Everything we all know up to now

Back in 2022, we published an unique have a look at Google’s Pixel roadmap thru 2025, as detailed by way of resources accustomed to Google’s plans. This integrated a couple of mentions of the Pixel 10, together with much more fashions, and the potential of a Z Flip competitor.

It’s onerous to mention if that unique roadmap nonetheless holds lately, although we will say lots of its predictions have been slightly correct. Since then, we’ve additionally heard a couple of different bits concerning the Pixel 10. In May, rumors heated up that Google would ditch Samsung and get started the usage of TSMC, beginning with the Tensor G5, which we later equipped additional proof of. We’ve since heard experiences that this chip has now entered manufacturing.

Perhaps the largest piece of early proof for the lifestyles of the Pixel 10 collection is an Android Headlines record on September 16 which published obvious codenames. The Pixel 10 is alleged to be referred to as “Frankel,” the Pixel 10 Pro is “Blazer,” the Pixel 10 Pro XL is “Mustang,” and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will it sounds as if be referred to as “Rango.”

More lately, SmartPrix has noticed the Pixel 10 gadgets within the GSMA database, entire with their type numbers. The Pixel 10 is indexed with type numbers “GLBW0” and “GL066,” whilst the Pixel 10 Pro sports activities “G4QUR” and “GN4F5.” The Pixel 10 Pro XL has the type quantity “GUL82,” and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is tagged with “GU0NP.”

• Google Pixel 9 — September 4, 2024
• Google Pixel 8 — October 12, 2023
• Google Pixel 7 — October 13, 2022

Looking on the Pixel’s historic unencumber home windows, the telephone is in most cases introduced in overdue September or early October. This modified with the Pixel 9, as the brand new collection was once introduced in overdue August and arrived on September 4. It’s conceivable this was once a one-time trade to convey the Fold collection into the mainline Pixel technique, however on the very least, we’re assured you’ll see the Pixel 10 collection someday in overdue summer time or early fall of 2025.

We’re nonetheless within the early days of the rumor mill, however there’s greater than sufficient knowledge to begin construction an image of what to anticipate. We’ll dive into the entire options and specifications we’ve heard of up to now.

Design

We were given our first render leaks of the Pixel 10 circle of relatives in the midst of March. AndroidHeadlines, in collaboration with tipster OnLeaks, shared CAD pictures of all 3 fashions. Based at the renders, it seems that Google will play it extraordinarily secure with regards to design. So secure, actually, that it looks as if the corporate made virtually no design adjustments in any respect.

Features

AI has lengthy been a focal point on Pixel telephones and that will likely be no other at the Pixel 10 collection. We’ll get into it slightly in a while, however the Tensor G5 can have an progressed TPU. Android Authority has reviewed paperwork from Google’s gChips department that say this improve will permit the Pixel 10 to have “Video Generative ML” options. The description for the function reads, “Post-capture Generative AI-based Intuitive Video Editing for the Photos app.” This is just a bet, however it appears like Google will let customers edit their movies extra simply by way of the usage of AI that in fact understands the video.

It turns out we will additionally be expecting a number of AI picture modifying options. One such function is known as “Speak-to-Tweak,” which appears to be an LLM-based modifying device. Another is known as “Sketch-to-Image,” which might help you comic strip one thing and feature AI flip it into a picture, very similar to Samsung’s Galaxy AI function. There’s additionally a function referred to as “Magic Mirror,” however we don’t have any knowledge on what it might be. Tensor G5 must additionally have the ability to run Stable Diffusion-based fashions in the community.

We don’t know what digicam lenses Google will use for the Pixel 10 collection but, however we do have some digicam main points. In the paperwork we checked out, we realized that Tensor G5 helps 4K 60fps HDR video, by contrast to earlier fashions that handiest supported 4K 30fps HDR video.

Google has necessarily used a changed model of Exynos to construct its Tensor collection prior to now, resulting in less-than-stellar efficiency. The Tensor G4 isn’t a foul chip, consistent with se, however it lacks uncooked energy and is predicated closely on throttling all over heavy quite a bit to stay telephone temperatures down. Although Snapdragon chips (produced by way of TSMC) additionally throttle to regulate warmth, their preliminary efficiency is powerful sufficient that those drops are much less noticeable. The excellent information is that a number of rumors, together with our personal unique record, recommend that Google is creating a transfer to TSMC subsequent 12 months.

Let’s get started off with the earliest rumor of the bunch, which surfaced in July 2023. A record claimed that plans to expand a completely customized Tensor chip was once not on time from 2024 to 2025 and that TSMC would produce this silicon on a 3nm procedure. In mid-May 2024, a leaker who is going by way of Revegnus on X (previously Twitter) corroborated this rumor in a now-deleted submit, announcing that Tensor chipsets from the Pixel 10 collection onwards will likely be manufactured by way of TSMC. They additionally asserted that the Tensor G5 will use TSMC’s 3nm procedure.

Our unique record, discussed originally of this phase, supplies additional evidence of this new Tensor by way of TSMC SoC. In a delivery manifest, we discovered evidence of the lifestyles of a Tensor G5 chip pattern at the side of an abbreviation of its codename “Laguna.” It additionally immediately mentions TSMC and InFO POP — packaging era unique to TSMC. From this report, we additionally realized that it is going to have 16GB of package-on-package RAM manufactured by way of Samsung Electronics Company (SEC).

If it wasn’t certain sufficient by way of now, a record from BusinessKorea additionally corroborates the transfer to TSMC rumor. However, this record provides that Samsung’s 3nm procedure delivers 10-20% decrease efficiency than TSMC’s 3nm procedure.

In July, we heard a rumor that cites “provide chain resources” claiming that TSMC was once just about in a position for preliminary manufacturing of the Tensor G5 chip. At the time, it was once mentioned the processor was once simply attaining the tape-out level.

Late October handled us to 2 large leaks in regards to the Tensor G5. In paperwork from Google’s gChips department, seen by way of Android Authority, we discovered affirmation that the Pixel 10’s chip will likely be manufactured on TSMC’s 3 nm-class N3E. This is similar procedure node Apple makes use of for the iPhone 16 Pro’s A18 Pro and its M4 chips.

The 2d leak from October additionally comes to paperwork we reviewed from Google’s gChips department. We discovered that Google has upgraded the CPU cluster, giving the mid cluster 5 Cortex-A725 cores, with the little cluster shrinking to simply two Cortex-A520 cores. However, the company is maintaining the similar unmarried Arm Cortex-X4 number one core from ahead of.

We don’t know as a lot concerning the GPU, however we’ve a couple of breadcrumbs to practice. It will reinforce ray tracing, which is one thing new for Tensor chips. We’re additionally anticipating reinforce for GPU Virtualization, which might permit the usage of speeded up graphics in a digital system.

The ultimate a part of the leak touched on AI and the TPU. It seems that the Tensor G5’s TPU is modestly quicker than the only at the Tensor G4. The trillions of operations consistent with 2d (TOPS) worth is sort of 40% higher, however that doesn’t translate smartly to real-world efficiency, as interior benchmarks recommend it’s handiest 14% quicker. The new TPU additionally comes with new options, corresponding to small embedded RISC-V cores and reinforce for on-device coaching.

One different attention-grabbing element we dug up is that the die measurement is 121 mm^2. Apple’s A18 Pro is handiest 105 mm^2, making the G5 a noticeably higher chip.

Pixel Sense will likely be Google’s next-gen assistant debuting with the Pixel 10, having developed from the prior to now rumored “Pixie” mission. Designed to supply a in point of fact contextual and customized smartphone revel in, it integrates information from more than a few Google apps, corresponding to Calendar, Gmail, Maps, Chrome, and YouTube, to supply clever, real-time predictions. The assistant is constructed to lend a hand customers entire duties extra successfully, recommend related knowledge when wanted, and adapt to particular person behavior and pursuits through the years.

Pixel Sense is predicted to function completely on-device, making sure quicker responses and progressed privateness by way of maintaining consumer information native. It additionally processes screenshots and media information, finding out from metadata to toughen group and seek functions. Google describes it so as to be offering proactive help with out requiring an web connection, most likely powered by way of its Gemini Nano AI type.

It’s nonetheless means too early for any leaks or rumors about the cost of the Pixel 10 collection. As such, we’ll simply need to depend on earlier tendencies to make a bet. Above, you’ll see what the costs have been for the final 3 years. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro bought for $599 and $899, respectively. Last 12 months, sadly, the associated fee shot up by way of $100 for each the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. And this 12 months, the Pixel 9 collection introduced with 3 fashions for the primary time. The vanilla Pixel 9 went as much as $799, whilst the Pro stayed at $999, and the Pro XL bought for $1,099. As for Google’s foldables, the beginning worth has stayed the similar up to now.

If we needed to bet, it’s most likely much more likely than now not that those costs will stay the similar for 2025. That mentioned, we wouldn’t be shocked if one and even all 4 of the fashions jumped up by way of $100 as Google continues to perspective its telephones as top rate gadgets. We’ll have to attend to look if this prediction comes true.

Considering the Pixel 10 remains to be a long way away, we’d typically advise towards ready. However, the location is a little more nuanced this time. The Pixel 9 is a forged system, however the Pixel 10 may just constitute a miles higher bounce ahead in efficiency, because of the transfer to TSMC. Additionally, subsequent 12 months’s Pixel is an important milestone for the logo, marking ten years because the line debuted. This may just imply we’ll see quite a lot of different improvements to have a good time the instance. Maybe even a Pixel 10 Flip?

If you don’t completely want a new telephone (say, in the event you’re the usage of a Pixel 6, 7, or more moderen and will dangle out every other 12 months), the Pixel 10 would possibly in fact be definitely worth the wait. This is particularly true in the event you’re now not delighted with the design adjustments or new AI options within the Pixel 9. However, in the event you like what Google has executed with the Pixel 9, there shouldn’t be anything else maintaining you again from upgrading now. Just remember that its successor might be offering a miles higher efficiency spice up than any Pixel because the advent of the Tensor processor.

If you’re in search of a tool with sturdy AI functions and extra uncooked efficiency however don’t wish to look forward to the Pixel 10, the Galaxy S24 collection ($859.99 at Amazon) could be the best selection, specifically the S24 Ultra ($1419.99 at Amazon). While the most recent Galaxy S collection won’t fit Google in AI prowess, it’s a detailed 2d within the Android international.