Google revealed a light element in the Pixel 11 Pro's camera module
Google has revealed glimpses of its upcoming Pixel 11 smartphone series, including a small light element in the Pixel 11 Pro’s camera module. According to The Verge, it is located where the flash is usually found, so it may combine the functions of a flash and a flashlight. The company has not yet explained exactly what this light is intended for or what operating modes it will have.
The publication notes that the feature could signal the return of a function that was once common in Google devices. Most smartphones in the Nexus lineup had hardware LED indicators: they displayed the charging status and could signal new notifications with different colors. This feature briefly appeared on the Pixel 2 in 2017, after which Google discontinued it.
Hardware light indicators have largely fallen out of favor with the rise of always-on displays, which show notifications without requiring the phone to be unlocked. At the same time, some Android devices use colored backlighting along the edges of the screen. Among modern examples of light elements on the back panel, The Verge highlights Nothing smartphones: their light arrays can display different signals for contacts or apps.
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According to The Verge, the light element animation on the Pixel 11 Pro features pulsating multicolored effects reminiscent of Gemini’s visual style. The publication speculates that the lighting may be linked to Google’s AI assistant. Leaks also suggest that it could be activated when interacting with a chatbot or for calls from specific contacts, though there is no official confirmation of these features.
The “Made by Google” presentation is scheduled for August 12, 2026. Trevor Noah is set to host, and announced guests include basketball player Stephen Curry, podcaster Alex Cooper, and DJ Peggy Howe. The Verge notes that the pre-order countdown on the Google Store is set to end eight hours before the broadcast, when the company is expected to fully unveil the new devices.
