Photography is where the two phones diverge the most and is arguably the biggest reason to consider the Pro.
Pixel 11 rear cameras:
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Wide: 48 MP (ƒ/1.70, 1/1.56″ sensor)
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Ultra-wide: 13 MP (ƒ/2.2, 1/3.1″ sensor)
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Telephoto lens: 10.8 MP, 5x optical zoom (ƒ/3.1, 1/3.2″ sensor)
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Maximum zoom: Super zoom 30x
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Selfie camera: 10.5 MP
Pixel 11 Pro cameras:
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Wide: 50 MP (ƒ/1.68 sensor, 1/1.3″)
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Ultra-wide: 48 MP with autofocus (ƒ/1.7, 1/2.51″ sensor)
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Telephoto lens: 48 MP, 5x optical zoom (ƒ/2.8, 1/1.95″ sensor)
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Maximum zoom: 120x professional zoom
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Selfie camera: 42 MP
The differences in sensor sizes are substantial. The Pro’s wide camera uses a 1/1.3-inch sensor compared to the 11’s 1/1.56-inch, which draws in more light and should provide finer details. Ultra-wide goes from 13MP to 48MP, a massive resolution boost that will make landscape and architectural photos stand out. The Pro’s telephoto sensor is also much larger than the standard model and supports a redesigned 120x Pro Zoom (AI-powered) compared to the standard model’s 30x Super Zoom.
The Pro also includes Instant Night Sight, which delivers up to 4.5x faster low-light photo capture compared to the Pixel 11’s standard Night Sight. We’ll have to thoroughly test Instant Night Sight to judge the differences, but it should be a huge benefit for anyone regularly taking photos in low-lit environments.
The Pixel 11 Pro has many more features than the standard model. With Pro controls and High Resolution mode, the camera will take photos at the full 50 MP resolution with manual control of settings, which is not available on the Pixel 11. High Resolution Portrait mode also offers photos up to 50 MP with properly blurred backgrounds.
There are similar gaps when it comes to video capabilities. Both models are capable of 4K video at up to 60fps, but the Pro has the ability to digitally upscale it up to 8K/30. There are similar software differences across the board, with the Pro offering a suite of advanced features such as digital stabilization.
Google has a great track record when it comes to computational photography, but we’ll have full reviews very soon examining both camera suites with full verdicts on the success of the 11 and 11 Pro.
Connectivity
Another notable difference between Google’s two new phones is in the connectivity department. The Pixel 11 Pro supports Wi-Fi 7, which delivers faster speeds and lower latency compared to Wi-Fi 6E in the Pixel 11. It also includes an ultra-wideband chip for precise spatial orientation and precise range of devices. These are meaningful upgrades for tech-savvy users, but less critical for casual everyday use.
AI and software
Both phones will feature Android 17, the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system, which arrived earlier this year and was already available for the previous generation of Pixels. New features in the Pixel 11 series include Gemini Intelligence with proactive notifications, Magic Capture, and Circle to Search in camera. Although they offer similar features, only the 11 Pro includes a six-month trial of the Google AI Pro plan, which includes Google Health Premium, access to more powerful models, cloud storage, and other features.
