Jon Gilbert is a Features Writer for Android Police. I've covered Android since 2021, focusing on writing features and guides about Android apps and features that directly affect users. I've attended CES to uncover powerful hardware that isn't dominated by Google like the Mudita Kompakt. I trawl through Android news daily, hunting for stories that have real-world consequences. I hold a BA in History & Classics. 

The Google Pixel 11 lineup is here, and boy is it a confusing release.

On one hand, they're the most eye-catching Pixel series yet, thanks to the Pro variant's HiLight feature and bold color options. They also feature a wealth of small but significant hardware upgrades and fun camera features.

But on the other hand, the focus on AI features has made many of us feel that if you don't care about AI, then the Pixel 11 series offers nothing to justify its price jump.

But despite the controversy, Pixel phones are still fantastic devices to buy in 2026.

Pixel phones are the best Android phones for timely, feature-packed updates At the bleeding edge of Android development

Arguably the best part of owning a Pixel phone is the software experience. Pixel phones get Android updates before anyone else, and quarterly Pixel Feature Drops keep the experience fresh.

That's why I chose a Pixel as my daily driver in 2022; I wanted the most up-to-date Android experience possible.

Four years later, I've seen my decision prove to be correct time and time again. Living outside the US restricts me regarding some features, but that's the luck of the birthplace draw.

I know that as soon as a new Android feature or update is announced, I'll be amongst the first people in the world to test it out.

Google Pixel phones also lead the pack for software support. While other manufacturers, notably Samsung, have matched Google's offer, Google was the first Android manufacturer to offer seven years of software support.

By buying a new Pixel phone, you get seven years of Android updates delivered to your phone as soon as they're available. Not bad, right?

The most user-friendly Android experience on the market I've found Pixel phones the easiest of any Android phone to use

I remember when I switched from my Samsung Galaxy S7 to a Pixel 2 XL. It felt like stepping out of a crowded room of people into a silent garden. No fighting against pre-installed third-party apps, minimal bloatware, and a launcher I learned in a day.

Fast-forward nine years, and my opinion of the Pixel software experience has cooled. Google is hell-bent on cramming Gemini into as many apps as it can; out of the box, a Pixel phone is now a confusing experience.

But here's the thing. You can turn off most of these AI features.

By turning off the AICore app and uninstalling apps like Gemini and Pixel screenshots, you can get an experience close to the pre-Gemini era of Pixels.

It's frustrating that you can't opt in to these features rather than the reverse, but it takes less than a minute to clear the most obnoxious AI features from your Pixel phone.

The result is a phone that's more straightforward to use than any Samsung or Motorola device. Underneath the AI garbage, Pixel phones offer the best user experience of any Android device.

And that's before we get to the features.

Pixel phones lead the way with powerful and useful features and apps I can't live without many Pixel features

Every time I switch to a different Android phone, I realize how many Pixel features I take for granted.

Call Screen, Now Playing, Hold for Me, Quick Tap. Even this handful of features makes a Pixel phone feel light-years ahead of the competition.

And then there are the exclusive apps. Pixel Screenshots and Journal are some of the best AI-powered apps out there, and the Recorder app is unequaled.

The Recorder app is my number one Android app. I use it all the time, and I've never found a recording app that comes close to matching its power.

The best choice for midrange Android phones Pixel A-series phones are consistently great

In recent years, I've found myself more interested in the Pixel A-series than Google's flagship phones.

I'm always fascinated to see how manufacturers compromise to hit a lower price point, and Google's Pixel A-series has always offered the most consistent experience while introducing unique ideas.

For example, the complete absence of a camera bump on the Pixel 10a. As someone who cares not one jot for cameras, the Pixel 10a's beautiful simplicity appeals to me more than any other Android phone.

The Pixel A-series is also the Pixel lineup with the fewest AI features. They're a fantastic exercise in minimalist design.

Pixel phones aren't perfect, but look past the junk, and they are still fantastic devices

Google's Pixel phones used to feel like exciting sandboxes where users got to try exciting new Android features before anyone else. Sure, this meant plenty of bugs, but it was an exciting experience nonetheless.

That's still the case, but Google now seems hell-bent on building devices that can directly compete with iPhones.

The Pixel 11 has plenty of fantastic features. For example, Rambler is an incredible example of how AI can revolutionize dictation. However, silly features like HiLight don't excite me the way Call Screen or Now Playing did.

Nevertheless, Pixel phones are still a reliable purchase in 2026. But I'm not sure how long that truth will last.