Updated

Updated · Notebookcheck.net · Aug 24

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL Scores 168 on DxOMark, Ranks 5th Despite Minor Camera Upgrades

Updated

Updated · Notebookcheck.net · Aug 24

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL Scores 168 on DxOMark, Ranks 5th Despite Minor Camera Upgrades

Q: Will the Pixel 11 Pro XL's outdated GPU render its promised seven years of software support completely useless?

No. The weak GPU does not make seven years of support useless, but it does narrow what that support will be worth for some buyers. For the typical Pixel customer, seven years of updates still matters a lot. It means Android version upgrades, security patches through August 2033, bug fixes, camera improvements, and continued access to Google’s AI features. The Pixel 11 Pro XL already performs well in everyday tasks, photography, browsing, messaging, and voice tools like Rambler. Those are the areas Google clearly prioritized with the Tensor G6’s CPU and TPU. Where the support promise looks less compelling is gaming and graphics-heavy use over time. Reviews and benchmark reports show the Tensor G6’s PowerVR GPU lags badly behind rival flagship chips from Qualcomm, Samsung, and Apple. Some reports also point to compatibility concerns, including rendering issues in titles that no longer officially support PowerVR. Software updates may improve drivers and stability, as happened with the Pixel 10 series, but they cannot turn a mid-tier GPU into a top-tier one. So the real issue is not that the phone will stop being usable before 2033. It is that its graphics ceiling may already be too low for a £1279/$1299 flagship, and that gap could feel worse as Android games and demanding apps advance. For buyers focused on cameras, display quality, AI features, and long-term security, the support promise remains meaningful. For gamers, it is much less reassuring.

3 articles · Updated · Notebookcheck.net · Aug 24

168 points put the Pixel 11 Pro XL fifth on DxOMark’s camera leaderboard, up 5 points from the Pixel 10 Pro XL and level with the Oppo Find X8 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro.
Three modest hardware changes drove the gain: a new 50MP main sensor plus slightly larger sensors for the 48MP 5x periscope telephoto and 48MP ultrawide, while the 42MP selfie camera stayed unchanged.
DxOMark praised wide dynamic range, vivid colors, natural skin tones and sharper telephoto detail; the ultrawide lagged with lower detail and heavier contrast.
151 points for the selfie camera trailed only the iPhone 17 Pro’s 154, but video still fell short of Apple on stabilization, motion rendering and low-light performance.
The result reinforces the phone’s positioning as a strong all-round camera flagship, even as rivals from Huawei, Vivo and Oppo remain ahead at the top end.