Made by Google 2026 LIVE — Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 5, and all the latest news
All the last-minute rumors and biggest announcements as they happen
Google is expected to make big announcements later today at its Made by Google 2026 event, where we’ll likely get our first glimpse at its flagship lineup. That lineup should consist of the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and more.
It’s clear where Google is focusing its efforts, as Gemini and AI continue to be how the company distinguishes its devices from the competition. That was certainly true at Google I/O 2026 earlier this year, where we saw previews of Gemini Intelligence, Gemini Spark, Gemini Omni, and more.
But Google faces stiff competition following the launch of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8 — and with Apple’s event expected next month — these new Pixels can’t afford to come up short. Keep your browser pointed here for live updates, as our reporters will be covering the Made by Google 2026 event as it happens.
How to watch Made by Google 2026
Made by Google 2026 kicks off later today, August 12, with the live event happening in New York City at 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. BST. That’s much later in the day than Google's traditional event timing, which certainly adds some intrigue. Regardless, you can catch up with all of the action as it unfolds by watching the live stream on YouTube.
Made by Google 2026: Biggest expected announcements
- Pixel 11: Google’s standard flagship is reportedly getting minor upgrades after last year’s major refresh, backed by the new Tensor G6 chipset. It’s shaping up to pack a similar camera setup as before, with leaked renders showing a thinner camera module, 30-hour battery life, and an upgraded 30x Super Zoom.
- Pixel 11 Pro: The compact Pro model should look similar to last year’s design, but it may feature Google’s new HiLight LED light that glows in different colors for notifications. On top of that, it’s rumored to include an updated Pro Res Zoom that reaches up to 120x, a Tensor G6 chip, a new MediaTek modem, and a base storage upgrade to 256GB.
- Pixel 11 Pro XL: This top-of-the-line flagship carries the same new features as its smaller sibling, including the HiLight LED and 120x Pro Res Zoom. It’s also reportedly getting an even brighter display than before — reaching up to 3,600 nits — which could make it one of the brightest screens on the market.
- Pixel 11 Pro Fold: Google’s next-generation foldable retains its sleek form factor in recent leaked renders. Highlights include a new “Pine” colorway, a redesigned camera island, the HiLight LED, and likely the same triple-camera setup as the other Pro models.
- Pixel Watch 5: Google’s new smartwatch is expected to receive a minor refresh featuring refined health tracking and tighter Gemini AI integration. It should maintain its signature circular aesthetic while bringing modest battery and performance enhancements.
- Pixel Tag: Google’s long-rumored AirTag competitor may finally make its debut to expand the Find My Device network. While leaked images give us a clear look at its design, it remains unconfirmed whether it will feature Ultra-Wideband (UWB) support or a rechargeable battery.
- Pixel Buds Pro 2: A full successor to Google's wireless earbuds is unlikely at this event, though a new green colorway for the Pixel Buds Pro 2 could be announced instead.
- Other Devices: Google could also use the stage to show off more Googlebooks. While Google introduced its own hardware at Google I/O 2026, third-party models from other PC makers were expected to follow — making this event a likely spot for them to appear.
What are the biggest upgrades we can expect?
Google phones often leak in full long before the launch event, and Pixel 11 series is no exception. For those of you that are hoping to pick up a Google Pixel 11 Pro, just what sort of upgrades can you expect this year?
Honestly, it doesn't seem like there's a whole lot going on with the latest generation. The five biggest upgrades appear to be a more powerful Tensor G6, a new MediaTek (rather than Samsung) modem, 256GB of base storage on the non-XL model, 120x AI-assisted zoom and the new HiLight notification LED.
That's not a whole lot, especially when Tensor G6 is shaping up to be a lot slower than rival chips. But, depending on which phone you currently have, these upgrades might be worth it for you.
Tensor G6's benchmarks are not looking good
Google phones have never really been performance powerhouses, but things have gotten a lot worse since the launch of the Tensor series. While there had been some hope that the new Tensor G6, which is made with TSMC hardware rather than Samsung's, might up the ante, leaked benchmarks paint a very different story.
Early Geekbench listings for the Pixel 11 Pro XL reveal figures that the Tensor G6 is lagging really far behind the likes of iPhone 17 Pro Mac and Galaxy S26 Ultra. In fact the chip's multi-core score of 5,196 is almost half the speed of the S26 Ultra's 10,212.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Single-Core Score |
Multi-Core Score |
Google Pixel 11 Pro XL |
2,112 |
5,196 |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max |
2,995 |
8,562 |
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra |
2,808 |
10,212 |
Geekbench scores can be faked, and we'll need to do our own testing to see exactly how the Pixel 10 Pro XL really does compare to its biggest rivals. But this isn't a good look, mere hours ahead of the Made by Google event.
