![\"google](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/google-pixelsnap-pixel-10-pro-xl-case-5.jpg\"\/ "\\"google")
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Rita El Khoury \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n
TL;DR<\/p>\n
Android 17 Beta 4 makes internal reference to an in-development notification tool called Pixel Glow.
\nPixel Glow uses \u201csubtle light and color\u201d when your phone is face-down to let you know when things happen.
\nRequirements for hardware lights might mean that Google\u2019s adding RGB LEDs to upcoming Pixel devices.<\/p>\n
Android 17 Beta 4<\/a> just landed, bringing us closer than ever to Google\u2019s upcoming stable release. At this late stage, we\u2019re not seeing Google make a ton of user-facing changes \u2014 but that doesn\u2019t mean that progress hasn\u2019t been moving swiftly along under the hood. As we dive deeper into the new build, we\u2019ve managed to surface a small mystery that might just hint at a big hardware change for the Pixel 11 series<\/a>.<\/p>\n Back in Android 17 Beta 2<\/a>, we first identified development efforts towards a feature for \u201cLight animations.\u201d At the time we weren\u2019t very sure what Google was doing here, and didn\u2019t have many details outside a reference to something called \u201cOrbit,\u201d which felt like a possible codename. But now in Beta 4, the picture is finally starting to come together.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t want to miss the best from Android Authority?<\/p>\n For starters, we\u2019re finding a new name attached to it. Instead of \u201cLight animations,\u201d Google now calls this Pixel Glow. But much more than just getting that new name, we\u2019re also seeing some text that starts illuminating (no pun intended) exactly what this feature does. First up, we\u2019ve got this screen:<\/p>\n AssembleDebug \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n Let that sink in for a second: We\u2019re talking about something that uses colored lights on the back of your phone AND it has Pixel branding.<\/p>\n Google gave us Flash Notifications<\/a> back in Android 14, using light from your screen or your camera\u2019s LED to let you know about incoming calls. As you can see here, Pixel Glow would exist as some kind of alternative version of that \u2014 thought not able to be fully used at the same time.<\/p>\n Code<\/p>\n Copy TextWhether subtle lights should be shown when the user’s favourite contracts call them (when the Pixel Glow feature is enabled)
These strings establish that Gemini will play an important role in Pixel Glow, which would certainly fit with the rainbow glow that Google\u2019s been emphasizing when we interact with Gemini.<\/p>\n But how exactly is this going to work? Sure, Google keeps hammering on \u201csubtle\u201d over and over in this text, but will the Pixel 11 really feature some kind of gaming-phone-style RGB lights<\/a>? Well, here\u2019s one more text string for you:<\/p>\n Code<\/p>\n Copy Text”The device must have hardware lights.”<\/p>\n![\"google](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768235233_196_google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png\"\/ "\\"google"){kind=icon}
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<\/a><\/p>\n![\"android](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/android-17-beta-4-pixel-glow-watermarked.jpg\"\/ "\\"android")
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\nSubtle lights when your favorite contacts call you
\nCalls from favorites
\nHands-free interactions using visual feedback
\nWhether subtle lights should be shown when interacting with Gemini (when the Pixel Glow feature is enabled)
\nSpeaking with Gemini
\nAllows the user to configure the Pixel Glow feature which uses subtle light and color to inform the user while the device is face down
\nUse subtle light and color to stay informed when your device is face down
\nWhether the Pixel Glow feature is enabled. This feature uses subtle light and color to inform the user while the device is face down
\nUse Pixel Glow
\nPixel Glow, lights, effects, glow, notifications, calls, alerts, favorite contacts<\/p>\n