The Made by Google event that will likely introduce the Pixel 11 family and Pixel Watch 5 is just a few days away, and the leaks continue to pour out. As expected, there are rumored upgrades across the board for the new family of phones, but nothing wildly substantial compared to the previous generation. 

But the most interesting new feature is something called HiLight, previously known as Pixel Glow. It appears that Google will revive the old-school notification LED feature that was a staple in Android phones and BlackBerry devices in the early 2000s, but it’s different this time around. 

While we won’t know all the details until the new phones are unveiled on Aug. 12, a series of leaks has shed light on the new HiLight feature and what it could do.

Why did notification LEDs go away?

In the 2010s, a notification LED was a typical feature on many Android phones, but the trend faded in the latter half of the decade. In a push to make phone displays nearly bezel-less, it seemed a natural omission, as these LEDs typically took up space on the top half of the phone. 

Another reason why notification LEDs went away was the wider adoption of OLED panels on smartphones, which enabled always-on displays. This is essentially standard on most smartphones today, whether they’re Android or iOS. It provides more glanceable information than even the most customizable LED could — plus, it’s one less piece of hardware to add to a phone, which saves on costs. 

One could also argue that the increasing popularity of smartwatches made notification LEDs on phones redundant. 

Google reintroducing the notification LED in what looks like a small display on the back of the phone is novel, even if it seems a bit gimmicky.

The leaks: How could HiLight work?

From the leaks we’ve seen so far, it looks like HiLight will work with your favorite contacts and when you interact with Gemini. But we don’t know exactly how much it could do. Maybe HiLight will work for both messaging and calling, and I can imagine there being some customization options so you could assign colors to specific contacts. 

The crew over at 9to5Google was able to glean some insight about the new feature by digging into the code of the Google Contacts application, detailing which colors HiLight will support. A few strings in the code indicate that you may be able to assign a color to your favorite contacts, both for when they call and when you receive a message notification from them. 

According to the team, HiLight will support these colors: blue, cyan, green, orange, pink, purple, teal, white and yellow.

Earlier this month, Roland Quandt of tech site WinFuture shared a post on BlueSky with an image that appears to be official French-language marketing material, showing the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and detailing the new feature.

The text translates as, “When your smartphone is face down, HiLight lights up discreetly when your favorite contacts call or when you chat with Gemini.” 

HiLight replaces the temperature sensor introduced in previous Pixel devices. While the earlier sensor saw limited real-world use, HiLight is better positioned as a feature you could benefit from more consistently in everyday use.

Still, there’s a reason some people choose to keep their phone face down in public. It helps avoid distractions and prevents notifications from constantly demanding their attention. By making this feature a default part of the experience, Google effectively removes that option unless you can disable it entirely. 

What is interesting about HiLight is that it appears to be a very small display rather than a static, multicolored LED. Many of the phones from Nothing Technology have LEDs that light up for notifications and timers, and perhaps HiLight will have its own customizations.

It remains to be seen whether HiLight will be able to work with other apps beyond favorite contact notifications and interactions with Gemini. Developers may have to provide support within their own apps for the feature to work, which could take time and adding support for a single feature on a single family of phones isn’t necessarily the most compelling reason for them to do so. 

We’ll learn more about the Pixel 11 family and all of its new bells and whistles next week at Made by Google 2026. We can also expect the debut of the Pixel Watch 5, which has already been spotted in — of all places — the Caribbean Sea.

Blake has over a decade of experience writing for the web, with a focus on mobile phones, where he covered the smartphone boom of the 2010s and the broader tech scene. When he’s not in front of a keyboard, you’ll most likely find him playing video games or watching horror movies.

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