Google Invites Superfans to Beta Test Unreleased Pixel Smartphones

Google has invited members of its “Superfans” group to apply for early testing of future Pixel smartphones, marking a rare move for a company of its size to publicly recruit testers for high-profile unreleased hardware.

The search giant will select 15 participants from the applicant pool for its “Trusted Tester Program,” requiring winners to sign non-disclosure agreements and disguise unreleased hardware in protective cases provided by Google, according to official rules reviewed by Bloomberg News.

“The Trusted Tester program is an opportunity to provide feedback and help shape a Pixel phone currently in development,” the document states.

Contest submissions will be judged on “depth of knowledge and passion for Google Pixel devices and software.”

Applicants must demonstrate their expertise and suggest areas where Google can improve its devices.

The rules don’t specify when selected winners will receive devices.

Google has introduced its Pixel portfolio in August over the past couple of years, suggesting an early test program could potentially begin in spring 2026 or earlier.

Pixel smartphones may be due for a major refresh in the coming years.

In an August interview, Google hardware design chief Ivy Ross said “every two to three years we look to try and do something with a new design language.”

The Pixel 10, released in August 2025, remained largely identical to the previous year’s model.

Ross indicated Google was finalising its 2026 portfolio near the interview time and already planning 2027 hardware.

If the current industrial design continues for another year, Google may be more willing to allow Pixel 11 devices in public view, knowing most people wouldn’t notice the similarity.

Google has struggled to contain Pixel hardware leaks in recent years, with renders of upcoming models often appearing several months before official debuts.

The controlled beta testing program may represent an attempt to gather feedback while maintaining tighter control over information disclosure.

Consumer tech companies often allow small customer groups to test unreleased products under strict secrecy for development feedback.

However, it’s exceptionally rare for a company of Google’s size to publicly recruit for such programs involving high-profile product lines like Pixel smartphones.

Australian Pixel pricing starts at $1,347 for base models, though pricing for unreleased models has not been announced.