Overview
- Multiple outlets and users published side-by-side tests on Monday, August 24, 2026, showing the Pixel 11 Pro’s rear LED produces a visibly weaker flashlight output than prior Pixel models and some rival phones.
- The Pixel 11 Pro replaces the Pro-series thermometer with a small RGB module called HiLight that uses about eight LEDs behind a milky diffuser to deliver contact-color notifications and Gemini activity signals.
- The milky diffuser and LED arrangement trade concentrated light for a softer, more even glow, which reduces usable torch range and makes the phone dimmer at a few feet compared with the Pixel 9/10 series and devices from Apple and Samsung.
- Independent developers have already released tools such as HiLight Studio on GitHub that can run per-app colors and patterns, but those solutions require sideloading and elevated shell permissions that reset after reboot.
- Users report practical harm for everyday use like navigating dark spaces and home repairs, and the coverage suggests pressure on Google to offer a software option or API to restore stronger flashlight behavior or justify the hardware trade-off.