Google Pixel 11 Pro's HiLight Feature Gets a Boost with Messages Support

Google Pixel 11 Pro's HiLight Feature Gets a Boost with Messages Support

Hey there, fellow tech enthusiasts! Today, I’m buzzing with excitement to talk about a nifty feature on the latest Google Pixel 11 Pro phones—yes, I’m talking about the HiLight notification light! This little gem debuted with the Pixel 11 series, and it’s finally getting a much-needed upgrade that makes it even more useful.

For those who might not be familiar, the HiLight notification light is a colorful beacon that lets you know when you have incoming calls or messages while your phone is face-down. Initially, it supported calls from the Phone app and WhatsApp, and it even danced to the tunes of Gemini interactions. However, it felt like it was missing some key functionality—until now!

With the recent November Pixel Drop, Google has officially expanded HiLight’s capabilities to include notifications from Google Messages. That means, when a message comes in from one of your favorite contacts, the HiLight will glow and inform you without flipping your phone over. It’s a simple yet effective enhancement that brings back a feature many of us have missed.

However, I have to admit, while it's great to see this expansion, I can’t help but feel a tad underwhelmed. We’re talking about Google’s flagship device here, and two and a half months post-launch, it seems like HiLight is only playing nice with a handful of first-party apps. Where’s the support for Gmail or Google Voice? I mean, wouldn’t it be awesome to have that flicker of light when your favorite YouTube creator drops a new video? The possibilities are endless!

But let’s stay hopeful! This could just be the beginning for HiLight. There are whispers of Android’s upcoming Notification Rules that might integrate HiLight for high-priority notifications. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we see more updates rolling out soon—hopefully by the time Android 17 QPR3 hits in the spring!

In the meantime, let’s appreciate the little things. The HiLight support for Google Messages is a step in the right direction, and I can’t wait to see where it leads us next. What do you think, fellow tech lovers? Are you excited about this feature, or do you think it needs more love?