Google held its annual Made by Google hardware event on Wednesday, revealing the Pixel 11 smartphone series, the fifth-generation Pixel Watch, and a new Bluetooth tracker called Pixel Tag that directly challenges Apple’s AirTag.
The Pixel 11 starts at $899, a $100 increase over the previous generation. Google eliminated the 128GB base option, doubling the starting storage to 256GB while also addressing RAM supply shortages that have pushed up costs across the industry. The redesigned camera bar is 40 percent thinner than the one on the Pixel 10, now featuring an all-glass surface that spans the full width of the device. It ships in Frost, Hibiscus, Pistachio, and Obsidian.
The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL step up to a Tensor G6 chip, with Google claiming significant improvements in on-device AI processing and power efficiency. The Pro Fold, priced at $1,899, represents Google’s most ambitious foldable yet, with a slimmer hinge and improved durability ratings. Google did not share specific battery capacity figures but touted up to 30 hours of advertised battery life across the lineup.
Google also launched the Pixel Watch 5, focusing on health tracking and GPS accuracy. On the AI side, the company expanded Live Transcribe to support American Sign Language translation using the Pixel Camera, a feature developed in collaboration with DeepMind. A new voice input system called Rambler is designed to handle filler words and run-on sentences more naturally than traditional speech recognition.
Circle to Search, first introduced on Pixel 7, now integrates directly into the camera viewfinder. Users can point the camera at objects, distant text, or signage and immediately get search results or translations without leaving the camera app. Google also expanded Gemini’s role as a default assistant across all Pixel 11 models.
The Pixel Tag, priced below the AirTag, uses Google’s Find My Device network for tracking luggage, keys, and other items. It features a built-in speaker and a replaceable battery, and integrates with Circle to Search for quick identification. Google did not disclose the exact price but said it would be competitive with existing tracking devices.
The announcements come as Google faces increasing competition from Apple, Samsung, and Chinese smartphone makers in the premium device segment. The Pixel 11 lineup will be available for pre-order Wednesday and ship in the coming weeks.
Sources: TechCrunch, Engadget, Tom’s Hardware
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