Google teases a Japan-only Pixel surprise; here's what it could be

Google is teasing a surprise for Japan. The company's official Japanese Pixel account on X has announced a "Japan-limited model" launching April 7, and based on what's already out there, it's almost certainly a dark blue variant of the Pixel 10a.A developer going by @evowizz flagged earlier that Google had been quietly preparing a dark blue colorway for the Pixel 10a—and Google's own teaser image backs that up. The backdrop in the post shows a deep, dark blue, noticeably darker than the Indigo shade on the standard Pixel 10. The accompanying text, per 9to5Google, hints at "an artistic special specification."It's a smart market play. Google has quietly built a solid fanbase in Japan—largely on the back of its A-series lineup, according 9to5Google. The report suggests Pixel 7a was a genuine hit there, so treating the market to an exclusive colorway makes sense as a way to keep that momentum going.The standard Pixel 10a launched globally in February at $499 (or Rs 49,999), available in Berry, Lavender, Obsidian, and Fog. It packs a 48MP main camera, Google's Tensor G4 chip, IP68 water resistance, and over 30 hours of battery life. Google also threw in Satellite SOS—a first for the A-series—along with seven years of OS and security updates.The dark blue variant joins that lineup as something Japan gets to keep to itself, at least for now. No word yet on pricing or whether Google plans to bring this color to other markets down the line.