Almost a full year has passed since the launch of Google’s Pixel 10 phones, which of course means it’s time for the Pixel 11 handsets to make their debut. Another Made by Google event has been scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 12, with everything getting underway in New York from 6 pm EDT / 3 pm PDT.
As Google usually launches new Pixels at this time of year—and has already dropped some pretty revealing teasers on the Google Store—we have a good idea of what’s coming. Add in a recent flurry of leaks and rumors from reputable tipsters, and it’s possible to generate a clear picture of what will be announced next week.
What the rumors say about the Google Pixel 11 announcement
Starting with the Pixel 11 phones, it looks like there will be four new models, just like last year: The Google Pixel 11, the higher-spec Pixel 11 Pro, the higher-spec and larger Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the foldable Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Google has already namechecked and teased the design of the Pixel 11 Pro and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold on social media.
You can see from those official teasers that the familiar Pixel design language is back, with the addition of a colorful notification LED on the rear camera bar. Early rumors suggested this would be called “Pixel Glow,” but reputable tipster Roland Quandt has dug up some material suggesting it’ll actually be called “HiLight,” and will be used to indicate Gemini chats or incoming communications from priority contacts.
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For everything else, we’re relying on unofficial sources. Veteran leaker Evan Blass, who has one of the best track records in the business, has shared renderings of all four expected phones, including the Pixel 11 and the Pixel 11 Pro XL that Google hasn’t specifically mentioned so far.
Aside from HiLight, there aren’t really any design surprises here, but Google is apparently once again tweaking the color options. A comprehensive leak published at MyMobiles lists Blue, Green, Midnight, and Pink for the standard Pixel 11; and Green, Light Green, Silver, Midnight, and Red for the Pro and Pro XL.
In terms of specs, most reports suggest the devices will have a Tensor G6 chipset, up from the Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10. Speed gains might not be huge, but it will be the first Pixel processor to be based on a 2-nanometer manufacturing process, which should make it more efficient. A new modem is also expected, which should provide faster and more reliable 5G.
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A full specs list published by Android Headlines shows 12GB or 16GB as the RAM options, and storage starting at 256GB (rather than 128GB, as was the case last year). That extra storage comes with a price bump: These phones are predicted to start at $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, all $100 more than their equivalent Pixel 10 models.
As for cameras, the rumors suggest they will stay largely the same as last year, which means triple-lens cameras on the back of every model. Battery capacities are expected to be more or less the same across the board too, with slight increases or decreases depending on the model.
What the rumors say about the Google Pixel Watch 5 and the Pixel Tag announcements
Phones aren’t the only new devices tipped to show up on Aug. 12. New Pixel handsets usually arrive alongside a new Pixel Watch as well, and that looks certain to be the case this year. While Google hasn’t officially mentioned a smartwatch is coming, seasoned tipster Steve McFly has revealed a host of renderings for the Pixel Watch 5.
Once again, these renders show 41 mm and 45 mm variants in the standard Pixel Watch design, while slight battery capacity increases are rumored. However, the chip inside (the Snapdragon Wear W5 Gen 2 SoC) is believed to be the same as the Google Pixel Watch 4, with pricing is said to start at $399 for the 41 mm version and $429 for the 45 mm version (up by $50 and $70, respectively, over the Pixel Watch 4 models).
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As an added bonus, it’s looking very much like Google will finally launch its own AirTag rival at this event. Images and pricing have emerged for the Google Pixel Tag, which looks like a fairly nondescript little Bluetooth tracker, and which will no doubt work through Google’s Find My portal to help you recover lost gadgets.
The leaks so far haven’t given any hints about a rechargeable battery or support for the ultra-wideband (UWB) tech that makes AirTags so accurate, but European pricing is expected to be €34.90 for a single Pixel Tag. That’s almost exactly the price of an Apple AirTag in the region, so a $29 price in the U.S. seems likely.