The Google Pixel 11 Is Here: Everything to Know About Google’s Boldest AI Phone Yet
Google takes the stage today for its “Made by Google” event, and the Pixel 11 series is shaping up to be one of the most significant Pixel launches in years — not just for the hardware, but for a genuinely interesting tension at the heart of the lineup: a phone built entirely around on-device AI that may not give every buyer enough memory to fully use it. Here’s everything confirmed and credibly leaked ahead of today’s reveal.
The Event: What’s Confirmed
Google has officially confirmed the Made by Google event for August 12, 2026, at 6 PM ET (11 PM WAT) in New York City. Alongside the Pixel 11 series, the event is also expected to introduce the Pixel Watch 5. Pre-orders are expected to go live shortly after the event, with wide retail availability following in the following weeks — Google’s Pixel 10 followed a similar cadence last year, with a mid-August announcement and availability roughly a week later.
The Lineup: Four Phones, One Story
Google is expected to unveil four devices this generation: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Following the pattern set by the Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the foldable model is widely expected to be shown today but not go on sale until roughly two months later, around October 2026.
Tensor G6: The Real Headline
The Tensor G6 chip is where Google is making its biggest technical leap in years. Multiple credible leaks point to Google finally moving to a 2nm manufacturing process (TSMC), up from the 3nm node used in the Tensor G5—a jump expected to meaningfully improve both performance and power efficiency, two areas where Pixel phones have historically lagged behind Apple and Samsung’s flagship chips. The chip reportedly pairs a 7-core CPU architecture with a dedicated next-generation NPU built specifically for on-device generative AI, alongside Google’s Titan M3 security co-processor and, according to several outlets, a new modem aimed at finally addressing Pixel’s long-standing cellular connectivity complaints.
The RAM Story Everyone’s Talking About
Here’s the twist that’s dominated pre-launch coverage: leaks suggest the base Pixel 11 could ship with just 8GB of RAM, even as Google leans harder into on-device Gemini AI as a flagship selling point. Multiple reports indicate some of Google’s newest on-device AI features require at least 12GB of RAM to run — meaning, if these leaks hold, buyers of the entry-level Pixel 11 may not get the full AI experience Google is marketing across the rest of the lineup. The Pro models are rumoured to offer 12GB or 16GB configurations depending on the storage tier, notably a step down from the Pixel 10 Pro’s standard 16GB. We’ll be watching closely to see how Google addresses this once official specs land.
Cameras: A Genuine Zoom Leap
Camera leaks point to real, hardware-backed improvements rather than just software polish. The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL are rumoured to carry a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide with macro support, and a 48MP periscope telephoto offering 5x optical zoom — with the Pro XL specifically leaked at up to 120x hybrid zoom, a jump from the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s 100x. A 42MP selfie camera with phase-detection autofocus and 4K60 recording rounds out the front, with rear cameras reportedly capable of up to 8K video via cloud-assisted computational upscaling.
Software: Android 17 and Gemini 3.5
All four models are expected to ship with Android 17 out of the box, making the Pixel 11 series among the first phones running it. On the AI side, Google’s Gemini 3.5 is rumoured to bring Live Translate across roughly 70 languages in real time, alongside a new Focus Mode aimed at reducing digital distraction and a Pause Point wellbeing feature. Leaks also point to a revived AI-powered lost-pet identification tool and a new ambient notification feature — leaked under the names “Highlight” and later “HiLight” — that has drawn some early scepticism over its limited customisation options.
Pricing: Up Across the Board
Leaked pricing, sourced from what appears to be Google’s own early Amazon listing, points to:
- Pixel 11: $899 (256GB) — up from the Pixel 10’s $799 starting price
- Pixel 11 Pro: $1,099 (256GB)
- Pixel 11 Pro XL: $1,299 (256GB)
- Pixel 11 Pro Fold: $1,899 (256GB), reportedly climbing to roughly $2,019 for 512GB
Every price point represents an increase over last year’s equivalent model, which several outlets have tied directly to the broader memory chip shortage affecting the entire consumer electronics industry in 2026 — not something specific to Google. Reports suggest Google plans to offset the higher prices with trade-in deals, launch promotions, and bundled Google One subscriptions.
Colours
Leaked colour options for the Pro lineup reportedly include Dune (a coral-copper pink with a champagne-toned frame), Light Fog (a pale near-white with a silver frame), and Midnight Haze (matte black with a powder-coated frame, said to be the only shade available with 1TB storage) — with a fourth colour still unconfirmed as of this writing.
What This Launch Actually Means
If even half of what’s leaked holds up, the Pixel 11 series represents Google’s most aggressive push yet toward positioning the Pixel line as the definitive AI-first phone — a real, hardware-backed 2nm chip, genuinely expanded zoom capability, and Android 17 running Gemini 3.5 from day one. The RAM question is the one real cloud over an otherwise exciting launch, and it’s worth watching closely once official specs are confirmed today.
This article will be updated as official details are confirmed. For a closer look at how the Pixel 11 stacks up against Apple’s current flagship, see our Pixel 11 vs. iPhone 17 comparison, and check our Pixel 11 buying guide before you preorder.
