Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9: Biggest rumored upgrades

Tom's Guide

19 hours ago

A Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 comparison figures to reveal some substantial differences on the way. Rumors surrounding Google's upcoming phone release suggest a big change is in the works for the entry-level model that could really help it to stand out from its predecessor.
Rumors about the Pixel 10 claim that an overhaul of the camera setup is in the cards. If true, it would give the Pixel 10 a significant boost in mobile photography, an area where Google has long excelled.
After all, the Pixel 9 that's currently available takes great photos, but one limitation keeps it from joining the ranks of the very best camera phones. The Pixel 10 could be Google's chance to change that.
Cameras aren't the only feature likely to see an update when the Pixel 10 arrives later this month. The usual round of silicon updates and battery tweaks could coming, too. Ahead of Google's August 20 launch event, here's how a Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 comparison is shaping up.
Google Pixel 10 (Rumored)
Google Pixel 9
Screen size
6.3 inches
6.3 inches
Chipset
Tensor G5
Tensor G4
RAM
12GB
12GB
Storage
128GB, 256GB
128GB, 256GB
Rear cameras
48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10.8MP 5x telephoto
50MP main, 48MP ultrawide
Front camera
10.5MP
10.5MP
Battery size
4,970 mAh
4,700 mAh
Size
152.8 x 72 x 8.6mm
152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm
Weight
204 grams
198 grams
Colors
Obsidian, Indigo, Frost, Limoncello
Obsidian, Porcelain, Winter Green, Peony
The Pixel 9 arrived in stores a year ago after an August 2024 launch event. History looks like it's going to repeat itself this year, with a Made by Google hardware event slated for August 20. We expect to see the new Pixel 10 lineup at that time.
The Pixel 9 saw a price hike from the Pixel 8, with the cost of the phone rising to $799. The good news is that it doesn't sound like prices will continue to rise for the entry-level Pixel this year. Reports ahead of Made by Google 2025 suggest that the Pixel 10 will retain that $799 starting price.
Another thing unlikely to change from the Pixel 9 involves the look of the phone — and that's a little bit of a surprise. Earlier this year, Google released the Pixel 9a, a midrange phone that ditched the distinctive camera bar that has been a part of recent Pixel models.
However, multiple renders of the Pixel 10 show that camera bar is back for the flagship phone. Indeed, you'd be hard-pressed to find any differences between the look of the Pixel 10 and what the Pixel 9 currently offers.
That applies to display sizes as well. Reports have the Pixel 10 featuring a 6.3-inch Actua display, matching what the Pixel 9 offered. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as the Pixel 9 delivered tremendous brightness with a reading of 1,769 nits on our light meter. We'd like to see the Pixel 10 meet or exceed that number, while maybe improving the color reproduction on its panel.
As for the colors of the phone itself, current rumors have the Pixel 10 showing up in Obsidian, Indigo, Frost, and Limoncello. That compares to Obsidian, Porcelain, Winter Green and Peony for the Pixel 9. Personally, I'll be sad to see the distinctive pink Peony fall out of Google's rotation.
Cameras could mark the biggest departure between the Pixel 10 and Pixel 9. Google's current phone offers dual rear cameras — a 50MP main lens and a 48MP ultrawide shooter. Those cameras could see a resolution downgrade with the Pixel 10, but reports have Google adding a third camera to the back of its new model.
That would be a telephoto lens — specifically, a 10.8MP camera capable of a 5x optical zoom. According to leaker Evan Blass, Google's Super Res Zoom feature would enable that telephoto camera to provide up to a 20x digital zoom.
Zoom lenses have been restricted to Pixel Pro models, which might explain the other changes Google is expected to make to the Pixel 10 camera setup. Supposedly, the Pixel 10 will now feature a 48MP main lens and a 12MP ultrawide camera. Improved video stabilization could be another Pixel 10 camera feature.
Nevertheless, it's the zoom lens that figures to get most of the attention with the Pixel 10. While Super Res Zoom taps into computational photography to provide one of the better digital zooms on mobile devices, there's no beating a dedicated telephoto camera for close-ups.
And as I noted in my Pixel 10 vs. Galaxy S25 comparison, the addition of an extra camera would put Google's flagship on par with what Samsung offers.
An updated flagship lineup generally means new silicon inside the latest models. In the case of the Pixel 10, that figures to be a Tensor G5 system-on-chip, delivering improved performance over the Pixel 9's Tensor G4.
How big of an improvement is the real question. Google is said to be switching its chip manufacturer over to TSMC from Samsung, and that could mean the Tensor G5 get built on a 3nm process. That would bunch the G5's transistors closer together, leading to big performance and power efficiency gains over the 4nm Tensor G4.
With that said, not everyone expects the Tensor G5 to be a 3nm chip. But even if it remains built on a 4nm process, there should be some performance gains over the G4. And more importantly, new Tensor silicon means an updated neural engine that ushers in new AI-powered features for the Pixel 10. What those features are remains to be seen.
The Pixel 9 has already received the Android 16 update, after Google rolled out its software update earlier than usual. That means the Pixel 10 would ship with Android 16 already installed.
Pixel phones have historically struggled to keep up with their fellow flagships when it comes to battery life. But it sounds like Google may be taking steps to correct that.
Leaked specs indicate the Pixel 10 would have a 4,970 mAh battery, compared to the 4,700 mAh power pack inside the Pixel 9.
That larger capacity battery, plus any efficiency gained by the switch to the Tensor G5, should be able to help the Pixel 10 post a better score on our battery test than the 13 hour, 18 minute time that the Pixel 9 put up.
For context, that time's nearly 3 hours better than the average smartphone result, though it's well short of the 15-plus hours you need to be considered among devices with the best phone battery life.
Multiple leaks, including renders showing the Pixel 10 attached to a wireless charger, indicate that the new Google phone is adding magnets so that it can take advantage of Qi2 wireless charging. That could give the Pixel 10 a wireless charging boost over the Pixel 9.
Typically, new AI features tell the story with Gogole's Pixel phones, as an updated Tensor processor enables new capabilities. And while that's certainly going to be a factor in the Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 evolution, it's the potential for an updated camera setup that really figures to set these devices apart.
Apart from a Pixel 10 teaser from Google, nothing's official with the upcoming model. But from the sound of things, the August 20 hardware event could usher in some big year-over-year changes.
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