The headline feature for the Pixel 11 series this year is the Pixel HiLight. This is a visual notification system that lights up the camera bar on the back of a Pixel 11 and can be set up to display certain colors that you can assign to various contacts.
Even with your phone placed screen-down on a table, you'll be able to see who is calling by the color of the light. It also glows when you are giving an oral prompt to Gemini, or when the AI chatbot is processing or responding.
Google limited the capability of the Pixel HiLight feature
Google limited the capabilities of HiLight by limiting its use to notifications from the Phone app and WhatsApp. But it appears that Google is looking to expand the usefulness of HiLight.
Notification Rules can expand the usefulness of Pixel HiLight
Back in April, we told you that Google was working on a feature called Notification Rules. This would allow you to pick certain apps and contacts and have one of five actions applied to notifications from them: Silence, Block, Silence & Bundle, Highlight, and Highlight & Alert.
Strings of code found in Android 17 QPR3 Beta 3 indicate that if you select a specific app or contact and the Highlight option, when you get a notification from them, it will go to the top of the notification shade where it is easier to see. In addition, the code strings also reveal that notifications from the selected contact or app will not only appear at the top of the notification shade, but will also light up the HiLight feature.
The Pixel HiLight visual notification feature on the Pixel 11 series. | Image by TikTok
AI will determine when certain notifications are time-critical, leading them to set off the HiLight feature
This is when we can expect to see the launch of Notification Rules
Notification Rules have yet to surface on Android 17, and we might see it debut on Pixel devices with the Android 17 QPR3 release that is also known as the March 2027 Pixel Feature drop.
Recommended For You
What are your Pixel plans for 2026-2027?
5 Votes
I'd love to say that I will be getting these features on my Pixel 6 Pro, but alas, my poor handset, I knew it well. My Pixel 6 Pro no longer has support from Google, which is something I can't be too upset about. After all, the Pixel 6 Pro is equipped with the first-generation Tensor SoC, which obviously isn't as capable as the Tensor G6 chip found in the Pixel 11 series.
Get a free Galaxy A17 with Straight Talk. To claim this deal, you need to pair the phone with activation on a Silver Unlimited Plan or higher. This tier costs $45 per month. Offer valid through 01/10/27 while supplies last online.
Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: