3 factors I’d get the Pixel 11 over the Pro

Google isn’t making it any easier for us.

For the third year in a row, there are four Pixel 11 phones to choose from: Pixel 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL and 11 Pro Fold.

Unless you’re a foldable enthusiast, the Pro Fold is probably out of the question. However, you might be surprised to learn that it’s the base Pixel 11 that appeals to me the most.

Here are three key reasons why I believe it’s the best of the bunch.

Not a HiLight

Ooh, here’s a controversial one to kick us off.

When the Pixel 11 series started leaking, there was plenty of excitement surrounding the so-called ‘Pixel Glow’ lights coming to the back. Could we really get a customisable, glowing ring of LED lights around the camera module, as Gemini imagined?

Absolutely not, as it turns out. And it’s not even called Pixel Glow! ‘HiLight’ is an underwhelming name for what looks like a disappointing feature. It’s essentially a worse version of the ‘Glyph’ lights on Nothing phones, creating different patterns depending on who’s calling or if Gemini is listening, responding or carrying out a task.

And that’s about it, at least for now. Google says more features will be added to HiLight “over time”, but at launch it feels woefully undercooked.

Personally, I really don’t get why you’d want a light on the back of your phone. You can already set custom ringtones for each contact, allowing you to know exactly who’s calling at any given moment. Flipping your phone over is meant to keep you from being distracted – wasn’t that the whole point of the excellent ‘Flip to Shhh’ feature?

After testing it for the review, I couldn’t turn Nothing’s Glyphs off soon enough. I’d expect it to be the same story with HiLight on Pixel 11 Pro, so I’d rather not deal with it in the first place.

Niche as it may have been, I’m really sad that Google ditched Pixel’s built-in temperature sensor for something so disappointing.

Going nuts for pistachio

Just like usual, Pixel 11 series colours vary significantly depending on the model you choose. Aside from ‘Obsidian’ (black), the colour selection is entirely different on the regular Pixel 11 compared to the Pro.

Of the exclusive colours, that eye-searing ‘Hibiscus’ will be most likely to catch people’s attention. But it’s the muted ‘Pistachio’ (below) that I’m loving the look of.

These rich, earthy green tones make it feel perfectly at home in nature. I guess my favourite colour being green has something to do with it

The Pixel 11 Pro’s equivalent, ‘Olive’ (on the right below), looks dull and washed-out by comparison. The shift to a lighter tone on the aluminium rails also feels jarring.

For years, I didn’t care about phone colours as I knew I’d buy the black model anyway. But the improved durability of modern phones, combined with stunning finishes like Pistachio, makes me want to use the Pixel 11 case-free.

Priced to perfection (almost)

Like basically every 2026 phone, the entire Pixel 11 series is getting more expensive.

However, that’s slightly offset by a jump to 256GB of storage, meaning the regular Pixel 11 is actually cheaper than the equivalent Pixel 10 model, costing £879/$899.

Would I rather it was still £799/$799? Of course. But the new Tensor G6 chipset and refreshed cameras (albeit with the same megapixel counts as last year) help to soften the blow.

By contrast, the Pixel 11 Pro models are more unaffordable than ever. You’ll pay at least £1,079/$1,099 for the Pro and £1,279/$1,299 for the Pro XL. In a cost of living crisis, who’s got that sort of money lying around?

Compromises in the right places

Of course, to hit its more affordable price point, the lack of HiLight isn’t the only supposed compromise.

The cameras aren’t quite as capable (although they’re still plenty good for most people), and the 6.3-inch display’s resolution is slightly lower than the Pro. But aside from that? It’s essentially the same phone.

I can’t quite figure out why anyone wouldn’t want to save at least £200/$200 while still getting an extremely capable handset. That’s why I’m excited to try the regular Pixel 11 and see if it’s as good an option as it sounds.