Google is expected to unveil the Pixel 11 series this August, and as the date approaches, leaks are naturally ramping up. We’re now getting our first glimpse of what the Pixel 11 might look like, and spoiler alert, if you were hoping for a major design change, you might be disappointed.
Android Headlines and OnLeaks recently shared leaked CAD renders of the Pixel 11, giving us our best look yet at what Google’s upcoming 2026 flagship could look like. Unsurprisingly, it seems to confirm the rumor that the design will closely resemble that of the Pixel 10 and Pixel 9, with the same rounded design and signature Pixel camera bar. You can check it out below.
Although the design of the Pixel 11 looks similar to the Pixel 10, two key differences help shake things up this year. The first one is that, based on the renders, it seems the camera bar on the Pixel 11 is actually protruding significantly less from the back of the phone than on the Pixel 10. So, if you weren’t a fan of the camera bar’s size on the Pixel 10, it seems Google is trying to reduce it on the Pixel 11.
The next major difference seems to be the size of the screen bezels. These are renders, after all, so they might be slightly inaccurate, but it looks like Google has significantly reduced how thick the bezels are on the Pixel 11’s screen. And I must say it looks extremely clean.
- Brand
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Google
- SoC
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Tensor G5
- Display
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6.3-inch Actua Display 1080 x 2424 pixel resolution OLED (60-120Hz)
Google’s Pixel 10 features the tech giant’s new Tensor G5 chip and a three-camera setup for the first time that includes a 10.8-megapixel telephoto camera.
Under-the-hood changes
Google might not follow Samsung and Apple by offering 256GB of base storage
Internally, not much is expected to change on the Pixel 11 compared to the Pixel 10, which isn’t shocking given how this looks to be more of an iterative update than a massive change.
Powering the phone is expected to be Google’s Tensor G6 chipset, which will likely deliver decent performance gains over the G5, while the RAM and base storage are likely to remain the same as on the Pixel 10, with 12GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.
While the RAM not increasing isn’t surprising, given the ongoing memory shortage, the 128GB base storage amount is a bit confusing. Both Apple and Samsung have opted to increase the base storage to 256GB on the iPhone 17 and Galaxy S26, respectively, so I’m surprised Google isn’t following suit. Though again, given the memory shortage, this could be a way for Google to try to keep costs down and prevent a price increase.
Speaking of costs, as you might expect with the current market volatility, there’s no word yet on the Pixel 11’s price, and we probably won’t know the exact cost until much closer to its August release. For reference, the Pixel 10 starts at $800, the same as the iPhone 17, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Google aims to keep it there.
Undoubtedly, some people might be disappointed that the Pixel 11 looks so similar to the Pixel 9 and Pixel 10, but as a fan of this design, I’m perfectly happy to see Google stick with it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I like that it stands out from phones like the Galaxy S26 or the iPhone 17, and I’ve always been a fan of the camera bar, so I’m glad Google is continuing to refine it with the Pixel 11 rather than changing it completely.
If you’re waiting for a design change before getting a new Pixel, Google’s Chief Design Officer, Ivy Ross, revealed during the launch of the Pixel 10 series that “Every two to three years, we look to try and do something with a new design language.” So it seems the Pixel 12 series in 2027 could be when Google significantly shakes up the design for the first time since the Pixel 9.
