Google Pixel 11a Review: specs and features, camera quality test, gaming benchmark, user opinions and photos

Google Pixel 11a – Under-Improved

The American company Google never fails to update its lineup of high-end smartphones every year. Even the entry-level models in the series were often priced higher than some Chinese flagships, but fell short in performance, battery life, and other areas. Today's review subject has improved in these areas, but the gap between it and its competitors in the price segment remains.

The new device's appearance is not bad, but it has some controversial aspects. The signature stylish colors, the photo module assembly that sits flush with the body, high-quality, expensive build materials (metal, tempered glass), and full IP68 water resistance seem capable of creating an attractive flagship exterior, but the display bezels, or more precisely their width, partially spoil the impression. The 6.3-inch AMOLED panel with an integrated fingerprint sensor boasts a good 2424x1080 resolution for its size, a peak brightness of 3350 nits, natural color reproduction, and a decent, but now standard, 120 Hz refresh rate. It's also worth understanding why the developer has done little to address the PWM effect, which is sensitive to many users.

The technical specifications include the latest Tensor G6 CPU, 8 GB of RAM, and a PowerVR C-Series CXTP-48-1536 graphics adapter. This combination is more powerful than the previously used G5 chipset, but it's still a long way from top-end solutions like the MediaTek Dimensity 9500. An AnTuTu benchmark score of 1,900,000 points indicates a highly responsive Android 17 OS and a stable frame rate in resource-intensive games. However, it's still recommended to set the graphics settings to High rather than Max to avoid throttling and frame rate drops. Battery life, provided by the 4870mAh battery, isn't impressive. 7-8 hours of screen time is realistic, but no more. Wireless charging at 10W is laughable by today's standards, and the wired alternative at 30W is equally puzzling. The storage options of only 128GB/256GB are also a bit of a bummer.

The photography capabilities of the main 50MP sensor with hybrid image stabilization and the 13MP wide-angle lens are above average. They're capable of capturing both daytime and evening photography with abundant detail and no excessive noise or blur. However, a telephoto lens is sorely lacking, making capturing distant objects challenging. Stereo sound is excellent, with excellent volume and a smooth frequency response. Other highlights include support for 5G, eSIM, and NFC contactless payments. However, a number of obvious shortcomings, coupled with the unique processor, make this device a good buy for brand loyalists.