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JR Raphael, Foundry
The Magic Capture mode is nice, meanwhile, but I’m not sure it’s a reason in and of itself for most folks to buy a new device if they’re already using a recent previous-gen Pixel — and it may well make its way to older Pixels eventually. The enhanced Android voice typing system might be a reason to upgrade — but (a) it’ll almost certainly come to the rest of the Android ecosystem before long, and (b) in the meantime, you can get almost the exact same experience in just a slightly less native-feeling and convenient way by installing Wispr Flow.
That aside, we can’t overlook two downgrades in the Pixel 11, compared to the 10 models: First, the Pixel 11 eliminates the thermometer that’s been present on the past few Pixel Pro models — something that was originally launched before it was ready but that evolved into a genuinely useful element. I can’t even count the number of times my wife or I have relied on it for taking a quick temperature when someone’s under the weather and a standalone thermometer can’t be found or is acting up and giving us a different reading every time we try it.
Second, and perhaps even more significant, the Pixel 11 Pro models start with 12GB of RAM and only bump back up to 16GB — the standard level of memory for all Pro models last year — if you opt for the pricier 512GB storage version. The reason for this change is seemingly an industry-wide issue that’s out of Google’s control, of course, but it’s still something you’re faced with as a potential purchaser of these products. (I’d be surprised if anyone detected an immediate discernible difference in experience as a result of this change, but it stands to reason that the limitation could adversely affect you at some point down the line — particularly if you’re doing a lot of multitasking or other resource-intensive work.) The Pixel 11 Pro Fold, meanwhile, maintains its 16GB RAM level but includes a $100 price hike from last year’s version.
