As summer draws to a close, rumors about Google's upcoming Pixel 11 series are intensifying. As is customary, the web is already rife with speculation about the Mountain View tech giant's new smartphones. The latest wave of leaks, collected by 9to5Google, reveals intriguing details about a refresh that, while not revolutionary, introduces noteworthy specs and a brand-new accessory.
The 2026 lineup will consist of the base Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Joining them are the Pixel Watch 5, new Pixel Buds Pro 2 in a fresh colorway, and, surprisingly, the Pixel Tag — Google's first official GPS tracker. This device had been rumored for a long time but was never confirmed. Its appearance in leaks indicates that the company is finally ready to challenge Apple's AirTag and Samsung's SmartTag.
Design remains faithful to Pixel 9 with a few tweaks
Like the third installment of a trilogy, the Pixel 11 adopts almost entirely the design of the Pixel 9. The phones will have nearly identical dimensions, with a few millimeters difference in thickness that may render some existing cases incompatible. The real aesthetic novelty is the camera bar, which abandons the metal section on the right side to return to an all-glass surface, as seen in the Pixel 6 series. However, this leaves no room for the temperature sensor, which is permanently removed on the Pro models. In its place, the LED flash on Pro and Pro Fold becomes RGB, with functions beyond just illuminating the shot.
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Four colors are offered for the base Pixel 11: Midnight Haze (blackish), Light Sterling (lavender), Fuchsia (vibrant), and Moss (light green). The Pro and Pro XL models, meanwhile, will be available in Midnight Haze, Light Fog (silver/white), Pine (dark green), and Dune (gold tint with peach-toned back). Interestingly, the Midnight Haze variant of the Pro will be entirely matte, including the frame. The Pro Fold, finally, will be offered only in Midnight Haze and Pine.
Tensor G6 with 2nm processor and MediaTek modem
The Tensor G6 marks a turning point for Google. Manufactured by TSMC on the advanced 2nm process, it is the first smartphone chip to utilize this technology, beating Apple. The CPU features an 8-core configuration with one C1 Ultra at 4.11GHz, four C1-Pro at 3.38GHz, and three efficiency cores. The modem switches from Samsung Exynos to MediaTek M90, a change that could improve connectivity and power consumption. CPU performance is expected to increase by up to 16%, but the PowerVR GPU is based on an older architecture, which might disappoint enthusiasts seeking top-tier gaming performance. Nevertheless, the improvement in efficiency is significant.
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Memory and storage increase, but possible cuts
Google eliminates the 128GB variant, making 256GB the minimum storage across all versions. RAM, however, might see a reduction due to a global chip crisis. While initial expectations were for 16GB on Pro models, some sources suggest certain configurations could drop to 12GB to manage costs.
Brighter displays and larger batteries
Screen sizes remain unchanged, but peak brightness takes a massive leap: 3,000 nits for the Pixel 11 and 3,600 nits for the Pro models. The Pro Fold retains its 8-inch inner display, while the outer screen grows slightly to 6.4 inches. Battery capacities vary: the Pixel 11 reaches 4,985mAh, the Pro XL 5,115mAh, the Pro drops to 4,850mAh, and the Fold 4,806mAh. Wired charging reaches 30W for all except the Pro XL, which hits 45W. Qi2 wireless charging is supported across the lineup.
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Diversified cameras with new sensors and powerful zoom
Cameras also undergo differentiation. The base Pixel 11 adopts a triple camera with a 48MP main sensor, 13MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto with Super Zoom up to 30x. The main sensor is codenamed "chemosh". Pro and Pro XL models switch to "bastet" and "barghest" sensors for the main and telephoto cameras. The configuration features a 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide with macro, and 48MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom and Pro Zoom up to 120x. The front camera jumps to 42MP with a 103-degree field of view. The Pro Fold retains the 48MP "chemosh" sensor, paired with a 10.5MP ultrawide and a 10.8MP periscope with 5x optical zoom and 30x Super Zoom. Two 10MP front cameras are present on both displays.
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Gemini Intelligence and new HiLight flash
The software experience will center around Gemini Intelligence, promising deeper control of the phone via your Google account, with improved contextual awareness and integration across services. The main hardware novelty is the HiLight flash, an RGB strip that replaces the temperature sensor and will provide feedback when using Gemini or recording videos. This feature, initially called Pixel Glow, may have multiple uses, but its full extent remains unclear.
With the expected price increase across the entire series, Google aims to position the Pixel 11 as flagship devices, but competition is fierce. Whether innovations like the Pixel Tag will be enough to convince users remains to be seen. For those focused on performance and battery life, the switch to the TSMC processor and MediaTek modem could make a difference. In any case, tech enthusiasts will have much to explore when the devices are officially unveiled.
Source: https://9to5google.com/2026/08/08/pixel-11-all-of-the-last-minute-leaks-video
