5 Pixel 10 rumors that have me ready to pull out my wallet on day one

Summary

Google is set to unveil its next-generation Pixel 10 series of smartphones on August 20.
Rumors have been swirling for months as to what the Pixel 10 line will bring to the table.
Here are five rumors that have me particularly excited about the soon-to-be-released Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, and 10 Pro Fold.

Google has officially sent out invitations to an August 20 keynote in New York City, where the company is expected to unveil its next-generation Pixel 10 smartphone lineup. In particular, we’re expecting the launch of the Pixel 10, the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the book-style foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The Pixel Watch 4 is also on the release radar, though fewer details are known about this all-new smartwatch at this time.

As always, Pixel 10 series leaks and rumors have been swirling for months, and we have a pretty good idea of what’s to come when these Android phones finally hit the keynote stage in a few short weeks. While exact device specifications are unconfirmed, Google has gone as far as to tease the physical design of the Pixel 10 itself, perhaps acknowledging that fighting against hardware leaks in this day and age is a losing battle.

Here are five Pixel 10 series rumors that have me excited about Google’s next-generation Android handsets, which are shaping up to be solid refinements over the company’s existing Pixel 9 lineup.

I added MagSafe to my Pixel, and now I’m never going back

I decided to adhere a third-party MagSafe ring to my Google Pixel 9 Pro, and I never want to revert back to a pre-magnetic phone lifestyle ever again.

5

A magnetic embrace of Qi2 technology

Could this be the beginning of a new Pixelsnap accessory ecosystem?

Since the release of the Qi2 wireless chargingspecification back in 2023, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the day Android smartphones begin to embrace MagSafe-style magnetic inductive charging. To my surprise, hardware makers like Samsung and OnePlus have yet to implement the tech directly into their latest flagship devices, instead opting to magnify their first-party cases.

It appears Google might finally be ready to embrace the magnetic life across its Pixel 10 series of devices, which could spearhead support for Qi2 across the broader Android hardware ecosystem. Google had a hand in creating the recently-released Qi2 25W (version 2.2) specification, and rumors point towards slightly thicker and heavier Pixel 10 chassis across the board this time around. Put together, these factors paint an exciting picture for the prospect of built-in Qi2 magnets.

Rumors of a first-party ‘Pixelsnap’ ecosystem of Qi2 accessories have also been swirling as of late, which could potentially serve as analogous to Apple’s popular MagSafe line. If this pans out (and I hope it does then we might be about to witness a boom in cross-device wireless charging compatibility across both the Apple and Google spheres of the smartphone industry.

If this Pixel 10 camera leak is true, I might be sold

Taking macro shots might be easier than ever on the Pixel 10 series.

4

A telephoto zoom lens across all models

The base-level Pixel 10 is rumored to be getting the triple-rear-camera treatment

Rumors, leaked images, and CAD files all point towards a major optical upgrade for this year’s base-level Pixel 10. For the first time ever, the non-Pro Pixel model is set to arrive on the scene with a triple rear camera array, with a dedicated telephoto zoom lens sitting alongside the existing main wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses. Physically speaking, it looks like this new sensor will result in a larger camera bar protrusion, bringing the Pixel 10 closer in line with the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL.

The addition of a telephoto lens on the base Pixel 10 Pro is an exciting prospect — I’ve long felt that flagship-level smartphones ought to ship with the optical trifecta of wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto focal points as standard. For context, Samsung has been doing precisely this for several generations now, while Apple continues to reserve telephoto photography for its Pro line of iPhones.

On the other hand, the addition of a telephoto lens on the Pixel 10 might come with an unexpected catch. Leaks suggest that in exchange for the additional zoom sensor, the primary and ultra-wide camera might be downgraded when compared to last year’s base Pixel 9 (via Android Authority). More specifically, the Pixel 10 may ship with a similar sensor setup to the one found on the mid-range Pixel 9a, complete with the Sony IMX712 as opposed to the newer IMX 858. This move wouldn’t surprise me, as it would provide Google additional leverage when comparing the Pro and non-Pro Pixel 10 models side-by-side.

Google Pixel 10 renders Android Headlines

New Pixel 10 renders showcase triple camera array, striking color tones

A new set of exclusive Pixel 10 renders have been published by Android Headlines, corroborating previous reports of a triple camera and new colors.

3

Some vibrant new colorways

The Pixel 10 series might pop with personality

Pixel 10 leaked CAD render — Onleaks + Android Headlines / Pocket-lint

I’m a big fan of colorful smartphones, and, this year, Google appears to be as well. The standard Pixel 10 is rumored to be arriving in obsidian (black), indigo (dark blue), frost (light blue), and limoncello (yellow). The indigo colorway is of particular note, as it closely resembles the really blue color of the first-generation Pixel from 2016.

While the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s colors are less clear at the moment, Google has officially teased an all-new hue for its Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL handsets on its digital storefront. Rumored to be called moonstone, this colorway is an attractive blend of silver and subtle blue, and it’s precisely the variant that has caught my eye the most.

More recently, new leaked promotional images from Evan Blass on X showcase not only the 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL in moonstone, but also matching Pixel Buds and a Pixel Watch. In all likelihood, we’re probably looking at the next-generation Pixel Watch 4 and the existing Pixel Buds Pro 2 in a new colortone, but nothing is certain quite yet. I’m all for matching tech, and moonstone is shaping up to be an attractive aesthetic that I’d be happy to rock on the daily.

Image showing the home screen of the Google Pixel 9 Pro

If the Pixel 10 has these 4 features, I’m buying it day one

The launch of the Pixel 10 series is fast approaching, and these features would easily convince me to pick one up launch day.

2

A TSMC-tastic system on a chip

The Tensor G5 is rumored to be a major upgrade over last year’s G4

Google Tensor chip package redrawn — Mliu92 (Wikimedia Commons) / Pocket-lint

Google has been designing its own chipsets for some time now, starting with the original Tensor processor in the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Over time, the Tensor line has evolved, but it continues to underperform when compared to the likes of high-end Qualcomm and Apple system on a chip (SoC) designs. With the Pixel 10 line, rumor has it that the upcoming Tensor G5 processor will pack some serious computation grunt, perhaps nearing parity with its competitors.

Most rumors are pointing to the Taiwanese Semiconductor Company (TSMC) as the manufacturer of the Tensor G5, which is likely to be built using the company’s advanced 3-nanometer fabrication process. This would mark the end of Google’s years-long reliance on Samsung Foundry for Tensor chip production, while providing a considerable performance bump worthy of a high-end Android smartphone going into 2026.

Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 desktop mode header

I tested out Android’s new desktop mode, and now I can’t wait for a Pixel PC

Your next laptop might run Android — here’s how I previewed Google’s new-and-improved desktop mode using nothing but my Pixel 9 Pro.

1

Desktop mode on day one

The Pixel 10 series is likely to ship with Android 16 QPR1 out of the box

Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 desktop mode screenshot 2

I recently tested out Google’s new desktop mode for Android, which the company is currently beta testing within Android 16’s Quarterly Platform Release (QPR) 1. A rudimentary desktop experience is already available on the Pixel 9 series, which supports display out via USB Type-C, but Google has come out on record stating its plans to transform Android into a Chrome OS-caliber desktop operating system in the future.

Android 16 QPR1 itself has been in testing for several weeks, and I expect it to ship alongside the Pixel 10 series right out of the box. In my experience, this desktop mode is relatively stable and performant, albeit missing some important features that are available in alternatives like Samsung DeX. In any case, the one-two punch of a more powerful Tensor G5 processor and day-one support of external monitor support is incredibly compelling, and it makes the Pixel 10 line more computer-like than any previous generation Google handset.