Google's new Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL flagship phones arrive with an emphasis on software features designed to reduce screen time, including proactive assistance for tasks like restaurant bookings and improved voice-to-text. However, The Verge's review finds the underlying hardware only modestly upgraded from last year's Pixel 10 Pro line, meaning these headline software features are effectively the main selling point—and they often only work in narrow, specific circumstances rather than reliably in everyday use.

Hardware changes include brighter 3,600-nit displays, faster wired and wireless (Qi2.2, up to 25W) charging, a 5x telephoto camera with a larger sensor said to capture 30 percent more light, and a higher starting storage tier of 256GB. However, the base models now ship with only 12GB of RAM compared with 16GB last year, and the starting price has risen, even as some marquee software tools like "HiLight" disappoint and "Proactive Assistance" proves inconsistent; other additions such as "Rambler" and "Magic Capture" fare better in testing.