The Pixel 11 is set to arrive later this year; however, one rumoured spec risks undermining the whole thing.
Despite expected gains in performance and camera tech, leaks suggest Google will stick with 128GB as the base storage. This comes at a time when rivals are moving on.
That’s starting to look like a misstep.
On paper, the Pixel 11 sounds like a proper leap forward. CAD renders hint at a cleaner design. Meanwhile, reports point to a new Tensor G6 chip built on TSMC’s 2nm process. There will also be a switch away from Samsung’s Exynos modems to a MediaTek M90 5G modem. Add in increasingly demanding features like Ultra Low Light video and on-device AI processing. It’s clear Google is pushing the phone harder than ever.
Which makes the 128GB rumour harder to ignore.
Once Android 16, system files and apps are accounted for, usable storage drops well below the headline number. Moreover, Google’s growing AI features can take up significant local space, and things start to feel tight pretty quickly.
It gets worse when you factor in video. Google’s recent Pixels already support 4K 60fps recording and 10-bit HDR. The next model is expected to go further with features like Cinematic Blur and advanced relighting. At roughly 300MB per minute for 4K footage, half an hour of video can eat close to 9GB. That’s before edits or duplicates.
Other brands seem to have read the room. Apple and Samsung are both expected to push 256GB as the new baseline for their next flagships. This includes the iPhone 17 and Galaxy S26 series. Against that backdrop, sticking with 128GB feels dated or at least out of step.
There’s also a bigger picture here. Google’s ecosystem leans heavily on cloud storage, with Google Photos and Drive nudging users toward backups and subscriptions. A smaller local storage option naturally pushes people in that direction, whether that’s intentional or not.
Of course, this is still based on leaks, and things could change before launch. But if the Pixel 11 does land with 128GB at entry level, it won’t just feel conservative. Instead, it’ll feel like Google is prioritising the cloud over the hardware in your hand.
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