The Google Pixel 11 series smartphones have received not only updated hardware but also a range of new software capabilities based on Android 17 and AI. Owners of the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold have access to exclusive tools for more convenient everyday use, content creation and managing their digital habits.
One of the new additions is the HiLight system, which uses the rear LED indicator for notifications from your most important contacts. In the settings (System → HiLight) you can enable lighting for calls and Gemini chats from selected contacts and assign different colours to each of them. You can expand this feature with the third-party HiLight Studio app, which adds support for other apps and gives you full control over the colours.
The Camera app has gained new Camera Looks filters that subtly tweak contrast and colours to give your photos a different mood. The user can choose one of four options: Original, Natural, Shadows or Vanilla. At the same time, Pixel 11 owners should keep the zoom specifics in mind: up to 30x Super Zoom uses frame-processing algorithms without generating new details, whereas Pro Zoom up to 120x on the higher-end models uses generative AI and creates additional image elements. Google Photos stores both the AI-enhanced version and the “clean” digital zoom.
The Magic Capture feature helps you shoot video and get great photos at the same time. Once activated in the camera interface, the user simply records a video, and artificial intelligence automatically picks out the best frames from it — for example, the moment the candles are blown out or a toast is raised.
To tackle excessive smartphone use, Google has added a Pause Point tool. In the Digital Wellbeing section you can select apps that will show a brief pause reminder when opened, prompting you to think about whether you really need to launch, say, social media again. The feature has been announced for the Pixel 11 and is expected to roll out with updates.
Another option is custom vibration alerts. In Contacts you can set an individual vibration pattern and ringtone for each person, and in the sound settings you can change the default vibrations for calls and notifications. This lets you tell who is calling without even looking at the screen.
For video content creation there is a built-in teleprompter. In video mode in the camera, on the Creator tab, you can enable Teleprompter, type or paste in your script, and during recording it will automatically scroll in sync with your speech.
Separately, Google has expanded on-device search. The Pixel Search feature works via the search bar above the app grid (after swiping up from the home screen). In the settings you can specify which services to search in — for example, Google Calendar, Drive, Gmail, Google Photos or system settings.
The Gboard keyboard on the Pixel 11 has gained a Rambler add-on for smarter voice input. It handles natural speech, pauses and filler words more accurately, and also lets you edit already dictated text with voice commands such as “change the day from Friday to Saturday”. At any time, the user can switch back to standard voice input in the Gboard settings.
To use the smartphone as a bedside clock there is a new Charge screen saver mode. In Display → Screen saver you can enable a screen with a clock and battery indicator, which is convenient for overnight charging, including on magnetic wireless docking stations.