Pixel 11a Excitement Builds
Forget Pixel 11 – Pixel 11a is more exciting
Google’s Pixel 11 flagship phones have launched – but I’ve already got my eye on what’s coming after. While likely contenders for the title of 2026’s best phone, I’m finding it hard to get excited about the Pixel 11 series. Unless you care about the camera flash HiLight (I definitely don’t!), it looks to be more of the same from Google, but with an unappetising price rise.
I’m not about to claim that the Pixel 11a will be much different. Google will likely closely follow the Pixel 10a’s lead – a phone that epitomises the 2026 trend for tiny year-on-year upgrades. However, I’m still looking forward to its likely March 2027 launch much more than to testing the Pixel 11 series, even if there’s one potential dealbreaker.
No chipset compromise?
The leak that inspired this article is the most exciting by far. According to Mystic Leaks, who has a strong track record for Pixel news, the Pixel 11a will be powered by Google’s Tensor G6 chipset. That’s right, the same one we’re expecting across the Pixel 11 lineup.
While far from confirmed, this could be massive for the Pixel 11a. Remember, the Pixel 10a stuck with its predecessor’s Tensor G4 chip, so it’d be a huge two-generation leap. Performance on the Pixel 11a could get a big upgrade, similar to the Apple iPhone 15 Pro, which boasts a powerful A17 Bionic chip.
Cameras that sit almost flush with the back of the phone are massively underrated
When the Pixel 9a introduced the barely-there rear camera design, it was controversial. Many people lamented the loss of Pixel’s signature camera bar and a design devoid of any real personality. But, as I wrote in my review, it really didn’t bother me at the time. And after 15 months using almost exclusively huge, protruding rear cameras, my opinion on it has only become more favourable.
The Pixel 9a’s design is even more appealing than at launch, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S25, which also features a sleek design. Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Worth the weight (literally)
Another aspect of phone design that I believe people overlook is weight. Remember, this is something that you’ll be holding for multiple hours a day, or carrying in your pocket or bag. I recently switched from the 215g Galaxy Z Fold 7 to the regular Galaxy S26, which is just 167g. The 48g difference was instantly noticeable, and it’s made the S26 far more comfortable to use day-to-day.
Meanwhile, the Pixel 10a was a full 21g lighter than the base Pixel 10, with other models in the range even heavier, and it’s likely to be similar again this time. Trust me, ditching the glass back for plastic is well worth the trade-off, similar to the OnePlus 11, which also features a lightweight design.
The price
It’s no secret that phone prices are on the rise. The ongoing ‘RAMaggedon’, where incredible demand for memory chips (known as RAM) for AI has led to a major shortage and price hikes on many of the tech products which rely on them. For most people, buying a Pixel 11 means tying yourself down to a long, expensive contract.
The Pixel 11 series has indeed been subject to price hikes. The base Pixel 11, the cheapest route into the lineup, now starts at a hefty £879 (although for 256GB). Not exactly affordable for a lot of people! While the situation may be even worse by the time the Pixel 11a rolls around in early 2027, it’d be a real surprise to see Google hike prices by more than £100/$100, meaning it should cost under £600/$600 and remain well within mid-range phone territory, similar to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12.
