The Pixel 11 Pro phones come with the latest Tensor G6 processor, which Google claims is faster in almost all the departments than the Tensor G5 that you get in the Pixel 10 line. Along with a new chipset, the Pro models of the latest Pixel phones come with an entirely new hardware feature called HiLight. While Google believes that it can turn out to be really beneficial to users, reports indicate that the Pixel 11 Pro phones' flashlight has been weakened because of this new capability.
The Pixel 11 Pro flashlight is apparently weaker than previous Pixel phones
Most smartphones these days come with a built-in rear LED whose main purpose is to act as the camera flash, but as an added bonus, it also serves as a flashlight. Obviously, the phone's flashlight performance can't be compared with a dedicated flashlight, but it does the job in most cases, allowing you to comfortably navigate in dark areas. In the Pixel 11 Pro devices, the latest hardware feature, HiLight, is placed inside the flash.
There's also a diffuser placed over the entire flash circle to blend the lights smoothly. That said, the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL flashes are reportedly performing poorly compared to the previous-generation Pixel models. 9to5Google shared a few images showcasing the difference between the lighting intensity of the Pixel 11 Pro XL (first image )and the Pixel 10 Pro XL (second image).
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Pixel 11 Pro XL vs Pixel 10 Pro XL flashlight performance. | Image by 9to5Google
The publication shows the image from another angle as well.
Second test of Pixel 11 Pro XL vs Pixel 10 Pro XL flashlight performance. | Image by 9to5Google
It's clearly visible in both cases that the flash of last year's Pixel model is brighter than its successor.
Do you find HiLight so useful that you are comfortable with it making the flashlight dimmer?
It's even worse than a three-year-old iPhone
Not only the last year’s Pixel model, but the flash of the latest Google Pro phones was found to be weaker than the iPhone 15 Pro as well.
Pixel 11 Pro XL vs iPhone 15 Pro flashlight performance. | Image by 9to5Google
Flashlight test of different phones. | Image by Reddit
The diffuser used for HiLight is reportedly being seen as the reason behind the poor performance of the flashlight. Since the flash doesn’t have a proper lens in front of it, the light coming out of it must be hitting the diffuser directly, which could reportedly be affecting its intensity.
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Almost no one seems impressed with the Pixel 11 Pro HiLight
It's already been days since the Pixel 11 phones have been made available to users, and early reviews suggest that most users find the new HiLight feature a gimmick. The reason behind this is basically that it currently only performs two functions: informing you when you are receiving a call from your favorite contact and lighting up when you are communicating with Gemini. The worst part is that Google introduced this by removing the temperature sensor, which many users were actually using.
User disappointed with the performance of flashlight. | Image by Reddit
Knowing that the Pixel 11 Pro flashlight has been nerfed for HiLight, a user on Reddit commented that they really want to know what the aim of Google was by not only introducing a useless capability but also destroying one of the most basic functions of a phone. Another user mentioned that they have recently placed an order for the 11 Pro, and if they find that its flashlight is indeed dimmer than the previous model, then they are going to return the phone.
HiLight appears as a really underwhelming feature at the moment
The Big G would definitely have hoped that users would welcome the HiLight feature with both hands, but that, unfortunately, doesn't appear to be happening. Most users were initially calling it out for its limited functionality and non-support for third-party apps, and now they have another reason to hate it.
The fortunate news is that you can actually make HiLight function with third-party apps using a free app. However, I'm eagerly waiting for an official response from Google on what they have to say about the flashlight scenario in their latest Pro phones.
Aman Kumar is a news writer at PhoneArena covering Google Pixel phones, Android features, AI-powered smartphone tools, and mobile tech news. Before joining PhoneArena, he spent over five years writing about consumer technology for publications like MakeUseOf, How-To Geek, and Guiding Tech. His current daily drivers are the Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, while his red iPhone SE (2nd gen) remains a personal favorite. Aman also appreciates bold smartphone experiments and still considers the Nokia N-Gage one of the industry’s most iconic designs.
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