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We Skipped the Pixel Event

Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast

Hosted by Andrew Manganelli and David Imel

1h 37m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

The hosts are recording from Spain after traveling to watch a total solar eclipse, having skipped the physical Pixel launch event. They dive into Google's latest announcements for 2026, including the new Pixel 11 series, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 5, and Pixel Tags, while critiquing Google's software decisions like the restricted "Highlight" notification light and the aggressive integration of Gemini across Android. The conversation covers the ongoing debate over hardware versus AI optimization, camera software simulation features, and the bizarre omission of basic color customization on new devices.

  • The new Pixel 11 Pro highlight feature is currently limited to just five colors and only works for incoming phone calls from designated favorites, excluding text messages or third-party apps. 26:41
  • Google has raised the base price of the regular Pixel 11 to $900 while simultaneously moving the baseline storage up to 256 gigabytes. 50:02
  • The Pixel 11 Pro series features display peak brightness reaching 3600 nits, making it the brightest screen seen on a mobile device. 53:15
  • The new video boost feature utilizes Gaussian splatting to construct a 3D model of recorded scenes, allowing a virtual camera track to fly through the footage. 1:25:24

Chapters

  1. 0:00
    Podcast Intro and AI Promotion

    The episode opens with promotional segments for Google Gemini and Anthropic, setting the stage for a tech-focused discussion.

  2. 1:57
    Hosts Introduce Episode and Location

    The hosts announce they are in Spain, skipping the Pixel event to record during a solar eclipse, and remind listeners to subscribe.

  3. 2:44
    Google Assistant Transition to Gemini

    The team examines the upcoming shift from Google Assistant to Gemini, its impact on devices, and the potential fragmentation across hardware.

  4. 6:59
    Rambler Speech-to-Text Features

    They delve into Gemini’s Rambler feature, its natural language handling, and the limitations of speech-to-text in messaging and notifications.

  5. 22:36
    Event Timing and Embargo Strategy

    They analyze Google’s eight‑hour embargo gap, its effects on content creators, and how it contrasts with Apple’s event model.

  6. 26:16
    Google Pixel 11 Highlight Feature

    The hosts review the new RGB notification light, its color options, and the hardware and software constraints that limit its functionality.

  7. 38:20
    Closing Remarks and Sponsorships

    The episode wraps up with sponsor messages, a quick recap, and a teaser for the next segment of the show.

  8. 39:08
    Pixel 11 Phone Overview

    A rundown of the Pixel 11 lineup, camera bar, Tensor 6 chip, charging modes, and incremental upgrades compared to previous models.

  9. 41:00
    Tensor 6 SoC Deep Dive

    Discussion of Google’s Tensor 6 architecture, AI focus, memory bandwidth, and comparison to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips.

  10. 44:45
    MediaTek Modem Efficiency Claims

    Discussion about MediaTek’s rumored modem efficiency improvements and the mystery surrounding its disclosure.

  11. 45:47
    Pixel Color Palette and Camera Bar Design

    Exploration of new Pixel colors, especially fuchsia, and the debate over camera bar thickness as a premium indicator.

  12. 50:02
    Memory, Storage, and Pricing Strategy

    Analysis of Pixel 11 Pro’s memory tiers, storage options, and the impact of higher base prices on market positioning.

Highlights

  • 1:02

    Restricted Notification Lightinsight

    The hosts express frustration that the new RGB-style notification light on the back of the Pixel 11 Pro is limited to only five colors and cannot be customized for apps or text messages.

  • 15:34

    Google Assistant Phase-Outdata

    Google sent emails confirming that starting September 4th, Google Assistant will be removed from phones and tablets in favor of Gemini, leaving users unable to switch back.

  • 15:35

    Event Embargo Strategy Shiftstrategy

    Google set hands-on review embargoes eight hours before the actual announcement event, a reversal of traditional tech release formats that lets reviews drop before marketing keynotes.

  • 25:05

    Trevor Noah Hosts Eventstory

    Trevor Noah hosted the Google hardware event, bringing an ad-libbed, tech-savvy humor that contrasted sharply with previous celebrity appearances.

  • 41:29

    Tensor Chip Philosophyinsight

    Google prioritizes TPU architecture and memory bandwidth for on-device AI models over raw graphics and gaming performance found in competitors like Qualcomm.

  • 52:41

    Glossy Rails Replaceddata

    Google finally added matte black rails to the black variant of the Pixel Pro series, answering years of complaints from tech reviewers.

  • 54:36

    Pricing and RAM Reductionsdata

    The base Pixel 11 Pro increased in price to $1,100 while dropping base RAM from 16 gigabytes down to 12 gigabytes unless users upgrade their storage tier.

  • 1:25:16

    AI Video Reconstructioninsight

    The video boost feature uses Gaussian splatting to create a 3D digital model of a scene, then generates a virtual camera path through it, adding artificial shake to look natural.

Quotes

  • “When I get a spam call, it'll go red.”
    Unnamed speaker · 1:11
  • “We skipped the Pixel event.”
    Unnamed speaker · 1:58
  • “The humanity is our imperfections, our inefficiencies.”
    Unnamed speaker · 10:29
  • “The fact that you can't, Trevor actually asked during the event if they would let you do other stuff like messages.”
    Unnamed speaker · 30:07
  • “The Pixel 9A is flush and to me that feels like the cheapest phone.”
    David Imel · 47:08
  • “The primary camera in the Pros is the same size as last year. They told me that the main reason they swapped it out is because it uses less power than the one last year.”
    David Imel · 53:49
  • “Because for some reason, they added the like TikTok cutout reactions feature to Android.”
    David Imel · 1:28:45
  • “It gives you uh, audio enhancement features.”
    David Imel · 1:28:59
  • “I think we should go right to the end, which is our last segment.”
    Unnamed speaker · 1:31:59
  • “The case was called the dot matrix case.”
    David Imel · 1:35:18
  • Google Gemini 0:00–0:30
  • Anthropic 0:39–0:57
  • SAP Concur 37:29–38:08
  • Subaru 38:20–38:45
  • claud.ai/spotify 1:14:33–1:15:04
  • SAP Concur 1:15:05–1:15:20
  • Subaru 1:15:24–1:15:49
  • Apple Watch Series 12 1:38:00–1:38:20

About this episode

This week, it's all about the Google Pixel 11. First, Marques, Andrew, and David talk about the Made by Google event itself before getting into the new HiLight glow feature. Then it's all about the new Pixel 11 phones. They wrap it up talking about the new Pixel Watch 5 earbuds and the Google Pixel Tag. Of course, we wrap it all up with trivia. Enjoy! Links: 9to5Google - Google Assistant shutting down MKBHD - Pixel 11 Impressions video This episode brought to you by: Framer: https://www.framer.com/waveform Quince: https://www.quince.com/waveform Glaze: https://www.glaze.app/waveform Follow us on socials: Marques: https://www.threads.net/@mkbhd Andrew: https://www.threads.net/@andrew_manganelli David: https://www.threads.net/@davidimel Adam: https://www.threads.net/@parmesanpapi17 Ellis: https://twitter.com/EllisRovin Waveform Threads: https://www.threads.net/@waveformpodcast Waveform Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waveformpodcast/?hl=en Waveform TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@waveformpodcast Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/mkbhd Intro/Outro music by 20syl: https://bit.ly/2S53xlC Waveform is part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

0:00
1:37:21

19,790 words · 8 speakers

Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

Topics

  • Google
  • Pixel
  • Gemini
  • Tensor
  • Apple
  • Samsung
  • Spain
  • Magic Capture
  • MediaTek
  • Pixel Tag

Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated