Google Pixel 11 Pro users criticize new HiLight feature

Early users of the Google Pixel 11 Pro are expressing dissatisfaction with the new HiLight feature, a lighting system integrated into the device's camera bar. Marketed as a key hardware innovation, the feature has been criticized for its extremely limited functionality.

Currently, HiLight serves two primary purposes: acting as a dim camera flash and providing colorful light notifications when the phone is placed face-down. In this position, the light pulses in a multicolor pattern when the Gemini assistant is active or displays solid colors to signal calls from favorite contacts.

Critics and users on platforms like Reddit have labeled the feature ‘lame and essentially useless.’ Major complaints include the impracticality of placing an expensive smartphone face-down due to screen scratch risks, and the lack of meaningful utility for the Gemini integration, which typically requires visual interaction with the screen.