KDDI and Okinawa Cellular will launch Google’s Pixel 11 series on August 20, featuring advanced AI, foldable design, and satellite support, marking a significant push into connected hardware and ecosystem expansion amid competitive hardware costs.
KDDI and Okinawa Cellular said on August 13 that the Google Pixel 11 range will go on sale through au on August 20, with pre-orders opening the same day at 9 a.m. The line-up consists of the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and all four models are set to support au Starlink Direct, the carrier’s direct-to-satellite service. Reuters-style reporting on the launch has noted that Google’s broader Pixel refresh comes as the company pushes harder into phones, foldables and wearables at a time when hardware costs remain under pressure.
The standard Pixel 11 is positioned as the more accessible model, with Google’s Gemini Intelligence handling search, task support and idea generation, while also allowing a wider range of data to move wirelessly when changing devices. It also adds Magic Capture, which lets users record video and still images at the same time, with automatic editing for trimming and blur correction afterwards. The Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL carry the same Gemini software but rely on Google’s Tensor G6 chip, which Google says supports on-device artificial intelligence and 120x Super Resolution Zoom Pro.
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the most ambitious model in the range. KDDI said its camera bar is slimmer than before and the hinge has been refined for long-term use. It also introduces Bubble, a multitasking tool that can show several apps as floating bubbles on the main display, with support for up to five apps at once. Android Central reported in the days before launch that leaked images suggested Google had kept the basic design language familiar, while adding small but visible changes such as updated camera hardware and a new notification light concept on some units.
KDDI is also using the launch window to expand the wider Pixel ecosystem. The Google Pixel Watch 5 will be sold from August 20, with reservations starting at 9 a.m. on August 13, and for the first time au Online Shop will offer the Wi-Fi version as well as the 4G LTE model. The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 will arrive in a new Olive colour on the same date, and au will sell 31 accessories, including Pixel Snap-compatible cases designed to work with magnetic chargers and stands.
The carrier is pairing the launch with several promotions. Buyers of the Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL or Pixel 11 Pro Fold can get up to six months of Google AI Pro at effectively no cost if they sign up through au, and eligible users can later continue at an effective monthly cost of ¥1,980 through Ponta point rebates after the standard Google fee of ¥2,900. Separate offers include a ¥33,000 discount for customers upgrading to the Pixel 11 series under qualifying plans, plus Ponta points for advance lottery entry and for purchasing devices such as the Pixel Watch 5, Pixel Buds Pro 2 and selected Chromebooks.
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