Pixel 11 series quietly and exclusively adds one of the most useful new haptic features

TL;DR The Pixel 11 series debuts custom vibration features we first uncovered in APK teardowns. Pixel 11 users can choose from a range of vibration patterns for ringtones and notifications, including Heartbeat, Gears, Rattlesnake, Pulse, and more. The phones also let you assign a custom vibration to individual contacts, making it possible to tell who’s calling without looking at the screen.

Remember those custom vibration patterns we spotted hiding in Google’s apps last year? Turns out, they’re no longer just hidden in code. Google has quietly debuted them on the Pixel 11 series , giving users much more control over how their phone buzzes for calls and notifications.

We first revealed Google’s plans to let Pixel owners customize their vibration patterns in an APK teardown of the Google Sounds app. The unreleased version we examined showed that Google was working on separate vibration options for both ringtones and notifications, allowing users to mix and match their preferred sounds and haptics. Those features have now arrived on the Pixel 11 series.