Google has officially confirmed the Made by Google event for August 12, 2026. The company will unveil four new Pixel 11 phones: the standard Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Pre-orders start the same day as the announcement.
Tensor G6: Google’s First 2nm Chip
The centerpiece of the Pixel 11 lineup is the Tensor G6, codenamed “Malibu.” Built on TSMC’s 2nm (N2) process, it represents a major leap from the Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10 series. The chip pairs a redesigned CPU architecture with a PowerVR C-Series GPU, a MediaTek M90 5G modem, and a new “Santafe” TPU dedicated to on-device AI workloads.
Google is ditching the 128GB storage tier entirely. Every Pixel 11 model starts at 256GB, with 512GB available on Pro variants. RAM goes up to 12GB on the base model and 16GB on the Pro and Fold variants.
Pixel Glow Replaces the Temperature Sensor
The controversial temperature sensor that debuted on the Pixel 8 Pro is gone. In its place, Google is introducing “Pixel Glow,” an RGB LED notification array built into the camera bar. The system can display up to 8 custom colors, flashing patterns for incoming calls, battery levels, and contextual Gemini AI alerts when the phone sits face-down.
It is similar in concept to Nothing’s Glyph Interface, but Google’s implementation is designed to work with Gemini’s AI output. For instance, different colors could signal the status of an ongoing AI task or notification priority.
Display and Camera Upgrades
Every Pixel 11 model gets brighter OLED panels. The base Pixel 11 hits 3,100 nits peak brightness on its 6.3-inch 120Hz AMOLED display. The Pro and Pro XL push that to 3,600 nits with a 240Hz PWM dimming rate for reduced eye strain. The Pro Fold sports an 8.0-inch inner display at 3,500 nits and a 6.3-inch outer display at 3,600 nits.
Camera hardware gets a generational bump across the board. The base Pixel 11 now includes a telephoto lens, a feature previously exclusive to the Pro models. Computational photography improvements are expected to leverage the new TPU for faster on-device processing.
Pricing and Availability
Leaked pricing puts the Pixel 11 at $899, the Pixel 11 Pro at $1,099, the Pro XL at $1,299, and the Pro Fold at $1,899. India pricing is expected to start around Rs 87,000 for the base model, with the Fold crossing Rs 1.82 lakh.
Google has already sent pre-order emails to subscribers in India, confirming the August 12 date. Sales are expected to begin within a week of the announcement in major markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Google Pixel 11 launching?
Google has confirmed the Made by Google event for August 12, 2026. Pre-orders begin the same day.
What chip does the Google Pixel 11 use?
The Pixel 11 series runs on the Tensor G6 processor, manufactured by TSMC on a 2nm process node. It features a redesigned CPU, PowerVR GPU, and a new Santafe TPU for AI tasks.
Does the Pixel 11 have the Pixel Glow notification light?
The Pixel Glow RGB LED notification bar is available on the Pixel 11 Pro, Pro XL, and Pro Fold models. The base Pixel 11 does not include it.
What is the starting price of the Pixel 11?
The base Pixel 11 is expected to start at $899 (approximately Rs 87,000 in India). Storage begins at 256GB with no 128GB option.
How is Pixel Glow different from Nothing’s Glyph Interface?
While both use LED patterns in the phone’s camera area, Pixel Glow integrates directly with Gemini AI to show contextual status indicators. Nothing’s Glyph is primarily notification-focused with manual customization.
