The Pixel 11 Pro is undeniably a solid smartphone; however, its price tag of $1,100 makes it a less obvious choice in today’s competitive market. It faces significant competition not only from various Android devices but also from Google’s own range of models that may better suit those not in need of the latest Pro version.
Recently, we highlighted five smartphones worth considering as alternatives to the Pixel 11 Pro, including the Galaxy S26 Plus, Nothing Phone 3, and even last year’s Pixel 10 Pro. We asked our audience which of these alternatives would be their choice, and over 2,200 participated in the survey, yielding some intriguing results.
The Galaxy S26 Plus emerged as the preferred alternative, garnering 26.2% of the total votes. The Pixel 10 Pro followed closely behind with 21.8%, while the Nothing Phone 3 secured 20.5%, and the Motorola Razr received 19.5%. In contrast, the standard Pixel 11 was notably less favored, attracting only 12% of responses.
Several interesting trends can be observed from these results. Samsung’s victory isn’t surprising, as the Galaxy S26 Plus ranks as the closest competitor to the Pixel 11 Pro among the select options. More compelling is the tight competition between the next three phones, which fell within a narrow margin of just 2.3 percentage points. Clearly, there’s no clear-cut choice for readers seeking alternatives.
It’s also noteworthy that the Pixel 11 performed poorly despite its lower price and similar Tensor G6 chipset to the Pro version, suggesting it may provide better value for some consumers. However, it was still the least appealing option among those surveyed. This indicates a strong preference for last year’s Pixel 10 Pro over Google’s current standard model.
While our poll didn’t explicitly ask if the Pixel 11 Pro was the best device available, the results imply that many respondents were expressing a preference for alternatives rather than solely representing loyal Pixel users.
This poll merely indicated preferred alternatives without revealing how many would actually choose them over the Pixel 11 Pro. Thankfully, another recent survey offers more clarity on this issue.
In a different discussion, we posited that the Pixel 11 Pro series might not deliver the best value within Google’s offerings. The standard Pixel 11 is priced at least $200 lower but shares the same Tensor G6 chipset and 12GB of base RAM. It also boasts a slightly larger battery, equivalent charging speeds, and most of the same software features. Although the Pro model includes benefits like enhanced cameras and a brighter display, we suggested that many buyers might not find these advantages sufficient to justify the extra expense.
In light of this discussion, we asked readers if they still found the Pixel 11 Pro series worthwhile, resulting in over 1,800 responses. This survey allowed for broader opinions rather than forcing a choice between alternatives.
The feedback showed a significant interest in the Pro model, with 44.1% of participants expressing genuine interest in purchasing a Pixel 11 Pro. Meanwhile, 20.4% agreed with the viewpoint that the standard Pixel would represent a smarter financial choice, while 24.7% leaned towards Samsung or other competitors. The remaining 10.7% chose “Other.”
Thus, while the Pro models attracted the most votes, a majority of respondents seemed unconvinced. This context adds nuance to our previous poll: nearly a quarter of participants explicitly preferred competitor brands, while one in five indicated a preference for sticking with Google but saving money by opting for a non-Pro model.
Many comments from readers provided additional insight into the “Other” category. Some were not looking for a new model at all, while others favored older versions of the Pixel. For instance, one user decided to keep their Pixel 9 Pro XL, while another felt it was an ideal time to acquire the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
Additionally, price influenced some decisions among those who purchased the new Pro. One customer shared their satisfaction with the Pixel 11 Pro after acquiring it for $449 through Google Fi, while another obtained it for $369 with a trade-in and discount code. In contrast, some mentioned the absence of a temperature sensor as a reason to keep an older Pro model.
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