Google’s new ‘HiLight’ feature is actually a downgrade in a key area this year on the Pixel 11 Pro models. Which is the flashlight, really the flash altogether.
As you undoubtedly know by now, Google has decided to ditch the thermometer on the back of its ‘Pro’ models and use an RGB light called ‘HiLight’. This uses about 8 LEDs in the small circle to indicate who’s calling and when you’re talking to Gemini – that’s it. But an unintended consequence: the flash is now dimmer than on last year’s model.
With Pixel devices, you likely never used the flash for photography, because Night Sight is so good – it’s also brighter this year. But the flash is still used for the flashlight, of course, and it is noticeably dimmer. The Pixel 9 and 10 series were already not all that bright, compared to the competition, and now it’s even dimmer.
In the image below, you can see the results from comparing the Galaxy Z TriFold, iPhone 17e, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro with the camera flash and the torch, and there’s a pretty big difference.
More hints that ‘HiLight’ is a gimmick no one asked for
Obviously, Google is only building hardware to get you to use its AI features more and more. That’s the main reason HiLight exists: it wants you to use Gemini as much as possible. But it’s ending up being a much bigger gimmick than really anything else that Google has put on its Pixel phones before. This includes the Project Soli radar sensor on the Pixel 4 series.
Fortunately, Night Sight is fast and so good that you likely won’t use the flash often, but you’d likely use it a lot more often as a flashlight. I know I do on smartphones.
The post Google’s HiLight Feature Made the Pixel 11 Pro’s Flashlight Noticeably Dimmer appeared first on Android Headlines.
​Â
