At this point, if Google has any surprises in store for the Pixel 10 smartphone lineup, that would be shocking. The entire series has been revealed in leaked renders, photos, and marketing materials.
Based solely on leaks, the phones could be a big leap for Google, with the standard model being a Pixel 10 Pro in all but name. That includes a new telephoto lens and potentially a more powerful processor.
With that in mind, here are the five upgrades that excite me and could persuade me to upgrade.
Upgraded Pixel 10 camera
Similar to Apple’s vanilla iPhone model, the entry-level model has stuck with dual cameras since its inception. However, the various leakers have claimed Google may add a telephoto 5x optical zoom lens alongside the main and ultrawide lenses.
Unfortunately, adding the 11MP telephoto lens may come at the expense of the other two. The ultrawide has reportedly dropped from 48MP to 12MP.
The main lens is taking a smaller decrease from 50MP to 48MP. AI software solutions could resolve some of those issues, so image quality shouldn’t suffer too much.
Still, having the option should make taking photos better, especially for subjects that require even a little bit of zoom to capture.
Video stabilization
Sticking with the cameras, Google is apparently bringing significant improvements to the Pixel 10’s video stabilization system. At least one rumor compared the system to the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 — likely the best smartphone gimbal we’ve tried so far this year.
No one wants shaky video, even in chaotic filming situations.
It’s not clear from the rumors if this is a hardware solution or a software-based one. As the meme says, “¿Por qué no los dos?”
Again, AI could be involved in smoothing out any shaky footage, and I’m sure it will have a role even with hardware or software upgrades.
Pixel Sense
Despite consistently upgrading its Gemini AI assistant, the Pixel 10 is rumored to get a new onboard assistant dubbed Pixel Sense. This assistant would take data from various Google Services to learn more about the phone owner and provide more personalized assistance.
Pixel Sense was supposed to debut on the Pixel 9 series as “Pixie,” though it ultimately failed to arrive.
Samsung offers a similar feature on Galaxy S25 phones with its Personal Data Engine. That feature tracks your behavior so that it can offer personalized recommendations in features like Now Brief.
It’s interesting because it could make the notifications you get worth your time, including predictive suggestions, or aid in completing tasks or routines on your phone. It is reportedly designed to adapt and evolve with you as it learns about your interests and habits.
Tensor G5
Compared to Apple and Samsung, Google has lagged with its in-house Tensor chips. The Pixel series performs well enough, but nothing like the Apple A-series and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 processors.
For starters, the Tensor G5 could be the first system-on-chip entirely designed by Google, and not as a former Samsung Exynos chip. There’s also word that it will be manufactured by TSMC using its 3nm processor. That should make the SoC far more powerful and energy-efficient compared to previous Tensor chips.
Google having more control over the chips means that it should integrate better in the Pixel 10. Better optimization would also mean that the Tensor G5 makes the Android OS smoother as well.
No Price hike
Perhaps price isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but prices have been increasing, making it hard to recommend even the best phones without some kind of deal.
However, Google could be doing our wallets a favor.
In the run-up to the August 20 announcement, some price leaks have teased good news. According to one rumor, the Pixel 10 will start at $799 for the 128GB storage version. That is exactly the same as the Pixel 9 at launch. Reportedly, it will also come with 6 months of Google’s AI Pro plan.
The other models, like the Pixel 10 Pro, will reportedly retain similar pricing as well, with the 128GB version starting at $999. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is allegedly going to stay at $1,799 for the 256GB storage variant. And finally, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is getting a slight bump to $1,199 since Google is dropping the 128GB version in favor of the 256GB variant as the base model.
Outlook
Apple and Samsung are the big dogs in the US smartphone market, but Google has been slowly catching up since it launched the original Pixel phone.
With a more powerful chip, different cameras, and a nicer price point, 2025 could see the Pixel phones take a big leap compared to previous years.
We'll know more on August 20 during the next Made By Google event where the Pixel 10 series will officially be revealed.
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