camera Bar is. There’s some character within the previous method that melds steel and glass, however I favor the extra minimalist aesthetic.
I’ve used the Fog Pixel 11 Professional for the previous week with its shiny rails and proceed to consider that the polish doesn’t truly obtain the meant premium look. As evidenced by the matte Obsidian, Google is starting to get the message.
The cellphone is three grams lighter and that’s clearly not considerable to a standard human being. Equally, being 0.2 mm thinner doesn’t do something for me. Having used the iPhone Air as my iOS gadget this previous yr, I’m agency in my perception that skinny telephones really feel like the long run, however I’m within the minority in being keen to just accept the inherent trade-offs that at the moment include that.
The Pixel 11 Professional I’m reviewing has 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. I might have been blissful to overview the 12 GB mannequin, having been completely wonderful with the 8 GB on the Pixel 10a for six months.
The Tensor G6’s CPU enhancements of 15% faster app launches and 25% sooner shopping are usually not noticeable in day-to-day utilization. What’s price mentioning is how the upgraded Picture Sign Processor (ISP) and 50% extra highly effective Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) make computational images sooner, with Immediate Evening Sight being the marquee instance.
The brand new NFC chip placement doesn’t make a distinction for tap-to-pay, however I do like Faucet to Share for sharing one-off photographs.
To check HiLight, I needed to put my cellphone face down. That’s an issue when you don’t use a case like yours actually. I attempted utilizing this cellphone with Google’s Pixelsnap Clear Case and made it lower than 24 hours. Placing your cellphone face down on a sofa or mattress is completely wonderful, however I’ve a glass work desk.
For science, I did that. It was excruciating wonderful after three days, however my colleague Will managed to scuff up the “2x Scratch Resistant Show Coating” already with a steel keychain in his pocket with the cellphone.
Early battery life testing on the Pixel 11 Professional has not differentiated vastly from final yr. Formally, Google switched to a “30+ hour battery life estimate” from “24+,” with the everyday capability dropping 20 mAh.
Lastly, on the threat of sounding like a damaged file, the Fast Faucet gesture that allows you to hit the again of the cellphone twice to play/pause music or launch apps isn’t extra correct than earlier than. Possibly subsequent yr.
Digital camera
My colleagues can have extra to say in regards to the digital camera in our Pixel 11 Professional XL overview, however I’d add that Digital camera Seems are simply enjoyable. There are a ton of apps that supply comparable performance, together with the great and shockingly free Snapseed from Google. Nevertheless, making it a built-in function vastly will increase the chance you’ll use it. Once I need to seize a sudden second, I double-click the ability button on intuition.
Becoming a member of the Authentic Pixel HDR look are Pure (for relaxed particulars), Shadows (deeper distinction), and Vanilla (heat, golden glow). These 4 choices may be set as your default look that can persist once you shut and reopen Pixel Digital camera. Every week in, I nonetheless haven’t decided whether or not I’ll change from Authentic.
Then you’ve got Stylistic Seems that reset after each session: Editorial, Velvet, Traditional, Digi, Black Tie, and Minimal. The latter is of notice for embracing the less-processed look additionally led by third-party apps.
My favored approach of switching between Stylistic Seems is utilizing the up to date Fast entry controls that allow you to decide which sliders (as much as 4) seem to the left and proper of the viewfinder. Your choices are White Steadiness, Shadows, Publicity, Seems, Focus, Shutter Pace, or ISO. On the whole, it is a a lot better method for surfacing Professional Controls than opening the bottom-right nook menu with its carousel and horizontal sliders.
Immediate Evening Sight is noticeable each time you employ it and a literal time saver which means you’re extra prone to get an in-motion shot. Google touts as much as 4.5x velocity enhancements in comparison with the Pixel 8-10, with the improved sensors, redesigned digital camera software program, and extra TPU compute credited for making this potential.
Google is so assured in Magic Seize that you would be able to set Pixel Digital camera to launch that mode when urgent the app icon or double-clicking the ability button. (Video may also be set as a substitute of Picture.) Moreover, the mode switcher within the Digital camera app is now Magic Seize, Picture, and Video.
Regardless of their confidence, I’m glad they launched a guide shutter button whereas the function is energetic, with Magic Seize providing a sublime consumer interface total. You can even seize photographs from the video after the actual fact, with Google clearly caring about not being accountable for a missed second.
The one correct event I needed to strive it out was throughout Made by Google 2026 to file the musical efficiency from very far-off. I can’t wait to truly use this throughout live shows, with the cellphone positioned in opposition to my chest as I truly watch what I got here for, whereas the Pixel workforce tells me they’ve discovered nice worth utilizing Magic Seize at events.
Keep tuned this week for extra on Magic Seize.
Conclusion
At this stage of the sport, a smartphone wanting principally the identical for a couple of years mustn’t incur a penalty.
Including AI to merchandise nowadays invitations cynicism. It’s particularly problematic for Google because it builds extra assistive options powered by AI and commits bodily {hardware} to that goal. Google promoting telephones on this premise requires patrons to consider the corporate is earnest. That it’s price studying to make use of a function and trusting it to truly work. HiLight may very well be a good suggestion and it ought to have launched with extra options to present it the very best shot, however is in the end ignorable.
In the end, the Pixel 11 Professional is a wonderful cellphone waylaid by narrative and circumstance (RAMageddon) extra so than any particular faults. The {hardware}, software program, and AI – they’re all fairly good.
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