Google

The Pixel 11 series is one of Google's bravest attempts to make Gemini mainstream. In fact, when you boot the phone, the new Pixel 11 models flash Gemini Intelligence during boot, suggesting the company is no longer treating it as a party trick but as a real tool for users, with multiple AI features baked in. I have been using the Pixel 11 Pro XL as my primary device for the last few days for work, photos, and more late-night doomscrolling on social media than I'd like to admit. Two things are very clear: first, Google isn't interested in the spec wars a lot of Chinese brands keep referencing during their keynotes; and second, it isn't trying to reinvent the phone this year.

If you've looked at any Pixel over the past few generations, you already know Google's playbook: AI runs the show and hardware plays second fiddle. Thus, buying a Pixel has meant buying directly into Google's AI vision. The standard Pixel 11 doubles down on that philosophy and carries that torch forward, even though it skips the extravagant camera hardware and spec-sheet flexing reserved for its Pro siblings. Instead, it takes the familiar Pixel formula, which is clean software, computational photography, and a distinctive design with AI layered on top.

Google's Pixel a series of smartphones evolved from what were essentially mid-range devices into premium devices in India. While the transition did not make sense until the 7a, the 8a introduced some premium features like a high-refresh-rate display, wireless charging and an updated chipset to keep up with the times. With the Pixel 9a, we saw a complete redesign, one that stands out even today with the launch of the Pixel 10a. There's no device that looks like it, and there is currently no device in its segment which offers the same bloatware-free Pixel software experience (with the usual Pixel smarts). But in this competitive premium segment, does Google's a-series formula hold any water in 2026?