Google Pixel 10a reportedly releasing in February as product development shifts to Vietnam

It’s been a busy 24 hours for Google leaks. Just as we are learning about a surprisingly early release date for the upcoming Pixel 10a, a significant new report details how Google is fundamentally changing how it builds phones, moving its most critical development phases out of China.

Here is the full breakdown of the latest Pixel developments.

Pixel 10a arriving in ‘mid-February’

According to trusted leaker Roland Quandt, Google is preparing to have the Pixel 10a on retail shelves by “mid-February.” A separate update from Droid-Life specifically points to February 17, 2026, as the potential release date.

This timeline is much earlier than usual. For context, last year’s Pixel 9a was announced in mid-March and didn’t hit shelves until April. Shifting the release forward by over a month suggests Google is eager to clear the deck for its flagship releases later in the year, or simply wants to capture the early-year mid-range market more aggressively.

Quandt’s report claims the device will be available in 128GB and 256GB storage variants. The color lineup is getting a refresh, with four options expected: Obsidian (Black), Fog (Off-white, likely matching the Pixel Buds shade), Lavender (Purple), and a brand-new Berry finish.

The “Berry” color is particularly interesting. If it aligns with the “Berry” hue Google introduced on the 3rd-gen Nest Cam last year, we can expect a vibrant red finish, a bold choice for the A-series.

Despite the fun colors and early arrival, the phone itself is expected to be a modest refresh. Leaks suggest it will lack a Tensor chip upgrade and retain the same design language as its predecessor, positioning it as a refinement rather than a revolution.

Pixel development leaving China

While the Pixel 10a hits shelves, the way Google builds its successors is changing. A new report from Nikkei Asia reveals that Google is moving the bulk of its Pixel development—not just production—out of China and into Vietnam.

While Google has manufactured phones in Vietnam for years, it still relied on China for “New Product Introductions” (NPI). This critical phase involves developing, verifying, and fine-tuning production processes with hundreds of engineers. According to the report, if NPI fails, “there will be no new product for the year.”

Starting with the Pixel 11 series (implied by the “this year” timeline), Google will reportedly handle NPI for the Pixel, Pixel Pro, and Pixel Fold in Vietnam, effectively building these devices “from scratch” outside of China. The Pixel A-series development will reportedly remain in China “for now,” keeping a small foothold there.

This report marks a maturation of Google’s supply chain. We have been tracking this diversification for some time, and the strategy is becoming clear: Vietnam is becoming the new hub for development, while India takes on a larger role in volume production.

Back in 2024, reports merged suggesting the Pixel 9 and Fold 9 Pro might be the “last batch” made in Vietnam for the Indian market, as Google shifted focus to local manufacturing. More recently, we covered Google moving US Pixel production to India to mitigate tariff threats.

When viewed together with today’s news, the picture is complete:

1. Vietnam is graduating from a manufacturing outpost to a primary R&D and NPI hub, replacing China.
2. India is ramping up to handle mass production for both local and US markets to handle volume and tariffs.
3. China is being phased out of the critical path for flagship devices, though it retains the A-series for the moment.

It’s a massive logistical pivot, but sources say that because Google already handles verification in Vietnam, “building new phones from scratch in the country should be achievable.”

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