The Pixel 11 will be a perfect storm of bad timing
It’s all leaked at this point. We know just about everything the Pixel 11 is bringing to the table, and, well, it feels a bit underwhelming, doesn’t it? This issue of 9to5Google Weekender is a part of our newsletter that highlights the biggest Google stories with added commentary and more. Sign up here to get Weekender delivered to your inbox every weekend, and catch our weekday roundups too!
The Pixel 11 release is facing a perfect storm of bad timing. Google's Pixel history has been tumultuous, but in recent years, the line has been on a hot streak, culminating in the 10-year anniversary of Pixel. However, this year's phone feels rather underwhelming. Google has explicitly stated their intention to bring major design refreshes only every 2-3 generations, and the Pixel 11 seems to follow this "if it ain't broke" mentality.
There's no significant design refresh, and the only novelty is a splash of RGB on the back. While the "Dune" Pro color looks stunning, green options may disappoint. Foldable models appear to be minor evolutions, arriving at a time when Samsung leads with refinements, wider form factors, and Apple is on the horizon. Most concerning is the trend of increasing prices without substantial upgrades.
Despite similarities across models and potential RAM reductions in base tiers of Pro models, prices are rising. This isn't just Google's fault; AI data centers are the reason for the market pull-ahead, and Google now has to deal with the consequences. The Pixel 11 series might still be good, but it's coming at a terrible time. We'll know more in just over a week.
Written by urgent.news from 9to5Google's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
