I put together a final rundown of everything we should expect at Google’s Made by Google event on August 20 — and to be honest, with the volume of leaks this year, there isn’t much left to surprise us. This article summarizes the latest rumors I covered on the Android Authority channel and adds a bit of context so you can see what matters and what’s likely just window dressing.
“Just out here thinking, is there a worse year than 2025 for leaks for Google?”
Quick TL;DR
- Pixel Buds 2a: refresh with ANC, spatial audio, bigger battery, but no wireless charging; rumored price ~$149.
- Pixel Watch 4: essentially a Pixel Watch 3 refresh with Gemini built-in, brighter screen (up to 3,000 nits), modest battery gains, and faster charging Pixel Stand.
- Pixel 10 lineup: Tensor G5 across the board, Pixel Snap magnetic accessories, possible eSIM-only in the US, camera tweaks (telephoto on the base Pixel, macro on pro telephoto), bigger batteries and brighter displays.
- Pixel 10 Pro Fold: IP68 for the first time on a foldable, larger battery, limited color options.
Pixel Buds 2a — a meaningful refresh for the affordable pair
Google appears to be refreshing the Pixel Buds a line for the first time since 2021. The rumored name is Pixel Buds 2a and the price looks likely to jump from $99 to about $149. That price bump comes with features that feel overdue: active noise cancellation (ANC) and spatial audio.
Important caveats:
- ANC is expected, but it probably won’t include the more advanced Silent Seal 2 tech found on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 — so expect competent ANC, not the absolute top tier.
- Battery life should improve to around 7 hours per charge and ~20 hours with the case (the previous case gave 24 hours, so the net change likely reflects the addition of ANC).
- Spatial audio will be present but likely without active head tracking (the full head-tracking spatial audio seems reserved for Pro models).
- No wireless charging for the case — that remains a Pro-only feature.
My take: if the Pixel Buds 2a land at $149, keep an eye out for deals on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 — you might pay a little more but get noticeably more features.
Pixel Watch 4 — Gemini on your wrist
The Pixel Watch 4 looks like a modest but sensible update. Design-wise it’s nearly identical to the Pixel Watch 3, but a few upgrades stand out:
- The Pixel Watch 4 is expected to ship as “Pixel Watch 4 with Gemini,” meaning Gemini AI features are built in. That could let you raise the watch and speak directly to Gemini for quick AI-assisted replies or text suggestions.
- Screen peak brightness reportedly jumps from ~2,000 nits to ~3,000 nits — a useful boost for outdoor visibility.
- Battery life improves slightly: estimates suggest the smaller model hits ~30 hours (always-on display on) while the larger model could reach ~40 hours. The 42mm/45mm design sees a roughly 7–9% gain by Google’s figures.
- There’s a new Pixel Stand watch charger that should charge the watch about 25% faster.
- Fitness features look familiar but expanded: 40+ workout modes, custom running plans with live coaching, heart rate, ECG, and SpO2 readings remain supported.
Release timing: the Pixel Watch 4 (and the Pixel Buds 2a) appear likely to ship after the phones — probably in October — so expect some delay between announcement and availability.
Tensor G5 — the new brain in every Pixel 10
All Pixel 10 models are expected to use Google’s next in-house chipset: the Tensor G5. Key points from the leaks:
- The G5 is reportedly manufactured at TSMC and leaked benchmarks suggest roughly a ~36% performance improvement over Tensor G4 (the public leaks so far came from an apparent Pixel 10 Pro Fold test).
- We haven’t seen extensive real-world testing yet, so how those performance gains translate to day-to-day use (AI features, photography, battery efficiency) remains to be seen.
Pixel Snap — magnets and accessories finally for Pixel
One of the leaks I’m most excited for is Pixel Snap — a rumored suite of Pixel 10 accessories that look very much like Apple’s MagSafe ecosystem but for Pixel phones. Leaked images include a Pixel Snap charging puck and hints of a kickstand/charging stand.
The biggest hardware detail: reportedly, Google is building magnetic attachments into the back of all Pixel 10 devices. That means you probably won’t need special magnetic cases — the magnets would be part of the phones themselves. If true, that would be a meaningful first for a major Android brand and opens up a practical accessory ecosystem (wireless puck chargers, stands, etc.).
eSIM-only in the US — are physical SIMs gone?
One polarizing rumor: the Pixel 10 series sold in the United States may ditch the physical SIM tray entirely and move to eSIM-only. That will annoy some users who like physical SIM flexibility, but it’s also consistent with a push across the industry toward eSIM. If you travel a lot and swap SIMs, double-check carrier support for eSIM before upgrading.
Pixel 10 (base) — the surprises (and the one big camera addition)
The base Pixel 10 looks like a more significant upgrade this year because it gains a third camera: a telephoto lens. Details from the leaks:
- New telephoto: 5x optical zoom, ~10.8MP sensor (apparently shared with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold).
- Google claims the Pixel 10 telephoto can go to ~20x zoom (as a marketing spec). Standalone high multipliers rarely look great, so expect some computational assistance from Google’s AI to make those frames usable.
- Screen brightness bumps to ~3,000 nits and battery life is cited as “24 hours+” in leaked specs.
- Color options: Obsidian, Indigo, Frost, and Limoncello.
In short: the base Pixel 10 is getting a real camera boost that narrows the gap with the Pro models.
Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL — mostly refinement
The Pro models are largely a refinement rather than a massive overhaul. Expected highlights:
- Color lineup: classic Obsidian and Porcelain plus Moonstone (a standout new color) and Jade.
- Bigger batteries: the Pixel 10 Pro is rumored around 4,870 mAh, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL could hit ~5,200 mAh — the largest battery in a Pixel to date.
- Camera changes are subtle: the telephoto lens now supports macro photography (you can use either the ultra-wide or the telephoto for close-up shots), which is a welcome practical change.
- Google lists up to 100x zoom for the Pro phones on leaked spec sheets — another big number that likely needs computational image processing to look good. Expect Google to talk about AI enhancements when presenting this.
Pixel 10 Pro Fold — IP68 and a serious battery
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold shows a couple of meaningful upgrades for the folding market:
- An IP68 rating is rumored — if true, that makes it one of the first foldables to match flagship phones for dust and water resistance.
- Battery improves to around 5,015 mAh, making it one of the largest non-Silicon-carb batteries in a foldable.
- Color options look limited to Moonstone and Jade — and it seems Porcelain may be missing from the foldable’s palette, which might disappoint some buyers.
Release timing and final thoughts
The Made by Google event on August 20 in New York will likely cover the Pixel 10 family front-and-center. Based on the leaks, I wouldn’t expect many genuine surprises — this looks like a refinement year: design continuity, chipset upgrades (G5), camera tweaks, and practical accessory additions (Pixel Snap).
Personal highlights and expectations:
- Pixel Snap is the most interesting change — magnets built into phones unlock a practical accessory ecosystem that Android has lacked.
- The Tensor G5 could bring real performance and AI improvements, but we need hands-on testing to know how big that uplift really is.
- eSIM-only in the US is a notable shift; it simplifies things for many but complicates use cases that still rely on physical SIMs.
Everything above is based on leaks and rumors, so take it with a grain of salt. If the leaks are accurate, though, expect a mostly iterative lineup with a couple of useful new features — Pixel Snap being the one I’m most excited to see in action.
What are you most excited (or worried) about?
Drop your thoughts below — are you happy with a refinement year, do you want bigger battery leaps, or are you ready to go eSIM-only? I’m keen to hear what you think.
