Google unveils Pixel 11 series and AirTag rival at Made by Google 2026
The Pixel 11 lineup sees a price hike to $899 as base storage doubles, while the company challenges Apple’s ecosystem with Pixel Tag and expanded Gemini features.
Google has officially launched its Pixel 11 series, Pixel Watch 5, and a new tracking accessory called Pixel Tag at its Made by Google 2026 event. The announcements mark a significant refresh for the company’s hardware portfolio, introducing redesigned aesthetics, increased durability, and deeper integration of Gemini-powered artificial intelligence across devices.
The standard Pixel 11 features a completely redesigned camera bar that is more than 40% thinner than its predecessor, utilising an all-glass surface that spans the width of the phone. Base storage has been doubled to 256GB, removing the previous 128GB option. Consequently, the starting price has risen to $899, a $100 increase from the Pixel 10. Google attributed the price adjustment partly to the removal of the lower storage tier and ongoing RAM supply shortages.
Durability improvements are central to the Pro lineup. The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL models now feature an anti-scratch display coating that offers more than twice the scratch resistance of the Pixel 10 Pro, alongside improved drop resistance. These models start at $1,099. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold has been refined to be nearly 10% lighter and 1mm thinner, with a glass-fiber composite back and a redesigned hinge that Google states makes it three times more durable than the previous generation.
In software, Google expanded its accessibility tools with Gemini integration. Live Transcribe now supports American Sign Language, translating signs into text via the Pixel Camera. A new voice-input feature called Rambler is designed to interpret run-on sentences and filler words, while Circle to Search has been streamlined for direct access from the camera interface.
Google also entered the personal tracking market with Pixel Tag, priced at $29 individually or $99 for a four-pack. The device utilises Android’s Find Hub network to compete with Apple’s AirTag, allowing users to locate items via the Find Hub app or a Pixel Watch. Voice commands via Pixel Buds Pro can also trigger the tag to ring. The accompanying Pixel Watch 5 introduces monthly health summaries for blood pressure and insulin resistance trends, with prices starting at $399.
