Pixel 11 Pro vs Pixel 10 Pro is set to launch August 12, and early leaks point to a meaningful set of changes from last year’s Pixel 10 Pro, from a new in-house chip to a shifting price structure that could ripple across the rest of the Android market. Here’s what’s expected to change, and what’s likely to stay the same.
When and Where to Watch the Launch
Google has confirmed its Made by Google event will take place in New York on August 12, starting at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT). The company will stream the event live on its Made by Google YouTube channel, giving anyone at home the chance to watch the reveal in real time alongside the media and influencers attending in person. The Pixel 11 series is expected to headline the event, likely alongside the Pixel Watch 5 and possibly additional wearables.
Tensor G6: A New Chip Built on a More Advanced Process
The Pixel 11 Pro is rumored to be powered by a new Tensor G6 chip built on TSMC’s more advanced 2-nanometer process, a step up from the Tensor G5’s 3-nanometer manufacturing used in the Pixel 10 Pro. That’s a bigger jump than last year’s chip transition. The Tensor G5 already represented a shift, moving Pixel chip production from Samsung Foundry to TSMC, but the performance gains from that move were more modest than many expected despite using the same 3nm process found in chips like Apple’s A19 Pro.
The Tensor G6 is reportedly moving to a new seven-core CPU configuration, with one ARM Cortex C1-Ultra core clocked at 4.11GHz, four C1-Pro cores at 3.38GHz, and two additional C1-Pro cores at 2.65GHz. Major GPU upgrades aren’t expected this generation, but the new CPU architecture combined with an upgraded NPU should still deliver a noticeable performance boost over the Tensor G5, along with potential improvements to a longstanding Pixel weak point: heat management.
A New Modem Could Finally Fix Connectivity Complaints
Alongside the chip change, Google is also expected to replace its Samsung-sourced modem with a MediaTek modem, reportedly the MediaTek M90, aimed at addressing the cellular connectivity and signal issues that have affected recent Pixel generations. The M90 is rated for download speeds up to 12Gbps and is said to offer up to an 18 percent improvement in power efficiency through AI-driven optimizations, which could meaningfully improve battery life given how much of a phone’s power budget the modem typically consumes.
Storage Goes Up, But RAM May Go Down on the Base Model
Google is expected to eliminate the 128GB storage tier entirely, making 256GB the new baseline across the Pixel 11 lineup, an upgrade for anyone who’s previously run out of space on a Pixel. There’s a tradeoff, though. While the Pixel 10 Pro shipped with 16GB of RAM across its entire lineup, the entry-level Pixel 11 Pro is expected to pair its larger 256GB of storage with just 12GB of RAM, reserving the full 16GB for higher-tier configurations.
This pricing and storage shift isn’t happening in a vacuum. Google is expected to abandon the $799 starting price point by eliminating the lower storage tier, positioning the Pixel 11 lineup to start at roughly $899 and reach as high as $1,899 for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, according to reporting from Android Headlines. While that’s $100 more than last year’s starting price, last year’s price applied to a 128GB model, meaning the more direct comparison, 256GB to 256GB, keeps pricing roughly consistent even as the entry-level configuration effectively moves up a tier. Industry watchers note Google isn’t acting alone here. Several manufacturers have already eliminated their lowest storage tier throughout 2026, and Google’s move effectively legitimizes that strategy for the broader Android market, giving Apple’s own upcoming iPhone 18 Pro price increase useful cover as well.
Separately, Tom’s Guide’s own spec comparison puts the rumored Pixel 11 Pro starting price at $1,099, which lines up closely with the 256GB Pixel 10 Pro’s price once the storage tiers are matched directly.
On-Device AI Gets a Bigger Memory Budget
Android 17 is expected to establish 16GB of RAM as the baseline needed to run local Gemini large language model workloads directly on the device, without relying on cloud processing. That memory requirement is central to Google’s broader AI strategy for the phone. Running AI features locally avoids the latency and privacy tradeoffs of sending data to the cloud, and Google has increasingly positioned this approach as the standard for how AI should work on a smartphone, a view that’s gained wider traction since Apple began partnering with Google to provide AI services for iPhone in 2026.
Android 17 Tightens Control Over Third-Party Apps
Beyond hardware, Android 17 brings a significant shift to how third-party apps reach Pixel devices. Google is introducing mandatory developer identity verification, requiring individual developers to register with Google, pay a fee, and provide government-issued identification before distributing an app, with more demanding requirements for organizations. Sideloading isn’t being eliminated outright, but the ease of installing apps outside Google’s own ecosystem is diminishing, positioning the Play Store as a more central gatekeeper across the platform even for developers who never intended to use Play Store infrastructure.
Most everyday users likely won’t notice this change directly, but it marks a meaningful shift in how much control Android device owners retain over what they can install outside official channels.
A New Notification Light and Bigger Camera Zoom
Leaks point to a new glowing LED light on the back of the Pixel 11 Pro, reportedly called HiLight, expected to replace the thermometer sensor found on the Pixel 10 Pro. According to leaked marketing material, the light will activate during Gemini conversations, and users will reportedly be able to assign different lighting effects to specific contacts and notifications.
On the camera side, Google introduced Pro Res Zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro, enabling up to 100x zoom through a combination of telephoto hardware and AI processing, and the Pixel 11 Pro is rumored to push that further to 120x zoom based on leaked marketing materials.
What Isn’t Expected to Change
Not everything is shifting this generation. The display is expected to remain a 6.3-inch Super Actua OLED panel at 120Hz, matching the Pixel 10 Pro, and the rear camera setup is rumored to stay at 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP telephoto sensors, with the same 42MP front camera and IP68 water resistance rating carrying over as well. Battery capacity is also expected to land close to last year’s figure, with only a modest change reported in either direction depending on the source.
Broader Implications
Google’s approach to Pixel 11 pricing, storage, and AI hardware requirements is likely to influence how the rest of the Android market, and potentially Apple’s own upcoming lineup, approaches similar tradeoffs later this year. For more consumer tech coverage and comparisons, visit The Tech Marketer.
What Happens Next
Google’s Made by Google event takes place August 12 at 6 p.m. ET, where the company is expected to confirm final specs, pricing, and availability for the Pixel 11 series. This article will be updated with confirmed details once the event concludes.
Latest Updates
Forbes’ analysis, published August 9, focused on the broader pricing and AI strategy implications of the launch. Tom’s Guide’s spec comparison, also published August 9, laid out the most detailed rumored spec sheet available ahead of the event. Coverage of the event’s format and streaming details, including from Android Central and Engadget, confirmed the August 12 date and 6 p.m. ET start time.
Note on sourcing: the submitted PCMag link was blocked on direct fetch. Its event details were verified through comparable coverage from Android Central and Engadget, both cited below alongside the two accessible original sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When does the Google Pixel 11 launch?
Google’s Made by Google event takes place August 12, 2026, in New York starting at 6 p.m. ET, with a live stream available on the Made by Google YouTube channel.
2. What’s the biggest hardware change in the Pixel 11 Pro vs Pixel 10 Pro?
The most significant rumored change is the new Tensor G6 chip, built on TSMC’s 2nm process, up from the Tensor G5’s 3nm process, along with a switch to a MediaTek modem.
3. Will the Pixel 11 Pro cost more than the Pixel 10 Pro?
Pricing is expected to rise to around $1,099 for the base Pixel 11 Pro, though that’s roughly comparable to the Pixel 10 Pro’s 256GB price once matching storage tiers are compared directly.
4. Does the Pixel 11 Pro have less RAM than the Pixel 10 Pro?
The entry-level Pixel 11 Pro is rumored to ship with 12GB of RAM, down from the Pixel 10 Pro’s 16GB baseline, though higher storage configurations are expected to retain 16GB.
5. What does Android 17 change for app installation?
Android 17 introduces mandatory developer identity verification for third-party apps, making the Google Play Store a more central gatekeeper and reducing (though not eliminating) how easily users can sideload apps outside it.
Sources and References
- Ewan Spence, “How Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Will Change Smartphones Forever,” Forbes, August 9, 2026 — https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2026/08/09/google-pixel-11-pro-android-17-launch-preview/
- Sanuj Bhatia, “Google Pixel 11 Pro vs Google Pixel 10 Pro: Biggest Upgrades to Expect,” Tom’s Guide, August 9, 2026 — https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/google-pixel-phones/pixel-10-pro-vs-11-pro-5-expected-upgrades
- “Pixel 11 Made by Google 2026 Launch Event: How to Watch and What to Expect,” Android Central (used in place of the submitted PCMag link, which was blocked on direct fetch) — https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/google-pixel/how-to-watch-made-by-google-pixel-11-launch-event-live
