The Pixel 11 series has left Google with something of a dilemma. Based on our time with the phones so far, they remain among the most enjoyable Android handsets to use, thanks largely to Google’s software experience and a growing collection of genuinely useful features. But our testing of the Tensor G6 shows that Google’s custom silicon is falling further behind rival flagship chips; early gaming tests suggest a familiar litany of issues; and a week with the Pixel 11 Pro suggests that many of Google’s newest AI tricks aren’t yet strong enough to make up the difference.
That’s not necessarily a problem for the Pixel 11, but it could become one for the Pixel 12.