The Pixel 11’s “glow” function is definitely known as HiLight—this is what it does

Before shows grew to dominate your entire face of our telephones, it was frequent for Android units to have a small RGB LED that may illuminate to point pending notifications or incoming calls. This helped save energy again when waking up the show too typically may kill the battery.

But HiLight is on the again of the telephone. It seems this function will solely be helpful when the telephone is face down, which many individuals instinctively keep away from to stop display screen scratches. Perhaps Google can have some reply for that within the type of new, more durable glass.

Shining a light-weight on Gemini

The different angle for HiLight is the Gemini tie-in, and this jibes completely with a few of Google’s different merchandise. In the approaching months, we anticipate to see the primary Googlebook laptops hit the market. These units will come from numerous producers, however they’ll all have the Glowbar. Google has been imprecise on what the function will do, but it surely’s a secure guess primarily based on HiLight that the bar will gentle up once you’re speaking to or in any other case interacting with Gemini.

Likewise, the brand new Google Home Speaker, with its deep Gemini integration, has an illuminated ring across the backside. It lights up once you’re speaking to Gemini and modifications colours to symbolize standing. HiLight in all probability does a lot the identical.

This could also be what passes for {hardware} innovation in Google’s newest telephones. In 2025, the most important change was the addition of Qi2 magnets, which Google manufacturers as Pixel Snap. A Gemini-focused notification LED on the again of the telephone is arguably much less vital. We’ll have to attend till August 12 to see how Google pitches this function, although.