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Where and when was it held?

Everything Google announced at Made by Google 2026

Pricing and availability

Release dates at a glance

Google held its Made by Google event on Wednesday, launching the Pixel 11 series, the Pixel Watch 5, a new Pixel Tag tracker, and an update to the Pixel Buds Pro 2. Prices went up across the phone lineup, and Google gave an official reason for it.

Here is a full breakdown of everything Google announced, prices, and what the announcement means for you if you live in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, or Ghana.

Where and when was it held?

Made by Google 2026 took place on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in New York City. The keynote started at 6:00 PM ET, which is 3:00 PM PT and 11:00 PM WAT for viewers in West Africa.

Trevor Noah hosted the show, taking over from Jimmy Fallon, who hosted in 2025. The event drew guests such as Alex Cooper, Stephen Curry, Steven Gerrard, and singer PinkPantheress, who closed the night with a performance.

Google published the specs and pricing for its new devices about eight hours before the keynote started. By the time the show went live, most of the announcements were already public. The event served more as a live celebration of the launch than as a place where new information was dropped.

Everything Google announced at Made by Google 2026

Phones

Google unveiled four new phones: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. All four run on the new Tensor G6 chip, built on a 2nm process.

1. Pixel 11

pixel 11 at Made by Google 2026 — Image source: blog.google

6.3-inch display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits peak brightness
Tensor G6 chip with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage as the new base storage tier
A 48MP main camera, plus 13MP ultrawide and 10.8MP telephoto lenses with 5x zoom
4,985mAh battery with 30W wired charging and 25W wireless charging
Comes in Frost, Obsidian, Hibiscus, and Pistachio
Priced from $899, on sale August 20

2. Pixel 11 Pro

6.3-inch display with 3,600 nits peak brightness
12GB RAM on the 256GB model, 16GB on the 512GB and 1TB models
50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 42MP selfie camera
4,850mAh battery
Priced from $1,099

3. Pixel 11 Pro XL

6.8-inch display, same 3,600 nits peak brightness as the Pro
Same camera setup as the Pro
5,115mAh battery with 45W wired charging
Priced from $1,299

4. Pixel 11 Pro Fold

8-inch inner screen and 6.5-inch outer screen, both rated at 3,600 nits
16GB RAM across every storage tier
4,750mAh battery, thinner and lighter than last year’s Fold at 10.1mm and 239g
Priced from $1,899, up $100 from last year

Some reports expected the Pro Fold to slip to October, following last year’s release pattern. Google confirmed all four phones ship together on August 20.

Why prices went up

Every phone in the Pixel 11 lineup costs $100 more than its Pixel 10 equivalent. Google gave a direct reason for this. In an interview with 9to5Google in July, Google’s VP of Devices and Services, Shakil Barkat, called it a supplier-driven memory crisis. He pointed to data showing the price of 1GB of mobile RAM jumped from $2.80 in 2025 to $12 in 2026. He said he has never seen memory prices rise this fast.

This lines up with wider trends across the phone industry. Research firm IDC expects global smartphone shipments to drop by close to 14% in 2026, the steepest fall in over ten years, while average phone prices climb to a record $523.

Wearables

wearables at Made by Google 2026 — Image source: blog.google

The Pixel Watch 5 keeps the same design as the Pixel Watch 4 but upgrades what is inside it. It runs on a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip, with RAM bumped up to 3GB and storage doubled to 64GB.

Health tracking receives several updates, including improved strength and HIIT tracking, breathing emergency detection, blood pressure trend monitoring, and insulin resistance trends. Google also says the watch now tracks running and cycling routes twice as accurately as before.

The watch runs Gemini Intelligence and supports offline Gemini commands. It comes in Matte Black, Polished Silver, Satin Pyrite, and Champagne Gold (41mm only).

Pricing starts at $399 for the 41mm model and $429 for the 45mm model, both up from the Pixel Watch 4. A Steph Curry Edition costs $579. All models go on sale August 20.

Audio

Google gave the Pixel Buds Pro 2 a new Olive colour option at the same $229 price, but the update goes beyond colour. A software upgrade coming in September adds Dynamic ANC, which adjusts noise cancellation as the earbuds shift in your ear, and Gemini voice controls that let you say things like turn up the bass.

The update also brings sleep tracking sync with the Pixel Watch and expands Live Translate to more languages. Google did not announce a Pixel Buds Pro 3 at this event.

Laptops

If you were waiting for news on Googlebook, Google’s laptop platform built to replace the Chromebook, this event did not deliver it. It did not get a demo or even a mention on stage.

Google first announced Googlebook back in May 2026, saying the first laptops would arrive from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo in the fall. That timeline has not changed, and neither has the operating system’s status. Google told The Verge that Aluminium OS is only a codename for now, and the real name will come later in the year.

The next likely moment for a fuller Googlebook reveal is IFA Berlin, running September 4 to 8. Until then, treat anything about Googlebook specs or pricing as unconfirmed.

Software and AI

Every new Pixel phone runs Android 17 and comes with seven years of software and security updates.

The Tensor G6 chip brings a faster on-device AI system through Gemini Nano 4, which Google says runs up to 3.5 times faster while using less battery. On the camera side, a new feature called Magic Capture uses the chip to scan hundreds of frames and automatically picks the best shots. A new Camera Looks feature adds film-style filters, and Instant Night Sight cuts down low-light shot times.

Gemini Intelligence also picked up new tricks across the phone, including a Gboard feature that cleans up rambling voice dictation and a proactive assistant that can complete small tasks on its own. Google added American Sign Language support to Live Transcribe in Gboard as well.

Buyers of the Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL get six months of Google AI Pro included, which comes with expanded Gemini access and extra cloud storage.

Pixel Tag

Google also launched its own item tracker to compete with Apple’s AirTag. Pixel Tag costs $29 for a single unit or $99 for a four-pack, and it uses UWB and Bluetooth for precise location finding within about 50 meters. The battery is replaceable and should last more than a year. Pixel Tag ships November 11, 2026.

Pricing and availability

Here is what the new Pixel 11 lineup costs across a few major markets.

1. United States

Pixel 11: $899 / $1,020
Pixel 11 Pro: $1,099 / $1,220 / $1,450
Pixel 11 Pro XL: $1,299 / $1,420 / $1,650
Pixel 11 Pro Fold: $1,899 / $2,020 / $2,250

2. United Kingdom

Pixel 11: £880 / £1,000
Pixel 11 Pro: £1,080 / £1,200 / £1,430
Pixel 11 Pro XL: £1,280 / £1,400 / £1,630
Pixel 11 Pro Fold: £1,800 / £1,920 / £2,150

3. European Union

Pixel 11: €1,000 / €1,130
Pixel 11 Pro: €1,200 / €1,330 / €1,590
Pixel 11 Pro XL: €1,400 / €1,530 / €1,790
Pixel 11 Pro Fold: €2,000 / €2,130 / €2,390

Google confirmed launch markets covering North America, Europe, Australia, Japan, and Taiwan. Pre-orders opened on August 12, with phones and the watch shipping August 20.

4. Africa and Nigeria availability

Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana still have no official Google Store or authorised Pixel retailer. That has not changed with this launch.

If you want a Pixel 11 in Nigeria, your best bet is a grey-market importer. Outlets like Jumia Nigeria, Slot Nigeria, Konga, and Jiji are the usual channels for bringing in Pixel phones once they launch abroad. For context, the previous generation Pixel 9 Pro XL sold for between ₦1,180,000 and ₦1,250,000 on Jumia Nigeria, with used or UK-imported units going for less on Jiji.

Expect Pixel 11 units to land in Nigeria a few weeks after the US launch, priced at or above the US retail price once you factor in import duty, VAT, clearing fees, and shipping costs. You also won’t get a local warranty on an imported unit, so buy from a seller you trust.

Release dates at a glance

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Everything announced at Made by Google 2026

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