WhatsApp has released a new beta update for Android, which reveals that the company is working on the ability for users to set a cover photo on their profile. This feature, already available for WhatsApp Business accounts, will soon be coming to regular users as well.
The new cover photo option will let users add a banner image at the top of their WhatsApp profile, similar to what we see on Facebook or LinkedIn. This image will allow people to express their personality, mood, or style through visuals, to make profiles more fun and personal.
Currently, only WhatsApp Business users can set cover photos to make their pages look more professional and appealing. However, WhatsApp now plans to expand this feature to everyone. Users will be able to upload or select a picture from their gallery directly in their profile settings.
Image via WABetaInfo
WhatsApp is also testing privacy settings for cover photos, giving users control over who can see them. The available options include “Everyone,” “My contacts,” and “Nobody.” For now, there’s no “My contacts except” option, but it might be added later. These privacy options ensure that users can customize their profiles while staying in control of their personal information.
The cover photo feature is currently under development and is not yet available to users. WhatsApp is currently testing and improving it before a wider release. Once ready, the update will likely roll out to beta testers first and then to all users in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more information.
After releasing almost every detail of the Pixel 10 series ahead of the official launch in August, we’re back at it again with the upcoming Pixel 10a. There have been rumors that the Pixel 10a would launch before the end of 2025, but given where we are in the rumor mill, we don’t believe that is accurate. We do believe it’ll launch in early 2026.
With that said, we have official renders based on CADs for the Pixel 10a. And to your surprise, it doesn’t look that different versus the Pixel 9a. Unfortunately, this blue color might not be real, but we’d love for Google to use it.
Google Pixel 10a CAD Renders
We have three CAD renders to show off here. This shows different angles of the Pixel 10a, which look identical to the Pixel 9a. Now, unfortunately, we can’t confirm or deny if there is a SIM card slot on the Pixel 10a, since that detail is typically not included in CAD renders. It is included in the CAD render here, but that doesn’t confirm that it will be available on the final model when that launches.
As you can see from these renders, Google is sticking with what looks to be a plastic back that is completely flat and flush with the camera module. Google is also sticking with a dual-camera setup on the rear, and some rather thick bezels on the front. The volume rocker continues to be below the power button – the opposite of almost every Android phone on the market.
There are antenna lines on the sides, top and bottom. With a microphone hole at the top as well as the bottom. It also looks like Google has made the bottom symmetrical with the speaker and microphone holes.
Google Pixel 10a Specifications (rumored)
We’re currently pretty early in the rumor mill for the Pixel 10a, so the specs haven’t surfaced as much. But we do know that it’ll be roughly the same physical size as Pixel 9a. With a 6.2-inch display and dimensions of 153.9 x 72.9 x 9mm. That’s actually rather thick compared to a lot of other phones on the market today.
There is also a rumor that is pointing to the Pixel 10a using the Tensor G4 (same as Pixel 9a) instead of the newer Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10 series. This could be due to the cost of the Tensor G5, since it is a TSMC-manufactured chip and does cost significantly more than the Tensor G4 did. This is said to be a “boosted” Tensor G4, likely a higher clocked chipset.
Last year, Google surprised us with the Pixel 9a, outfitting it with a 5,100mAh battery. Since the phone is actually thicker, we are expecting an even larger battery this year. But, I don’t think many would complain about a 5,100mAh battery on Pixel 10a either, considering battery life was so great on the 9a.
Google should stick with the same cameras again this year, and it’ll also have 7 years of software support. Pricing should also remain almost identical to last year, at $499 for 128GB of storage.
How will it compare to the Pixel 9a?
From what we know so far about the Pixel 10a, it’s going to be almost identical to the Pixel 9a. Perhaps slightly better performance, WiFi signal, and battery life. That would likely be about it here. Along with some new colors, but that doesn’t really determine whether you’d buy it or not.
Above, you can see how similar these two look side-by-side. Really, the only way to tell them apart is going to be the colors. Though, bezels do look significantly smaller this year. We’ll have to wait for the final renders to see if that is indeed the case, as CADs are usually approximate, and not always 100% correct.
Google Pixel 10a vs Pixel 9a Spec Comparison
As mentioned, specs haven’t really surfaced all that much yet for the Pixel 10a. So we’ve compiled what we’ve seen rumored so far, and speculated with the rest, given what we can see in these CADs, as well as how often Google sticks with the same specs.
Editor’s Note: Everything that is speculated for the Pixel 10a is denoted with an asterisk.
Google Pixel 9a
Google Pixel 10a
Google Pixel 9a
Google Pixel 10a
Dimensions
154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9mm
153.9 x 72.9 x 9.0mm
Weight
186g
186 grams*
Display
6.3-inch FHD+ 120Hz P-OLED
6.2-inch FHD+ 120Hz P-OLED
Refresh rate
60-120Hz (adaptive)
60-120Hz (adaptive)*
Resolution
2424 x 1080
2424 x 1080*
Chipset
Google Tensor G4
Google Tensor G4 (boosted)
RAM
8GB
8GB*
Storage
128GB/256GB
128GB/256GB*
Main camera
48MP (f/1.7 aperture, 1/2.0″ sensor size)
48MP (f/1.7 aperture, 1/2.0″ sensor size)*
Ultra-wide camera
13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FOV)
13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FOV)*
Selfie camera
13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1/3.1″ sensor size)
13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1/3.1″ sensor size)*
Battery size
5,100mAh
5,100mAh*
Charging
23W wired, 7.5W wireless
23W wired, 7.5W wireless*
Colors
Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, Peony
N/A
View Specifications
When will the Google Pixel 10a launch?
Of course, the biggest question of all is, when will the Google Pixel 10a launch? There was a wacky rumor about a month ago that claimed the Pixel 10a would launch before the end of 2025. Which we do not believe. Here’s why.
To launch the Pixel 10a before the end of the year would be a really bad decision, especially in the US. Really anything launched after October is a terrible idea because of holiday shopping. On top of that, all of the new flagships with Qualcomm and MediaTek’s new chips are launching at this time. So it would get buried. But if we take the holidays out of the equation, we are just not seeing images of the Pixel 10a. This usually happens about 6 months ahead of the actual launch. Which means we’re likely gonna see a March or April launch once again.
Device
Announcement Date
Release Date
Google Pixel 9a
March 19, 2025
April 10, 2025
Google Pixel 8a
May 7, 2024
May 14, 2024
Google Pixel 7a
May 10, 2023
May 10, 2023
As you can see from the previous release dates, the Pixel 10a is likely going to launch in March. The Pixel 9a was delayed a bit because they found an issue with manufacturing which delayed the device’s shipping by a couple of weeks. So very unlikely that the Pixel 10a will launch in 2025; however, Google has been adjusting the release timelines for its devices and software lately.
The latest round of spot crypto ETFs went live on major exchanges, advancing under existing SEC rules despite the U.S. government shutdown. NYSE opens the door to new crypto ETFs On Oct. 27, the New York Stock Exchange quietly marked…
How did a lone Bitcoin miner beat one-in-ten-million odds to find a block worth $347,000, and what does it reveal about solo mining in 2025? Solo miner claims rare Bitcoin win A recent post on Reddit’s r/Bitcoin community caught the…
Despite a recent report, which claimed that Samsung’s first tri-fold phone could arrive to the US, that’s quite unlikely. Evan Blass, a well-known tipster, just shared the markets the device will arrive to, and the US is not amongst them.
Samsung’s first tri-fold smartphone is coming this week, but not the US
Evan went to X to say that the company’s first tri-fold smartphone will likely launch in Korea, the greater Chinese market (including Singapore and Taiwan), and possibly the UAE. That’s basically it.
The tipster did say, however, that he’d “love to be wrong”, but he doesn’t think he is. Everything point to Samsung avoiding both the US and Europe as launch markets for its very first tri-fold smartphone.
When will this thing finally launch? Well, another new report reveals some information on that too. According to a report from The Korea Herald, the device will arrive later this week, actually.
It is tipped to launch during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2025 summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. That’s a mouthful, but the summit is taking place from October 31 to November 1.
October 31 is probably its launch date
Samsung will likely want to announce the device during the first day of the summit, so there’s a good chance we’ll see it on October 31. Nothing has been confirmed just yet, however, so we’ll have to wait and see.
From earlier reports, we know that the device will likely cost around $2,800. So it will be around a $1,000 more expensive than the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It is tipped to have a 6.5-inch cover display, and a 10-inch main display, when fully expanded. An 8-inch display could be the middle-fold state.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is rumored, along with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. A 200-megapixel main camera was also mentioned in rumors, along with both an ultrawide and a periscope telephoto camera.
XRP is one of the first cryptocurrencies created with broad adoption and partnerships with banks and other institutions in mind. Over 10 years later, it is possible to pay for various goods and services with XRP, but today’s stablecoins pose…
Google has made it easier to create presentations with its Gemini app. The Canvas tool in Gemini can now take a document or even a short text and turn it into a complete slide deck in just seconds. This is perfect for anyone who has stared at a blank Google Slides page, unsure where to start.
With this new feature, you can upload a report, research paper, or any text file, and Canvas will automatically make a presentation for you. The slides are already organized with sections, visuals, and design formatting.
You can then export the draft directly to Google Slides and make any final changes. This saves a lot of time, as you no longer need to copy text, design slides, or look for pictures yourself.
Image via Android Authority
The feature is currently being rolled out for both personal and Workspace accounts. Early reports show that Pro subscribers are getting access first, but it should be available to free users soon.
This builds on Canvas’s earlier feature, which helped users write and edit text with the help of Gemini’s AI. Now, it goes further by turning written work into slides that are ready to present.
This update is especially handy for students, teachers, and professionals who often need to make presentations. Instead of spending hours designing slides, you can rely on Gemini to create a first draft and then tweak it to your liking.
Google is working on a new feature to make multitasking on Android tablets much easier. Tablets already have features like a taskbar, split-screen mode, and improved drag-and-drop, but they still aren’t as powerful as PCs when it comes to using multiple apps at once.
The new feature could let you open any app in a floating bubble. Right now, bubbles only work with messaging apps. But with this update, you might be able to open apps, such as YouTube, Chrome, or Gmail, in small floating windows. This would make it easier to use several apps at the same time, even on smaller screens.
Recent updates in Android 2510 Canary show signs of this feature. The Pixel Launcher, which manages the home screen and taskbar, includes a new tutorial.
It explains that you can “drag an app to the bottom corners to make it float.” An animation shows an app being dragged from the taskbar to the bottom right corner, opening in a small bubble instead of split-screen.
Image via Samsung
This new drag gesture is simple and fits well with how other multitasking features work. Instead of tapping a button, you just drag the app. Since Android already lets you add any app to the taskbar, it seems likely that this bubble feature will work with all apps, not just messaging.
Google hasn’t officially confirmed the feature yet, but the tutorial suggests it is coming. It could arrive in Android 16’s third quarterly release (QPR3) next March. If this feature launches, it would make Android tablets much easier to use for multitasking.
Donald Trump’s decision to pardon former Binance chief CZ has ignited controversy, with critics calling it “disgusting” and questioning the links between politics and crypto. Trump grants full pardon to CZ On Oct. 23, U.S. President Donald Trump granted a…
Donald Trump’s decision to pardon former Binance chief CZ has ignited controversy, with critics calling it “disgusting” and questioning the links between politics and crypto.
The update of the Counter-Strike 2 skins exchange rules caused chaos. Some of the rare in-game items’ prices plummeted, stripping owners of the potential returns. The CS2 skins market cap dropped from $5.9 billion to $4.2 billion. The trade-up contract…
Login
