Countdown clocks that appeared on the Google Store and Best Buy suggest that pre-orders for the Pixel 11 series could open several hours before Google’s Made by Google launch event on August 12, rather than after it as is typical for smartphone launches.

According to Android Authority, both retailers are displaying countdown timers that will reach zero at 10:00 a.m. ET on August 12. Google’s Made by Google 2026 keynote is scheduled for the same day at 6:00 p.m. ET in New York, leaving roughly an eight-hour gap between the apparent pre-order start and the event itself.

Smartphone makers usually open pre-orders immediately following a launch event, once pricing and specifications have been announced. The countdown clocks indicate Google may deviate from that pattern this year. 9to5Google noted that the Google Store homepage countdown points to 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. GMT, while Best Buy’s Pixel 11 landing page carries a similar timer.

Google did something comparable ahead of last year’s Pixel 10 launch, revealing product details roughly an hour before the event began. If the current countdowns are accurate, the gap between pre-orders and the keynote would be significantly wider this year.

Google officially announced the August 12 event on July 7, confirming it would take place in New York for a second consecutive year. The company is expected to unveil the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, alongside the Pixel Watch 5 and possibly new audio accessories.

Neither Google nor Best Buy has explicitly confirmed that the countdowns mark the exact pre-order start time, and it remains possible that the timers are counting down to a different milestone, such as the opening of a promotional page or the start of a teaser campaign. The timing, however, aligns closely with when pre-orders would logically begin.

Pixel 11 Pre-Orders May Open Hours Before Made by Google Event