Pixel 11 Pro teardown reveals 8 RGB LEDs as the secret behind HiLight

Google HiLight

While users are limited to just five color presets in settings, a new Pixel 11 Pro teardown reveals what is actually under the hood. Disassembly confirms the HiLight module features a dedicated ring of eight physical RGB LEDs surrounding the camera flash.

Yuval Goel, Published 08/23/2026

With the launch of the Pixel 11 series, Google introduced a new rear visual alert ring called HiLight, officially replacing the infrared temperature sensor found on previous Pixel generations. The hardware is built directly around the camera flash on the rear visor and is present across the entire lineup. In its current form, HiLight acts as a dedicated indicator that pulses when the Gemini assistant is active and glows for incoming calls from favorite contacts when the phone is placed face down. Although Google announced on stage that the feature would support text messages, this capability is missing at launch. Furthermore, HiLight does not support third-party app integration, meaning users cannot assign specific colors to individual apps to easily recognize where a notification came from at a glance. Visual customization is also heavily restricted, limiting users to a selection of just five preset colors with no red color option available.

To see exactly what powers the HiLight feature, YouTuber Phone Repair Guru conducted a detailed teardown of the Pixel 11 Pro. After removing the back glass and unscrewing the bracket that secures the rear camera visor, the video provides a clear look at the module. The component features eight surface-mount LEDs arranged in a circle around the central camera flash. Sitting directly over these LEDs is a frosted white optical diffuser, designed to blend the individual lights into a smooth, continuous glow.

To confirm if the hardware is truly RGB capable, the teardown expert removed the diffuser and placed the bare board under a powerful microscope. Under magnification, distinct red, green, and blue diodes are clearly visible inside every single one of the eight LEDs, proving that Google installed RGB LEDs.

The YouTuber also noteы that it is technically possible to mod the device by permanently removing the diffuser to expose the raw LEDs directly. Ultimately, the teardown proves that the HiLight limitations are entirely software-based. Google is intentionally restricting the feature to just a few basic triggers and preset colors for now, making what could have been a great notification tool feel almost useless.