Pixel Phones Bring Back Retro LED Notifications

Google's new Pixel phones have introduced a feature called HiLight, which is a pulsing indicator on the camera bump. This feature reminds some of the old-school notification LEDs from Android phones.

The HiLight indicator pulses in response to incoming calls and Gemini interactions. It was designed with accessibility in mind, so users with color blindness can still discern it.

The indicator is a subtle beacon that needs to be trained for users to understand its meaning. Google says it's working on integrations with the Messages app, but no other future plans have been confirmed.