The Pixel 11 is facing fresh criticism after users reported that the Immersive Navigation feature in Google Maps has stopped working on Google’s latest flagship. What was intended to be a headline release for the company is beginning to look like one of its more troubled handset launches in recent memory.
Immersive Navigation goes missing
Several Pixel 11 owners have complained that Immersive Navigation is no longer available within Google Maps. Users who had the feature running on their Pixel 10 Pro XL were surprised to find it absent on the Pixel 11 Pro XL after upgrading to the newer device.
Immersive Navigation is designed to deliver a more intuitive and natural navigation experience. It renders buildings in a 3D-like style, making it easier to identify where to turn. The feature provides a more detailed view of the surroundings, including buildings, overpasses, terrain and key road features such as lanes, crosswalks, traffic lights and stop signs.
To achieve this, the feature relies on Gemini models to analyse fresh Street View and aerial imagery, helping Maps build a more accurate picture of landmarks, medians and other details along a route.
No official fix yet
Google has not yet provided a solution to the problem. An Android Auto team member reportedly indicated that affected users would be contacted by email for further information. The scale of the issue remains unclear, particularly as the Pixel 11 has only just begun reaching early buyers and those who pre-ordered.
The new Maps experience is also not available worldwide. It is currently rolling out in stages to users in the United States, which further complicates the picture for anyone hoping to access Immersive Navigation on the new handset.
Security concerns add to the pressure
The navigation issue is not the only concern surrounding the device. GrapheneOS, a privacy-focused Android operating system, relies heavily on hardware memory tagging (MTE) to protect against memory-related security vulnerabilities.
The Pixel 11 lacks MTE support, which prevents it from officially supporting GrapheneOS and potentially makes it less secure than previous Pixel models in that specific respect. Pixel 10 units are superior on this front. While the Pixel 11 includes other security upgrades, GrapheneOS developers have criticised the omission and advised security-focused users to consider alternatives.
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Image: phonearena.com
