Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

Google's latest smartphone, the Pixel 11, isn't an earth-shattering upgrade from the Pixel 10 -- or even the 9. The 6.3-inch physical form factor, 12GB of RAM, and overall build is the same. However, the Pixel 11 has double the base storage and two generations of processor improvements under its belt. With the addition of the Google Tensor G6, the Pixel 11 represents a considerable upgrade in processing efficiency and CPU performance. 

Also: Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: I'm a fan of both foldables, but this one wins

If you're a Pixel 9 user who held off on the Pixel 10 last year, the new Google Pixel 11 may just be enough to convince you to upgrade, especially when you consider how the phones' specifications translate into real-world applications.

Let's address the elephant in the room: The Pixel 11 features a camera system redesign over a simple upgrade. Instead of the incremental camera upgrades we tend to see in phone launches, the Pixel 11 features a substantial resolution reduction: from 48MP in the Pixel 9 to 13MP on its ultrawide camera. 

Also: Google Pixel 11 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S26: I compared the two Android flagships, here's my pick

However, the new Pixel 11 also features a telephoto camera, moving from a dual-camera system to a triple-camera array. The telephoto lens is a dedicated zoom lens for capturing clear images of distant objects. This is the second time we've seen a telephoto camera on a base-model Pixel, the first being on the Pixel 10.

Looking into how Google made the upgrades to the new Pixel 11, it appears the company used lower-resolution wide and ultrawide sensors to make room for a telephoto option, potentially to avoid pushing the Pixel 11 into Pro territory and increasing its price. 

The main camera went from 50MP to 48MP, which isn't necessarily a substantial enough change to meaningfully affect image quality, especially when you consider that aperture, pixel size, and image processing are much more important than a 2-megapixel difference.

The new Pixel 11 also features upgraded computational video features, including major improvements in ultra-low-light video and 4K cinematic blur.   

Like many other consumer tech companies, Google is raising the price of its smartphones. The 2026 Google Pixel base model will sell for $100 more than the previous generation, now starting at $899 instead of $799.  

You'll pay more, but you'll also get twice the base storage with the new Google Pixel 11. It starts at 256GB of storage and 12 GB of RAM, compared to the Pixel 9's 128GB of storage for $799. 

Also: Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: I'm a fan of both foldables, but this one wins

All in all, we're not seeing a big redesign with the Pixel 11. The similarities may outweigh the differences between the two base model Google phones. 

However, the biggest and most noticeable difference will probably be the Tensor G6 performance, which could make the phone substantially faster while running cooler and potentially lasting longer. Also, the addition of a telephoto camera could offer a different photo experience. Taken together, these could offer a compelling reason to upgrade if your phone feels sluggish, or has taken a beating over the last two years.