Google Pixel 11 rumors: Release date, codename, camera features, and everything else we know so far

Although we’re still waiting for the Google Pixel 10 series to launch, we already have substantial information about the Pixel 11 series. This is courtesy of a significant Google Chips division leak from the Android Authority team. Will the Pixel 11 bring noteworthy changes to Google’s lineup? The answer might be yes, though whether these changes are improvements will likely depend on individual preferences.

Let’s explore the current Pixel 11 rumors and a short wish list for what we’d like from the Pixel family in 2026.

Will there be a Google Pixel 11?

Unless Android Authority’s massive leak somehow proves very wrong or Google makes changes down the road, the Pixel 11 is a sure thing. Google has also received great praise for recent Pixels, including but not limited to the Pixel 9 series, so there’s no reason for the company to stop this momentum by not releasing more Pixels.

We already know a surprising amount about the Pixel 11, including details on its SoC and some of its camera features. Even the code names have since been revealed to us through Google’s internal documents:

• Pixel 11 — “cubs” or “4CS4”
• Pixel 11 Pro — “grizzly” or “CGY4”
• Pixel 11 Pro XL — “kodiak” or “PKK4”
• Pixel 11 Pro Fold — “yogi” or “9YI4”

So, yes, there most likely will be a Pixel 11.

• Google Pixel 9 — Aug 22, 2024
• Google Pixel 8 — Oct 12, 2023
• Google Pixel 7 — Oct 13, 2024

Historically, Pixel launches have occurred in October, but the Pixel 9 broke this tradition with an August 22 release. Some suggest the Pixel 9’s strange release cycle was simply a way to bring the Pixel Fold into the family, which is certainly possible. It appears Google is continuing this strategy with the Pixel 10, as it has scheduled this year’s hardware event for August 20.

Given this trend, it would seem that August has now replaced October as the traditional launch month. As a result, we expect we’ll likely see the Pixel 11 in August 2026. That said, Google could always change its mind and go back to October launches.

What rumored specs and features could the Google Pixel 11 have?

Thanks to our recent Google leak, we’ve learned quite a bit about the Pixel 11. However, it’s important to remember that the phone isn’t expected to arrive until 2026, so a lot could change between now and then. Let’s start by taking a look at the SoC changes in store for the Tensor G6.

The Google Tensor G6 (codenamed Malibu) will be TSMC’s second chip, but don’t expect it to be a major leap forward from the Tensor G5. The CPU will make some minor improvements, including the move to TSMC’s next-gen N3P process node, the same process rumored to feature on the Apple A19. Still, in many ways, it is a sidegrade.

This change is due to Google’s desire to price the Pixel competitively, which is leading it to cut some costs while also improving the areas where customers feel the phone needs the most focus. While some of us crave a powerhouse chip, the reality is that most Pixel consumers have bigger complaints about battery life and thermals than any other aspect.

The Tensor G6 will adopt a single unannounced ARM Cortex-X930 core and six Cortex-A730 cores, which will allow the chip to focus on power consumption improvements over raw performance gains. As a result, the chip will be more power-efficient and produce less heat. The most notable step back here is the GPU, as it is set to lose ray tracing, have a smaller DSP, and feature half the system-level cache of previous Tensor chips to cut costs.

Beyond improvements to battery life and thermals, AI will continue to be a big priority for the Pixel 11. The Tensor G6 will reportedly have a new TPU and a secondary nano-TPU that will help handle lower-power tasks more efficiently, including background health-related features such as sleep and breathing monitoring, cough detection, and even fall detection.

Although Google isn’t necessarily focused on making Tensor the world’s most powerful chip, the G6 should still be a fairly advanced processor. It’s rumored that TSMC will move on to a 2nm process for the Tensor G6. There’s a good chance that the rest of the industry will stick with 3nm in 2026, meaning that the Pixel 11 may be one of the first flagships to sport a SoC with 2nm fabrication.

Some of the bigger Pixel 11 features worth highlighting include the debut of 4K 30fps Cinematic Blur and a new video relight feature that will let you tweak lighting even after it’s already been recorded. There’s also a new Ultra-low Light video feature in the works, which would improve picture quality even in situations with lighting conditions of 5-10 lux. This is basically the lighting you’d get from a dimly lit room or a cloudy dusk sky. As you can imagine, this feature will also require improved hardware, but it’s too early to know anything concrete about the upgrades there.

The Pixel 11 family may also introduce a new telephoto feature that uses machine learning in combination with camera hardware to achieve 100x zoom for photos and videos. It’s unclear if this will be a feature in all models or, more specifically, aimed at the Pro family. If it’s mostly an AI trick, it could likely end up in all Pixel models, but with possibly better performance on a Pro device.

While not directly related to photography, our Google chip leak also indicates the company is at least considering adding a new under-display infrared (IR) camera to the Pixel 11. This camera would allow it to improve the security of face unlock and address current limitations. It’s worth noting that Apple is also rumored to be providing under-display Face ID tech around 2026, so it’s likely Google wants to ensure it matches its competitor here.

Considering the Pixel 10 has yet to be released, there’s not much we can say about the Pixel 11’s price tag without a crystal ball. That said, previous trends can help us make a guess. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro sold for $599 and $899, but the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro both saw increases of $100 each. Things got even more complicated with the arrival of the Pixel 9 family, which included a variety of new models and a price increase of $100 for the base Pixel 9.

Can we expect more increases? Hopefully, no. A lot of these rapid increases could easily be attributed to the pandemic and the declining economy over the last few years, which led to rapid inflation. This process is slowly starting to slow down, so hopefully, the Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 series will see pricing across the entire lineup that is very similar or identical to the Pixel 9 family. But again, it’s just too early to know for sure.

The Pixel 11 isn’t likely to arrive until the second half of 2026, so if your phone is ready for an upgrade now, we wouldn’t recommend waiting until then. That said, if your phone is just starting to show its age a little, there may be some other options you might be interested in.

First, there’s the Pixel 10, which has made the switch to TSMC. This is expected to result in a higher-quality product overall, with notable performance gains over the Pixel 9. This year’s Pixel is also a major milestone for the brand, marking ten years since the line first arrived on the scene, so it’s very possible this model could have some fun surprises in store for us.

If you are more of a Pixel fan, the Pixel 9 is still a great device, just be aware that the Pixel 10 may be a bigger step forward.

There’s a lot to like about the Pixel series, but a constant complaint in our reviews is the lack of a telephoto lens on the base model. However, Google corrected this with the Pixel 10. The only problem is that the telephoto lens on the base model could be better.

Reportedly, a new next-gen telephoto camera with 100x zoom capabilities is being developed for the Pixel 11 series. Technically, it would use AI in conjunction with telephoto hardware to achieve such an impressive zoom level, but it would nonetheless be a significant step up for the Pixel series.

Now, it’s very possible that this high-end telephoto lens will be reserved for Pro models, but at the very least, it is plausible that the telephoto lens on the base Pixel 11 could get some kind of upgrade.

In our Pixel 9 review tests, the Pixel 9’s slightly upgraded 27W charging speeds were still painfully slow, taking about 85 minutes to fully charge the phone. While devices like the Galaxy S24 and S25 aren’t much faster, several Android brands, including OnePlus and Motorola, have speeds that double or even triple that of what the Pixel 9 is offering. It’s possible this will change a little with the Pixel 10, but we doubt it.

On the bright side, even if Google sticks with 27W charging for its base model, we should still see battery life improve. According to Google’s leaked roadmap, the Tensor G6 will focus more on battery life and thermals over all other hardware upgrades. This means we could finally see better battery life that reliably lasts a full day for power users, with the potential to stretch into a second day for those of us who are more conservative with our phone use.