Pixel 11 Pro HiLight Falls Flat, But Google May Be Fixing It

It's been over a month since Google unveiled the Pixel 11 lineup, with the Pro models featuring the highly touted HiLight feature. However, despite the hype, HiLight has failed to impress, mainly due to its limited functionality.

Pixel 11 Pro HiLight Falls Flat, But Google May Be Fixing It

HiLight reintroduces the notification LED found in older smartphones, but only works in two scenarios: when a user receives a call from a favorite contact and when interacting with the Gemini assistant. Many consider it a gimmick, and online forums are filled with criticism from users who feel it's not worth the replacement of the thermometer functionality.

However, Google seems to be listening to the feedback. The company recently released Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6.1, which includes two new additions - an outline battery icon when charging and an update for HiLight. The latter now makes the feature compatible with messages, with the LED blinking twice when a favorite contact sends a message.

Settings for managing HiLight, including the new "Messages from favorites" option, have also been spotted in the Pixel 11 Pro's Settings app. This update addresses some of the concerns surrounding HiLight's limited use cases, potentially making it more useful for users.

While opinions on HiLight's value remain divided, the upcoming changes may help Google's flagship phones better live up to the feature's initial promise. Only time will tell if these updates are enough to turn HiLight into a truly useful addition to the Pixel 11 Pro experience.