Pixel 11 Pro Leans on Gemini Intelligence, Falls Short with HiLight
The new Pixel 11 Pro is out, and it's all about Gemini Intelligence. Google's latest innovation focuses on making helpful devices that respond to your needs. One of its key features, HiLight, aims to help you use your phone less by detecting when an important call comes in and turning the screen face down.
However, this feature falls short of expectations as it currently only offers two functions: detecting calls and face-down mode. The narrative around HiLight is more interesting than the feature itself, with Google responding to the growing sentiment that people are overwhelmed by their phones.
Gemini Intelligence shines brighter, though. Its Proactive Assistance feature has seen significant improvements over last year's Magic Cue. This year, it comes with a user interface, making it easier to access contextual information and actions based on your conversations. The Gboard Rambler also gets an upgrade, allowing for voice-first and voice-only experiences.
The phone itself is a sleek device, with a clean edge-to-edge Camera Bar design that some may find more appealing than the previous metal-and-glass approach. The Tensor G6 CPU brings 15% faster app launches and 25% quicker browsing, but these improvements are not immediately noticeable in day-to-day use.