Google Pixel 11 Series Set for Incremental Upgrade and Price Hikes Ahead of August Launch
The upcoming Made by Google event on 12 August 2026 is expected to unveil the Pixel 11 lineup, featuring new hardware specifications and operating systems, alongside reports of increased costs for consumers.
Google is scheduled to host its annual Made by Google event on 12 August 2026, where the company is expected to unveil the Pixel 11 series. According to reports from Engadget, the lineup will include the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, alongside the Pixel Watch 5. Leaks suggest this year’s cycle will be incremental, with the most significant changes relating to pricing and internal components rather than a radical redesign of the devices’ physical forms.
Under the hood, the Pixel 11 series is expected to feature the new Tensor G6 processor, reportedly built on TSMC’s 2nm process. Mystic Leaks claims the chip will utilise a seven-core configuration anchored by an ARM C1-Ultra core, alongside a PowerVR GPU and a MediaTek M90 modem. Google is expected to highlight improvements in power efficiency and battery life resulting from the new architecture, although the impact on everyday performance remains to be seen.
Display specifications are largely expected to remain consistent with the previous generation, but peak brightness levels are reportedly increasing. The base Pixel 11 is rumoured to reach 3,100 nits, while the Pro and Pro XL models are expected to hit 3,600 nits. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is anticipated to feature 3,600 nits on its outer display and 3,500 nits on its inner screen. Additionally, leaks indicate the introduction of new colour options, including Midnight, Fuchsia, and Moss for the base model, and Dune, Pine, and Sterling for the Pro variants.
One of the more notable hardware rumours involves a feature dubbed Pixel Glow, an RGB LED array near the rear camera bar that could provide visual feedback for notifications and Gemini interactions. Camera hardware is also seeing minor upgrades, with the base model and Fold expected to move to a 50-megapixel main sensor from the 48-megapixel unit found in the Pixel 10. Pro models may also receive new main and telephoto sensors, though exact specifications have not been confirmed.
Perhaps the most significant shift for consumers is the change in storage and pricing. Reports indicate that the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro will drop the 128GB base option, starting instead at 256GB. While the entry price may remain similar to previous models, the effective cost per gigabyte rises. Higher-tier models, including the Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, are facing a direct price increase of €100 in Europe. Similar hikes are expected in the US market.
The Pixel Watch 5 is also expected to launch, featuring new colour finishes such as Dark Anthracite, Natural Silver, Pyrite, and Warm Gold. The wearable will run Wear OS 7, which introduces Android Live updates and Gemini Intelligence. Pricing for the watch is reportedly set at $399 for the 41mm model and $429 for the 45mm model, with cellular variants costing $499 and $529 respectively.
All devices are expected to run Android 17. Industry observers suggest Google may introduce exclusive AI features to accompany the software update, potentially aiming to offset consumer concerns regarding the price increases and the incremental nature of the hardware upgrades.
