Google takes aim at Apple's AI delays while facing its own Pixel 10 supply chain setbacks and current users' RCS, GPS issues

The Pixel 10 leak train is still in motion as new details keep surfacing ahead of the official launch. Meanwhile, there are a few bumps in the road that some Pixel users are unfortunately experiencing. In this article, we’ll break down these developments and see what’s really going on in the Google Pixel world.

Pixel 10 lineup faces delays while Google sweetens the deal with AI Pro perks

It looks like Google might be playing a bit of a waiting game with some of its most anticipated Pixel devices. While the tech giant is set to unveil the Pixel 10 series on August 20, a recent report suggests that not everything will be available right away.

If you were hoping to get your hands on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the Pixel Watch 4, or the Pixel Buds 2a soon after the announcement, you might have to hold tight until October 9. That’s a bit of a bummer, especially for those eager to dive into Google’s latest ecosystem offerings. The regular Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro XL are still expected to hit shelves by August 28, so at least some of the new gadgets will be within reach fairly quickly.

This delay apparently stems from some supply chain hiccups, though the exact reasons are not known. It’s speculated that new components in these devices could be the culprit. This news isn’t ideal for Google, particularly for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, as it gives competitors like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 more time to capture the market. Similarly, the Pixel Watch 4’s delay means Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 series gets a head start. So I feel like Google is shooting itself in the foot. I mean, Pixel fans have been seeing chatter and leaks about these gadgets for months, and with this potential setback, the excitement might die down by the time they go on sale.

But it’s not all bad news on the Pixel 10 front. There’s a silver lining for those eyeing the new phones. An APK teardown of the latest Google app suggests that Pixel 10 series buyers might get a sweet deal: a free trial of Google AI Pro. Previous leaks did mention the same, but now that it’s confirmed by digging through code, I guess it’s all but officially confirmed that it’ll be an additional perk. It seems Google is really leaning into its AI capabilities as a major selling point for the new Pixel lineup

Speaking of selling points, Google isn’t shy about taking a few playful jabs at its rivals. A recent teaser for the Pixel 10 series, titled “Google Pixel 10 | Soon,” seemed to throw some shade at Apple. The ad highlighted the idea of waiting for a phone to get features that are “coming soon” but have been delayed for a while.

This was a pretty clear reference to Apple’s own struggles with rolling out significant AI upgrades for Siri, which have reportedly been pushed back, possibly even to 2027. It’s a bold move from Google, essentially saying, “Why wait for AI when you can have it now with a Pixel?” 

That said, I can’t help but laugh at the irony, considering Google might end up pushing back the sale dates for some of its upcoming gadgets.

RCS messaging glitches and Android 16 GPS headaches

While the excitement builds for new Pixel devices, some current Pixel users are facing frustrating software glitches. A number of Google Pixel owners have reported issues with RCS messages not sending, even when their devices show a “Connected” status.

To make matters worse, some users are finding themselves stuck in a “Setting up” verification stage, unable to get their RCS chats fully operational. This can be a real headache when you’re trying to communicate with friends and family, and your messages are just stuck.

It seems this issue might not just be exclusive to Pixel phones, as we did highlight similar troubles from users on the new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 yesterday.

Adding to the woes, the recent Android 16 update appears to have introduced some unwelcome side effects for certain Pixel users, specifically impacting Location Services and GPS functionality. Reports indicate that after updating to Android 16, some Pixel phones are experiencing issues with location accuracy, with devices showing users to be a significant distance from their actual position. In some cases, GPS simply isn’t working at all.

Users have taken to Google’s Pixel Phone support threads and Reddit to voice their concerns, detailing how the Android 16 update has seemingly broken their location services. Some describe their GPS as being “extremely slow” or “bouncing around.” This kind of bug can severely impact the daily usability of a smartphone, turning what should be a seamless experience into a constant struggle. Google’s Issue Tracker also shows multiple entries related to these GPS and location issues.

From what I observed, it seems like those who’re reporting that GPS isn’t working at all in apps like Maps noticed the problem soon after a recent Play Services update. So let’s hope Google manages to catch the culprit here and post a fix sooner rather than later.

Conclusion

While the upcoming Pixel 10 is pretty exciting and probably has a lot of Google’s attention, let’s hope the existing bugs and issues, like the RCS messaging woes and Android 16 GPS issues, are also prioritized equally. We’ve previously covered other user frustrations, such as the backlash against the new Google Photos update and problems with Gboard freezing, as well as, Garmin and Payoneer issues. So while I love the jabs at Apple, Google should also realize its own devices aren’t always flawless.