Google Pixel 10a design leak, UWB limits on older Pixels, Pixel Camera fix for GrapheneOS, & official Watch bands go cheap

It’s a new day, and the news cycle surrounding Google’s Pixel ecosystem hasn’t slowed down since yesterday’s flurry of activity, which saw the rollout of the Gemini AI-powered Fitbit Health Coach, Google’s next Pixel Drop leak early, and the return of familiar playback issues with the Audible app. But if you thought things would take a breather, you were wrong.

The past 24 hours have brought a fresh wave of developments, including the first look at the Google Pixel 10a, a disappointing limitation on Ultra-Wideband (UWB) tracking on older Pixel flagships, and a fix for a crashing Pixel Camera app on de-Googled devices.

Pixel 10a keeps its camera bar-free design in first render leak

After the Pixel 9a impressed as one of the year’s best mid-rangers, Google seems to be sticking with a familiar formula for its successor. The first renders of the Pixel 10a, shared by Android Headlines in collaboration with OnLeaks, show a device that looks nearly identical to its predecessor, including the camera bar-free design that sparked divided opinions last time.

Measuring 153.9 x 72.9 x 9mm, with a slightly smaller 6.2-inch display, the Pixel 10a subtly tweaks its proportions while maintaining the same minimalist aesthetic. Internally, reports suggest it will reuse the Tensor G4 chipset from the flagship Pixel 9 series rather than adopting the newer Tensor G5. While this may disappoint some, it could help Google keep pricing competitive when the phone launches in early 2026.

Still, fans might find the repetition uninspired, especially since the A-series has traditionally mirrored Google’s flagship look more closely. Whether the Pixel 10a’s understated style lands as sleek or generic remains to be seen.

Pixel 6 Pro & 7 Pro can’t use UWB for Find Hub tracking

Despite both featuring UWB (Ultra-Wideband) hardware, the Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro can’t use the new Find Hub precision tracking feature. Google’s support documentation confirms that UWB tracking currently only works on the Pixel 8 Pro and newer models.

That’s a strange omission given that UWB allows precise distance and direction tracking, exactly what Find Hub needs. While Google hasn’t explained the exclusion, Android Authority notes that the only known limitation on older Pixels is background UWB use, which shouldn’t impact foreground tracking. For now, that means users of older Pro models are left out of Google’s slowly expanding UWB ecosystem.

Pixel Camera finally works again on GrapheneOS

Last week, Pixel Camera started crashing on de-Googled Android builds like GrapheneOS, leaving users to downgrade or go without. The culprit? A missing font dependency.

Thankfully, the latest GrapheneOS build v2025102300 introduces a workaround: users can install GmsCompatLib v100 from the system app store to restore full Pixel Camera functionality. Even better, an upcoming v2025102600 release (currently in Alpha) will integrate the fix directly, meaning no manual steps will be needed soon.

This resolves one of the more frustrating app compatibility issues for privacy-focused Pixel users running Google-free setups.

You can grab official Pixel Watch bands for as little as $16

Rounding things off, official Pixel Watch bands are now heavily discounted at Best Buy and Amazon, with some styles priced as low as $15.99.

Best Buy currently lists several Active Bands and Woven Bands, including Coral, Hazel, Lemongrass, and Obsidian, all for under $16. On Amazon, discounts go even deeper, with a few 41mm and 45mm variants starting around $10–$20, depending on size and style.

Given that most official bands retail around $50, this sale is one of the best chances yet to pick up genuine Pixel Watch accessories without paying premium prices.

More Pixel news is sure to follow soon, especially as Google’s next Pixel Feature Drop edges closer. If recent leaks are any indication, we’ll be hearing much more about the Pixel 10a and more before the year wraps up.