Pixel 11 leak points to Tensor G6 chip and 256 GB base storage

New leaks circulating ahead of Google's confirmed August launch event have fleshed out the two biggest questions hanging over the Pixel 11: what chip it will run, and how much storage you will get for your money. The answers, if the leaks hold, are the Tensor G6 on TSMC's 2nm process node — and a minimum of 256 GB, with the 128 GB base tier quietly retired.

As previously reported, Google sent official press invites on 7 July confirming a "Made by Google" event on 12 August 2026 in New York City, with pre-orders expected to open the same day and retail availability reportedly beginning 20 August.

Tensor G6: Google's most ambitious chip yet

The Tensor G6 — codenamed "Malibu" internally — represents a significant shift in how Google builds its in-house silicon. According to leaks reported by 9to5Google and Android Authority, the chip moves to TSMC's 2nm (N2) manufacturing node, marking the first time Google would be shipping silicon on the same process-generation as Apple's latest iPhones.

The reported core configuration is a seven-core 1+4+2 arrangement using ARM's newer C1 architecture: a single C1 Ultra Prime core clocked at 4.11 GHz, four C1-Pro Performance cores at 3.38 GHz, and two C1-Pro Efficiency cores at 2.65 GHz. Graphics are handled by a PowerVR C-Series CXTP-48-1536 GPU.

Two other changes stand out. First, Google is reportedly fitting the Tensor G6 with an upgraded Tensor Processing Unit and a new GXP imaging coprocessor — Google's custom image signal processor — both aimed squarely at on-device Gemini AI tasks. Second, and perhaps more practically significant, the Exynos modem that Google has relied on for years is being replaced by a MediaTek M90 (MT6986D). Older Pixel generations have drawn persistent criticism for cellular-related battery drain, an issue widely attributed to the Exynos modem; swapping it out could be the single most impactful under-the-hood change for day-to-day users. Security gets an upgrade too, with the Titan M2 making way for a Titan M3 chip.

Leaked figures suggest the Tensor G6 will deliver 15 to 20 per cent better efficiency than the Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10, and the move to 2nm is expected to address the thermal throttling that has dogged Pixel handsets for several generations.

256 GB base storage — but 128 GB is gone for good

Leaker billbil-kun on Dealabs, whose track record on Pixel pricing has proved reliable in previous cycles, reports that Google is eliminating the 128 GB entry-level tier entirely. The new floor for the whole Pixel 11 family is 256 GB, with Pro models reportedly topping out at 1 TB.

The storage bump comes at a cost. According to Counterpoint Research's Memory Price Tracker, mobile DRAM costs rose roughly 50 per cent quarter-on-quarter in 2026, while NAND flash storage surged more than 90 per cent over the same period. Those figures go some way to explaining the leaked UK starting prices.

Billbil-kun's figures, picked up by Notebookcheck and TechRepublic, put the Pixel 11 range at:

• Pixel 11: from £879 (256 GB) — up from £799 for the 128 GB Pixel 10
• Pixel 11 Pro: from £1,079
• Pixel 11 Pro XL: from £1,279
• Pixel 11 Pro Fold: from £1,799, rising to £2,149 for 1 TB

For the standard Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro, the £80 rise roughly reflects the removal of the cheaper storage option rather than a straight price increase — you are getting double the storage compared with the Pixel 10's base model. The Pro XL and Pro Fold, however, are reported to carry a price rise across all storage tiers, making those a harder sell on value grounds.

Google has not officially confirmed any of these figures. All pricing and storage details should be treated as leaked until the 12 August event.

An unresolved RAM question that matters

One leak that has not been corroborated adds a significant caveat to the picture. According to one source cited by 9to5Google, Google may reduce base RAM on the standard Pixel 11 from 12 GB to 8 GB, reportedly as a cost-cutting measure linked to sourcing memory from Chinese manufacturer CXMT. Other leaks contradict this, leaving the question genuinely unresolved.

It is worth flagging precisely because it changes the value calculation considerably. A Pixel 11 with 256 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM at £879 is a materially different proposition from one with 12 GB of RAM — especially given that Android's multitasking and on-device AI workloads both benefit from headroom. Google has not commented.

Design and what else we know

Early CAD renders suggest the Pixel 11 will be physically identical in size to the Pixel 10, with the same screen dimensions. One feature spotted in Android 17 Beta 4, dubbed "Pixel Glow", involves an array of LEDs on the rear of the phone to signal notifications when the device is face down — though it has not been confirmed for the shipping hardware.

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is expected to be announced on 12 August alongside the slab models but will not ship until October 2026.

What's next

Google's "Made by Google" event takes place on 12 August 2026 at 6 PM ET in New York. That is eight days earlier than last year's Pixel 10 unveiling, and three weeks after Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event on 22 July — both companies keen to capture attention before Apple's autumn iPhone 18 Pro and first foldable iPhone launches. Official specs, confirmed pricing, and pre-order details are all expected on the night.