There’s a new Pixel model debuting tomorrow, but you probably can't buy it

Google isn’t supposed to have any big Pixel launch in the coming weeks, so a surprise teaser from the company about a new model naturally got people paying attention. The promotion is designed to look like an ‘exclusive’ new Pixel will arrive tomorrow, but it’s likely to be much less dramatic than it sounds.

As spotted by 9to5Google, Google has posted on its Japanese X account that a Japan-exclusive Google Pixel model will debut on April 7. The teaser also includes wording that, in translation, suggests some kind of “artistic” special edition or design twist, rather than the arrival of a wholly new phone.

That’s why the most likely explanation is that this isn’t a surprise handset at all, but a regional variant of one Google already sells. 9to5Google points to a recent X post from developer @evowizz claiming Google was preparing a dark blue Pixel 10a, and that theory lines up reasonably well with the deep blue shade used in the teaser image.

This speculation is quite plausible. The Pixel 10a is the latest Pixel off the Google production line, and the current color lineup is already bold, with the phone currently available in Lavender, Berry, Fog, and Obsidian. A darker blue finish would be a nice addition to that spectrum. Plus, a new colorway is an easy enough way for an OEM to freshen up one of its current phones in a market where it sells well. It’s just a shame most of us wouldn’t have the opportunity to get our hands on it.