Pixel 11 Pro review: Google AI as your enabler

I am speaking this sentence aloud into Rambler, Google's new AI-powered dictation keyboard feature.

I'm trying to write some of this review hands-free with Rambler because there is a time crunch, and so my ability to jot down my thoughts without worrying too much about speaking very cleanly is extremely helpful. But also, it's just good testing for this review.

Before you run away, let me assure you I have returned to typing on my laptop. A lot of the new features on Google's latest flagship phones are rooted in the idea that AI can help you do things better . Whether it's in choosing what moments in a scene to capture, what verbal utterances to delete in a message or how to fill in the details of a faraway subject in a photo, the Pixel 11 Pro's new AI tools are here to edit you or fill in gaps.

I won't speak for everyone, but many of the new features do fit in very neatly with how I use my phone. Often, I send voice memos instead of text messages to my friends because I hate typing more than a few words onto a phone screen. Sometimes I take videos with the intention of clipping them or exporting stills and screenshots of my favorite frames later on. Features like Rambler and the other AI enhancements I tested for this review seem potentially very helpful.

But the line between helpful and aggressive is fine and tricky to define. At what point do these AI tools go too far and, when you consider that the Pixel 11 Pro costs $100 more than its predecessor and has less RAM, are these features justified? Would you be better served with an older or simpler phone? While the Pixel 11 Pro is a very satisfying handset, it feels like Google went a step too far with the software enhancements this year.

One thing the Pixel 11 Pro has going for it is hardware. The phone looks attractive, feels solid and has some respectable specs. My review unit is in the peachy Canyon shade, and that pleasant hue, together with its polished, color-matched edges and accents, make for a very handsome device. Everyone I showed it to agreed, though one of my friends (Gen Z) thought the logo on the back needed to be tweaked.

Not only does the Pixel 11 Pro feel nice to hold, its one-row pill-shaped rear camera module makes it wobble far less than its competitors when placed face up on any surface. It might seem like a petty quibble, but if you've ever tried to tap at your messages when all your fingers are oily, you'll find the Pixel much easier to work with.

Google has made the Pixel 11 Pro's screen about 300 nits brighter than the previous generation, and given it an "anti-scratch coating" that makes it 2x more scratch-resistant. I've been fairly careful with my review unit, and so far haven't marred the screen. I also found the panel plenty bright, and it was typically easy enough to read, if a bit reflective.