Pixel 11 Pro's Camera Module Hints at Return of Hardware LED Indicators

Google has given us our first glimpse of its upcoming Pixel 11 smartphone series. Among other things, the camera module on the Pixel 11 Pro features a small light element that might be used in place of a flash or flashlight.

The exact purpose and operating modes of this feature are still unclear, but it's possible that it could signal the return of hardware LED indicators like those found in Nexus devices. These indicators often displayed charging status and notification signals with different colors.

However, with the rise of always-on displays, these features have largely fallen out of favor. Some Android devices do use colored backlighting along their screens' edges or light arrays to display different signals.