The Pixel 11’s “glow” feature is actually called HiLight—here’s what it does

Pixel 11 的“发光”功能实际上名为 HiLight——以下是它的具体功能

Google will reveal the Pixel 11 series later this month, but leaks and teasers so far have painted a picture of phones that have barely changed since last year. One notable exception seems to be the illuminated dot from some of the teasers. This has been rumored as “Pixel Glow,” but a new leak all but confirms a different (and less interesting) name. Say hello to HiLight.

Google 将于本月晚些时候发布 Pixel 11 系列，但目前的泄露信息和预热内容显示，这些手机与去年相比几乎没有变化。一个值得注意的例外似乎是预热视频中出现的发光点。此前有传言称其为“Pixel Glow”，但最新的泄露信息几乎证实了一个不同（且不那么有趣）的名称。向 HiLight 打个招呼吧。

A post on Bluesky by WinFuture’s Roland Quandt shows the new LED inside the camera module of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. We can see the actual body of the device rather than a shadowy outline as in Google’s teasers, and it does look a bit different than the previous Pixel Fold. The camera bump on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is smaller, with no separate section for the flash off to the right. It appears that HiLight is the flash. Presumably, it still works as a flashlight and camera flash, but it can also produce a range of colors.

WinFuture 的 Roland Quandt 在 Bluesky 上发布的一篇帖子展示了 Pixel 11 Pro Fold 摄像头模块内的新型 LED 灯。我们看到的不再是 Google 预热视频中那种模糊的轮廓，而是设备的真实机身，它看起来确实与之前的 Pixel Fold 有所不同。Pixel 11 Pro Fold 的摄像头凸起更小，右侧没有独立的闪光灯区域。看来 HiLight 就是闪光灯。据推测，它仍然可以用作手电筒和相机闪光灯，但它也能发出多种颜色的光。

What does this thing do, anyway? The graphic includes text in French, which translates to: Stay informed without looking at your screen. When your smartphone is turned upside down, HiLight discreetly illuminates when your favorite contacts call you or when you chat with Gemini. So this is, in part, a return to the days of the notification LED. You’ll be able to set HiLight to alert you when you get a call from certain contacts. It’s unclear if that will also extend to messages and other app-based notifications. That was all possible with classic notification LEDs, but all bets are off with HiLight.

这东西到底有什么用？相关图片中包含一段法语文字，翻译过来是：无需看屏幕即可保持信息同步。当你的智能手机正面朝下放置时，如果有你关注的联系人来电，或者当你与 Gemini 聊天时，HiLight 会进行隐蔽的灯光提示。因此，这在某种程度上是通知 LED 时代的回归。你可以设置 HiLight，以便在收到特定联系人的来电时提醒你。目前尚不清楚该功能是否也会扩展到短信和其他应用程序的通知。经典的通知 LED 灯曾实现过这些功能，但 HiLight 是否具备同样的能力还有待观察。

Before displays grew to dominate the entire face of our phones, it was common for Android devices to have a small RGB LED that would illuminate to indicate pending notifications or incoming calls. This helped save power back when waking up the display too often could kill the battery. But HiLight is on the back of the phone. It appears this feature will only be useful when the phone is face down, which many people instinctively avoid to prevent screen scratches. Perhaps Google will have some answer for that in the form of new, harder glass.

在显示屏占据手机整个正面之前，Android 设备通常配有一个小型 RGB LED 灯，通过亮起以指示待处理的通知或来电。在频繁唤醒屏幕会消耗大量电量的时代，这有助于节省电量。但 HiLight 位于手机背面。看来此功能仅在手机正面朝下时才有用，而许多人为了防止屏幕刮花，本能地会避免这样做。也许 Google 会通过采用更坚硬的新型玻璃来解决这个问题。

Shining a light on Gemini: The other angle for HiLight is the Gemini tie-in, and this jibes perfectly with some of Google’s other products. In the coming months, we expect to see the first Googlebook laptops hit the market. These devices will come from various manufacturers, but they’ll all have the Glowbar. Google has been vague on what the feature will do, but it’s a safe bet based on HiLight that the bar will light up when you’re talking to or otherwise interacting with Gemini. Likewise, the new Google Home Speaker, with its deep Gemini integration, has an illuminated ring around the bottom. It lights up when you’re talking to Gemini and changes colors to represent status. HiLight probably does much the same.

聚焦 Gemini：HiLight 的另一个切入点是与 Gemini 的联动，这与 Google 的其他一些产品完美契合。在接下来的几个月里，我们预计会看到首批 Googlebook 笔记本电脑上市。这些设备将来自不同的制造商，但它们都将配备“Glowbar”（发光条）。Google 对该功能的作用一直含糊其辞，但根据 HiLight 的表现，可以肯定的是，当你与 Gemini 对话或进行交互时，该灯条会亮起。同样，新款 Google Home 智能音箱也深度集成了 Gemini，其底部有一个发光环。当你与 Gemini 对话时，它会亮起并改变颜色以显示状态。HiLight 的功能可能也大同小异。

This may be what passes for hardware innovation in Google’s latest phones. In 2025, the biggest change was the addition of Qi2 magnets, which Google brands as Pixel Snap. A Gemini-focused notification LED on the back of the phone is arguably less important. We’ll have to wait until August 12 to see how Google pitches this feature, though.

这可能就是 Google 最新手机所谓的硬件创新。在 2025 年，最大的变化是增加了 Qi2 磁吸功能，Google 将其命名为 Pixel Snap。相比之下，手机背面以 Gemini 为核心的通知 LED 灯的重要性可能没那么高。不过，我们还得等到 8 月 12 日，看看 Google 将如何推介这一功能。