Made by Google 2026 is set for Wednesday, August 12 in New York City, a week earlier than last year's Pixel 10 launch. The event kicks off at 6 PM ET, an unusually late start for Google's hardware keynote.
The invite, which began hitting media inboxes today, teases "the next generation of Pixel" alongside a glossy gold metal frame, hinting at a new color option for the Pixel 11 lineup. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman was the first to share the invitation on X.
Google is expected to unveil four phones: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. The Pixel Watch 5 should also debut, likely in two sizes, following the Pixel Watch 4's August 2025 launch.
New Pixel Buds Pro are overdue but nothing has leaked yet. The earlier date continues Google's strategy of landing its hardware event between Samsung's summer Unpacked and Apple's September iPhone showcase, a position it first carved out with the Pixel 9 launch in August 2024.
Under the hood, the Pixel 11 series is shaping up to be the most significant silicon upgrade in years. The Tensor G6 will be built on TSMC's N2 (2nm) node process, a massive leap from the current generation, with a leaked CPU layout showing a 4.11 GHz ARM C1-Ultra prime core, four C1-Pro cores at 3.38 GHz, and two more at 2.65 GHz. A PowerVR GPU, MediaTek M90 modem, and a completely revamped TPU and imaging coprocessor round out the chip.
On the hardware front, Google is retiring the rear-facing temperature sensor that debuted on the Pixel 8 Pro. In its place, leaks point to a new "Pixel Glow" RGB LED lighting system that wraps around the camera bar, functioning as a customizable notification light, similar in concept to Nothing's Glyph interface.
Pricing remains uncertain. European pricing leaks suggest increases on the Pro XL and Pro Fold models, while the base Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro may hold at Pixel 10 levels.
US prices could land roughly $100 higher than last year for comparable configurations, according to reports. The base Pixel 11 starts at an expected $799 if Google holds the line.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is also rumored to get a redesigned camera bump and a thinner profile. Pre-orders typically open immediately after the event, with phones shipping about a week later, though Fold units historically face longer delays into September or October.
9to5Google will have live coverage of the August 12 keynote.
