Pixel 11 launch: 7 major takeaways from Made by Google: A Practical Look

The big Made by Google event has come and gone.

With an 11pm BST start time on 12 August, we can’t blame you for skipping the fancy New York stream. Pre-orders for the new Pixel 11 phones went live hours earlier, anyway.

But what actually happened? Here are the seven biggest announcements from the Pixel 11 launch.

1. Price rises are coming

The bad news, though unsurprising for a phone launch in 2026, is that the Pixel 11 series is more expensive than the Pixel 10 equivalents. Google effectively confirmed this ahead of time, also hinting that the Pixel 10a might get a post-launch hike, though this is yet to materialise.

All four of the Pixel 11 handsets are pricier than their predecessors by at least £80/$100. Here are the starting prices;

• Pixel 11 – £879/$899
• Pixel 11 Pro – £1,079/$1,099
• Pixel 11 Pro XL – £1,279/$1,299
• Pixel 11 Pro Fold – £1,799/$1,899

2. Key upgrade takes the sting off

While a price rise is never nice, there is some good news hidden here. Google has ditched 128GB as the base storage capacity (finally). So, you’re getting double the storage as standard.

That only applies to the Pixel 11 and 11 Pro, though. The 11 Pro XL already got this treatment last year, while Pixel Fold models have always offered at least 256GB of storage.

3. Colours are a key differentiator

While more storage for the cheaper models is good news, the Pixel 11 series is firmly in the ‘iterative update’ category. Like price hikes, this is a general trend for phones and mobile tech this year.

Apart from a new Tensor G6, brighter screens and tweaked cameras, there isn’t much to get excited about – especially if you have a Pixel 10 model.

This means that the new set of colourways is one of the most interesting things about the Pixel 11 range. As usual, Google has shaken things up with an almost entirely new set of hues.

There’s a bright pink option for the regular Pixel 11, the hero Canyon colour with gold frame for the candybar Pro models and a new version of Obsidian (or ‘Midnight Haze’) which comes in matte black.

We’ve ranked every single colour to help you decide which to go for.

4. HiLight feature is disappointing

A colourful new feature of the Pixel 11 phones is HiLight, previously known as Pixel Glow.

It sits in the camera flash as officially teased by Google, and with the lack of major hardware advancements, is a big part of the phone. It’s exclusive to the Pro models and replaces the temperature sensor previously found there.

The problem is that for a long time it seemed exciting, but the functionality available at launch is frustratingly limited. It basically just shows a different colour or pattern depending on the contact which is calling you, plus an indicator of what stage Gemini is at in its response to you (when you’re probably looking at the front of the phone anyway).

We hope Google has a lot more in store for HiLight, but as it stands, it’s a real missed opportunity.

5. Pixel Watch 5 is a case of déjà vu

In much the same way as Google’s new phones, its 2026 flagship smartwatch has ‘done a Pixel 10a’ – i.e. it’s basically identical to its predecessor.

Google has now confirmed what leaked images and specs suggested: there’s almost nothing new to get excited about here. Pixel Watch 4 owners certainly won’t feel the need to upgrade, unless you’re hell-bent on it matching a Pixel 11 colour if you’re getting one of those.

There’s also a Pixel Watch 5 Steph Curry Special Edition, but like the Fitbit Air, this will just be a strap which may only be available for the larger model and only go on sale in the US.

And if you have an older Pixel Watch or are thinking about switching from a rival like Samsung, the Pixel Watch 4 will almost certainly remain on sale at a new lower price, making it a far more valuable buy.

6. Pixel Tag will offer some excitement… eventually

There was something completely new at the launch event. Whether it’s exciting to you or not is another matter.

Bluetooth trackers aren’t particularly thrilling, but if you’re a Google ecosystem devotee then the Pixel Tag is certainly going to appeal.

It’s very similar to Apple’s industry-leading AirTag (and follow-up AirTag 2), down to its identical pricing: £29/$29 for one or a pack of four for £99/$99.

Crucially, it also features ultra-wideband (UWB) technology for precise locations, while data from Google’s Find Hub and end-to-end encryption make it a better option than Tile for a lot of people. However, it won’t be available until November.

7. New Pixel Buds colourway

While I’d like to be rounding this article off saying that Google has launched its first smart ring at the event – which I think should be Fitbit branded rather than Pixel – there was no mention of it.

I would’ve even taken new Pixelsnap accessories, since Google hasn’t launched any new ones since the Pixel 10 series, but there wasn’t anything either.

What we are getting is a new colour of the Pixel Buds Pro 2. The new dark green ‘Olive’ hue matches one of the colours of the Pixel 11 Pro phones.

Look out for our reviews of all four phones and the watch to see how well they fare in the real world.

In the meantime, check out our in-depth guides to the best phones and best smartwatches you can buy right now.