Google unveils Pixel 11 range with expanded Gemini task tools

Google has opened pre-orders for its Pixel 11 smartphone family, positioning Gemini features rather than a major hardware redesign as the central change. The Pixel 11 starts at $899 with 256GB of storage, the Pixel 11 Pro at $1,099, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL at $1,299. All models use Google’s Tensor G6 processor and are due alongside new Pixelsnap accessories.

The company said Gemini will let US-based users complete tasks including ordering groceries, booking rides and getting coffee. Gemini can also call businesses for restaurant reservations or appointments. Users can take over or stop an in-progress task, and can review transcripts from calls handled by the AI.

Gemini moves into more Pixel workflows

Google has updated Magic Cue to use Gemini and surface contextual information across apps, such as suggestions for a dinner location or a show. The approach extends the product direction seen in Gemini Daily Brief and Omni update, where Gemini introduced Daily Brief, a redesigned interface and the Gemini Omni video model, while placing the assistant more deeply in routine mobile interactions.

Rambler, Google’s dictation product announced in May, is now arriving on Pixel phones. The new devices can also translate videos, podcasts and voice messages into a target language. Circle to Search is available directly from the camera, while a Gemini-powered accessibility feature translates sign language into text. Google has also redesigned the Live Transcribe interface.

Camera software and Tensor G6 updates

Magic Capture records hundreds of frames between a user’s start and end actions, then selects the best images from the video. Google said it automatically crops and unblurs selected frames for sharing. The company has raised maximum zoom to 120x on Pro phones and 30x on the base Pixel 11, up from 100x and 20x respectively. Users can also create custom camera looks.

Pro devices gain Instant Night Sight, which Google said takes 4.5 times less time than Night Sight on the previous generation. Google also cited 8K video with Video Boost, improved stabilisation and a creator suite that can use the phone as a teleprompter and save completed clips to a dedicated folder.

Pricing keeps the entry model level

Google said Tensor G6 provides 20% better power efficiency and 25% faster browsing, as well as lower latency for its latest models, although it gave no metric for the latter claim. The Pro models have a slightly brighter display, an updated main camera sensor and a telephoto sensor that lets in 32% more light. The Pixel 11 Pro XL costs $100 more than the Pixel 10 XL, while the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro retain the price of last year’s 256GB versions.

For businesses evaluating employee smartphones, the practical question is whether Gemini’s task handling, transcription, translation and accessibility capabilities fit existing workflows, rather than whether the annual hardware changes alone warrant an upgrade.