Google is touting better scratch resistance on its new Pixel 11 Pro phones but, apparently, smaller one doesn’t handle drops and falls quite as well, EU testing claims.
The European Product Registry for Energy Labelling – EPREL – publishes labels for every new smartphone which includes a rating that takes into account factors such as battery capacity, battery life, dust/water resistance, repairability, and more.
Also included is a test on how many drops the phone can handle “without defect,” and the Pixel 11 series mostly matching last year’s lineup.
The entire Pixel 11 series earns a “B” overall rating from the EPREL, mostly unchanged from last year, but the devil is in the details here. The “Repeated free fall reliability test” sees Pixel 11 Pro XL, Fold, and the base model all getting an “A” rating matching last year’s lineup. The smaller Pixel 11 Pro in particular, though, is well behind the pack.
- Pixel 11: 270 drops, “A” rating
- Pixel 11 Pro: 180 drops, “B” rating
- Pixel 11 Pro XL: 270 drops, “A” rating
- Pixel 11 Pro Fold: 210 drops, “A” rating
Seems odd, doesn’t it? Especially considering the Pixel 10 Pro hit the same “A” rating and 270 drops last year, according to the EPREL.
It stands to reason that there could be a testing error here, but it’s not totally impossible that there’s just something about this year’s Pixel 11 Pro that changed the durability – somehow.
We’ll update this article if any further information comes to light, including any updates on the EPREL’s end.
More on Pixel 11:
- Pixel 11 Pro’s ‘HiLight’ missed its opportunity to be the perfect notification LED
- Google’s Pixel 11 trade-ins top out at $1,000 with great values for older phones
- Pixel 11 Pro displays are ‘more than twice’ as scratch-resistant – it only gets better from there
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