The Pixel 11 series was announced back in August, and the dust has already settled. But if you're looking to get the latest and greatest hardware from Google, you're probably wondering which Pixel to get. The most common dilemma is between the Google Pixel 11 Pro and the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL. And aside from the obvious size difference, the two phones are more different than you might think. So if size isn't a deciding factor for you, you may want to know which one has the better battery life, for example, or which one charges faster. And are there any other differences that aren't immediately obvious? Let's find out.
As the name implies, the Pixel 11 Pro XL is the extra-large version of the Pixel 11 Pro flagship, sporting a 6.8-inch display. The XL is considerably taller and wider, though not any thicker. It will be a challenge for many to operate with one hand, so if you're looking for something more manageable, the standard 11 Pro is the more sensible choice. Interestingly, though, the latter isn't much lighter than the XL despite the size difference. There's no difference in build quality, however, as both handsets use Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the front and back panels, along with aluminum frames. Both also carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
Initially, we were expecting a bigger gap in battery endurance, but the duo proved to be remarkably consistent. Sure, the Pixel 11 Pro XL comes out on top thanks to its larger 5,115 mAh battery (vs. 4,850 mAh), but it only has a meaningful advantage in our web browsing test. The other three tests return very similar results. At the end of the day, the difference is quite negligible. Our charging test is where the Pixel 11 Pro XL truly outshines the smaller Pro, which is hardly surprising given the difference in charging power. The regular Pixel 11 Pro supports up to 30W over Power Delivery, while the Pro XL goes up to 45W. The XL is significantly ahead at both the 15-minute and 30-minute marks, and reaches a full charge 20 minutes sooner. That's a substantial difference. Wireless charging is the same across the range, as all Pixels this year support 25W Qi2.2 magnetic wireless charging.
The two Pixel 11 Pro models feature identical camera setups, so there's no difference between the regular Pro and the XL here. Both have a triple rear camera system with a wide main camera, a particularly wide ultrawide and a telephoto. The setup is almost unchanged from the previous generation, aside from the new, larger sensor used for the telephoto. The main camera uses a 50MP 1/1.3" sensor paired with a roughly 24mm-equivalent lens.