Skip to main content

Everything announced at Made by Google 2026: Pixel 11, Pixel Watch 5, Pixel Tag, & more

While the actual Made by Google 2026 event isn’t happening for another eight hours, Google has fully detailed the Pixel 11, Pixel Watch 5, and Pixel Tag.

Here’s a summary of everything announced at Made by Google 2026. Each section has a link to our full hands-on with the new hardware and software features, with more posts coming over the coming hours.

Pixel 11

The Pixel 11 features an all-glass Camera Bar that is 40% thinner than last generation and protrudes noticeably less. Google advertises how the plateau “practically” disappears when you use an official case. 

There’s a larger 48MP wide sensor that offers 56% more light sensitivity and slightly wider FOV. Tensor G6 unlocks 30x SuperRes Zoom with the 5x telephoto.

Advertisement - scroll for more content

The chip is paired with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, which is the new baseline. This year’s base phone supports 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging (up from 15W) that is up to 25% faster, but the quoted 30+ hours of battery life is unchanged. 

The Pixel 11 is available in Frost, Obsidian, Hibiscus, and Pistachio from $899.


Hands-on | Pre-order: Google StoreAmazonBest Buy


Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL

The edge-to-edge Camera Bar on the Pro series houses what Google calls “HiLight.” Replacing the temperature sensor after three generations is a ring of ambient LEDs built around the flash. It’s meant to help you stay connected when the Pixel 11 Pro is face down. For example, it provides visual feedback that Gemini heard you with different patterns for listening, thinking, and responding, just like the Google Home Speaker. You can also have custom colors pulse when favorite contacts call (Phone by Google and WhatsApp), with future updates adding more capabilities like message notifications. You enable HiLight and set one of five colors from a person’s Google Contacts page.

The Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL introduce a new 50MP wide sensor and 48MP telephoto with a larger image sensor and 30% more light sensitivity. This allows Portrait Mode at 5x, and 120x Pro Zoom thanks to Tensor G6 and Google’s latest imaging models. The chip and redesigned software also make possible Instant Night Sight that is up to 4.5x faster. 

The Super Actua display gets a bump to 3,600 nits of peak brightness, and is 2x more scratch-resistant thanks to a new coating. 

Tensor G6 is paired with 12 GB of RAM on the 256 GB model. In acknowledgment of the 4 GB reduction, Google credits software and silicon optimization for faster and smoother performance than last year’s Pro devices. That said, you can upgrade to 16 GB by getting the 512 GB or 1 TB models. 

On the 11 Pro XL, Faster wired charging provides up to 75% in about 30 minutes, while wireless charging is 29% faster with 25W Qi2.2. 

The phones are offered in Canyon, Fog, Olive and an all-matte Obsidian for the first time, with Google drawing inspiration from the natural world. The 6.3-inch Pixel 11 Pro starts at $1,099, while the 6.8-inch Pixel 11 Pro XL is available from $1,299. On Pro phones, Google now only offers six months of AI Pro access.


Hands-on | Pre-order:

Google Store

Amazon: Pixel 11 Pro | 11 Pro XL

Best Buy


Pixel 11 Pro Fold

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is nearly 10% lighter (258 vs. 239 g)  and 0.7 millimeters thinner than last year’s model. This foldable is 3x more durable thanks to a new glass fiber composite back cover in matte that is “nearly impossible to crack.” A new hinge design protects the inner display from accidental drops. 

The outer 6.5-inch display is now Super Actua (20% brighter) and protected by a glass ceramic cover. The inner Super Actua Flex display (now 3,600 nits) features thinner bezels and thicker ultra-thin glass with dual layers of anti-impact film for improved crease performance.

A new 48MP wide camera sensor improves light sensitivity by 56%, while the telephoto camera supports 30x Super Zoom. You’ll also find HiLight on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

The Tensor G6 is paired with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. The battery has shrunk from 5,015 to 4,750 mAh, but remains rated at 24+ hours of usage with 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging.

Live Transcribe in Gboard supports American Sign Language. Sign-to-Text lets you “sign into the front camera while the viewer sees the transcription on the outer display.” This is joined by Android 17’s Bubble Bar in the bottom-right corner and two new Made You Look animations in the Camera app.

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold sees a $100 price increase to $1,899 but does offer 16 GB of RAM with 256 GB of storage. 


Hands-on | Pre-order: Google StoreAmazonBest Buy


Tensor G6

The new Gemini Nano 4 model benefits from a TPU with 50% more compute and 2x memory bandwidth. This translates to on-device AI tasks being up to 3.5 times faster, while using up to 3.5 times less energy.

Meanwhile, the CPU delivers 15% faster app loading and 25% faster web browsing.

An upgraded ISP (Image Signal Processor) unlocks camera features like expanded zoom ranges and low-light improvements. A new custom accelerator is designed to capture and render portrait video for 4K Bokeh video.

There’s a new Titan M3 security chip that will help protect against future quantum computing threats.

New Pixel Camera + video features

While the Camera app mostly looks the same, Google has made a number of changes to accommodate the new features. For example, Quick access controls expand beyond white balance, exposure, and shadows with new sliders for Looks, Focus, Shutter Speed, and ISO. The new interface lets you choose what apps on the left and right edge of the viewfinder after a tap.

Magic Capture is a bit like Google Clips in that you just start a session and Google will pick the best HDR+ photos and videos. Accessed from a new tab next to the camera and video modes, it analyzes around 500 frames to find the right shot, with optional cropping, straightening, Unblur, and other light edits. The aim is to let you just point and stay in the moment.

Camera Looks lets you set a default aesthetic at the time of capture. Google made adjustments to its camera pipeline like “merging fewer frames than usual for a minimally processed feel” and “rewriting color lookup tables at the sensor level to emulate classic film chemistry.” The Pixel 11 offers these alternate HDR options:

  • Natural: Relaxed details
  • Shadows: Deeper contrast
  • Vanilla: Warmer, softer tone with a golden hue

Then there are Stylistic Looks like Digi, Black Tie, Minimal, Editorial, Classic, and Velvet, with users able to make further edits.

On-device video processing benefits from refined sharpening, noise, and detail, while Pro Stable Video on the Pixel 11 Pro activates in shaky, bright lit scenes. A new Creator Suite adds a number of tools to the Camera app:

  • Teleprompter: Scrolls as you talk, while adjusting for pacing and pauses to match delivery.
  • Project Folders: Save clips in a specific location.
  • Audio Visualizer: For microphone checks in the Camera viewfinder.
  • Storyboard: To trim and rearrange clips powered by Google Photos.
  • Social Media Grid Lines

Gemini Intelligence

Task automation on the Pixel 11 series works across more apps to let you offload orders and bookings. Gemini can also dial businesses to complete tasks. 

Gboard Rambler goes beyond literal speech-to-text by filtering out run-on sentences and filler words, such as “umm” or “ah.” When active, Rambler takes over Gboard’s suggestion strip with a new waveform animation. It captures your intent for a clean and concise voice transcription. 

Proactive Assistance (previously Magic Cue) provides contextual suggestions that now work in more scenarios and with a richer interface. When you tap these chips, a new bottom sheet slides up. You can see rich flight details with links to live status, Google Maps listings, preview of your Calendar when scheduling, tasks (like booking a table), and comparisons. Gemini Intelligence can also suggest you save events to Calendar and other details to Google Wallet.

Google is previewing a new At a Glance capability that looks at your location to surface loyalty cards at stores and Google Maps listings when you’re at restaurants. 

Last year’s Live Translate in phone calls is now being extended to podcasts and videos in YouTube and other supported apps for real-time audio dubbing thanks to Tensor G6.

New Pixelsnap accessories

The latest Pixelsnap Cases colors match the phones, while there’s a new Clear Case this year. The Pixelsnap Ring Stand is now available in Canyon, Olive, and Obsidian.


Hands-on | Pre-order: Google Store — Amazon


Pixel Tag

The Google Pixel Tag is a Find Hub tracker available for $29 (or $99 4-pack). It is pill-shaped with a ‘G’ logo and removable coin cell battery on the back. This accessory won’t be available until November 11.


Hands-on | Google Store


Pixel Buds Pro 2 update

We’re getting a new Pixel Buds Pro 2 color with Olive. More importantly, there’s a big software update for the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Pixel Buds 2a coming in September. The new Pro 2 firmware improves noise cancellation based on how the buds sit in your ear. Google “will adjust to compensate when subtle shifts in the seal happen.”

Meanwhile, both the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Pixel Buds 2a will get Gemini audio control that lets you adjust settings with voice commands like “Hey Google, turn up the bass.”

Pixel Watch sleep sync detects when you fall asleep to pause music, disable touch, and silence notifications. Upgraded Live translate lets you tap to “trigger listening mode and understand over 70 languages in near real time.”

Pixel Watch 5

The Pixel Watch 5’s external design is unchanged from last year. Inside, it is now powered by the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated with a 12% boost in CPU processing power, and RAM increases from 2 to 3 GB. These upgrades, along with the M55 co-processor, make the device 20% faster. Google also doubled the storage to 64 GB.

The Pixel Watch 5 offers 2x more accurate route tracking and mapping in downtowns, trails, and other tough environments. Google says it beats Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Garmin Fenix 8 Pro.

Health upgrades this year improve the strength and HIIT workout experience, introduce Bedtime Automations, add Breathing Emergency Detection, and allow for blood pressure and insulin resistance trends.

Top comment by DiamondMaster115

Liked by 4 people

So I think the surprise of the entire lineup is that the smaller Pixel 11 Pro and base Pixel 11 both get Qi2.2 25W wireless charging? Anyone else agree?

View all comments

This year, there are two new faces with Weave and Chronograph, as well as new complication styles. You also get generative UI watch faces that are a bit like AI wallpapers on your phone.

Gemini Intelligence brings At a Glance to the bottom of your watch face for flight details, boarding passes, and transit stops. Proactive Suggestions can appear in apps like Google Messages as one-tap actions. Support for offline Gemini commands lets you control timers and alarms, as well as start workouts.

The Pixel Watch 5 starts at $399 for 41mm (+$50) and $429 for the 45mm (+$30), with cellular costing $100 more.


Hands-on | Pre-order: Google StoreAmazonBest Buy


FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Abner Li Abner Li

Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com