Using the Pixel 11 Pro for a week confirmed my biggest fear about Pixel’s future
It was a little over a week ago that I got to spend a couple of hours with all the new Google Pixel 11 phones , and I came away with pretty mixed feelings. I thought Google made some smart hardware d…
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It was a little over a week ago that I got to spend a couple of hours with all the new Google Pixel 11 phones , and I came away with pretty mixed feelings. I thought Google made some smart hardware decisions, but features like HiLight, Camera Looks, and Magic Capture left me feeling either confused or downright disappointed.
However, there’s only so much you can judge using four different phones in just two hours. I received my Pixel 11 Pro review unit shortly after that initial hands-on session, and it’s been my daily Android phone ever since. I’ve been using the Pixel 11 Pro basically nonstop for the past seven days, and I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t enjoyed my time with it. In fact, I’d wager to say I probably love it.
But simultaneously, the reasons why I like the Pixel 11 Pro so much also reinforce my biggest fear about the future of Pixel phones as we know them. Google has a strong foundation that continues to work well in 2026, but a week with the Pixel 11 Pro proves Google doesn’t know where to go next.
There isn’t a new feature on the Pixel 11 Pro quite as prevalent as HiLight — the glowing, multicolored light on the back of the Pixel 11 Pro (and the Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold). HiLight is heavily featured all over the Google Store and in Google’s advertising for the Pixel 11 Pro, and it really is the highlight of this year’s new Pro phones.
In theory, HiLight should be a great addition and a big reason to buy a Pixel 11 Pro. The problem is that it practically doesn’t do anything right now.
As it currently stands, the main function of HiLight is that you can assign one of five colors to your favorite contacts, and when they call, HiLight glows with the specific hue you’ve chosen for that person. Additionally, if your phone is face-down and you summon Gemini, HiLight pulses with color to indicate when Gemini is listening and responding.
And that’s quite literally it. You can’t use HiLight for any other notifications on your phone. Not Gmail, Telegram, Slack, Google Messages, Instagram — nothing. If it’s not a phone call or a Gemini interaction, HiLight remains dormant.
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