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📱 Google is announcing the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro on August 20
📐 The phones are rumored to come with familiar designs, upgraded cameras, and a new modem
📸 The regular Pixel 10 could come with a third rear camera
📷 Unlike the Pixel 9a, the Pixel 10 series will retain the camera bar
🤖 They’ll launch with Android 16 out of the box
👀 Here’s what you need to know about the next generation of Pixel phones
Google has a fresh slate of Pixel phones right around the corner.
The search giant’s smartphone division is hard at work creating the Pixel 10 series, which is rumored to consist of the Pixel 10, the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. We also expect the Pixel Watch 4 to make an appearance, but this guide will focus on all the latest Pixel 10 rumors we’ve seen.
It’s a bit ironic the amount of leaks there are given that these phones don’t seem very different compared to the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. While the specs will get an upgrade (and there could be an additional camera floating around), these looks are rumored to look and feel a lot like last year’s models. Fortunately, the internal upgrades seem to be promising, so there’s a chance these Pixels will do enough to stand on their own and make for solid competition against the upcoming iPhone 17 and previously released Galaxy S25.
Here’s what we know about the Pixel 10 series, according to the leaks.
📅 Late August and/or early September. Google has confirmed it will announce the Pixel 10 series on August 20 at an event in New York City. If it follows tradition, the new phones will likely go up for preorder the same day. As for a launch date, Google has been known to stagger them depending on when they’re all ready. If all four phones are ready to go, there’s a good chance the devices will drop on August 29, which is roughly the same amount of time the company typically waits to release products it announces. Otherwise, we could see some Pixels ship before August wraps up and some ship in early September, like last year when the Pixel 9 Pro was delayed to September 4.
💰 Potentially higher for Pro XL. The reports we’ve seen suggest the Pixel 10 could start at $799 like the Pixel 9, while the Pixel 10 Pro could be $999. As for the Pixel 10 Pro XL, Google is expected to drop the 128GB tier and "raise” the price to $1,199 for 256GB. It’s unclear if Google will eliminate the 128GB tier for other phones in the lineup, but we could see it happen with the regular 10 Pro to keep in line with the XL series.
📐 Exactly the same. Google shared an official image of the Pixel 10 Pro, and it’ll give you an incredibly strong case of déjà vu. The entire Pixel 10 series looks identical to the Pixel 9, all the way down to the dimensions which are a mere 0.1mm off. Luckily, that means any Pixel 9 cases you might have will fit the Pixel 10, but for anyone who wanted to see a new design from Google this year, you’re getting the exact opposite.
📷 Keeping the camera bar around. The Pixel 10 lineup will retain the big camera bar on the back, which is only notable because not every Pixel releasing this year will have one. We’ve seen a ton of Pixel 9a leaks recently, and none of them include a phone with a camera bar. Instead, Google has reportedly integrated the camera hardware into the rest of the phone, smoothing out the housing and not requiring a big bump on the back. The Pixel 10 won’t be taking the same route at all, retaining a lot of the character Pixel phones are known for.
🎨 Fresh new colors. The Pixel 10 series will also introduce a few new colors for 2025. The regular Pixel 10 is expected to come in Obsidian, Indigo, Frost, and Limoncello. Meanwhile, the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL will be offered in Obsidian Porcelain, Moonstone, and Jade. The finishes look pretty snazzy in the leaked renders we’ve seen, so we’re curious to see how they’ll fair once we go hands-on with them. Stay tuned.
👾 A big Tensor upgrade. The Pixel 10 series will reportedly ship with Google’s upcoming Tensor G5 processor, and it could be a big upgrade compared to the G4. Leaks indicate the chip will be produced by TSMC, which is a good sign since the existing Tensor chip is produced by Samsung, who isn’t the best at making chips (looking at you, Exynos line). The Tensor G5 will be more similar to a Snapdragon chip than anything, and it’ll be built on a more efficient 3-nanometer process, allowing for faster performance without draining too much power.
🧲 Qi2 magnet support. The Pixel 10 series might come with an upgrade that many Android users have been asking for for years: proper Qi2 support. While most phones advertise Qi2 wireless charging speeds of 15-25W, none of them come with magnets built into the back; instead, they make you buy a case with magnets so you can use MagSafe chargers and accessories. According to a leaked image, Google will simply build the magnets into the back of every Pixel 10, no case required.
🛜 Finally, a new modem. Google was not only using Samsung to make Tensor chips for Pixel phones, but it was also using Samsung-produced modems for wireless connectivity. Those chips suck too, so to make up for it, the company is rumored to switch to the MediaTek T900 modem in the Pixel 10. This will offer more consistent 5G connections wherever you are and better handle how much power is used. It’s still a rumor, of course, but it’s one I hope is correct - the current Pixel modems suck.
🤖 Android 16 in the flesh. Last year, the Pixel 9 series launched so early that Google had to ship each device with Android 14 before updating them to Android 15. This year, the Pixel 10 will come with the latest version of Android right out of the box. Google is releasing Android 16 much earlier in 2025 than other versions of Android, dropping it in the summer instead of the fall. That means there will be plenty of time for the company to work on the software and optimize it for its new devices.
🦾 New AI tricks? Google is all-in on AI. Not only are we assuming the Pixel 10 will have some sort of new AI trick up its sleeve, but we’ve seen reports that suggest the device series will come with Google’s new “Pixel Sense” assistant, which will work across Google services and give you more contextual responses and information based on your own data. There are also rumors of new photo editing tools that could let you use your voice to edit. These features and more will reportedly be powered by a more powerful TPU.
📸 Three cameras on Pixel 10. According to virtually every leak we’ve seen, Google will be adding a third camera lens to the regular Pixel 10, giving it telephoto capabilities for improved zoom shots and portraits. The sensor will reportedly support up to 20x Super Res Zoom, which should look sharper than what you can get from the regular Pixel 9 thanks to the added telephoto capabilities.
🔭 Much further zoom for Pros. Leaked specs indicate that the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL could be capable of zooming in 100x using Super Res Zoom. This will put the phones on par with what Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra is capable of. Granted, we haven’t seem this rumor float around all that much over the past few months, as it’s only gained traction very recently. We’ll keep a close eye on it leading up to launch day.
🎥 8K 24FPS support. The Pixel 10 Pro is also reportedly getting a video upgrade. According to leaks, the device will support 8K video recording at 24 frames per second. The Pixel 9 Pro, for example, can only shoot at 30 frames per second.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on future Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro rumors leading up to August 20. Be sure to subscribe to The Shortcut so you don’t miss out.
Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.
