Upgrade paths: Should Pixel 9 owners upgrade to Pixel 11? [Video]

We’ve seen a lot of people ask if making the jump from the Pixel 9 to a Pixel 11 is even worth it. The answer isn’t totally simple, but we’ll try our best to answer it here. Pixel 11 vs. Pixel 11 Pro: More similar than ever before [Video] Table of contentsAn unchanged designSimilar software experienceQuality cameras continue to impressIs now the time to upgrade from the Pixel 9 to the Pixel 11? Your 24-month cell plan might be coming to an end, so it’s timely to talk about this switch now, and we’ll do our best to help you decide which phone is right, which phone is wrong, and ultimately whether an upgrade is worthwhile. An unchanged design Let’s get the obvious out of the way at the start: the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro are very, very similar. You could be forgiven for thinking they are the same. For anyone with a non-Pro phone, you’ll see more pronounced changes, but for all intents and purposes, the designs are almost identical across the entire device lineup. Let’s get into the actual improvements. No matter what Pixel 9 phone you have, all Pixel 11 displays are better. Maybe not drastically so, but you get a jump up in maximum brightness of around 10% on the Pixel 9 to 11. The Pros get a 20% brightness jump at peak. This is something you probably would notice, but still not a major change. All the screens are well tuned, there’s no bezel reduction, just the same great experience, but brighter. We know the design is the same, the core frame dimensions are identical, the same height, width, and thickness. The only visible change is in the camera bar shape and size. You can’t use your old cases on the new phone, so that is an annoyance. The Pixel 9 and 11 are within 1g, but the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL are almost 10 grams heavier than the 9 Pro and Pro XL. That could be due to the marginal battery size increases and maybe even the addition of Pixelsnap magnets, but it’s likely some internal changes that add a little extra mass, and better thermals too. Pixelsnap is great for connectivity, but a good case can mimic it pretty closely on the Pixel 9. Similar software experience One of the key differences between the Pixel 9 and Pixel 11 is Gemini Intelligence. It’s emblazoned all over the latest phone and adds some functionality that likely won’t come to the older devices unless Google has a change of heart. You need to figure out if you care enough about some of the AI tools like App Automation, Rambler, the enhanced Proactive Assistant responses and replies for messaging, plus some of the other enhancements that the Pixel 10 added last year. Some of this is merely fluff. Some are great features. Do they drastically improve your life? That remains to be seen. Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 11: Where are the upgrades? [Video] Even the move from Tensor G4 up to the G6 chip might not be a big enough leap for lots of people. Neither is an amazing performance beast, but they’re competent chips that handle most things you’ll throw at either phone. Faster storage is arguably a bigger ingredient in the equation because apps will load faster, and you also get the benefit of a 256GB base model now. It was a long-overdue quality of life change that will make a bigger difference in the long term. Frustratingly, getting less RAM on the Pixel 11 Pro or Pro XL versus the Pixel 9 Pro or Pro XL feels like a slap in the face. It’s not necessarily noticeable right now, save that you can have more apps in memory. Some of the RAM is wired for AI task control, so you’ll lose out here unless you pay more to get 16GB RAM. The fact is, though, that the performance gap is not exactly a chasm, and Android 17 is identical here. Unless Google specifies otherwise, you’ll get all the same updates in the future too. Quality cameras continue to impress If you want a telephoto lens and have the Pixel 9, then yes, you might want to upgrade. The digital zoom is not as good on the base 9. It’s capped and isn’t going to get close to the action. The other lenses are fairly similar, but know that the main sensor is slightly larger on the Pixel 11. With the default settings, it’s a toss-up. Camera Looks are where we get some notable improvements. These are sensor-level filters that you can customize to tune your Pixel 11 camera output. No Pixel 9 will get these tools. It’s arguably the biggest change on a Pixel camera since the addition of a triple camera setup. If you have a Pro phone, there is a better telephoto lens that lets you zoom up to 120X. Video modes get some upgrades, AI-powered Magic Capture, plus a new Creator Mode is here too. Like basically every other head-to-head comparison, the camera improvements are more about refinement than redefining, which makes a Pixel camera so reliable. I don’t think someone would be disappointed at what has changed, maybe underwhelmed given the two-year leap. The reality is that a Pixel camera has mostly been about consistency, which hasn’t changed. Is now the time to upgrade from the Pixel 9 to the Pixel 11? About upgrading: 9to5Google often gives specific product recommendations. Sometimes, we may suggest not upgrading, due to various reasons including, but not limited to: increased device cost, negligible performance gains, or environmental impact. Whether to upgrade is always your call, but our aim is to help you make as informed a decision as possible. You don’t need us to tell you that the generational “leaps” are becoming less and less pronounced, even if you skip a few new releases. Whether brands are holding certain functions back or other factors are at play is a topic rife among practically any industry observer right now. AI is playing a big role in the physical hardware you will buy now and for years to come. In our eyes, there is only one key reason you should consider making the switch from a Pixel 9 to the Pixel 11, and that is if your phone is on its last legs or if you have the base 9 and want a telephoto lens. Those are the only two major reasons someone should consider the jump. The Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL are still fine phones. There seems to be no major or widespread issues that might cause people to be desperate to upgrade or switch away. It wasn’t the best phone on the market at launch, but, like any Pixel before, these devices tend to age better than others thanks to updates and enhancements courtesy of Google’s now-extensive support window. If you’re even considering ditching a Pixel 9 Pro or Pro XL for the Pixel 11 lineup, think hard about what you’re actually getting. There isn’t anything on the software front that really warrants the substantial price increase. The new modem is good, but not a quantum leap. The camera improvements don’t provide exponential gains for photography or videography. This is also true of most other pieces of tech right now. If your cell plan or contract is coming to an end imminently, maybe a cheap SIM plan could be a way to save cash at a time when smartphones are ballooning in price thanks to the constant march of AI development and the costs associated with the expansion. The truth is that a two-generation upgrade cycle makes little sense today. You will simply get more bang for your buck by hanging on for another year. A battery replacement or repair would likely provide more value in most cases, given how little has truly changed over the past couple of years. Follow Damien: Threads, Bluesky, Instagram FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.