Google celebrated its 28th birthday on September 27, marking nearly three decades since its debut as an academic search project. To commemorate the milestone, the tech giant unveiled a nostalgic doodle on its global homepage alongside a series of promotional deals, trade-in bonuses, and price reductions across the Google Pixel 11 hardware lineup and the new Pixel Watch 5.
The Journey from Stanford Dorms to Global Tech Leadership
The company was founded on September 27, 1998, by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were graduate students at Stanford University. The name Google originated from a misspelling of the mathematical term googol, which denotes the number one followed by one hundred zeroes. During that same founding year, Page and Brin published the very first Google Doodle, designed as a playful out-of-office message to inform users that the founders were attending the Burning Man festival.
Following immediate market traction, the enterprise expanded rapidly across several temporary locations before establishing its corporate headquarters in Mountain View in 2003. The firm launched its initial public offering in 2004, transforming into one of the largest media and technology enterprises in the world. Its product portfolio broadened substantially over the years, introducing Google News in 2002, Gmail in 2004, Google Maps and the philanthropic arm Google.org in 2005, Google Chrome in 2008, and the social networking platform Google+ in 2011, which was subsequently retired in April 2019. In 2015, Google completed a corporate restructuring to operate as the flagship subsidiary of holding company Alphabet Inc.
Nostalgic 3D Doodle Goes Live Worldwide
The commemorative 28th anniversary doodle pays tribute to the company's visual heritage with an early-era aesthetic. Rendered in a bold 3D extrusion, the logo showcases blocky, inflated lettering in classic red, green, blue, and yellow hues accompanied by underlying red and black shading. The celebratory doodle appeared across numerous countries, including India, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Finland, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, and Japan.
Pixel 11 Specifications and Birthday Discounts
As part of the birthday campaign running from September 25 to September 30, 2026, Google has rolled out targeted discounts on the Google Store. The standard Google Pixel 11 is powered by the Google Tensor G6 processor, an enhanced 48 MP primary camera, and a battery engineered to deliver over 30 hours of runtime. The device is sold in four distinct finishes: Frost, Hibiscus, Pistachio, and Obsidian.
- Instant Cashback: Buyers using eligible credit cards receive an instant cashback of Rs 7,000 on the Pixel 11.
- Trade-In Value: Customers exchanging an eligible older smartphone can secure an exchange bonus of up to Rs 9,000.
- Bundle Benefit: Purchasing the Pixel 11 provides a Rs 2,000 discount toward the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL Offers
The flagship Pixel 11 Pro features the Google Tensor G6 chipset, up to 16 GB of RAM, and a 6.3-inch (161 mm) Super Actua screen capable of reaching 3,600 nits of peak brightness. It incorporates 120x Pro Zoom optics along with Instant Night Sight for enhanced low-light photography, available in Canyon, Olive, Fog, and Matte Obsidian. The larger Pixel 11 Pro XL carries identical color variants and performance specifications alongside an expanded 6.8-inch (171 mm) Super Actua panel and over 30 hours of battery longevity.
- Monthly EMI Options: Financing plans start from Rs 9,166.58 per month for the Pixel 11 Pro and Rs 10,416.58 per month for the Pixel 11 Pro XL.
- Credit Card Rebates: An instant cashback of Rs 10,000 is offered on the Pixel 11 Pro XL through eligible bank cards.
- Device Exchange: Trade-in programs provide up to Rs 9,000 in exchange bonus on eligible devices.
- Wearable Pairing: Buyers of the Pixel 11 Pro XL receive a Rs 2,000 markdown on a companion Pixel Watch.
Foldable Hardware and Pixel Watch 5 Highlights
Expanding the premium portfolio, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold combines heavy-duty processing with a streamlined foldable structure centered around an 8-inch Super Actua Flex inner display. It includes an upgraded 48 MP primary sensor, 30x Super Zoom capabilities, and is offered exclusively in the Olive finish on the Indian Google Store. Promotional terms feature a Rs 10,000 instant credit card cashback, up to Rs 9,000 exchange bonus, and a Rs 2,000 discount on the Pixel Watch 5.
The companion Google Pixel Watch 5 comes in 41 mm and 45 mm case sizes in Olive, Canyon, Fog, and Obsidian colorways. Engineered with Gemini Intelligence, the smartwatch provides personalized wellness insights alongside Google Health tracking tools, an Actua 360 domed glass screen, fast charging, and advanced GPS tracking. Qualified new and returning subscribers also receive three complimentary months of Google Health Premium, with an additional Rs 2,000 bundle discount when purchased alongside the Pixel 11 Pro, Pro XL, or Pro Fold.
