Leading up to the launch of Google’s Pixel 11 Pro last month, I felt a surge of anticipation.
After facing a series of letdowns in 2026, this appeared to be a compact phone that could seemingly excel in every area: photography, speed, software, you name it!
Anxiety started to take root once the device was officially released, marked by a significant price increase and a flashy ‘HiLight’ feature. Still, I believed it would be my ideal phone and the standard for judging all compact flagship devices.
Fast forward two weeks, that perception has evaporated. In its present state, the Pixel 11 Pro has turned out to be a considerable disappointment. Rather than being the dependable device I hoped for, it has become a burden.
Standby me
Weren’t flagship devices supposed to have resolved battery life issues by now? Even without transitioning to silicon-carbon (Si-C), a reliable full day from the Pixel 11 Pro’s 4850mAh battery ought to be the minimum standard.
I wish I could say that’s accurate. While I generally make it to bedtime, it’s accompanied by significant battery worries. If I happen to forget to charge it during the morning (which has occurred multiple times), I find myself hurriedly hunting for a charger before night falls. This simply isn’t acceptable.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The ironic part is that the worst issues occur even when the screen isn’t on. The standby battery drainage of the Pixel 11 Pro is absolutely dreadful, dwindling between 10-15% every single night. Every time I return to it after a few hours, I can almost guarantee that a few percentage points have been lost.
Of course, I could disable mobile data and location services and lower the brightness, but the phone ought to be capable of managing them seamlessly. If other devices can accomplish this, why can’t the Pixel 11 Pro?
A bug’s life
Android 17 has been available on Pixel devices since June, so I mistakenly presumed that by now, any major bugs would be resolved. Not at all.
The Pixel 11 Pro stands out as one of the most problematic phones I’ve evaluated in years. I’ve spent over two weeks testing it, and each day has brought new issues.
The most frequent glitch occurs when accessing the recent apps menu, causing the app I was just using to linger across the whole display. Then there are instances where the app completely freezes, refusing to respond until I lock the screen and then restart it.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
And that’s just the issues I’ve encountered. Reports have circulated about a problem with the Video Boost feature, experiencing episodes of audio static paired with video. Crackling sounds in 4K footage, sluggish scrolling, and even NFC payment issues have all been reported.
Regarding the Video Boost problem, Google has acknowledged that it’s working on a solution, and I expect all issues to be resolved shortly. However, the core point remains: a new flagship device shouldn’t be plagued with this many software errors. This feels more like a beta experience!
Painful pricing
Naturally, all of this occurs alongside significant price hikes.
With a starting cost of £1,079/$1,099, the Pixel 11 Pro is priced similarly to a comprehensive flagship. High-end specifications, advanced AI capabilities, and exceptional cameras suggest it should justify the cost.
Yet, real-world performance is always the crucial test, and currently, the phone significantly underachieves. If you haven’t committed yet, I strongly recommend waiting.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
In theory, all these problems could be rectified with a straightforward software update or two. If everything is dealt with, the Pixel 11 Pro would undoubtedly claim the title of the best compact phone available.
However, until that happens, it’s too precarious to recommend.
Summary
A Pro in Name, Not in Nature
The Pixel 11 Pro promised much, but it’s currently offering more frustrations than triumphs. Until Google resolves these issues, you might want to save your funds for something less troublesome.
