Google Pixel 11 Pro’s HiLight feature will support colour-coded alerts for favourite contacts, teardown reveals
With Google’s Pixel 11 series’ launch event just a week away, leaks have already revealed much of the upcoming lineup’s design, specifications and pricing. One of the few features that has remained relatively mysterious is the new rear lighting system, now expected to be called HiLight. A fresh app teardown suggests how at least part of the feature could work.
Code discovered by 9to5Google in version 4.85 of the Google Contacts app indicates that users may be able to assign different colours to favourite contacts, allowing the light on the back of the Pixel 11 Pro to glow in a specific colour when they call.
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Google Pixel 11 Pro HiLight feature
According to the leaked code, HiLight, internally codenamed “glow”, will support nine colours: Blue, Cyan, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Teal, White and Yellow. One of the strings reportedly reads, “Tap to configure HiLight for favorite callers,” reinforcing earlier reports from tipsters Dylan Roussel and Roland Quandt that Google has settled on the HiLight branding instead of the previously rumoured “Pixel Glow.”
Previous leaks have also suggested the rear light could illuminate when Google’s Gemini AI is active and the phone is placed face down. However, the latest findings indicate that the feature may initially have a fairly limited set of functions centred around call notifications and AI status indicators.
While Google hasn’t officially confirmed the feature, the presence of HiLight-related strings in one of its own apps suggests software support is already being prepared ahead of the August 12th launch.
Rear notification lights are not entirely new to smartphones. Older Android devices, including some Nexus models, offered RGB notification LEDs that could signal missed calls, messages and app notifications. More recently, brands like Nothing have taken the concept further with programmable rear lighting systems that support multiple notification types and custom interactions. Based on current leaks, Google’s implementation appears more restrained. If HiLight is limited to favourite callers and Gemini activity at launch, it may not offer the same level of customisation seen on competing devices with dedicated lighting systems.
That said, HiLight is unlikely to be the main reason to buy a Pixel 11 Pro. The upcoming series is expected to focus more on Google’s AI software experience, camera capabilities and Tensor-powered features than on hardware redesigns. Recent reports also suggest the Pixel 11 lineup could see higher prices than its predecessors, while some models may trade larger batteries for slimmer and lighter designs.
With the official announcement only days away, buyers interested in the Pixel 11 Pro may want to wait for Google to detail exactly how HiLight works before treating it as a major selling point. If the feature proves to support broader notification customisation after launch, it could become a more meaningful addition. Otherwise, it may remain a niche convenience rather than a headline feature.
