ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Pixel 11 series has several useful features off by default.
- You can improve your phone’s display and its charging speed.
- Some settings require customization.
I’ve been a dedicated Pixel user since the beginning, so I was naturally excited to get my hands on Google’s latest iteration, the Pixel 11 Pro XL. I’ve been impressed with it overall, but I noticed that, as Google has done before, the device isn’t set up perfectly out of the box.
Also: Pixel 11 is $200 off in this early Black Friday deal
After spending a few weeks with the device, I found that several features are either turned off by default or need optimizing to work in the best way possible.
1.Pick a Camera Look style
The camera was the biggest reason I first joined team Pixel back in 2016, so it’s one of the first places I looked on the Pixel 11 Pro XL. New this year is Camera Looks, a setting that changes how images will be processed before you take them. You can change a number of settings, including contrast, shadows, tint, sharpness, and warmth.
Also:A week with the Pixel 11 changed my mind about Gemini
I’ve always loved the camera on any Pixel I’ve had, but I’ll admit that images can look a little over-processed at times. If picture quality is important to you at all, it’s vital to set this feature right out of the box because it applies to every image you take from that point on. You can find Camera Look by opening the camera app, tapping the settings icon in the bottom-right corner, and making your changes.
2. Customize your lock screen widgets
Pixel’s “At a Glance” lock screen widgets are one of the most sneakily useful features, and you’re missing out if you’re not using them. These widgets are off by default, but when you enable them, you can see real-time information without unlocking your phone. You can see weather info, sports updates, flight information, rideshare and food delivery updates, fitness information, and more.
Also: These tech gifts topped our experts’ 2026 holiday wish lists
To use these widgets, long-press on an open space on your home screen. To customize your widgets, go to Settings > Wallpaper & style > More lock screen settings > Widgets on lock screen. To access your widgets, you just swipe left from your lock screen.
3. Enable Smooth Display
Out of the box, your Pixel 11’s display isn’t set to utilize its full capability. The Pixel 11 series comes with a fantastic low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) display, but it’s slightly throttled in the name of battery life. You’ll notice the increased resolution most on text and in fine details. It won’t make a huge difference to your streaming or large display elements, though. If you read consistently, either articles or e-books, you’ll want to make the change.
To change this, head to Settings > Display > Screen Resolution. Bump the setting from “High resolution,” which is 1080 x 2404, to “Max resolution,” which is 1344 x 2992.
4. Use Extreme Charging mode
If you’re anything like me, your phone usually needs a quick charge some evenings. The Pixel 11 series introduced Extreme Charging Mode, which accelerates charging by pausing background activity and non-essential apps. Google says the mode should charge the Pixel 11 and 11 Pro to over 50% in 30 minutes, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL to 75% in 30 minutes. From my testing, that estimate was pretty accurate.
Also:After testing the Pixel 11, I feel fine about skipping the Pro models
There are a few caveats: this feature is only available when your phone is at or below 50% battery, and you do need to turn it on every time you use it. But after the first time you do it, it’s available in your quick settings. Head to Settings > Battery & charging > Extreme Charging to turn it on the first time.
5. Customize HiLight
If you have the newest Pixel, you might as well take advantage of one of its biggest selling points. I felt like this feature was gimmicky at first (and I’m still a little grumpy it replaced my beloved thermometer), but the more I use it, the more I like it. The multicolor LED on the phone’s rear camera bump can indicate who’s calling, serve as a status indicator for Gemini, and more — and it’s almost certain that more usability will arrive over time.
Where I found the most use was when I had my phone on silent. After assigning specific colors to contacts (you can do this from the contact information screen), I could easily see whether a call was worth picking up without reaching for my phone.
Also: The best foldable phones
To make sure you’re getting the most out of your new device, head in and change your contact HiLight colors right away. It only takes a few seconds and makes deciding whether to answer a call a lot easier.
6. Turn on Notification History & AI Summaries
We’ve all accidentally swiped away an important notification or missed a notification in a sea of updates. The Pixel 11 offers two notification features to help you stay on top of things.
Notification History is a feature that logs every alert from the last 24 hours, including those you swipe away. This is off by default, meaning when you dismiss a notification, it’s gone forever. With this on, you get a searchable, chronological backup.
Also: Google’s big flagship is more Pro than ever
AI Notification Summaries, as the name implies, takes long multi-notification threads and stacked notifications and turns them into bullet points. This feature is powered by on-device Gemini Intelligence, and you can choose which apps to summarize.
You can find both of these under Settings > Notifications > Notification history & Notification Summaries.
