Google's HiLight Feature: A Promising Start, But Limited to Pro Models

Google recently unveiled its Pixel 11 lineup, which includes a new feature called HiLight. This notification system uses a small circular light module to communicate with users when their phone is face down.

The HiLight feature is currently available on the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro Fold devices but not on the base Pixel 11 phone. The circular object in the camera bar of the base model does not light up for notifications, as it does on the Pro models.

HiLight primarily uses colors to notify users about incoming phone calls, allowing them to assign custom light colors to individual contacts. However, text messages are not currently supported by this feature, although Google has mentioned that new functionality will be added in the future.

The design of HiLight is minimalist and visually modest compared to other notification systems available on smartphones. It appears to have been inspired by Nothing's hardware designs, which feature light patterns on the rear side for similar purposes.