April 20, 2026, 7:33 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Months before the expected unveiling in August 2026, initial information about the Google Pixel 11 is emerging. The focus is on the display. Google plans to use a new OLED panel from Samsung. This is the M16 model, which has not yet been officially used in any smartphone. Samsung is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of smartphone displays and supplies companies like Apple and Google in addition to its own devices.
Samsung supplies technology for multiple manufacturers
The South Korean company develops its screens not only for its own smartphones but also sells them to other manufacturers. Especially with new technologies, major brands often compete to gain early access. With the M16 panel, Google might have a timing advantage this time. According to the Korean online magazine “ETNews,” which cites insiders, Apple is also relying on this display generation. However, new iPhones traditionally appear in September, while Google usually unveils its Pixel models in August.
This could mean that Pixel 11 users will see the new display earlier than others. Apple apparently plans to use the panel in the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone Fold. Samsung itself will not initially use the technology in its own devices. The upcoming Galaxy S26 is expected to still use the older M14 panel. A switch to M16 is anticipated at the earliest with the Galaxy S27, which is likely to be released in early 2027.
Also of interest: First images of the Pixel 11! Here’s what the new Google smartphone looks like
Specific features still unclear
What exactly the M16 display will offer in terms of innovations is currently unknown. However, there are speculations about possible applications. It is reported that Apple might place the Face ID sensor under the display for the first time with the iPhone 18 Pro. This could make the currently visible notch, known as Dynamic Island, smaller or eliminate it entirely. It is possible that the M16 panel provides the technical basis for this.
Since the Pixel 8, Google has predominantly used displays from Samsung but occasionally also uses panels from competitor BOE. Whether the Pixel 11 will indeed be the first smartphone with the new M16 display is not yet confirmed. It also remains open whether another manufacturer might bring a device with this technology to market even earlier.