In a wide-ranging interview with Bloomberg, Google says to expect refreshes to the design of Pixel phones every few years, while reiterating that a flip phone is not coming, and that its tablet ambitions are “paused.”
The Pixel 10 series is coming from a Google that’s more confident than ever, and in a new interview with the folks at Bloomberg Pixel chief Rick Osterloh calls the new lineup a “super strong release” in what he calls a “mature category.”
The interview dives into a number of different subjects, but there are a few key tidbits that stand out.
For one, Google’s Chief Design Officer for hardware products, Ivy Ross, says that we should expect significant design changes every few years. Ross explains that “every two to three years we look to try and do something with a new design language” and said that the design of its 2026 phones – the Pixel 11 series – are being finalized now, while development on the 2027 release – Pixel 12 – is underway.
Osterloh reiterates that, for Google, the point in Pixel is always in the software, and says that “it’s pretty clear we have a definitive lead” in AI and that “if you’re using Android, you’re going to be one the vanguard of where AI is going.” That’s a sentiment that Osterloh certainly got across during this week’s Pixel event while speaking with host Jimmy Fallon. Meanwhile, though, he acknowledges that Pixel will never be a “giant player” in the smartphone market and that, for Google, “building a good business is enough” and that Pixel growth is aligned with the innovations at Google.
Speaking on foldables, Google’s Shakil Barkat expressed that the crease is still something they want to fix, while reiterating – again – that Google is not making a Pixel-branded flip phone foldable.
Similarly, Google has “paused” development on tablets until it finds a “meaningful future” for the category. The interview explains:
…paused development on a tablet overhaul until it figures out a meaningful future for the category, executives said. At least for the foreseeable future, Google doesn’t imagine a scenario where users are carrying much more than their phone — whatever form that takes — while wearing a watch, earbuds and glasses. “Every time a new type of category of product gets added, the bar on maintenance for the end user keeps going up,” Barkat said. “It’s already pretty painful.”
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