Google Pixel 11 Event: Everything Expected at Made by Google 2026

Google is heading back to New York on Wednesday, August 12, for its annual Made by Google hardware event. This year's presentation is shaping up to be a little different from previous launches. Between official teasers and a steady stream of leaks, much of what Google plans to announce is already out in the open, so the keynote may be more about confirmation than surprise.

There is also a new face leading the show. Comedian and former Daily Show host Trevor Noah is set to host the event, with appearances expected from Stephen Curry, Alex Cooper, Shubman Gill, Peggy Gou, Jesser, JuJu Watkins, Chari Hawkins and PinkPantheress.

When is the Made by Google 2026 event?

Google's Made by Google keynote begins at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on August 12. The event will stream live through Google's YouTube channel and the Google Store. That is considerably later than last year's presentation, which began at 1 p.m. ET.

International viewers will need to plan around the unusual timing. The event begins at approximately 11 p.m. in the UK, midnight in much of continental Europe and 3:30 a.m. IST on August 13.

There is another unusual detail surrounding this year's launch. Google and Best Buy reportedly set a Pixel 11 preorder countdown to expire at 10 a.m. ET, several hours before the keynote begins. If that timing holds, much of the Pixel 11 lineup could effectively be revealed online before Google even takes the stage.

The Pixel 11 lineup

The Pixel 11 family is expected to be the main attraction, with Google reportedly preparing four models: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

Don't expect a dramatic visual transformation, though. Current reports suggest that Google will retain much of the design language introduced with the Pixel 10 series. One noticeable change could be the camera bar, with leaked images pointing toward a black finish stretching across the entire module.

The more interesting changes are expected underneath the familiar exterior.

Tensor G6 could be the Pixel 11's biggest upgrade

The Pixel 11 is expected to debut Google's next-generation Tensor G6 processor, which could be one of the most important upgrades in the new lineup. Reports suggest the chip may be manufactured using TSMC's 2nm process, potentially putting the Pixel 11 among the first smartphones to use this advanced manufacturing technology.

The Tensor G6 is also rumored to feature newer Arm C1 CPU cores and a PowerVR GPU. Another potentially important change concerns the modem. Google may move away from its previous Samsung-derived modem technology and adopt MediaTek's M90 modem instead.

That change could matter more than it sounds. Pixel phones have faced recurring criticism around battery efficiency, heat and connectivity, so a new modem could help Google address some of those long-running complaints.

More storage, but potentially less RAM

Google may also change the way it handles storage with the Pixel 11 generation. Reports suggest the company could eliminate the 128GB entry-level configuration and make 256GB the minimum storage option for the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro.

That would give buyers considerably more room for photos, videos, apps and other files without immediately forcing them toward a more expensive configuration.

The Pixel 11 Pro could, however, arrive with 12GB of RAM. Interestingly, that would be less than the 16GB included with the Pixel 10 Pro. Considering how heavily Google is promoting AI features, the rumored reduction is likely to raise some questions.

A new Pixel also means moving your data

Of course, storage specifications are only part of the upgrade experience. Once you buy a new phone, you still have to move your digital life onto it.

If you're replacing an older Android phone, that could mean transferring years of photos, videos, contacts, messages, documents, and other personal content. Smart Transfer can make that transition easier by helping you move important content to a new device instead of manually rebuilding everything from scratch.

That includes everything from a photo transfer for your favorite memories to moving clone phone files when you want to bring over a broader collection of content. If WhatsApp conversations are part of what you need to preserve, WhatsApp transfer can also be an important part of preparing your old phone for trade-in.

That step is particularly important if you're trading in your old phone. Moving your important data first gives you a chance to check that everything you need is safely on the new device before resetting or handing over the old one.

Pixel 11 Pro camera upgrades

Photography should remain one of the Pixel 11 Pro family's strongest selling points. Current reports suggest the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL will retain a triple-camera system featuring a 50MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera with macro capability and a 48MP periscope telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.

Digital zoom could reportedly reach as high as 120x, while Google is expected to introduce several new software features for photography and video. These may include an improved Cinematic Blur mode, video relighting and an Ultra Low Light video mode. 4K video recording at 30 frames per second is also reportedly in development.

The standard Pixel 11 remains less certain. Some reports suggest it could continue with two rear cameras, while others indicate that Google could bring a telephoto camera to the base model.

Pixel 11 Pro Fold could get a larger display

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is expected to receive several changes of its own. Reports suggest that its inner screen could measure around 8 inches, while the folded device may become slimmer at approximately 10.1mm.

The camera system could also receive an upgrade, with a telephoto camera potentially joining the foldable's lineup for the first time.

One particularly interesting rumor concerns the battery. Google may use a 4,750mAh cell, which would be slightly smaller than expected. The company could offset that reduction with the improved efficiency of the Tensor G6 chip.

The timing of the foldable may change, too. Rather than arriving several weeks after the standard Pixel phones as previous generations have done, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold could launch around the same time as the rest of the lineup.

Pixel 11 prices could increase

The Pixel 11 generation may also be more expensive. Google has reportedly acknowledged that rising component costs are forcing pricing adjustments across its hardware lineup, with the broader memory shortage affecting manufacturers throughout the industry.

Current reports point toward starting prices of around $899 for the Pixel 11, $1,099 for the Pixel 11 Pro, $1,299 for the Pixel 11 Pro XL and $1,899 for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

Those figures remain estimates until Google officially confirms them, but higher pricing could make the company's software and AI improvements even more important when it tries to convince existing Pixel owners to upgrade.

New Pixel 11 colors could add some personality

If the hardware remains relatively familiar, Google could use colors to make the new phones feel fresher. The standard Pixel 11 is expected to receive a bright pink finish, while the Pro models could get a new Dune color with a gold-colored frame.

A new matte-black finish known as Midnight Haze has also appeared in reports. Color choices may seem like a minor detail, but Google has increasingly used distinctive finishes to give its phones more personality without completely redesigning the hardware.

Pixel Watch 5 is also expected

The Pixel phones will not be the only hardware at the event. Google is also expected to introduce the Pixel Watch 5, although the smartwatch could be a relatively modest upgrade.

The overall round design is expected to remain similar to the Pixel Watch 4. Internally, however, the watch could use Qualcomm's Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated processor alongside 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. That would give the Pixel Watch 5 twice the storage of its predecessor.

Battery life may remain around 30 hours for the 41mm model and 40 hours for the 45mm version. Pricing could rise as well, with reports suggesting starting prices of approximately $399 for the 41mm model and $429 for the 45mm version.

Google may also announce a Pixel Watch 5 Steph Curry Special Edition. Current reports suggest this could primarily involve a special-edition band rather than a completely redesigned watch, potentially limited to the US and larger case size.

HiLight could be Pixel 11's most unusual feature

One of the most unusual Pixel 11 additions is the feature previously associated with the name Pixel Glow. More recent leaks suggest Google may call it HiLight.

The feature reportedly uses the camera-bar flash as an RGB light capable of displaying different colors. It could potentially indicate calls from specific contacts or signal interactions with Gemini. Code found in Google's Contacts app reportedly supports the HiLight name and the possibility of assigning individual colors to contacts.

HiLight is expected to be limited to the Pro models and could replace the temperature sensor found on previous Pixel devices.

Whether it becomes a genuine reason to buy a Pixel 11 is another matter. A notification light that changes color sounds interesting, but its usefulness will depend heavily on how Google implements it. If users need to be looking at the front of their phone to notice most alerts, a light positioned on the rear camera bar may not be particularly useful.

There are also reports suggesting that HiLight may not be available on the standard Pixel 11.

Gemini could be the real star of the show

The biggest Pixel 11 story may ultimately have little to do with hardware. Several reports suggest Gemini Intelligence will be central to Google's presentation, particularly because the physical design of the new phones is expected to remain familiar.

Google needs to explain why customers should care about another annual Pixel upgrade, and AI is likely to provide much of that answer. The company is reportedly developing more proactive Gemini features designed to surface useful information without requiring users to ask for it first.

The Pixel Watch 5 could benefit from the same approach. Reports suggest Google is positioning Gemini as a more personal and proactive assistant, while a feature called Proactive Suggestions could offer context-aware recommendations for replying to messages. Improved sleep tracking is also reportedly part of the new smartwatch experience.

What probably won't appear at Made by Google

Not every Google product rumored for 2026 is expected to appear at this week's event. Googlebook laptops and Android XR smart glasses are reportedly being held for a later fall launch rather than the August presentation.

A Pixel smart ring also appears unlikely, while there has not been enough evidence pointing toward new Pixelsnap accessories.

That leaves the Pixel 11 family, Pixel Watch 5 and Google's expanding Gemini ecosystem as the likely stars of Made by Google 2026.

What to expect from the Pixel 11 launch

The Pixel 11 launch may not deliver the dramatic hardware redesign that makes an annual upgrade feel essential. Instead, Google appears to be taking a more evolutionary approach, with the Tensor G6 processor, a new modem, camera improvements and deeper Gemini integration doing much of the heavy lifting.

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold could provide the most noticeable hardware change, while HiLight gives Google's traditional smartphone lineup an unusual new feature to experiment with.

But with prices potentially climbing, Google's biggest challenge will be convincing buyers that these refinements are worth paying more for. The good news is that we won't have to wait much longer to find out.