Google Pixel 11 release date and the biggest rumours so far
Key takeaways
- Google has confirmed its next Made by Google event will be held at 8am AEST on Thursday, 13 August.
- We're expecting 4 new phones: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, alongside the Pixel Watch 5.
- Leaked European pricing points to a price rise across the range, which could also be reflected in Australia.
Google has officially locked in the date for its next Pixel launch, with invitations now landing in the inboxes of US media.
The invite doesn't name any devices, but teases "the next generation of Pixel" along with a shiny gold metal frame and a pill-shaped camera bar.
Google Pixel 11 release date in Australia
The Made by Google event will be held in New York on Thursday, 13 August at 8am AEST.
Thankfully, it's a pretty reasonable time by Australian standards, especially if you're used to getting up early for iPhone launches.
You can livestream the event on Google's YouTube channel or the Google Store.
Google is expected to unveil the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, along with the Pixel Watch 5 in 2 sizes.
News Pixel Buds could also make an appearance, but we haven't seen any leaks for them so far.
When will pre-orders start?
We can expect pre-orders to start straight after the event, with the phones to go on sale a week or so later.
However, last year, the Pixel 10 went on sale on 28 August, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Pixel Watch 4 followed later on 9 October.
It's unclear whether we'll see the timeline repeated.
You can expect to get the new Pixel 11 series from Google directly, telcos such as Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, or retailers such as JB Hi-Fi and Amazon.
Google Pixel 11 rumours
The biggest rumour so far is a price hike across the range, but Google could offset it by doubling the storage.
Google is apparently killing off the 128GB entry model, according to French outlet Dealabs, so every Pixel 11 would start at 256GB.
It's a change Pixel fans have been asking for, and would bring Google in line with Samsung and Apple, which have dropped 128GB from their flagship ranges.
The entry-level Pixel 11 could come in grey, black, pink and green (Light Sterling, Midnight Haze, Fuchsia and Moss).
The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL are expected in white, black, pink and green (Light Fog, Midnight Haze, Dune and Pine), while the Pro Fold looks set for just 2 options: black and green.
Beyond that, the rumours aren't pointing to a dramatic redesign this year.
Leaked renders show a familiar look with slightly thinner bezels, though a rumoured feature called Pixel Glow could add notification lights to the camera bar, according to Android Authority.
We could also see some camera upgrades.
According to Tech Advisor, the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold could get a new 50-megapixel main camera, while the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL are expected to get new main and telephoto lenses.
Under the hood, there's expected to be a new Tensor G6 chip and a new modem, which could mean better battery life and reception.
One other rumour to keep an eye on is that the standard Pixel 11 could drop from 12GB of RAM to 8GB, potentially due to rising RAM costs.
How much will the Pixel 11 cost in Australia?
We won't know for sure until 13 August, but all the rumours point to a price hike across the board.
European pricing has every Pixel 11 model up by around €100 on its predecessor, with a similar £80 jump in the UK.
There's a silver lining, though. Because base storage is doubling to 256GB, the standard Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro would effectively cost the same as last year's 256GB models.
The Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pro Fold aren't so lucky, with both tipped for a straight price hike.
For instance, converted roughly to Australian dollars, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold could start at around $2,900.
That's about $200 more than last year's launch price.
However, keep in mind these figures are based on pricing in Europe and the UK.
Google doesn't always use the same pricing across markets, so take the Australian estimates as a rough guide.
Instead, here's a look at last year's prices so you have a benchmark ahead of the launch of the Pixel 11 series:
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Pixel 10 128GB | $1,349 |
| Pixel 10 256GB | $1,499 |
| Pixel 10 Pro 128GB | $1,699 |
| Pixel 10 Pro 256GB | $1,849 |
| Pixel 10 Pro 512GB | $2,049 |
| Pixel 10 Pro 1TB | $2,399 |
| Pixel 10 Pro XL 256GB | $1,999 |
| Pixel 10 Pro XL 512GB | $2,199 |
| Pixel 10 Pro XL 1TB | $2,549 |
| Pixel 10 Pro Fold 256GB | $2,699 |
| Pixel 10 Pro Fold 512GB | $2,899 |
| Pixel 10 Pro Fold 1TB | $3,289 |
Sources
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