Hot on the heels of Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, there’s now a big Google hardware launch to look forward to, with the brand set to unleash its new Pixel devices at today's New York-set Made by Google event.
We’re expecting to see not just the Google Pixel 11 series, but also the Pixel Watch 5 and potentially other devices, too.
You’ll find full details of the possible announcements further down this article, but first, we’ve covered exactly when this launch is taking place and how to tune in.
How to watch the next Made by Google event
The Google Pixel 11 launch event starts at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm BST on August 12, which is 8am AEST on August 13 for those of you in Australia.
The event is being held in New York, but as with most big tech launches, it will also be streamed online, and you can tune in on YouTube, or by watching the embedded video below. If you click the ‘Notify Me’ button on that video, you’ll also get a reminder when the event is starting.
Of course, those timings won’t be ideal for everyone, but you don’t need to tune in live. You’ll also be able to watch a recording of the launch afterwards. Alternatively, just head to TechRadar’s home page for our expert analysis of what's unveiled.
What to expect at the Google Pixel 11 launch
As well as the Google Pixel 11 itself, Google is also almost certainly going to unveil the Pixel 11 Pro, the Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
These phones are all expected to have a new ‘HiLight’ feature, previously referred to as ‘Pixel Glow’. This seemingly takes the form of colored lights on the back of the phones that can switch on to alert you to notifications, or when you’re interacting with Gemini.
Beyond that, these phones are also likely to include a new Tensor G6 chipset to give them a power boost over the Google Pixel 10 series, and in the case of the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL, a 120x camera zoom, up from 100x on the Pixel 10 Pro series.
However, these phones could also be more expensive than their predecessors, and the Pro models might start with less RAM.
The Google Pixel Watch 4 (Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)
We’re also hearing that Google could launch the Pixel Tag at this event. That would be the company’s first AirTag rival.
Plus, there’s a chance we could hear more about some upcoming Android XR glasses, and we might also finally see the launch of the long-awaited Gemini 3.5 Pro model.
Before yesterdayTechRadar - All the latest technology news
Some leaked Pixel 11 marketing materials suggest that Pixel Glow could instead be called HiLight
This new feature might work with both Gemini and notifications
We've rated the likelihood of this and various other Pixel 11 series rumors
The Google Pixel 11 series is just a week away now, with the phones set for an August 12 launch. But as ever with phone launches, plenty of details have leaked in advance of that date, so we already have some idea of what to expect.
The latest of those leaks details a brand-new feature, reportedly dubbed HiLight, but we’ve heard all sorts of other things recently too about the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
So, below, we've listed the most interesting of the latest Pixel 11 leaks, and rated how accurate we think they are.
For a while now, we’ve been hearing that the Pixel 11 series might have lights on its rear panel, seemingly to power a feature previously thought to be called Pixel Glow. But now it seems that Pixel Glow might actually be called HiLight.
In a post on Bluesky, reputable leaker Roland Quandt has shared what appears to be an official French marketing image for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and it refers to this feature as HiLight, explaining (once translated) that “when your smartphone is face down, HiLight lights up discreetly when your favorite contacts call or when you chat with Gemini.”
So, it looks to be an evolution of the old-school notification light, though we still have questions about it — images show it displaying multiple colors, so we wonder whether specific colors or patterns can be set for specific kinds of notifications.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Not all of the Pixel 11 rumors are good ones, as we’ve also heard that these phones could have higher prices than their predecessors.
Specifically, according to Android Headlines, the Pixel 11 will start at $899, the Pixel 11 Pro at $1,099, the Pixel 11 Pro XL at $1,299, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold at $1,899.
That, in all cases, represents a $100 increase on last year's models, though in the case of the Pixel 11 and the Pixel 11 Pro, you’re also apparently getting a storage boost, with 256GB said to be the starting capacity rather than 128GB. The other two models, though, come with the same starting capacity as their predecessors according to this leak, so it would just be a straight price rise.
We don’t have UK or Australian price leaks, but we’d expect Google to apply increases globally. For reference, the Pixel 10 starts at £799 / AU$1,349 in those regions, the Pixel 10 Pro at £999 / AU $1,699, the Pixel 10 Pro XL at £1,199 / AU $1,999, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold at £1,749 / AU $2,699.
So, if this leak is right, you can expect higher prices than that this year, and there’s a good chance this leak is correct, given the ongoing RAM price crisis.
Likelihood: 8/10
3. New colors
Leaked images showing the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro9to5Google / AmazonLeaked images showing the Pixel 11 Pro Fold9to5Google / Amazon
These include Midnight (black), Fuchsia (pink), and Moss (green) for the Pixel 11, Dune (a pale pink), Sterling (a grayish lavender), Pine (green), and Light Fog (a pale blue) for the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL, and Midnight and Pine for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
Those — at least in terms of their names — are all different to what you’ll find with the Pixel 10 series, though in practice some of them will probably be similar.
Still, it’s a largely appealing bunch going by the pictures, with a mix of bright and understated shades. The leaked images of them look fairly official too, so there’s a good chance these are what we’ll get.
Likelihood: 7/10
4. New chipset
The Google Pixel 10 Pro (Image credit: Future)
The one spec upgrade you can be almost certain of in a new phone is that it will have an improved chipset, and so we fully expect the Pixel 11 series to replace the Pixel 10’s Tensor G5 chipset with a Tensor G6, and leaks agree.
From what we’ve heard across various leaks, this chipset could pair a significant upgrade in CPU performance with a rather small improvement in GPU performance. So, it might not be a complete home run for Google, but it should still deliver plenty of power overall.
Likelihood: 9/10
5. Fewer cameras for the Pixel 11
The Google Pixel 10 has three rear cameras (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
As well as costing more, the Pixel 11 could have at least one spec downgrade compared to its predecessor, as Android Headlines reports that it will have just two cameras on the back — a wide and an ultra-wide, with no telephoto.
The Google Pixel 10 had these and a telephoto camera, so this would be quite a reduction in specs if it’s correct.
We would therefore take this rumor with a pinch of salt, since usually we expect upgrades from new models. But it might help Google keep the costs down in the face of rising component prices, and that would still keep it in line with a key rival in the iPhone 17, which also lacks a telephoto camera.
Likelihood: 5/10
6. Less RAM
The Pixel 11 Pro might have less RAM than the Pixel 10 Pro (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
That’s not the end of the possible downgrades, as we’re also hearing from the same Android Headlines report that the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL could come in configurations with just 12GB of RAM, whereas the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL came with 16GB.
There will apparently still be 16GB models, but these will of course cost more, pushing prices up even higher.
A price increase combined with a RAM reduction could be a tough pill to swallow, but this is somewhat believable given that RAM pricing is increasingly out of control.
Likelihood: 6/10
7. 120x zoom
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL has 100x zoom (Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
Thankfully, there is still another major potential upgrade to talk about, as some Pixel 11 Pro marketing images shared by Evan Blass — a leaker with a superb track record — mention 120x zoom. And if the Pixel 11 Pro has this feature, the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL almost certainly will as well.
Now, this wouldn’t be an optical zoom, of course; instead, you can expect it to be some kind of AI-boosted digital zoom. And it’s a believable claim, since not only does the source have a great track record, but the Pixel 10 Pro series already offers 100x zoom.
Still, that extra 20x would mean these phones could zoom further than almost any other handset.
We’re now halfway through the calendar year (yes, really), so what better time to round up our favorite phones of 2026 so far?
I say ‘our favorite phones’, but I really mean ‘my favorite phones’ — I’ve collated five models that may not have perfect TechRadar review scores, but either surprised me in testing or offer something unique in today’s busy smartphone landscape.
The reviews for each model (which I’ve included in each entry) may have been written by someone else, but I’ve personally used all the phones listed below for specific feature deep-dives, video shoots, or general device comparisons. Don’t agree with my list? Let me know your favorite phone(s) of 2026 so far in the comments below.
5. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Release date: March 11
Review rating: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)
Any phone-related ‘best of’ list has to include Samsung’s latest Ultra-branded Galaxy device. This year’s edition is the feature-packed Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and while it’s not the most surprising phone I’ve tested this year (hence its place at number 5), it is the most powerful and versatile of the bunch. It’s an everything phone — an all-you-can-eat buffet of top-end hardware and software.
Chief among the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s new software features are Privacy Display and Super Steady Horizontal Lock. The former stops prying eyes from viewing content on your screen, while the latter stabilizes videos even when you turn the phone a full 360 degrees. I’m a die-hard Apple fan, but the iPhone 17 Pro doesn’t have either of these features, nor classic Samsung tools like DeX and the S Pen, so the Galaxy S26 Ultra feels like a cut above the current best iPhone when it comes to productivity.
Add in some customarily premium hardware specs, and you’ve got a formidable pocket companion — albeit one that will cost you an arm and a leg to own.
Like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Google Pixel 10a is the definition of ‘iterative upgrade’, but it’s still my go-to recommendation for buyers looking for an affordable Android phone with great cameras. Google’s excellent Android software is just as good on this cheaper device as it is on the premium Google Pixel 10 Pro, and I’d go as far as to say that the 10a is actually the better-looking of the two phones (look at that flush camera!).
Sure, Google’s Tensor G4 chipset is underpowered compared to the midrange competition, and you don’t get any PixelSnap compatibility here, but at $499 / £499 / AU$849, it’s hard to argue against the Pixel 10a’s value for money. Its 6.3-inch Actua display is gorgeous, its two cameras are as good as anything you’ll find for the same price, and its AI-powered software features — from Camera Coach to Call Screen — are genuinely useful. Bravo, Google.
I know what you’re thinking: the Motorola Edge 70 Fusion? Surely this little-known device — which isn’t even available in the US — is not my third-favorite phone of 2026 so far? Well, it is, if only because it surprised me (and our reviewer) so much in testing.
The Edge 70 Fusion costs just £379.99 / AU$499, but it looks like a flagship phone. It’s slim and lightweight for its large size, and boasts a nice textured finish on its rear panel. Its 6.78-inch display can reach 144Hz, and the 7,000mAh battery routinely got me through two days on a single charge. And don’t forget the IP68 and IP69 resistance ratings.
There are, of course, compromises. Motorola’s software continues to be… just OK, while the Edge 70 Fusion specifically is only due to receive three years of major software updates. But for such a low price, these shouldn’t be deal-breakers. The Edge 70 Fusion is my surprise package of 2026 so far, and it deserves more attention than it’s been given.
I recently played around with the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro for an upcoming ‘best midrange phones’ video, and it blew the competition out of the water in terms of value for money.
As much as I love the Google Pixel 10a (as you’ll have read above), for the same price, Nothing’s latest a-series phone adds a 50MP telephoto camera, faster charging, and a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset into the mix. And best of all, the (4a) Pro is a thoroughly unique-looking device.
Nothing swapped the transparent rear panel of its other phones for an industrial, aluminum backplate on the (4a) Pro, making the huge camera module the star of the show. This module also features the gimmicky-but-fun Glyph Matrix introduced on the Nothing Phone 3, which, for me, has drawn as much attention in public places as the iPhone Air this year.
If the Google Pixel 10a is my safe value-for-money Android pick of 2026, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is my exciting value-for-money Android pick.
And now we come to the Oppo Find X9 Ultra — my favorite phone of 2026 so far. This is the first Ultra-branded Oppo phone to ship outside of China (though it’s unfortunately still not available in the US), and it blows the competition out of the water in terms of camera performance.
Specifically, the Find X9 Ultra boasts a 200MP (f/1.5) main lens, a 50MP ultra-wide (f/2) lens, a 200MP 3x telephoto (f/2.2) lens, and a 50MP 10x telephoto (f/3.5) lens, which is the sort of combination we rarely see on even the best camera phones.
Away from camera performance, the Find X9 Ultra boasts a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, 12GB of RAM, a 6.8-inch OLED display, and an enormous 7,050mAh battery, so it doesn’t leave you wanting for power or endurance.
It’s heavy, it’s thick, and it’s eye-wateringly expensive, but the Oppo Find X9 Ultra is still the most exciting phone of 2026 so far.
Google's new Pixel Desktop mode was a surprise feature back in March, but after trying it, it's the perfect way to let your Android phone pinch-hit as a laptop.
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