Google's Pixel 11 Series: Thin Cameras and AI-Driven Photography

Google's latest Pixel series has been released, and tech journalist Rene Ramos of Mashable was among the first to get hands-on experience. The base model Pixel 11 boasts a significantly slimmed-down camera bar, which is noticeable when viewed from the side but doesn't affect its functionality. This design change allows the phone to lie flat on a surface.

The new feature 'HiLight' on the Pro models has been met with disappointment, as it can only light up when a call or Gemini is active. However, Magic Capture, another software addition available across all four Pixel 11 devices, has shown impressive capabilities in automatically processing video to choose still frames that would work as standalone photos.

Magic Capture works on-device and requires no cellular or internet connection, making it useful for capturing dynamic events like sports or wildlife. This feature is a pleasant surprise among the incremental improvements of the Pixel series this year.