Google Pixel 11 to borrow a forgotten feature from the Pixel 4

Google's Pixel 11, coming in 2026, is now rumored to resurrect a feature last seen on the Pixel 4 from 2019. Google is apparently considering adding an under-display infrared camera to the Pixel 11 generation, thus enabling secure face unlocking.

The last time a Pixel had something like that was in 2019 with the Pixel 4. Google then gave up on the feature, only to now be thinking about reintroducing it in a new vein (this is something the company does do a lot). While the Pixel 4 had to have a massive top bezel for its screen to accommodate the tech, the Pixel 11 will place the IR camera under the display, so it won't take up any visible space.

2026 is also when Apple is rumored to start using under-display IR cameras for its Face ID tech, incidentally. Google's Tensor G6 chipset, which will be powering the Pixel 11 family, will have support for infrared face unlock through an under-display infrared camera.

Of course, the fact that the chip will support this feature doesn't necessarily mean the feature will see the light of day. On the other hand, the Tensor G6 is a chip Google is custom-designing for its own smartphones and nothing else, so it wouldn't make any sense baking in such support if nothing was to come out of it.