Notification LEDs went out of fashion and their functionality was replaced by always-on displays. But can this classic feature make a comeback with the power of AI? Google wants to find out.
We are referring to the new HiLight feature that sits beside the rear camera lenses of the Pixel 11 trio. This activates when you put the phone face-down – it can notify you of an incoming call from a preferred contact and it also lights up when talking to Gemini.
HiLight is a notification LED for the age of AI
Speaking of Gemini, Google is launching a more capable version for phones (and soon, smartwatches) called Gemini Intelligence. It enjoys the increased compute power of the new Tensor G6 – the first smartphone chipset to come out of TSMC’s 2nm fabs and the second since Google parted ways with Samsung.
Ironically, it is exactly AI that caused a downgrade – last year Pixel Pros had 16GB of RAM, regardless of storage. This year, they start at 12GB of RAM for the base 256GB configuration and go up to 16GB for the 512GB and 1TB variants. Oh yes, the small Pixel Pro now starts at 256GB (that’s a good thing, since the 128GB Pixel 10 Pro used slower UFS 3.1 storage). The G6 is cooled by a vapor chamber and is paired with a Titan M3 security chip for post-quantum encryption.
The Google Pixel 11 Pro features a 6.3” LTPO (120Hz) OLED display – this puts it in the same category as the iPhone 17 Pro and the Galaxy S26. It has a 4,850mAh battery inside as Google is still reluctant to chase high milliamp-hour numbers. Like its predecessor, it supports 30W wired charging and magnetic Pixelsnap wireless charging.
Google Pixel 11 Pro
The larger Google Pixel 11 Pro XL has a 6.8” LTPO (120Hz) OLED display instead, but the significant increase in body size comes with a modest bump in battery capacity – 5,115mAh. This is actually a downgrade from last year’s Pro XL, which had a 5,200mAh battery, but it’s still slightly above the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 5,000mAh battery.
Google is betting on the increased power efficiency of the Tensor G6 chipset to offer longer battery life – this was a weak spot for the 10 Pro models. Anyway, the Pro XL supports faster 45W wired charging.
Google Pixel 11 Pro XL
While it might be hard to tell the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro from the outside, the Pro model has significantly better cameras – and it shares them with its Pro XL sibling. This includes a 50MP main with a large 1/1.3″ sensor and OIS, a 48MP 5x periscope (1/1.95″ sensor, f/2.8 lens with OIS) and a 48MP ultra-wide with an autofocus lens (1/2.51″ sensor, f/1.7 aperture). The selfie camera combines a 42MP sensor with a 103° f/2.2 lens with autofocus.
The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold also features the HiLight LED on its camera island. The Pro Fold can’t quite match the camera prowess of the other two Pro models. It has a 48MP main camera (1/1.56″ sensor), a 5x 10.8MP telephoto module (1/1.32″ sensor) and a 10.5MP ultra-wide (1/3.4″, AF lens), plus two 10MP selfie cameras (with 87° lenses).
The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold features Gemini Intelligence and the HiLight LED
For this generation, Google increased the cover screen size from 6.4” to 6.5”. It’s a minor bump and the display still has a tall aspect ratio. The inner display remains at 8.0”.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold has a 6.5” cover and an 8.0” inner display
The phone is rated IP68 like before – this is as high as dust ingress protection goes and the phone will also survive being submerged in water.
The Pro Fold lost more battery capacity than the Pro XL – the new model only has 4,806mAh. This is below the 5,015mAh rating of its predecessor and also below the Galaxy Z Fold8, which launched with a 5,000mAh battery. Anyway, even with this downgrade, Google promises the same 24-hour endurance as it did last year.
The Pro Fold uses the same Tensor G6 chip as its compatriots, but it always gets 16GB of RAM – even if you go for the 256GB variant.
The two Pro models offer a different color palette than the vanilla Pixel 11 – they come in Canyon, Olive, Fog and Obsidian. Meanwhile, the foldable comes in Obsidian and Olive.
Google Pixel 11 Pro in: Canyon • Olive • Fog • Obsidian
Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold in: Olive • Obsidian
The Pixel 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL and 11 Pro Fold are on pre-order starting today and open sales are scheduled for August 20. We have a detailed pricing breakdown in this post.