The center of August was Pixel 9 season this 12 months, however together with that launch got here a number of notable troubles. The Tensor G4 processor inside is not any quicker than earlier Tensor processors in day by day efficiency — particularly when enjoying video games on the Pixel 9 — the show nonetheless makes use of an abysmally low PWM price, a few of Google’s AI options have been known as ethically questionable, Google as soon as once more raised the worth of its newest telephones by $100, and the quantity of space for storing is pitiful for the worth.
All of that left a few of us feeling disenchanted. So possibly you ought to wait to purchase a Pixel 10, as an alternative. We’re looking at what we already know in regards to the Pixel 10, together with the brand new Tensor G5 processor, and placing every little thing collectively so you can also make the best-informed resolution together with your hard-earned {dollars} this 12 months.
The oft-leaked Google Pixel 9 was one of many {industry}’s worst-kept secrets and techniques. That is not notably shocking given Google’s free observe file with leaks, and this 12 months we noticed prototypes and circumstances within the wild a lot sooner than ordinary. The variety of Pixel 10 leaks continues to be pretty low however, provided that the discharge is not doubtless till Summer time 2025, we’ve got loads of time to take a position primarily based on a number of recognized components.
Google Pixel 10: Worth and launch date
Google’s present Pixel lineup is a bit convoluted. The Pixel 9 sequence debuted in 4 totally different sizes for the primary time ever, and we’re nonetheless anticipating the Pixel 9a to make a debut at a decreased value someday in Spring 2025. That leaves a giant query mark on what Google will do for the Pixel 10.
Our ideas are that Google must drop the “Professional” moniker and simply stick to one most important line of telephones with a secondary line of extra inexpensive Pixel A-series telephones. For the Pixel 10 sequence, that may imply one thing like this:
- Pixel 10a
- Pixel 10
- Pixel 10 XL
- Pixel 10 Fold
The Pixel 9 launched the primary smaller Professional-level mannequin, so we do not count on Google to return on that concept. The smaller Pixel 9 is confusingly lacking options that the “Professional” fashions have, and we expect it might make extra sense for an A-series mannequin to be the one lacking options, if Google goes to proceed doing that.
As for the Pixel 10 launch date, we count on that Google will doubtless launch the Pixel 10 close to the tip of Summer time 2025. Google launched the Pixel 9 simply 10 months after it debuted the Pixel 8, making it the shortest time between releases we have seen but. There is no purpose to count on Google to do that once more, however which may depend upon gross sales of its newest flagships.
Google Pixel 10: Design and shows
The Pixel 9 launched essentially the most radical change to Pixel cellphone design because the Pixel 6, however that does not imply Google will persist with this radical new design language with the Pixel 10. One Pixel 9a leak means that the corporate is already contemplating a distinct course for the long run, and the corporate’s head designer even mentioned the Pixel 9’s particular digicam bar design won’t stick round ceaselessly.
The Pixel 9’s flatter design has acquired combined critiques, one thing the Pixel 6-8 did not actually see. Whereas Google ramped up construct high quality with this launch, the shiny, flat aspect rails not solely make it look an terrible lot like an iPhone, however additionally they make the cellphone more durable and fewer comfy to carry than extra ergonomic designs just like the Pixel 8a.
Google has modified up the design language on Pixels lots over time. Pixels one by six all look utterly totally different, and it wasn’t till the Pixel 6 that the corporate appears to have selected the digicam visor because the factor that makes a Pixel primarily seem like a Pixel. There is no assure of a radical change once more subsequent 12 months however there’s lots of historical past behind the corporate doing that, so it would not be a shock.
Not everybody likes the brand new design, however Google has been recognized for radically altering the Pixel design language over time.
The Pixel 9 debuted a brighter AMOLED show than ever, topping out at 3,000 nits. The corporate additionally upgraded the show with a new moist contact function that makes it potential to make use of the display screen even with moist arms, just like how the OnePlus 12 works.
However whereas Google may need one of many brightest cellphone shows on the planet, the corporate has utterly ignored {industry} tendencies to make shows extra eye-friendly.
Particularly, the corporate nonetheless makes use of the bottom PWM dimming frequency within the {industry}. At 240Hz, Google’s shows flicker at half the speed of the Samsung Galaxy S24 sequence and the most recent iPhones. Moreover, telephones just like the OnePlus 12 solely change to PWM dimming at low brightness and, even after they do, use a considerably increased 2160Hz price.
We all know Google can push this price a lot increased primarily based on our personal testing and the truth that most different smartphone producers already do it.
Google Pixel 10: Cameras
There’s little probability we’ll see something radical change with the cameras within the Pixel 10 sequence particularly provided that Google continues to push the envelope for AI-centric options. The corporate’s personal head of design mentioned that the present digicam bar design is especially used to deal with bigger digicam sensors however that the corporate needs to shrink that going ahead as AI replaces the necessity for extra superior bodily {hardware}.
With tips like Zoom Improve, Google can proceed to shrink the quantity and measurement of digicam sensors on the again with little to no distinction in the long run. It is not going we’ll see this form of change occur with the Professional sequence of telephones — which we count on to proceed to make use of a triple digicam system on the again — however the extra budget-minded Pixel telephones may see a change within the digicam bump measurement and form to additional differentiate Professional fashions.
We have additionally seen an uptick within the variety of AI-powered software program options straight associated to the digicam. The Pixel 9 launched improved Night time Sight Video, Night time Sight Panoramas, enhanced Video Enhance for higher video high quality, and new AI tips like Add Me, Reimagine, and others. Little question, Google is cooking up loads of new methods to include AI into its cameras to ship the wow issue we count on from the corporate.
Google Pixel 10: Software program
The Google Pixel 9 sequence surprisingly launched with Android 14, the identical model of Android the Pixel 8 debuted with. That is largely as a result of Google launched the Pixel 9 simply 10 months after the Pixel 9, giving the Android staff lower than a full 12 months to churn out a brand new model of Android.
A delayed Android model complicates Google’s software program promise, which is meant to ship seven years of Android and safety updates for Pixel telephones. Due to the discharge window, the Pixel 9 will see assist finish with the identical Android model because the Pixel 8 — that is Android 21 — however will see ten further safety updates over that older cellphone.
The Pixel 10 will launch with at the least Android 15 and will even see a launch alongside Android 16 relying on when Google needs to debut its subsequent era of telephones.
Google Pixel 10: Specs and efficiency
This is the place we count on the Pixel 10 to ship the most important enchancment but. Google has lengthy targeted on the AI processing capabilities of its Tensor processors. The Tensor G4 within the Pixel 9 can course of AI 2.25x quicker than the main competitor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However day by day efficiency is a very totally different story.
In my Pixel 9 Professional evaluate, I famous that the gaming efficiency for the Pixel 9 Professional sequence was worse than the Pixel 8 Professional. The silver lining is that the Pixel 9 does not get as scorching because the Pixel 8 does. Google prioritized effectivity with the Pixel 9 however the Tensor G4 continues to be primarily based on the extraordinarily inefficient Exynos line, which has hassle competing with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in lots of conditions, a 2021 chipset.
Fortunately, every little thing we all know in regards to the Tensor G5 thus far tells us that it must be a monumentally higher chipset in each method. Google has allegedly completed its design and despatched it alongside for manufacturing at TSMC, ending the period of Samsung-produced designs.
The Tensor G5 is claimed to be Google’s first absolutely in-house developed chip, manufactured by TSMC as an alternative of Samsung.
TSMC tends to fabricate higher chipsets than Samsung. For reference, Qualcomm used Samsung to supply the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, a processor that was notorious for overheating and heavy throttling. They then switched to TSMC midway by the 12 months for the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, a processor that is largely the identical design however, due to TSMC’s superior tech, was in a position to considerably outpace the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in each benchmark. It additionally stays far cooler and is best on battery life.
That is all to say that we count on an identical factor to occur with the Tensor G5 in comparison with the Tensor G4. Not solely ought to it’s a much more environment friendly and cooler chipset due to TSMC’s manufacturing course of, however a brand-new chipset designed absolutely in-house by Google. It will mark the primary time Google does not use a reference design from Samsung’s Exynos line for the brand new chip, as nicely.
It may lastly flip the narrative that Tensor is a sluggish, inefficient processor, serving to Google additional pitch the Pixel as an excellent premium machine.
Google Pixel 10: Wishlist
Whereas we have already lined quite a lot of totally different modifications we count on — and hope — to see, however it’s typically simpler to see them multi functional record.
Higher processor
We’re already very certain that the Tensor G5 within the Pixel 10 goes to be lots higher than earlier Tensor processors, however there isn’t any assure till we’ve got one in our arms. Tensor is already the king of AI processing amongst smartphone processors, however we wish to see it thrive elsewhere, too.
Google appears to have put a band-aid on the warmth drawback with Tensor G4 by throttling the processor rapidly when it is doing lots, however we might wish to see the Tensor G5 push heavy workloads with out getting steamy within the first place. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 can be prone to heavy throttling when working heavy workloads however as a result of it is so a lot quicker than the Tensor G4 in regular duties, that throttling is not felt like it’s on Tensor.
For the reason that Tensor G5 is each in-house Google developed and manufactured by TSMC, there’s hope that these points shall be solved within the Pixel 10.
Extra eye-friendly show
Google has careworn that the Pixel’s shows have industry-leading brightness and shade accuracy, however the firm is reaching these metrics on the expense of your eye well being. In the meantime, corporations like OnePlus are additionally utilizing ultra-bright shows however managing brightness in a method that is much more pleasant to human eyeballs.
As brightness continues to extend, it is of paramount significance that Google additionally begins rising its PWM price. All Pixels have used 240Hz PWM dimming up to now — the lone exception is 360Hz on the Pixel 7a — whereas different corporations are pushing as much as 4320Hz on telephones just like the Honor 200.
There is no purpose Google cannot provide a brilliant, color-accurate show and a excessive PWM price. On the very least, Google wants to think about the truth that some people want the next PWM price with a purpose to use its telephones, once more, particularly as brightness continues to ramp up at exponential ranges.
Fingerprint sensor modifications
Google shifted to utilizing in-display fingerprint sensors with the Pixel 6, and the corporate had issues with reliability on each that era and the Pixel 7 after it. However final 12 months, the Pixel 8 sequence optical fingerprint sensor labored extremely nicely. Regardless of that, Google swapped out the optical sensor and changed it with an ultrasonic sensor on the Pixel 9 sequence.
Whereas ultrasonic fingerprint scanners work very nicely for some individuals, they’re problematic for others. I occur to be a kind of individuals who discover ultrasonic sensors to be unreliable and commented on it in my Pixel 9 Professional evaluate. Ultrasonic sensors are additionally very choosy about which display screen protectors you should use, that means you may by accident waste your cash if you aren’t getting the best one.
As an alternative of all this in-display nonsense, Google ought to change to a fingerprint sensor within the energy button. They already do it on the Pixel Fold line and it really works completely. The ability button — or “aspect key” as some corporations name it now — is the perfect place for a fingerprint sensor as it is easy to achieve and use irrespective of the way you’re holding the cellphone. It is also extra correct than any in-display possibility.
Design modifications
The Pixel 9’s design has brought on a good bit of controversy with its iPhone-like aspect rails, buttons, and different comparable design cues. It additionally does away with the “pleasant” curves Pixel telephones had been shifting towards for a much more sterile, industrial design. Whereas some get pleasure from this new look — as Android Central’s Managing Editor, Derrek Lee, famous in his Pixel 9 evaluate — I am not a fan.
At the least on the Professional fashions, I discover the Pixel 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL to be tougher to carry and not using a case. Google beforehand mentioned its designs at the moment are targeted towards people who use circumstances, so this is not a piece that everybody will agree with and even care about, however I would wish to see Google return to utilizing extra rounded aspect rails once more. Extra particularly, I would like to see matte rails like we had on the Pixel 6, which stays some of the comfy telephones Google has ever made.