Kerry Wan/ZDNET
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Google will officially unveil the Pixel 11 lineup on Aug. 12.
- The new Pixel Glow feature could be the highlight.
- Pixels need an AI kill switch and better magnetic accessories.
Google has officially scheduled the Pixel 11 event — Aug. 12. In less than a month, we’ll see what Google has in store for this year, including a redesigned Fold, the Pixel Watch 5, and the Pixel 11 phone lineup with the highly-touted Pixel Glow. Pixel Glow is a multi-colored LED light feature on the rear of the phone. It was initially thought this might be a light strip around the camera bar, but the latest leaks show a circular light that lives in the current flashlight position.
Also: Own a Pixel? You can add device protection now for $5/month – but should you?
I’ve been a Pixel user since the first phone debuted in 2016, and I’m still firmly on team Google. However, I feel like Pixel phones are starting to become a little stale compared to the innovative powerhouse they once were. Google is promising a lot for its next phone series, and while I know some (maybe even most) of my wishlist won’t happen, here’s what I’d love to see at the Pixel 11 event.
What I want from the Pixel 11
1. Find a way to keep the thermometer
First introduced with the Pixel 8 Pro in 2023, the built-in thermometer has become one of my favorite Pixel features. I use it often for a quick check if my kids aren’t feeling well, and it’s come in handy quite a few times if I’m out with family or friends and someone wonders if they might have a fever. It’s a fantastic “check out what my phone can do” trick, and I can’t count how many times someone asked how I did it.
Also: Google Pixel 10a review: Should Android users consider anything else at this price?
Several leaks of the upcoming Pixel 11 Pro indicate that the temperature sensor is being dropped to make room for the Pixel Glow feature. It’s not clear exactly what phones are getting Glow (at least the Pro), but I hope Google can find a way to eventually make these two features coexist if the shiny new lights are coming to the whole Pixel 11 lineup.
2. Maximum functionality for the Glow feature
If Google is going to kill my favorite feature for Pixel Glow, I hope it’s not just a light show for notifications. The new lights do look cool, and it seems like this could be a nice way to keep your phone out of your hands (by deciding if the color-coded notification is worth your attention), but I’d like to see Google to get the most use possible out of Glow — functions like a camera timer, charging status indicator, connection to Android’s “At a glance” notifications to see how close your rideshare or delivery is, or a soft fill light for photos.
3. More Pixelsnap accessories
If there’s one area I am jealous of Apple, it’s MagSafe accessories. I’ve added a generic metal ring to my phone case and a magnetic holder to my car, and I love snapping my phone in sight when I need it. Google introduced this to the Pixel 10 lineup with Pixelsnap, but I want to see more than just a charger and stand.
4. Add an AI kill switch
While I’m not all-in on AI on my phone, I do use some of my Pixel 9 Pro’s AI features (namely the photo editing, video boost, and Gemini). As companies keep injecting AI into every conceivable corner of our tech, some consumers are starting to push back. If Google could include an AI kill switch — something like “Local processing only” or “Classic mode,” it would win some of those fans. Frame it as a privacy measure, or as a way to save battery life — users should have a way to turn AI totally off.
5. Ditch lithium-ion batteries
Several phone manufacturers, notably Motorola and OnePlus, have ditched traditional lithium-ion batteries for silicon carbon. The biggest names, though, like Apple, Samsung, and Google, have yet to follow suit. A switch to silicon carbon could not only fix battery problems that have plagued Google phones for years now, but it would also allow for a larger battery capacity without making the device bulky (for comparison, these manufacturers can fit 6,000mAh to 7,300mAh batteries while Google caps out at 5,100mAh). This would result in more expensive manufacturing costs and a new supply chain, but it would position Google at the front of the pack.
