Pixel 10 launch live – last-minute rumors ahead of today’s Made by Google event

Back to the Pixel 10, and we’ve already seen early benchmarks of the phones, but as Senior Editor Philip Berne points out, they don’t really matter.

“Pixel phones can do everything Google says they can do, unlike some faster phone makers. I’m still waiting for the promised AI features from Apple and Samsung, but I don’t remember Google overpromising Gemini’s ability to make career decisions for me (Siri) or turn out the lights when it detects I’m asleep (Bixby),” Berne said, pontificating on the benchmarks.

I should say I always rather liked the older Pixel phone design. I liked the simple, utilitarian look of them. But I do think the design language introduced with the Pixel 6 and then iterated on has been my favourite so far.

I do miss the innovation that Google used to bring to the Pixel phones, such as the radar sensor found in the Google Pixel 4, and the squeezable sides of the Pixel 3 series.

I also think the rear fingerprint scanner was also rather neat. But each to their own when it comes to smartphone preferences.

So the Pixel phones have evolved a lot since then, but I feel they always tried to put smart features front-and-center, which means their evolution into AI phones seemed logical.

I also reckon Pixel phones have consistently delivered on impressive cameras, although Samsung and Apple have certainly caught up and often surpassed Google.

Editor-at-Large, Lance Ulanoff, just pointed out a suite of things he recalls older Pixel phones sporting.

He detailed the rear fingerprint reader, how the Google Assistant was front and center to the Pixel experience, how good the cameras were, and how some people shrugged at the design.

Now over to my Phones Editor Axel Metz, who I’ve tapped up for what he’s looking forward to from Google today:

“It feels wrong to say that an accessory announcement is my most anticipated reveal at today’s Made by Google showcase, but the Pixel 10 series potentially getting its own MagSafe-style technology is a bigger deal than it sounds. We love Google phones for their clean software, but true Qi2 charging support would give Pixels rare hardware edge over Android competitors.”

So you might ask, what Pixel device am I most looking forwards to?

Even if you didn’t I’m still going to ponder that question. I tend to like the Pixel Pro phones, with the Pixel 9 Pro offering a neat blend of specs and AI smart all in a decently compact package. So the Pixel 10 Pro is sure to appeal to me.

But I’m also curious to see what Google does with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which will be the search giant’s third stab at a foldable phone. I hope AI is employed to make that extra screen space a lot more usable and helps make the folding phone a productivity powerhouse.

However, the Pixel Buds 2a could bring with them a price hike: where the Pixel Buds A came in at €99, the Buds 2a will supposedly be €149. That’s a hefty price increase and if it’s reflected in other markets would mean $149 / £149 / AU$195.

On the Pixel Buds 2a side, the rumors so far point towards an evolved design, more power, new features like head tracking, and better sound isolation.

In terms of hardware upgrades, they could offer the biggest leaps out of all the products Google is set to reveal today.

I expect boosts in the sensor and performance capabilities on the Pixel Watch 4 could make it a lot more appealing than its rumored design might tip.

The same can be said for the Google Pixel Watch 4 which looks a lot like its predecessors.

Not a bad thing in my opinion as I’ve always like the design of Google’s smartwatch, But I do hope its got snappier performance and a host of AI features to make it feel like an ‘AI smartwatch’.

One rumor did hint at the standard Google Pixel 10 going for a triple rear-camera system, adding a telephoto snapper into the mix. I’ve already written how I’d be a fan of that and how it could tackle the looming phone threat of the iPhone 17.

But I’m not really all that convince Google will do that, especially given the price leaks, which would suggest Google will still keep the telephoto camera for the Pro Pixels.

Don’t expect major hardware changes

As I’ve mentioned before, a lot of the rumors and claimed leaks so far have all pointed at the Pixel 10 lineup being a minor evolution on its predecessors, rather than bringing in any dramatic upgrades.

For me, that’s kinda fine, as the Pixel 9 phones are so good, I don’t think I’d appreciate Google messing with a winning formula quite yet.

In fact, I’ve already touted how I think the Pixel 10 needs to bring more AI stuff to the table to keep at the top of the AI phones pile.

To quote myself: “with the Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 landing with improved AI features, and Apple Intelligence starting to get up to speed and offer a solid suite of features on compatible iPhones, as well as some synchronicity with Macs, Google’s AI phone crown could be up for grabs.

“So I feel that for Google to keep ahead and continue to blaze a trail for practical, and hopefully safe, consumer use, it’ll need to bring more to the table with the Pixel 10.”

Some people might baulk at the idea of paying iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S25 Plus prices for phones with Tensor chips in them. But I feel AI performance, rather than raw silicon horsepower, will be the key to these Pixel phones.

The standard Pixel 10 seems to be missing from that price leak, but we expect it to come in around the same price as the Google Pixel 9.

And overall, those prices look reasonable for a flagship range of phones.

But there’s more too, with serial tipster Evan Blass seemingly leaking the pricing for all the Pixel devices we expect to see.

A big last-minute leak!

We’ve just got another last-minute Pixel 10 leak, with it pointing towards an eSIM only approach by Google for its new phones, and new AI features tipped.

And a promo clip has been shared too.

I’m not sure what secret Jimmy could be referring to… maybe it’ll be some new AI tool or assistant, or maybe something to do with mixed reality. So far there have been scant rumors on any big surprises from the Google event.

One thing that’s will be new, is the Made by Google event will be hosted by TV’s Jimmy Fallon, which is unusual for Google as it tends to use its own executives and marketing folks to spearhead the showcases.

Check out the teaser video below…

@jimmyfallon is officially hosting #MadeByGoogle and he wants to tell you all about it. – YouTube

Watch On

Going by a rather last-minute rumor, it looks like magnetic accessories will be a big part of the Pixel 10 lineup, with an Apple MagSafe-style system facilitating a magnetic charging stand for the phones.

I currently use a Pixel Stand from 2021 to charge my phones that support wireless charging, so an upgrade here would be much appreciated, especially if it enables a wider range of accessories ot be used with the new Pixel phones.

Expect to see four new Pixel phones today: the Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. This will be a refresh of the whole main Google Pixel phone lineup.

Don’t expect any drastic design changes, at least going by the rumors, but I do expect to see new Tensor chips, perhaps some improvements on the camera side such as new sensors, and a big injection of AI software upgrades.

If all the rumors I’ve seen so far prove to be true, then we could be looking at a big showcase for Google later on today, with new phones, a new Pixel Watch and new earbuds.

And I’ll buy a hat and eat it if Google doesn’t spend a good amount of time discussing what it’s been doing on the AI side for its Pixel devices.

Good morning. Managing Editor of Mobile Computing Roland Moore-Colyer here to take you through the run up to the Made by Google event.