Google's HiLight Feature Saps Pixel 11 Pro Flashlight

Google's new 'HiLight' feature on the Pixel 11 Pro has an unintended consequence: it makes the flashlight noticeably dimmer. The HiLight feature replaces the traditional thermometer on the back of Pro models with an RGB light that uses about 8 LEDs to indicate notifications from Gemini.

The flash on the Pixel 9 and 10 series was already not as bright as competitors like the Galaxy Z TriFold or iPhone, but now it's even dimmer. This is likely due to Google's focus on getting users to adopt its AI features, such as Gemini.

Night Sight, which has improved this year, is still a strong feature that reduces the need for the flash in photography. However, the flashlight is used more frequently than the camera flash, and its dimness will likely be noticeable to users who rely on it.