Google Debuts Pixel 11 Family on Aug. 12 With Faster Chips and LED Camera Bar

Q: Will the Pixel 11's new modem finally fix its long-standing battery and performance issues against Samsung's flagships?

Probably not fully, but it could meaningfully narrow the gap. The strongest evidence points to the Pixel 11 Pro XL’s rumored MediaTek M90 modem as a real fix for one of Pixel’s longest-running weaknesses: connectivity inefficiency. Previous Pixels using Samsung Exynos modems were widely criticized for weak signal behavior, aggressive 5G hunting, heat, and battery drain. The M90 is expected to cut idle power use by roughly 15% to 18% and improve network stability, which should help everyday battery life and thermals. That said, the modem alone is unlikely to erase Pixel’s disadvantage against Samsung’s flagship. The Galaxy S26 Ultra pairs a 5,000mAh battery with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a stronger X80 modem, a combination that is still expected to deliver better sustained performance, gaming, and charging. The Pixel 11’s Tensor G6, even with a rumored 2nm process, is still expected to prioritize AI and photography over raw speed, leaving it behind Samsung in peak and sustained performance. Battery life is where the Pixel has the best chance to improve materially. With the same nominal 5,000mAh class battery and a more efficient modem, it may finally get close to Samsung in normal use. But based on current leaks, “close” is more realistic than “ahead.” So the likely answer is that the new modem should fix much of Pixel’s connectivity-related battery drain and heat, but it probably will not fully solve the broader performance gap with Samsung’s top flagship.

3 articles · Updated · Android Central · Jul 16

August 12 is the expected launch date for Google's Pixel 11 lineup, led by a Pixel 11 Pro XL rumored to bring faster performance, better power efficiency and a new LED-lit camera bar.
Tensor G6 and a new MediaTek modem are expected to drive those gains, potentially helping the Pixel 11 Pro XL match the Galaxy S26 Ultra on battery life with a 5,000mAh cell.
The Pixel is still tipped to trail Samsung's flagship in raw speed and charging, with rumored 45W wired charging versus the Galaxy S26 Ultra's 60W and weaker gaming performance.
Camera and software remain the main battleground: Google is expected to keep an edge in still photos, while Samsung is seen as stronger in video, stability and privacy features such as local AI processing.
That leaves the August 12 unveiling as Google's chance to narrow a gap with Samsung's March-launched Galaxy S26 Ultra, which the report still judges the safer buy for most users.