I spotted something peculiar during Google’s ‘The Android Show I/O Edition 2026’ stream — a strange inconsistency on one of the phones being used to demo the new Android 17 creator tools. Is this just an odd editing choice, or has Google inadvertently given us a sneak peek at the Pixel 11 or Pixel 11 Pro?
The inconsistency occurs during the ‘Expression’ segment of the stream, on the Pixel device used by actress and founder of So Positive, Ananya Panday.
- 17:22: We get a clear look at the back of the phone. From the shape and layout of the camera bar, this appears to be the Pixel 10 Pro
- 17:40: We’re shown a picture on the phone screen, but the black space above the image means the front-facing camera isn’t easily visible (if it’s there at all)
- 17:50: We get a much clearer look at the screen, and there’s no front-facing camera cut-out
- 17:56: A cut back to the phone, though, and the selfie snapper is suddenly clearly visible, but we’re not done there…
- 18:13: The camera is still present for all to see, as Ananya demos the Screen Reactions feature
- 18:20: But after a quick cutaway to Ananya, we return to the phone, and the camera has mysteriously disappeared again
Check out this gallery of stills from each timestamp to see what I mean.
So, what’s going on?
However you look at the two main possibilities in play here, it’s a strange decision from Google.
The first scenario — and the most plausible if I’m being honest with myself — is that Google purposefully edited out the selfie camera in some scenes. Why? Perhaps to draw more attention to the tools being demoed on screen. But if that was the case, I’d expect it to be edited out of all scenes where the tools are being used.
The second scenario is more fantastical, but not completely beyond the realm of possibility: this could be our first look at the Pixel 11 series, and more specifically, the Pixel 11 Pro. If so, is this telling us the next Pixel handsets will pack under-display selfie cameras?
This is something I’ve been waiting for since I reported on the technology in 2019, and outside of some lacklustre commercially available devices boasting the technology, it’s lain pretty much dormant for the best part of a decade.
Mind you, some reports have suggested that Google could include a new infrared under-display camera in the Pixel 11 series to power an advanced, Face ID-like facial recognition system. Did Google just leak that very system?
Unfortunately, if that is the Pixel 11 Pro in Google’s video, the design hardware looks identical to that of the Pixel 10 Pro, which dampens my theory. I’d love for it to be true, but I might be a little too hopeful.
What do we know about the Pixel 11 series?
In short, very little. Google has not officially commented on anything to do with its next smartphone series, but that hasn’t stopped Pixel 11 rumors from starting to circulate online in recent months.
In addition to that aforementioned under-display camera rumor, we’ve seen a potential Pixel 11 case leak suggesting the camera bar could be larger, rumors of an illuminated rear light supposedly dubbed ‘Pixel Glow’, plus a claim that Google might have accidentally revealed a couple of wallpapers for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
Outside of these small snippets, there’s not been much else to go on as of yet, although we’d expect the next generation of Pixel devices to launch sometime in August this year (going by the arrival of the Pixel 9 and 10 series).
Hey @Google / @Android – why did you edit out the front-facing camera of the Pixel 10 Pro in some scenes of #TheAndroidShow, but not in others?Unless Ananya has an unreleased phone as well as unreleased Android features… 👀🤔📱 pic.twitter.com/rS3tDMePRTMay 13, 2026
I’ve put the question about this inconsistency to Google and Android, and I’ll let you know if I get an explanation. In the meantime, if you have any wild theories as to what’s gone on here, sound off in the comments.
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