Google’s next flagship phones could arrive with a notable display advantage.
According to a new report from ETnews, the Pixel 11 series is set to use Samsung’s latest M16 OLED panels. This could potentially make it the first smartphone line to feature the upgraded screen technology.
The panels are expected to bring improvements in brightness, colour accuracy and power efficiency, building on Samsung’s current M14 OLED displays used in today’s premium devices. That includes phones like the Pixel 10 Pro and even recent iPhone models. Therefore, the jump to M16 could represent a modest but meaningful upgrade.
Interestingly, timing may be everything here. Google has settled into an August launch window for its Pixel flagships. This could give the Pixel 11 a head start over Apple’s expected September iPhone release. If that schedule holds, the Pixel 11 could beat the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max to market with the same display tech.
There’s another twist. Samsung itself may not be first to use its own latest panels. Reports suggest its future Galaxy S27 lineup won’t arrive until 2027. This means rival brands could showcase the company’s newest display innovation before Samsung’s own flagship devices do.
That said, expectations should be kept in check. Modern OLED panels are already highly refined, and the real-world differences between M14 and M16 may be subtle for most users. The Pixel 10 series already offers excellent screens. As a result, any gains here are likely to focus on efficiency and peak performance rather than dramatic visual changes.
Still, if the report proves accurate, the Pixel 11 could quietly gain an edge in one of the most important areas of a smartphone. It could underline Google’s growing confidence in taking on bigger rivals with cutting-edge hardware.
