Pixel 10 buyers will get early access to app support on T-Mobile’s cellular Starlink

If you pick up a Pixel 10, you will be among the first to try app support on T-Mobile’s Cellular Starlink service. The new flagship arrives on August 28, and T-Mobile is giving Pixel 10 owners early access to satellite-powered data features ahead of the official rollout on October 1. That means if you have a Pixel 10 tied to T-Mobile’s T-Satellite plan, you can run select apps over Starlink’s satellites before anyone else. According to a blog post on T-Mobile’s website, the company said the capability was “far too important to hold back.”

At launch, the experience will be limited to three Google apps. Maps, Messages, and Find Hub have been optimized to work with satellite connectivity. This setup could be especially useful if you lose service in remote areas. Google Maps navigation without cell towers can help you stay on track, while Find Hub may help you locate a lost device even when it drops off the grid. Messages already supports SMS and RCS through T-Satellite, but early data access extends its capabilities to features like group chats and integration with Google’s Gemini chatbot.

T-Mobile executives caution that users should keep expectations realistic. As Gavin Gee, the carrier’s senior director of product marketing, explains, the connection is far more limited than a 5G network. Early testing shows download speeds of around 4 Mbps, which means loading basic maps or text-based apps is fine, but streaming video is not possible. He says the goal was to make sure the system worked reliably for apps that matter most in places where people typically lose coverage. “Customers shouldn’t have the expectation that they’re going to stream a 4K movie. That’s not going to happen. But there are still high-value use cases like being able to look at Maps.”

T-Mobile says Pixel 10 gets priority access because the service still needs fine tuning across different devices and operating systems. Updates to Android and Pixel software made it possible to certify the phones first. iPhones running iOS 26 are also expected to join the early access program in September. By October, the company plans to expand beyond Google’s core apps to include AccuWeather, WhatsApp, and X.

For anyone considering the new phone, T-Mobile is already taking preorders for the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro XL, with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold arriving October 9. Pricing starts at $799.99, and the carrier is offering trade-in credits and discounts across its premium plans. The T-Satellite service itself is free on Go5G Next and Experience Beyond plans, or can be added to other T-Mobile plans for $10 a month. Customers on AT&T and Verizon can also sign up by paying the same monthly fee, though activation requires a call or store visit since the service runs on a secondary eSIM.