Google’s annual Made by Google event is one of the biggest events each year in the world of mobile devices, and 2026 is no different with it featuring the unveiling of Google’s latest Pixel smartphones, smartwatch, and a brand-new hardware device that Google has never dabbled in before on the hardware side.
The day’s announcements included the first official looks at Google’s newest phones, the Pixel 11 series, which includes the Pixel 11, the Pixel 11 Pro, the Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Google’s latest smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 5, was also announced, as was the new Pixel Tag tracker, and a new color for the Pixel Buds Pro 2. If you’re looking for a breakdown of all Google’s new devices, you’ll find it here.
Made by Google 2026 shines a spotlight on the Pixel 11 series phones
While Google announced more than phones today, the Pixel 11 phones are the main event for Google so to speak. Google’s latest phones are coming with a suite of improvements and little upgrades but overall the Pixel 11 series retains much of the same design style, with fresh colors to delight the eyes.
One key detail that stands out on the new Pixel 11 series is the camera bar. It’s the same shape as before and still travels the width of the device, but Google has shaved it down a bit so it doesn’t protrude from the back of the phone as much. This slimmer camera bar makes it easier for the phone to lay a little more flat without a case.
Google also made some changes to the displays on the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL. First, the HDR brightness and peak brightness have been increased and are now sitting at 2,400 nits and 3,600 nits, respectively. There’s an anti-scratch guard as well to help prevent micro scratches and such, though if you really want to protect the display a screen protector will do the job. HiLight is one of the headlining features for the Pixel 11 series, though it’s not available on the base model Pixel 11. It’s also confirmed that HiLight only works with phone calls, and Gemini interactions at launch. It’s reportedly coming to Google Messages at some point, though there is no third-party app support and it reportedly isn’t planned.
All four phones are available for pre-order starting August 12, with devices shipping by August 20 which is the day of general availability.
Google Pixel 11 – Get a $100 Gift Card!
Google Pixel 11 Pro – Get a $200 Gift Card!
Google Pixel 11 Pro XL – Get a $200 Gift Card!
Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold – Get a $350 Gift Card!
The Google Pixel Watch 5 brings fast charging and new health features to the table
The Pixel Watch 4 when it was released in 2025 ended up being one of the fastest charging smartwatches I’ve ever used, if not the fastest. The Pixel Watch 5 is now here, and it’s looking like the watch will charge just as fast, perhaps even a little faster. The 45mm size of the watch can charge to 100% in 60 minutes. That’s pretty quick. Fast charging isn’t the only highlight of the new watch, though, nor is it Google’s main highlight of the device.
The Pixel Watch 5 is coming with several new health features that aim to help users make the most of their fitness routines, health journeys, and daily activities. A new Health Guardian feature contains functions such as Blood Pressure Trends and Insulin Resistance Trends that are designed to help alert people to shifts in both those areas.
There’s also a new Smart Wake feature, which Google announced with the Fitbit Air, and this is designed to wake people up at the optimal stage of sleep by using gentle vibrations within 30 minutes of set alarms.
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The Pixel Tag is your new way to keep track of stuff
The Pixel Tag isn’t officially launching until later this year, specifically in November, but Google has confirmed that it will cost $29 and you’ll even be able to pick up a 4-pack for $99 when the device is launched, should you feel like you need more than one tag. The tag works with Google’s Find Hub Network and is small and thin enough to fit in a wallet (albeit making it a little more bulky than usual), while easily fitting in backpack and purse pockets, or you can even hang it from key rings and zipper pulls.
There’s another brand-new color of the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Google has released another color of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 as opposed to launching a Pixel Buds Pro 3, and this time the new color is Olive, joining the Porcelain, Peony, Hazel, and Moonstone buds that have been available prior to today’s announcements. There are now new features being added with the release of this new color, so the launch is purely to match the Olive colors of the Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Pixel Watch 5.
OTA updates on Pixel 11 could be quicker than past generations
Right on time with the Pixel 11 announcements at the Made by Google event on August 12, our Editor-in-Chief Alex Maxham ended up with a box full of shiny new Pixel 11 devices. Upon beginning to set up the Pixel 11 Pro, something interesting happened. An OTA update for over 600MB was immediately available, and it didn’t take more than a minute to complete. OTA updates on Pixel devices have historically taken way longer than they should have, but the Pixel 11 series may have fixed that.
The Pixel 11’s HiLight feature only works with two things at launch
Hilight was one feature of the Pixel 11 that was genuinely exciting because it seemed like Google was giving Pixel owners a way to tie notifications from apps to a color of their choice. However, that isn’t going to be the case at all. HiLight only works with two things at launch. It works with phone calls, and Gemini interactions. That’s it. On top of this, Google says it will allow users 5 colors to choose from. Google Messages support is supposed to be added at a later date.
Third-party app support, however, is not planned, and may never be added. So you can say goodbye to the idea that every one of your chat and social apps, in addition to phone calls, will have their own special color for notifications.
The new Magic Capture feature lives up to its namesake
Google always ends up adding new features powered by AI with every new Pixel phone release, and this year with the Pixel 11 series, it’s added the new Magic Capture feature to the camera. This will let you record video like with any other phone, but it automatically takes still photos if it recognizes any moments during the recording that would be good as a still photo. These also come out as Hi-Res images for better quality.
Google has improved the crease on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold
The crease in the display of foldable smartphones is one of the main complaints that consumers have had since foldables have been introduced to the market, but each new foldable seems to make things just a little less noticeable. According to Alex Maxham, our Editor-In-Chief, the crease on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold has been improved compared to the previous model. Alex said it was better than he expected, and that it was “about as invisible as Samsung and Oppo’s latest.” That’s a pretty big improvement, since you really can’t see the crease on the Galaxy Z Flip 8 or the Galaxy Z Fold 8 unless the screen is off, and even then, only in the right light.
Pixel 11 phones come with smaller batteries, but Tensor G6 power efficiency may counteract that
Battery life on Pixel phones has varied from generation to generation but they have gotten better with each new release, and that’s been partly due to increased battery capacities. With the Pixel 11 series phones, Google has decreased the battery capacities.
That won’t necessarily make the battery life worse. According to Google, the new Tensor G6 (as well as the new vapor chamber in the Pro models) help to improve the power efficiency on these new phones, so battery life will be up to 30 hours on the Pro models, with up to 24 hours on the base model.
Pro model Pixel 11 phones come with an improved vapor chamber
Google is keeping the vapor chamber for the Pro model Pixel phones again this year, which means you can only get it in the Pixel 11 Pro, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL. It has been improved though. Paired with the new Tensor G6, which Google says will be more power efficient while also running at sustainably lower temperatures, the smaller Pro and larger Pro XL should be able to have improved battery life in a single charge cycle.
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