We’re just a few days out from the launch of Google’s Pixel 11 series and, at this point, it’s all out there. And, yeah, it’s shaping up to be a pretty boring year, and that’s got me thinking about what I want from next year’s Pixel 12 series.
As mentioned in last week’s edition of 9to5Google Weekender, the Pixel 11 series is showing up with extraordinarily bad timing. The same design, no big new features (that we know of), some minor downgrades, and a somewhat-self-inflicted price hike all add up to a phone that’s going to be a relatively hard sell.
It’s absolutely fair to call these phones boring – and we have. They’ll still be good phones for those who perhaps haven’t upgraded since the Pixel 6 or Pixel 7, or are just now jumping into Google’s ecosystem, but they’re far from exciting for fans or those waiting for the next leap forward.
Google suggested this would probably be the case, last year saying that Pixel designs will change “every 2-3 years.”
Personally, I’m fine with this design language sticking around. I think Google has settled on something unique and uber-recognizable here, and evolutions such as color changes and refinements to the materials can make it better. There are hints that Google is working on that, such as an all-matte Pixel 11 Pro having leaked, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold getting thinner too, but it could go further. As our Will Sattelberg loves to point out, Google’s phones are heavy, so weight reduction would be great. But, realistically, I don’t expect Google’s next redesign to be a huge departure from today – and if that “Dune” color we’ve been seeing is any indication, Google still has some good ideas in the color department too. But it’s very clear that hardware is in a bit of a rut, with “HiLight” seemingly being this year’s big new addition despite having only two actual functions.
Bigger changes I’d love to see would include:
There are a million other little things you could change, and I’m sure someone will comment on this very article about how Google should go back to Snapdragon.
But if you could pick a single thing for Google to bring to the Pixel 12 – something realistic – what would it be? What’s the one feature that would push you over the edge on next year’s release? Drop a comment below and let us know – or come chat in our 9to5Google Pro Discord channel if you feel so inclined.
All of that said, I’m personally excited for Pixel 11, but I’m more than ready for it to just feel like a redo of last year. Who knows, maybe Google kept something a surprise… lol no.
Google’s Pixel 11 event takes place on August 12 – stay tuned for our full coverage!
Of course, Pixel leaks remain in full swing, and there’s plenty we didn’t talk about above. Here are some of the key Pixel 11 and Pixel Watch 5 leaks from this week:
Meanwhile, we also got confirmation that Google’s star-studded Pixel 11 launch event will be hosted by Trevor Noah.
The Android Canary 2608 release dropped this week, bringing two new features with it. One is a new way to customize Quick Settings on Pixel phones, and the other is a feature called “App Handles” which improves multitasking on foldables.
The time is here. Google Assistant is officially shutting down on Android on September 4. Google confirmed the date this week, and not everyone is happy about it.
The current design of the phone is solid and very recognizable, I hope they keep it.
I hope the Pixel 12 will focus more on the main components instead of gimmicks like temperature sensors and notification lights. I do like these gimmicks, but it has always felt like the base of the phone just wasn’t there quite yet.
The Pixel 10 felt like a substantial upgrade to me because of the qi2 magnets, but now it’s time for Google to focus on battery life, charging speeds and overal efficiency and performance of the soc including the modem.
Almost all Chinese phones (including the cheap ones) have had large batteries and high charging speeds for years. Google now has a partnership with TSMC. What’s holding up Google to catch up really?
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