I ranked the Pixel 11 colours from “insipid” to “Miami sunset” You Should Know
Google has announced its sparkly new Pixel 11 smartphone range and while the design is nearly identical to the Pixel 10 series from last year, the Android maker has got its box of paints out once again.
Although the Pro models come with a flashy new HiLight feature on the back, the main design difference this year is Google’s wide range of colourways for the Pixel 11 phones. The firm is never one to shy away from an annual shake-up of the hues.
Some of which are mirrored with the Pixel Watch 5 so you can get matchy-matchy if you like. As usual, we like to rank Google’s colour options here at TechAdvisor, so here are our official rankings for the Pixel 11 colour options.
Note that the colours were leaked ahead of the launch, but the names were mostly way off!
7. Frost (Pixel 11 only)
What colour is Frost? I’m not really sure, but it’s certainly unusual.
It looks like the leaked image, though it got the name wrong as Sterling. What with Google Gemini being everyone’s friend (until it takes over humanity), I thought I’d tippy-tap the question in. Huh. Turns out Sterling is a cool, neutral silver or grey. Yeah, this ain’t that.
It’s a slightly insipid blue-tinted off-white. Far from a sterling effort, Google. Next please.
6. Obsidian (Pixel 11 Pro and Pro Fold)
Obsidian is back once again as the only returning colourway (bye bye Porcelain). This is despite rumours of Google changing the name to Midnight.
Black doesn’t need to mean boring in the world of phone colours. Some people prefer that stealthy look. But placed next to a bunch of vibrant colours, this year’s safe option can’t help but look a little… well, safe.
The slight caveat (though we’ve bunched them together here) is that the candybar Pro models come in an all-new matte black finish which at least throws a little bit of interest into the mix, especially for those who want a Pro model without a shiny frame.
5. Fog (Pixel 11 Pro only)
Google is really sticking with this Fog thing, isn’t it? After the Pixel 10a introduced us to the abstract concept of a colour named after an undesirably murky weather condition, the Pixel 11 gives us the same option.
Based on the 10a in real life, it’s mostly white but has a very slight pale mint green tint to it depending on the light conditions.
4. Hibiscus (Pixel 11 only)
In case it needed saying, this is all very much the subjective view of one slightly grouchy writer. I thought I’d state the bleeding obvious because I’m quite aware that to many people, the Pixel 11’s startlingly pink Hibiscus (not Fuchsia) model is a highlight – in more ways than one.
Personally, after multiple scorching UK heat waves in quick succession, my retinas have taken quite enough abuse, thank you very much. Our Managing Editor, Chris Martin, says it looks like a magenta ink cartridge was spilt over it.
3. Olive (Pixel 11 Pro and Pro Fold)
Now we’re getting somewhere. I’m a sucker for Google’s way with interesting deep green tones, and this year we appear to be getting two of them. Olive (not Pine) immediately dispels the lingering whiff of toilet cleaner by presenting a rather gorgeous silvery-green finish.
Anyone remember the Pixel 7 Pro’s Hazel option? I’m getting some of that feeling here and it looks very similar to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold in Jade.
2. Pistachio (Pixel 11 only)
It’s a toss-up between Olive and Pistachio (previously known as Moss) for best Pixel 11 green colour, but I’m handing this Pixel 11-exclusive the win… just.
It’s one of the few colour options this year that seems to operate in the mid-tones, giving us an appealing pop of colour while still keeping things classy.
1. Canyon (Pixel 11 Pro only)
I wouldn’t describe myself as a pink phone kind of guy, necessarily. But then, most pink phones don’t look as sophisticated as this Pixel 11 Pro-exclusive Canyon (not Dune) colour.
I imagine the mood board for this one over at Google HQ involved pictures of a premium piece of cooked salmon, a glass of grapefruit juice, and a Miami sunset, alongside sand dunes. I didn’t know that I needed any of these things represented in a phone until now.
You can get a Pixel Watch 5 with a matching strap colour, although only in the smaller 41mm size.
