When it comes to the best Android phones, a significant number of people swear by the Google Pixel series. Google's phones may not be the fastest, as company’s own Tensor chipset lags well behind the leading Qualcomm silicon that powers other Android contenders. But what the Pixels lose in speed, they make up for in camera performance, AI capabilities and a clean version of Google’s own Android operating system that’s always the first in line for upgrades.
As 2025 draws to a close, let's turn to what Google could have up its figurative sleeve in 2026. At a minimum, we expect no fewer than five new handsets, ranging from the budget Pixel 10a to the tablet/phone hybrid Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
Pixels in 2026: ETAs
The first phone out of the gate is likely to be the Pixel 10a, which is likely to arrive in the spring, given the Pixel 9a was released on April 10 this year. Before that, the Pixel 8a launched in May 2024.
All four anticipated Pixel 11 flagships are likely to stick together, arriving later in the year. The Pixel 10 series emerged on August 28, though the Pixel 10 Pro Fold didn't go on sale until October. We’d expect a similar release schedule for the 2026 installments, as Google seems focused on getting a jump on the iPhone's usual September launch window.
Google Pixel 10a
Google’s Pixel A series has long been one of the best cheap phones you can buy, with the Pixel 9a currently topping our list.
You would expect the upcoming Pixel 10a, due in the spring, to topple it, but it may not be that simple. That’s mainly because leaked specs indicate the new version will be practically the same as the current model.
On X, the ever reliable Evan Blass posted certification of the Pixel 10a for the Verizon network. The screenshot suggests the 10a will have a 6.285-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, a 48MP rear camera with an f/1.7 aperture, an ultrawide 13MP lens with an f/2.2 aperture, 128GB of internal storage, 8GB RAM and a 5,100mAh battery. Every one of these specs is also present on the Pixel 9a.
We’ve previously heard that Google may be sticking with the Tensor G4 chip for the Pxel 10a, rather than turn to the Tensor G5 introduced on the rest of the Pixel 10 series. Past A series phones from Google have used the chipset introduced with the company's flagships the previous fall.
Still, a G4-powered Pixel 10a could still be considered an upgrade, as the Pixel 9a used an older Exynos modem than the one found in the Pixel 9. Admittedly, though, that would be a pretty minor consolation.
The Pixel 10a even looks very similar to its predecessor, if leaked CAD designs prove to be accurate.
All of these rumored changes could be off-base, of course, or Google might have other reasons to upgrade to its midrange model such as the introduction of Pixelsnap, or some bold new color options. All the same, at the time of writing, you may be best off just opting for a discounted Pixel 9a unless the Pixel 10a shakes things up a little more than expected.
Google Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL
According to internal sources, there will be three non-folding versions of the Pixel 11, just as there was with the Pixel 10 series. These all have cute, bear-related codenames: the standard Pixel 11 is “cubs”, the Pixel 11 Pro is “grizzly”, and the larger Pro XL is “kodiak”.
While the Pixel A series may be standing still, its flagship counterparts could be getting a substantial upgrade. The Tensor chipset, which has often felt a touch underwhelming compared to rivals from Apple, Qualcomm, Samsung and Mediatek, could finally become competitive, with a reported 2nm production process planned for the Tensor G6.
Beyond that, leaks about the mid-range 2026 Pixel have been thin on the ground, which you'd expect since we're many months away from the likely launch date as of now. We have heard, however, that we may see the addition of an under-display infrared camera to bring back a more secure form of face unlocking last seen in the Pixel 4.
We should also be in line for big AI upgrades, with a 2024 leak from Google’s gChips division pointing at great things in the camera department. The report mentions improved Cinematic Blur with support for 4K 30fps video, as well as Ultra Low Light Video. The latter already exists, but leverages cloud processing, with Google set to make it on device with the Pixel 11.
Finally, the Nano-TPU of the Tensor G6 will apparently add machine-learning based always-on features for the Pixel 11, primarily concerned with health tracking. Think: “agonal breathing, cough, snore, sneeze, and sleep apnea, fall detection, gait analysis, and sleep stages monitoring.”
What the key differences between regular and Pro models will be remain to be seen, but the Pixel 10 series delivered a sharper screen, 4GB more RAM, and superior photography performance to the Pro devices. The 48MP telephoto lens on the Pixel 10 Pro phones also offered better zoom imagery than the 10.8MP lens introduced to the regular model for the first time. In addition, the XL version now supports faster charging than the more compact Pixel Pro.
Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Finally, there’s the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which should appear alongside the other Pixel 11 phones later in the year, even if Google winds up staggering its release as it did for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
Given foldables remain a niche part of the market, fans might have been worried that Google would mirror OnePlus and push back a follow up to its foldable, but a refreshed version appears in the list of bear-related codenames, under the moniker of “yogi”.
Sadly, that’s about all we have at the moment, though the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is sure to feature the same Tensor G6 upgrade as the rest of the family, along with the aforementioned AI improvements that come with it.
Along with the usual design refinements that make foldables more pocketable year on year, what we really want from the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is an improved camera array. While the Pixel 10 Pro handsets had 48MP ultrawide and telephoto lenses, the far more expensive Pixel 10 Pro Fold was stuck with 10.5MP for the former and 10.5MP for the latter. We’re hoping that Google puts this discrepancy right in 2026.
Google Pixels in 2026: Outlook
As mentioned earlier, in recent years, Google’s Pixel phones have proven tough to beat at all price levels, though 2026 looks a little trickier. The phone we know the most about — the Pixel 10a — barely seems to be an upgrade on the (very good) model that’s currently available.
The good news is that the other four phones are some way away and, as such, only have tentative details, with plenty of gaps to fill. And, importantly, the one nailed down upgrade is on every Pixel fan’s wishlist: a faster processor. If the Tensor G6 closes the gap on rivals from Qualcomm and Apple, Google’s Pixel series could go from strength to strength in 2026.
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