The Pixel 9 may have just made its debut, but it's already time to turn our attention to the Pixel 10 and what Google has in store for its next flagship, set to arrive in 2025. While we won't see a new flagship for at least six months, various leaks and rumors are giving us a glimpse into what we can expect from this highly anticipated device.

Unveiling the Future of Google's Flagship

Google Pixel 10: Rumored Release Date and Price

Typically, Google releases its new phones in October. However, the Pixel 9 series arrived in late August, two months ahead of schedule. This raises questions about the Pixel 10's launch window. It's possible that Google will revert to the October launch, but with Android 16 set to come out in the spring, it seems likely that the new Pixels might arrive earlier again. As for the price, the Pixel 9 saw a second price hike, costing the same as the iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S24. The Pixel 9 Pro remained at $999, but with its smaller size compared to previous Pro Pixels and the extra cost of the large screen Pixel 9 Pro XL, it could be considered a stealth price hike. Here's hoping Google keeps the prices reasonable and doesn't demand too much from its customers.

Google Pixel 10: Design and Display

Currently, we don't know much about the Pixel 10's design. An alleged case leak suggests that it may not deviate much from the Pixel 9. The case has the same extended oval-shaped camera bar and rounded corners that distinguish the Pixel 9 series from the Pixel 8. If the design remains similar, we can expect the same 6.3-inch display on the standard and Pro models, along with a larger 6.8-inch XL model. The similar designs should also translate to a similar-looking camera bump with either two or three lenses, depending on the model. However, a Pixel 9a leak shows an unannounced midrange device with a more compact horizontal camera array. This could signal a change for the flagships or indicate that Google is looking to differentiate the looks of its midrange and flagship devices. Display rumors are yet to surface, but there's a possibility of upgrades to the Actua and Super Actua displays, such as a true 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate on the standard model and even brighter displays on all three models.

Google Pixel 10: Cameras

There are no specific rumors about the Pixel 10's camera hardware yet. Given the excellent camera quality of the Pixel 9, it's difficult to predict how things will change. We could see Google increase the resolution on the main camera from 50MP to 64MP. There's also a good chance of an upgraded sensor that can capture more light, which would be a significant benefit for low-light photography. It would be nice to see the Pixel 10's front-facing camera get a resolution boost to match the 42MP shooter on the Pixel 9 Pro.

Google Pixel 10: Performance

The Pixel 10 is set to shine in terms of performance compared to previous models, thanks to the Tensor G5 chipset. Reports suggest that this is the first chip Google has made entirely from scratch, giving them total control over the chip and its processes. This is an opportunity to make Tensor the Android equivalent of Apple's A series. Since Google develops both Pixel hardware and Android software, they can better optimize the two to work together, potentially resulting in a significant performance advantage. The Tensor G5 is also built using TSMC's 3nm process, like Apple's A18 chips and the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The smaller 3nm chips offer better performance and power efficiency, which has been an area where Tensor chips have struggled in the past. Other changes include a faster GPU with accelerated graphics from Imagination Technologies and an improved TPU that is 14% faster and has 40% more Trillions of Operations per second. Whether these improvements will make the Pixel 10 a performance powerhouse remains to be seen, but if Google leverages the chip for camera and AI features as well, the phone should see a big leap forward.

Google Pixel 10: Battery and Charging

There are no rumors about the Pixel 10's battery life yet, but we have high expectations. Given the significant improvement in battery life with the Pixel 9 series, we expect Google to continue pushing future Pixels to have long-lasting batteries, especially with the added power efficiency of the Tensor G5. We also hope to see meaningful advances in charging speed. Currently, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has the fastest charging among the current generation, topping out at 37W wired charging. Considering Google just started selling a 45W charging brick, we'd like to see all three Pixel 10 phones get closer to that figure. Faster wireless charging would also be welcome, courtesy of a 3rd generation Pixel Stand. Since Google discontinued the 2nd generation wireless charger after the Pixel 9 launch, it's currently difficult for Pixel owners to achieve maximum wireless charging speeds. A third generation Pixel Stand could fix this and make some much-needed improvements, ideally with Qi2 wireless charging and a MagSafe-style magnetic ring, and wireless charging speeds that top 30W.

Google Pixel 10: Software and Features

One thing we know for sure is that the Pixel 10 will arrive running Android 16, avoiding the repeat of the Pixel 9's Android 15-free launch. This is due to Google accelerating the timeline for the new software update, which will arrive in spring 2025 instead of later summer or early fall. A new version of Android and a new Tensor chipset also open up the possibility for many unique and exclusive software features. Recent reports indicate that this may include easier post-video editing powered by AI and a feature called "Speak-to-Tweak", which allows you to speak to the phone and tell it what edits you want using LLMs instead of tapping through menus. The Pixel 10 may also feature its own version of Galaxy AI's Sketch-to-Image, an unknown feature called Magic Mirror, and the ability to film 4k 60fps video with HDR. There's word that the G5 will be able to run Stable Diffusion-based models locally, speeding up AI image generation and reducing reliance on cloud servers.

Google Pixel 10: Outlook

There's still a lot we don't know about the Google Pixel 10, and it's difficult to get a clear picture of what this phone will actually be like. Google needs to maintain the strengths of the Pixel 9 and find ways to improve in areas that matter to users. Thankfully, the reports about the Tensor G5 and incoming AI features are positive, suggesting that the Pixel 10 will be a significant upgrade over its predecessors. At the very least, it should offer notable AI and performance advances. Until we know more, we'll remain cautiously optimistic about the phone's prospects.