Google has released the Android 17 beta 4 build for developers, and a new report suggests that it contains a reference to an upcoming Pixel feature that hints at LED lighting on the rear panels of future devices.
According to the report, this feature is called Pixel Glow and it acts as an LED-based notification system, similar to the front-facing notification lights seen on older smartphones.
Additional details are provided in the screenshots shared in the report, which reveal that the Pixel Glow will use colored lights on the rear panel to inform users about incoming alerts when the phone is held face down.
This feature will reportedly not be visible if flash notifications are enabled. Additionally, code discovered in the beta suggests that Pixel Glow will require dedicated hardware lighting on the device.
Several other code strings also point to various use cases for Pixel Glow, such as subtle lighting effects for incoming calls from favorite contacts, visual feedback during hands-free operation, subtle illumination while interacting with Gemini, etc.
Interestingly, the leaked renders of the upcoming Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL don’t show any visible rear lighting hardware, making it unclear how Google plans to implement the feature.
