Google will launch the Pixel 11 smartphone series and new hardware during its Made by Google event this Wednesday [1].
The event serves as the primary showcase for Google's hardware ecosystem, signaling how the company intends to compete with Apple and Samsung in the high-end mobile market.
The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET [1]. The event will take place in New York City [2]. While most sources align on the timing, some reports indicate the livestream may start later than in previous years [3].
Google is expected to introduce three new primary handsets: the Pixel 11, the Pixel 11 Pro, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL [1]. These devices will likely lead the company's mobile strategy for the coming year. In addition to the flagship phones, the company is expected to unveil new foldable devices, and earbuds [1].
Wearable technology will also feature prominently with the expected debut of the Watch 5 [2]. Industry reports suggest Google may also introduce a tracking device designed to compete with Apple's AirTag [1].
Attendance and presentation styles remain a point of variation in reporting. Some sources said that Trevor Noah and other celebrities are set to take part in the proceedings [2], though other reports do not mention any celebrity participants [1].
The event will be livestreamed for a global audience, allowing users to see the new hardware features, and software integrations in real time [3].
“Google will launch the Pixel 11 smartphone series and new hardware this Wednesday.”
The simultaneous launch of a diversified phone lineup and a tracking peripheral suggests Google is attempting to build a more cohesive 'walled garden' of hardware. By expanding into the tracking market and refining its foldable and wearable offerings, Google is moving beyond being a software provider to a full-scale hardware competitor against the Apple ecosystem.
