Pixel "Superfans" can test new top smartphones earlier

Google plans to give a few of its most loyal Pixel smartphone fans the opportunity to test a yet-to-be-released model as part of the “Trusted Tester Program” before its official market launch.

Google has invited members of its “Pixel Superfans” community to apply for testing future Pixel hardware. The company is looking for 15 Superfans for its so-called “Trusted Tester Program,” which is, in a way, an even more exclusive group within the Superfans community. Participants will be selected through a competition in which members of the Pixel Superfans community can participate. The Pixel fan group comprises over 45,000 members (as of early 2023) from the USA, United Kingdom, and Germany, who receive access to exclusive events, discounts, and early access to products.

15 Testers for the Pixel 11

As Bloomberg reports, the 15 hand-picked applicants for the Trusted Tester Program are expected to provide feedback on the yet-to-be-released Pixel 11, which is anticipated in August 2026. “The Trusted Tester Program is an opportunity to provide feedback and help shape a Pixel smartphone currently in development,” the document states.

To prevent the small group from leaking any information about upcoming Google devices, all participants must sign a non-disclosure agreement. However, since Google, like other manufacturers, has not been particularly successful with secrecy in the past, details about the next Pixel generation are likely to leak even without the Superfans' involvement. According to information from the report, participants in the “Trusted Tester Program” must agree to hide the unreleased hardware in protective cases provided by Google.

According to Bloomberg, Google selects the winners of the competition based on “the depth of knowledge and enthusiasm for Google Pixel devices and software.” Furthermore, Google asks participants to suggest areas where the company could improve its devices, it is stated.

The document does not specify exactly when the selected Superfans are expected to receive the products, according to Bloomberg. Given that new top Pixel smartphones have been introduced in August in previous years, an early testing program might start in the spring.

New Design?

What can be officially expected from the next Pixel smartphones besides more AI and a bit more processing power is still open. However, the devices could receive a redesign in the coming years. In an interview in August, Ivy Ross, Chief Design Officer for Hardware Products at Google, said that “we try to do something with a new design language every two to three years.” She further stated that the design for the smartphones for 2026—the Pixel 11 series—is currently being finalized, while development for the 2027 model—the Pixel 12—is already underway. The Pixel 10, released in August, is visually largely identical to the previous year's model, the Pixel 9.

Consumer technology companies often let small groups of customers try out unreleased products under strict confidentiality to gather feedback during development. However, it is extremely rare for a company of Google's size to do this with something as well-known as the Pixel product line.

Incidentally, Google also wanted to host a Superfan event for 25 participants this year before the release of the Pixel 10 series. However, the event, reportedly planned for June, nothing came of it.

(afl)