Google's Pixel 10 Series: AI-Powered Innovations in a Familiar Package

Pixel 10 Pro review: familiar hardware, filled with Google's AI | TechCrunch

Pixel devices have always been a reflection of how Google sees Android, as well as a platform to showcase its own apps and technology advances. In the current era, this vision encompasses Google's consumer AI suite. Google wants Pixel owners to live and breathe Google AI in all aspects of their lives through the new devices. While a lot of people are talking about AI as a paradigm shift, companies know that the best way to reach consumers is still their phones. Google wants people to believe its phones and their AI tools are the best. They even hired Jimmy Fallon to tell you about it. In terms of its hardware, the Pixel lineup didn't go through drastic changes this year. The most notable point was possibly the base Pixel 10 getting a telephoto camera. The other notable addition was PixelSnap -- Google's version of MagSafe with Qi2 charging -- which unlocks a number of accessories, including chargers and stands. I have been using the Pixel 10 Pro for the last few days, a device that has a new, brighter screen, more RAM, and a pro camera. The company's announcement focused substantially on its new Tensor G5 chip, which is made by TSMC instead of Samsung this year. Google touted that the new chip is better at AI performance and runs the latest Gemini Nano model. (We can't faithfully review its performance after using the phone for only a few days. Stayed tuned.) Google's software features have been a mainstay of Pixel phones for a long time, but with AI, that slant becomes more prominent. All companies are packing mentions of AI technology in their device presentations. However, customers often get only a partial version of those promises when they get the device in their hands for the first time. For example, I have been using an Indian Pixel unit, which means some AI features aren't available immediately. Of note, Daily Hub, a feature that shows the summary of your day with other content suggestions, as well as support for conversational edits in Photos, are only available in the U.S. at the moment. Magic Cue, meanwhile, is one of the marquee AI features of this year. It will contextually surface information from one app to another. It's designed to surface information such as restaurant reservations, flights, or hotel bookings in a contextual way. That is, if you're talking about lunch with your friend, it could surface lunch recommendations, or it could surface flight details when you're calling airlines. In tests, Magic Cue showed me a contact detail when I received a text asking for someone's contact. It also showed me suggestions for "Love is Blind" when I opened YouTube because of prior screenshots and messages. Plus, it showed me a coffee shop recommendation when I opened Maps. However, when I got a text asking if I had ordered cat food, Magic Cue missed the opportunity to add context from Gmail based on a delivery confirmation email. Right now, the feature largely works across Google apps, including Messages, Gmail, Keep, Calendar, Screenshots, and Contacts. It will be interesting to see how it evolves, if other apps are able to use it, and how much context it will then be able to pull in. That promise sounds a lot like what Apple's 2024 preview of an AI-enabled Siri was supposed to do, and that hasn't gone so well -- Siri's update is delayed until at least 2026. So far, it seems Magic Cue is off to a good start, but only long-term usage and tests will prove its effectiveness. Call translation is another significant AI feature arriving on Pixel 10s, especially if you communicate with people who speak different tongues or you have international colleagues. Google advertised that, apart from language translation, the feature retains your voice in the translated language. While that claim largely stands true, the language support for translation is limited. F or me, a call with a French-speaking friend when I spoke English worked well on both ends. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the Hindi-English call. (Granted, Hindi support is still in preview, but the translation often fell flat.) Gemini Live, which can highlight objects that are in your video view, was a hit-or-miss upgrade on the Pixel 10. It successfully identified my Sprigatito toy, told me what spoon to use to measure coffee, and guided me on how to clean the AirPods Pro 2. But it misidentified the Pixel 9 Pro XL as a OnePlus phone and suggested that the SIM tray was on the left. There are a few other tidbits of AI throughout the system, such as the ability to add music to your voice recordings, which could be useful for musicians; screenshot and voice transcript sharing to NotebookLM, which is now a pre-installed app; and voice editing and writing tools in Gboard. Pixel's camera hardware is solid, and it takes signature, punchy pictures. While there aren't very notable changes to camera hardware, Google has added a lot of software updates. In an age where companies, including Google, are adding more AI to their phone camera photos, Google is also trying to teach people how to take good photos using a feature called Camera Coach. When you are using the rear camera with the new Pixel, you can tap on a little sparkly camera icon on the top right, which will activate the Camera Coach. It will analyze the frame in focus and suggest a few options for you to take the photo in different styles. When you choose a style, the Camera Coach will offer tips about choosing a lens, framing the object, and moving up or down to adjust the level through a multistep process. Some tips might feel generic, but at times, Camera Coach does provide you with useful context about framing, even if you know a bit about how to take pictures. There is also an option in the Camera Coach called "Get Inspired," which shows you some variations of poses and positioning using generative AI. At times, I saw unrelated suggestions (look at the first suggestion in the screenshow below, which is not my cat), and, at other times, it suggested poses or face expressions for a person in focus that seemed uncanny. For instance, when I tried to generate inspiration for a picture of a person, one of the suggestions made their eyes wide open in an odd way or placed their hands strangely. Super Res Zoom, new to the Pixel 10 Pro, is one of the most impressive camera features to use. In earlier Pixel phones, you could get 30x zoom, but with the Pixel 10 Pros, you can get up to 100x Zoom. The company uses AI models to upscale the photo that you've taken, and the results can be impressive. The feature lets you make out faraway objects in an image rather than seeing a noisy blur. Controversially, this is because AI is filling in the details. However, the phone stores both AI-processed and non-processed photos to show you the difference. One issue with taking photos at 100x zoom is that you have to keep your hand steady, and it is not an easy task. Google is also shipping an updated Portrait mode with the ability to take 50-megapixel images. While the new modes allow you to take photos at a higher resolution, it doesn't always get the subject separation right. You might still see a blurred part of a person or an animal in focus. The company is using some frame-mashing techniques to take good group photos with the new AI-powered Best Take feature. When you take a group photo, Pixel captures multiple photos and picks the best one where everyone has their eyes open and is looking at the camera. If the phone doesn't find a suitable photo, it merges multiple images to try and make everyone look good. One photo mode I enjoyed using and would want to try out more is action pan, in which you focus on a moving object, and Pixel's software and camera system creates a blur in the background. So why would you want to buy a Pixel? Maybe you are already a Pixel user, and your phone is old, and you want to upgrade to a new one. Maybe you were using an iPhone and wanted Google's version of the Android experience. You have heard about Pixel's advanced photography and liked what you saw. All these are good reasons to buy a new Pixel. Still, although the hardware bumps are incremental year-over-year, just like any other flagship, you would feel a difference -- especially if jumping from a phone that is more than two years old. The good part about the Pixel 10 Pro is that you don't miss much if you don't pick the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Apart from screen size and battery life, the XL gives you access to 25W Qi charging, but that's about it. Google has done well to have feature and hardware parity in both Pro devices. What's in contention, though, is the AI part of it. The promise of "AI phones" is that your experience will get better over time, and the company will be able to ship you more features. That is why Google has thrown in things like free AI Pro plans with Pro phones for a year, so you can use more of Google's AI and feel that your phone is better because of it. But as we learned from Apple's ordeal last year, announced AI features might not make it (or make it on time), and could feel redundant. Users in different parts of the world will also have different experiences, as some AI features might not be available to them or might not work as well for their language and locale. Google is painting -- or generating -- a magnificent version of AI, but not everyone is living in AI utopia. Google's AI is everywhere now in Pixel, but you won't always need it.

Google's Pixel 10 Phones Are Its Best Yet -- If You Can Stand the Generative AI Overload

Generative AI overload. No eSIM. Secure face unlock still doesn't work in low light. I spoke to my friend in Russian over the phone. I don't speak Russian. "Oh my god, this is crazy!" she responded. I was using the Google Pixel 10's new real-time voice translation feature in phone calls, which employs generative AI to listen to a snippet of your voice at the start of the call, and then generates an approximation (calls aren't recorded, and processing happens on the device). I could hear myself on her end, a familiar deep rumbling, except in a completely foreign language. My friend said she preferred hearing my voice, even if it was slightly off, over a robotic translation. On a different day, I tried the Pixel 10's Camera Coach feature, and it successfully ran me through a few steps to capture a stellar photo of my wife, my dog, and a friend. (As a photographer, I'd like to think I could have captured a similar photo without the help.) Later on, I was looking at some other images I captured and asked the new conversational photo editing tool in Google Photos to remove the leash my wife was holding, and it did the deed in a few seconds -- no need to fuss with editing tools. These are the kinds of everyday helpful features Google's Pixel phones have pioneered since the original's debut in 2016. But the 10th-generation Pixels have more generative AI capabilities than ever before. Some of these are helpful, while others feel like they've been shoved in so someone could check a box on a list. There's a certain dissonance in using some of these features, at least for me. Google's Pro Res Zoom feature, which allows you to capture photos at 100X zoom, is incredibly impressive. But if parts of the photo are generated by what the AI thinks should be there, is it really my original image? That's what you may wrestle with if you want these Pixels as your next phone upgrade. Before we get all philosophical, let's chat hardware. The Pixel 10 series includes the Pixel 10 ($799), Pixel 10 Pro ($999), and Pixel 10 Pro XL ($1,199). There's also the Pixel 10 Pro Fold folding phone, but it's not launching until October 9. I won't rehash many of the spec improvements made this year, but you can dig deep here. The first thing I want to impart -- because I've seen a lot of discourse about benchmarks on social media -- is that Pixels have never delivered the best results in raw performance. They're smooth-performing phones, but much of Google's prowess with its Tensor chips is in optimizing its devices to power those smart features. The new Tensor G5 does come with a performance boost, and my benchmarks show a sizable jump from the G4 in the Pixel 9 Pro. I never saw a hang-up in day-to-day use, but if you're chasing power, this might not be the phone for you.

I Got My Hands on the Pixel 10: The Impressive Triple-Camera Setup Isn't Its Only Wow Factor

The Google Pixel 10 stole the spotlight during my weekend trip to San Luis Obispo, California -- and not just because of its eye-catching yellow-green design. As my friends and I marveled at the beachside cliffs, swanky mansions and swaying palm trees, we also gawked at the pictures I snapped at each zoom level, including 20x digital zoom -- something I'd typically never dare to do for fear of grainy photos. But far from grainy, the images of Barbie pink mansions and secluded coves came out much clearer and more vivid than I'd expected, thanks to Google's Super Res Zoom feature, which uses AI to spruce up photos. This, paired with a standout main camera and a new 5x telephoto lens, makes the baseline Pixel a worthy choice for anyone who's likely to choose a phone based on camera capabilities, even if it's not as souped-up as the high-end Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL. It's not just the camera that helps the Pixel 10 stand out, but also its long-lasting battery and integrated AI features that make everything from tracking down your reservations to snapping a decent group photo much easier. I spent a week with Google's latest baseline phone and was pleased with how effortlessly capable and reliable it is -- which is exactly what a $799 device ultimately should be. The Pixel 10 feels sturdy in my hand, with an aluminum frame and Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back. The phone comes in a fun range of colors: indigo, obsidian (black), frost (a light lavender-blue color) and lemongrass (a bright yellow-green). I got the lemongrass version, which looks bold without being too overpowering; the glass backing also gives it a pleasingly polished look and feel. The sides of the phone carry over a more subdued version of that green-ish tone for a more cohesive look. The Pixel 10 has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning it can survive being submerged under 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. I accidentally performed a drop test on concrete, though I thankfully had a matching green Pixelsnap case (more on that later), which protected the phone from scuffs and scratches, and I'm happy to report the screen did not crack. The phone arrives with Android 16 and the new Material 3 Expressive design overhaul, which revamps the look and feel of apps like the clock, weather and phone. It adds a welcome playfulness and springiness across the phone's functions, and lets you personalize everything from your phone's contacts to the lock screen, making them even more fun and versatile. There's a satisfying jiggle and haptic feedback when doing even mundane functions like swiping through open apps and adjusting the on-screen volume slider. The Pixel 10 comes with seven years of software and security updates. Like the Pixel 9, this year's model has a 6.3-inch OLED display with a 60-120Hz variable refresh rate. The Pixel 10's 3,000-nit peak brightness makes it easy to see what's on the screen even in direct sunlight. Being able to customize Quick Settings means I can instantly access commonly used functions like my mobile hotspot and Focus mode. As for the camera bar, It's about as obtrusive as previous Pixel phones and definitely commands attention, but that's become the norm across many flagship devices. Slapping on a case helps to minimize that bump, but the ungainly protrusion is also the price you pay for great shots. Which leads us to the camera. The Pixel 10 Pro has a 48-megapixel wide-angle, 13-megapixel ultrawide and 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto camera -- a new addition to the baseline version and one that places the Pixel 10 on par with the similarly priced Samsung Galaxy S25 when it comes to camera hardware. There's also a 10.5-megapixel front-facing camera. There was no better place to test the telephoto lens for me than a garden, and it definitely delivered. The Pixel preserved details like the ombre pink petals of roses and the ridges of hydrangea leaves. The focus was nice and sharp. Super Res Zoom comes in handy for punching in even closer. It's certainly not comparable to an image taken at the lens' native 5x optical zoom; looking closely, you'll see an overall blurriness and lack of detail in the image. Punching in at 20x also pales in comparison to the 100x Pro Res Zoom feature on the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro XL. But I'm glad the baseline Pixel at least has something to offer in that realm for when you'd like a closer shot that doesn't look totally muddled. Portrait shots have long been my favorite camera feature on the Pixel lineup, and the Pixel 10 is no exception. This photo of my friend Raneem balances color, lighting and focus and has a nice smooth overtone. Perhaps my favorite photo I took on the Pixel 10 is this one of a golden sunset, which balances highlights and shadows for a stunning result. Low-light images are pretty solid, too. I snapped these photos of my friend Dana soon after the sun dipped beyond the horizon. The first one triggered Night Sight to brighten the overall image, which especially helps to showcase the pink skies and waves in the background. The second image was taken with Portrait mode and helps to make her the focus, even if the background gets darkened as a result. I appreciate what each setting has to offer. I like to think of myself as a pretty decent photographer, but I swallowed my pride and took the new Camera Coach feature for a spin. This uses Gemini models to give you a step-by-step walkthrough of how to take a more impressive shot. I had to carry on the Abrar tradition of photographing a teacup for this review, and Camera Coach walked me through how to take a more commanding image, prompting me to zoom in, position the cup slightly off-center and angle the camera to include less of the green couch in the background. Then I snapped the photo, and was pleased with the result. I think this is a great feature for anyone, but especially anyone who believes they're not suited to take good photos -- no more excuses for taking subpar pictures of someone! There are usually about four to five steps that take less than a minute to complete. With the Pixel 10 series, Best Take becomes Auto Best Take. Snap a group photo and let AI create a merged photo where everyone is actually looking at the camera and smiling (before, you had to manually choose faces to combine across different shots). And you only have to tap the shutter button once, rather than making sure you're taking multiple photos. Add Me uses augmented reality and AI to layer two separate shots so everyone can seemingly be in one photo. The photographer can snap an image, then jump in frame and have someone else take a second picture that merges the two, so it looks like everyone was standing together. (Think of it as a real-time "Photoshop me in.") The feature now works on bigger group photos and also gets better at recognizing gestures for a more natural-looking image. For example, if Person A holds their arm out and Person B stands in front for the second shot, Add Me will now understand that arm should be moved to the back, rather than awkwardly splayed across someone's torso. It's still not perfect, though. This shot of me and CNET's Patrick Holland has a cardboard-cutout quality to it that doesn't make it quite as convincing as just taking a normal photo, but it's still a neat feature for when no one's around to take your group picture. And if you'd like a good laugh, Add Me is a great way to clone someone, as we did here with Patrick, who is clearly having a very deep conversation with himself. AI features are baked into just about everything on the Pixel 10. The phone is powered by a Tensor G5 chip, which runs the newest Gemini Nano model for on-device generative AI capabilities. Voice Translate is certainly one of the most impressive generative AI features I've seen on a phone. If you're on a call and the person on the other line is speaking in a different language, it'll translate what that person is saying while mimicking the sound of their voice, rather than superimposing a robotic one. I tried it out with CNET's Vanessa Hand Orellana, and she agreed it did a decent job correctly translating the vast majority of what she was saying in Spanish into English -- although it occasionally gave her an accent, despite her not having one when speaking English in real life. Voice Translate currently supports translations from English to Spanish, German, Japanese, Italian, French, Portuguese, Swedish, Russian, Indonesian and Hindi. Magic Cue is one of Google's latest AI tricks. It's designed to automatically suggest information and actions related to what you're doing or saying. For instance, if someone texts you asking for the dinner reservation information for tonight, it'll automatically surface those details for you to send, pulling from sources like your Calendar or Gmail. If you call your airline and have an upcoming flight, that booking information should also pop up. It takes some time for Magic Cue to process all the information across your Google apps, so in my limited review window, I had a mix of successes and failures. It pulled up my flight information when a friend texted to ask for it and my Monday night dinner reservation when prompted, "Where was the dinner yesterday?", but it wasn't able to surface my United booking when calling the airline, since I'd booked it a while back. It also struggled with some text message prompts like "What time is the meeting today," sometimes simply showing a "View Calendar" popup and other times nothing at all. This should improve with time, and I'll share more once it's really up and running, but it's one of the features I think could be most handy should it live up to Google's promises. Daily Hub gives an overview of upcoming events, a weather breakdown and recommended videos. It succinctly summarized my Tuesday by noting, "You have a content planning meeting and are watching Harry Potter later today." I found the personalized recommendations to be much more useful than Samsung's version of this, called the Now Brief, which, in my experience, consistently serves up articles that have nothing to do with my interests. Daily Hub, on the other hand, suggests Conan O'Brien YouTube videos and Taylor Swift playlists, offering a peek at just how well Google can get to know you through your use of its many services and platforms. Pixel Studio is an example of a neat feature I'll probably never use. You can prompt AI to generate whatever you'd like in an image; I swapped the view outside my window to a beach view that certainly doesn't exist. I'm still not sure about the purpose of features like this, but it's at least fun to play with and sure beats the billboard for cremation services that's actually outside my apartment. You'll also find features that have essentially become staples on Android phones, like Gemini Live, which lets you have a back-and-forth conversation with the AI model, and Circle to Search, which can instantly pull up more information about anything on your screen with a couple of taps. I often use Circle to Search to find links to products I see and like on Instagram, for instance. Overall, the Pixel 10's AI features feel mostly practical and useful, and flex the power and convenience of Google's ecosystem. The Pixel 10 gets a battery boost to 4,970mAh, up from 4,700mAh on the Pixel 9. It's an impressive capacity for a standard-size phone. (In comparison, the Galaxy S25 has a 4,000-mAh battery.) After a full day of texting, navigating, scrolling through TikTok, calling an Uber, sending emails and snapping pictures, my Pixel 10 dropped from full charge at 10:36 a.m. to 49% exactly 12 hours later. In CNET's 45-minute endurance test, which involves a combination of streaming, scrolling through social media, joining a video call and playing games, the Pixel 10's battery went from full to 96%. In a longer, 3-hour streaming test over Wi-Fi, in which I watched a YouTube video in full-screen mode at full brightness, the Pixel dropped from 100% to 82%. The Pixel 10 supports 30-watt fast charging. In a 30-minute charging test, the phone went from 0% to 54%, and reached a full charge in 85 minutes. The phone also supports Qi2 wireless charging. Magnets embedded in the Pixel make it easier to snap on wireless chargers, stands and other accessories as part of a system Google calls Pixelsnap -- essentially its own take on the iPhone's MagSafe connector. (And yes, MagSafe accessories are compatible with Pixelsnap.) The Pixel 10 comes with 12GB of RAM and either 128GB ($799) or 256GB ($899) of storage. The Pixel 10 is a baseline phone that borrows from its pricier Pro counterparts by packing an impressive triple camera system, long-lasting battery and plenty of AI capabilities. I'm thrilled the price didn't go up compared to last year's model, but $799 is still a decent chunk of change. Thankfully, the Pixel 10 proves its value from a hardware and software standpoint, notably by baking in AI in a way that feels intuitive rather than overly flashy, even if there are still some hiccups. Does that mean you should upgrade? If you have a Pixel 8 or 9, you're probably fine holding onto your device for a few more years. But if you have an older phone, the AI integrations and upgrades across the camera, battery and processor may make the switch worthwhile. The Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL are appealing options for photography enthusiasts and anyone looking for a slightly higher-end device. But for anyone wanting to save several hundred dollars, the Pixel 10 makes for a convincing choice with many of the same features and minimal compromises. Every phone CNET's reviews team tests is used in the real world. We test a phone's features, play games and take photos. We examine the display to see if it's bright, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and build to see how it is to hold and whether it has an IP rating for water resistance. We push the processor's performance to the extremes using standardized benchmark tools like GeekBench and 3DMark, along with our own anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution videos and playing graphically intense games at high refresh rates. All the cameras are tested in a variety of conditions, from bright sunlight to dark indoor scenes. We try out special features like night mode and portrait mode, and compare our findings against similarly priced competing phones. We also check out the battery life by using it daily, as well as running a series of battery drain tests. We take into account additional features like support for 5G, satellite connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus support, fast charging speeds and foldable displays, among others that can be useful. We balance all of this against the price to give you the verdict on whether that phone, whatever price it is, actually represents good value. While these tests may not always be reflected in CNET's initial review, we conduct follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.

I've Spent Days Testing the Pixel 10 Pro XL and It's Quite the Android Phone

I'd already spent a lot of time with the Pixel 10 Pro XL in Paris -- including extensively testing its camera -- so there was a lot I already liked about it. I'm keen on the design, the display is vibrant and bright enough to use under the midday Paris sunshine and the camera is capable of taking some really great-looking images. Now that I have Google's new flagship phone in my hand I've been able to dive deeper, playing games, using the new AI tools and generally finding out what this phone is really like to live with. It's too early still for a full, rated review, so here I wanted to give some of my initial thoughts and impressions from the time I've spent with it. You can still read my full hands-on article, as well as watch my video above where I put the camera to the test. And if you're interested in the cheaper base Pixel 10, you can read about that here. So, let's dive in. Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source on Chrome. I couldn't really use the phone beyond the camera in my first round of testing so I was excited to finally be able to boot it up and see how it handles. It packs Google's latest Tensor G5 processor, along with 16GB of RAM. The company has made various boasts about this chip's performance increases over its predecessors. I'm yet to run our usual suite of benchmark tools on the phone -- Google seems to block them in the Play Store during testing periods, which is unhelpful -- so my observations are more anecdotal. But it certainly seems like a nippy piece of kit. Swiping around the Android 16 interface is swift and lag-free. Apps, including the camera, open quickly. It handles gaming well, with Genshin Impact and PUBG playing smoothly at high graphics settings. It also feels faster when generating AI images in Pixel Studio (more on that later). The one area I noticed any kind of slowdown is when shooting 50-megapixel images. When you first open the camera you can take up to three images in quick succession, but then the shutter button becomes inactive for a few seconds while it saves those shots. Burst-firing high resolution shots is arguably a niche use case but it does hint that the processor will still struggle with some demanding tasks. Google's Tensor chips have never been about straight-line speed though and I don't expect it to be a rival for Qualcomm's top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite on benchmark tools. What it does is provide a solid overall experience with enough power for everyday tasks, while also being tailored more toward on-device AI processing. Speaking of which... The Pixel 10 range is packed with various new AI tools, while existing ones -- like Gemini Advanced -- are more capable than ever. The generative AI image creator, Pixel Studio, launched last year on the Pixel 9 range. While it was fun, its images were often a bit rough. The improvement this year is vast, with higher quality images and an overall better understanding of prompts. It'll also generate pictures of people as well as include accurate text within the image, two things it certainly couldn't do before. There are also various new styles to choose from, including a claymation look, a stained glass style and a traditional Japanese ukiyo-e style that I absolutely love. It's great fun playing around with the tool, and while for many it might just be a fun novelty, it could also be a genuinely useful tool to help play with ideas for creative projects. A few things I did notice about it though: A prompt that simply includes the word "phone" will almost always result in an iPhone. While it can create a near photorealistic rendering of an iPhone, ask the Pixel to create a Pixel phone and it'll invariably get it wrong. Turns out, Google's AI is extremely iPhone-focused. I also found it weirdly obsessed with Hasselblad, putting the logo on people's clothes and putting a Hasselblad camera into scenes without any prompting from me. More troubling though is the AI's lack of representation of people of color. Using generic terms like "man" or "woman" almost always resulted in images of white people, with none of the images created in my whole testing time showing darker skin tones. This isn't unique to Google's phones; AI's racial bias has been notable for many years now, with most chatbots displaying some kind of bias whether overt or otherwise. CNET contacted Google for comment on this issue. The AI extends deeper into the phone, with tools like Magic Cue designed to automatically surface relevant information from you during a conversation, so you don't have to go searching for it yourself. It'll scrape information from Gmail, the Google Messages app, Google Calendar, Contacts and Keep Notes, and you'll need to provide permission for Magic Cue to access your information. I'm yet to fully use the tool, but my colleagues have and found it works sometimes -- although it seems inconsistent in when it surfaces information. Why have I not used it much? Because it works only with certain Google apps, and I've rarely used them before now. I'm mostly an iPhone user, and my social world exists largely in messaging apps like WhatsApp or Instagram messaging. I never even use Apple's own iMessage. As a result, setting up the Pixel from scratch means not having any existing data for it to pull from, and if like me, you don't really live in Google's app ecosystem, then Magic Cue will be of limited use. You'll find other existing AI tools on board like Gemini Live and Circle to Search, along with a new voice recording tool that creates AI soundtracks to play over the top of your recordings. Honestly, I don't see what the point is. I've never felt I needed a "rainy-day blues" vibe playing over a voice memo about an article idea and I don't think it's going to transform the way I work. Gemini Live now allows you to share your screen to be able to ask questions about what you're looking at. Sometimes it works, other times it's weirdly inaccurate. While my app drawer was open I asked it, "Which is the PUBG Mobile app?" and Gemini acknowledged that it could see it, but then inaccurately told me its location and described it as "a desert scene with a vehicle," when it's actually a person in a helmet against a bright blue sky. A total failure. I asked it about several apps (including the calculator) and it got some element wrong every time -- either the app icon's location within the screen or the description of the icon itself. However, when I opened the camera, showed it a SanDisk SSD and asked, "What is this?" it gave me a perfect answer. I would continue to fact-check your AI results. I took hundreds of photos with the Pixel 10 Pro XL in Paris, and I was really pleased with how it captured the exposure and colors on the bright sunny day. In a slightly more overcast Edinburgh, however, I'm not quite as thrilled with the results. I had a few friends come to visit and while doing some filming on the Royal Mile we also decided to hit a few pubs throughout the afternoon and I took the phone along for the ride. This shot of this chap having a little snooze is solid, with great details and exposure. This ultrawide shot of my friend filming has a decent exposure, but the details when you zoom in are a little mushy. It's the same here, with a noticeable amount of oversharpening giving the scene a crunchy look, which I don't love. This portrait mode shot of my friend is spot on though, with a lovely natural bokeh. And this image of a dog is pin-sharp. At 5x zoom, this shot of this man outside a pub looks great. But this guy carrying an Eevee plushie definitely looks overprocessed, with oversharpened details that I'm not keen on. Taken with the regular camera, this scene is well exposed, with the statue on top of the far building being barely noticeable. Zooming in to 10x brings the statue much more into view, with reasonably sharp details. At 30x the phone uses AI to upscale the image, although I don't think it's done a good job here -- it may even have missed focus as it looks really quite blurry. But weirdly at 100x it looks far better, with even texture details visible on the statue. It's a remarkable image, and I did not expect to get a clean shot like this at 100x zoom. In this very low light indoor bar, the phone did a solid job of our cheers with some old-school Hooch. Details are a little mushy, but that's to be expected. Taken with the main camera using the Pixel's Night Sight, this night time scene is bright and detailed with little image noise throughout. Switching to the ultrawide camera there's again a decent amount of detail throughout. This shot is captured well enough, but I noticed there was again quite a lot of crunchy-looking details from the over-zealous image processing. So I also shot this photo in raw and did my own editing in Adobe Lightroom. Apart from adjusting the exposure and colors, I was also less heavy-handed when it came to sharpening and clarity, and I think it's a nicer-looking shot as a result. I've put the phone through one round of our demanding video streaming battery drain test. After the first hour it had dropped from full to 94%, to 86% by the second hour and to 76% after three hours of streaming. I'd call that result OK at best. It's in line with the OnePlus 13 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, while phones like the Galaxy S25 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro both had well over 80% remaining after the third hour. It's a very demanding test, though, and in everyday use I've found it decent enough. It certainly holds its charge well when not in use, and after 45 minutes of playing Genshin Impact it only dropped by around 7%. Battery life is absolutely an area I want to investigate further before I'm ready to slap on a score. When I first wrote about the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL I said they were "shaping up to be superb flagship Android phones." I stand by that. They look great, the cameras can certainly take some awesome images and the new AI tools are interesting and only going to get better over time. You shouldn't buy this phone if you already own a Pixel 9 Pro or maybe even an 8 Pro. The hardware upgrades are arguably quite minimal and some of the AI prowess of the 10 Pro series will be shared with earlier Pixel models with updates. You also shouldn't look towards this phone if you're a power gamer, wanting the ultimate handheld console-like experience. While I haven't benchmarked the processor, its overall performance feels good, but not overwhelmingly potent. It certainly can handle games and if you're more of a casual gamer wanting to bash a few pixels around on your daily commute, it'll be more than sufficient. I'm looking forward to spending more time with the phone over the coming days and weeks. Some tools -- like Magic Cue -- will only reveal their true usefulness over time, so this is a phone I'm keen to really get to know. But it's certainly starting out well.

I replaced my Samsung S25 Ultra with the Pixel 10 Pro XL for a week - and didn't regret it

It's hard to believe that we're officially at year 10 for the Google Pixel, but even just a look back at the past three generations of the search giant's phone lineup paints a clear picture of its maturity and where things are headed. Case in point, the Pixel 10 Pro series, consisting of the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, is, at first glance, a safe upgrade. Their designs look nearly identical to last year's models, you'll struggle to spot the differences in specs between the 10th and 9th generations, and they're priced squarely in the threshold of modern flagships. Also: I compared the Pixel 10 Pro to every older Google flagship model - the biggest upgrades But they also have a software suite that truly advances the way we interact with our smartphones -- or at least, that was my takeaway after using the phones for the past week. With the Pixel 10 series (standard model included), I've never been more convinced that AI on phones is here to stay. It doesn't have to be forced, intrusive, or excessive; it just has to be intelligent enough to know its place. Before I dive into all the AI madness, there's a critical topic that deserves just as much attention: eSIM. It's the first hurdle every new Pixel 10 owner (in the US) will encounter -- whether they're switching from an older Pixel or jumping ship from an iPhone -- and thankfully, it's one Google has made surprisingly painless. To compare the setup processes, I ported my physical SIM from T-Mobile onto the Pixel 10 Pro XL and my secondary eSIM from Mint Mobile onto the Pixel 10 Pro. Both methods took less than five minutes and were only a few QR code scans away from working cellular connections. Also: Google made a bold move with the Pixel 10, even if it's not obvious yet. Here's why I'd never had a more burdenless interaction at my local carrier shop, but something did catch me off guard. At one point, the T-Mobile associate congratulated me on switching to a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. That's not a typo. With the Pixel 10 Pro series, the year-over-year difference in hardware design is at an all-time low, and I don't blame Google for that -- or the associate for mixing up the models. The contoured edges still greet your fingers with a warm embrace, the polished aluminum frame exudes premium, and the camera bar constantly reminds you how seriously Google takes its mobile optics. Allow me to chase my geekery with one of the few downsides of this year's Pixel design: the weight. At 232 grams, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is one of the heaviest phones on the market, beating the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (218 grams) and iPhone 16 Pro Max (227 grams). The phone isn't necessarily top or bottom-heavy, either, meaning you'll feel the slow build-up of wrist strain no matter how you hold the device up. Also: Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: I tested both Androids, and it's pretty darn close Google tells me there are several reasons why its phones weigh more this year, which I can only nod in approval to. First, the Pixel 10 Pro series features upgraded top and bottom speakers, producing a change in loudness that I noticed almost immediately when playing my usual recipe videos by J. Kenji López-Alt in the kitchen. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL also have larger 4,870 and 5,200mAh batteries, respectively, up from last year's 4,700 and 5,070mAh capacities. Throughout the weekend, I was ending my days with roughly 35% of battery remaining on the XL model, a minor but still appreciated improvement over its predecessor. The faster 45W wired charging, exclusive to the XL, was another welcome touch. Perhaps the biggest new feature, and the one that may be most effective in convincing iPhone users to switch over, is Pixelsnap, a system of in-body magnets that can pull in wireless power at the Qi2 standard. Think MagSafe for Android. This enables the phones to snap onto the thousands of magnet-based accessories on the market, from tripod stands to wallet cases to charging docks. Also: The best Google Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro cases of 2025 Google has fully embraced the technology by offering a slew of screen savers that appear when you're charging its Pixel 10 phones. These include a full-scale weather display, a Google Photos slideshow, smart home controls, and a clock. As someone who often sets their phone on a wireless charging stand bedside and at the office desk, the ambient feature is easy to appreciate. The option to proc the screen saver when the Pixel 10 Pro is charging or charging and set upright is a nice touch. You can also restrict the feature to when the device is in wireless charging only, as it would otherwise appear with even a wired connection. However, the screen savers aren't perfect. For one, the weather panel, especially when I saw it demoed on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold at the Made by Google event, can appear too conspicuous and display an excessive amount of information for what will likely be something I look at every half an hour. And while the clock screen saver can also display the temperature, it doesn't show incoming notifications, making it feel more like a downgraded always-on display. Also: I'm a longtime iPhone user, but Google just sold me on the Pixel 10 with these features One of the looming questions going into my Pixel 10 Pro testing was how significant an upgrade the new Tensor G5 chipset brings. Since Google took the matter of processing power and silicon into its own hands, the brand has always played second fiddle to Qualcomm's Snapdragon models. Based on benchmarks, that still holds true, with the Tensor G5 performing worse than the Snapdragon 8 Elite found on competing flagship phones. But from a more practical outlook, I've found the Tensor G5 still capable enough to operate under intense workloads, from editing HDR, 60fps videos to gaming to running Android Auto navigation while on a call. The in-house processor, which features a modified architecture that dynamically shifts between full and sub models, is truly realized in the various new AI features on the Pixel 10 Pro series. I'm talking faster compute times across Pixel Screenshots, Recorder transcriptions and translations, and other native AI tasks that would typically take seconds longer. That time adds up, folks. Also: 7 AI features I'd like to see the iPhone 17 embrace from Google, OpenAI, and others A standout AI feature for me is Magic Cue, which sifts through your Gmail, Calendar, and other Google services to populate relevant information and context when and where it makes sense. I recently booked the wrong return flight for a work trip, and during my call with United, Magic Cue displayed my flight and account information on the phone app screen, reducing the friction of me parsing through my Gmail and the various confirmation messages that typically come with booking flights. It's this seamless, intuitive integration of AI that keeps catching me off guard - in the best way. That carries through to the cameras, a familiar assembly of 50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP telephoto sensors. The most notable change with the Pixel 10 Pro camera is the Tensor G5 chip's enhanced image signal processing (ISP) and the slew of AI tricks that it handles. I took hundreds of photos over the past week with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, 9 Pro XL, and Galaxy S25 Ultra, and I found the former to deliver the ideal combination of colors, shadows, and highlights. The improved image stabilization on the main lens also helps preserve detail with fast-moving subjects and low-lit photography. Also: Pixel just zoomed ahead of iPhone in the camera photography race Where the Pixel 10 Pro camera truly shines this year is in far-distance capturing, thanks to a new Pro Res Zoom that uses generative AI to correct noise and distortion. It's a touchy subject, I know, but the output, even at 100X zoom, is what customers who favor idealism over realism and convenience over labor have been waiting for. The difference between the Pixel Pro Res Zoom and Samsung's Space Zoom leans heavily in Google's favor. The AI-enhanced zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro series isn't flawless -- at times, it overcorrects and makes people look like sci-fi characters. But when it works, which is at a 95% success rate for me, it's genuinely impressive. Camera Coach is the other big new AI feature within the camera app, and I found the on-screen instructions easy to follow, clear to understand, and flexible enough to capture various shots of the same subject. Where it falls short is in capturing moving objects like impatient children or speeding vehicles, as going through the tips and tricks requires time and constant focus. So long as you're leaving the camera app with one helpful takeaway each time you use the feature, I'd consider that a win for Google. There's still plenty to unpack with the Pixel 10 Pro series, but my first week with the devices has shown me what living with AI superphones feels like. For longtime Pixel users eyeing an upgrade, both models are a no-brainer -- showcasing Google's best hardware to date and an Android 16 experience that feels tastefully familiar, delightfully playful, and genuinely useful. The Pixel 10 Pro is the way to go for users who prefer a more ergonomic and comfortable mobile experience. If mobile entertainment and fast charging are high on your priority list, consider the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The larger model costs $100 more than last year, but it also starts with 256GB of storage (versus 128GB), so the $1,199 may be easier to justify. As always, consider the various trade-in offers and promotions from your carriers and big-box retailers. There's a good chance you'll score a couple of hundred dollars off with minimum effort.

I tested the Google Pixel 10 for a week, and it's an AI smartphone done right (so far)

Google's entry-level flagship Pixel has proven to be a capable smartphone, with just the right specs and features to please the masses. So when I switched over to the latest model, the Pixel 10, I wasn't expecting to be wowed. After a week of use, however, I stand corrected. With the Pixel 10, Google kept its sleek design, while adding hardware upgrades that will improve users' everyday experiences in subtle -- but meaningful, Google hopes -- ways. These include an improved battery, a new telephoto lens, and Pixelsnap: Android's version of MagSafe. Also: I tried every new AI feature on the Google Pixel 10 series - my thoughts as an AI expert Yet, the Pixel 10's suite of AI features, powered by the Google Tensor G5 chipset, is the heart of what makes the smartphone stand out. Despite the upgrades, the Pixel 10 retails for the same price as its predecessor: $799. I've been using the Pixel 10 every day since Jimmy Fallon put it down on the Made by Google stage. Let's determine if these upgrades are significant enough to warrant an upgrade from the previous models. I love a Goldilocks analogy, and it's especially relevant here. When a product is done well, it won't leave you longing for more. Such is the case with the Pixel 10's performance. The form factor is nearly identical to its predecessor, with rounded corners, aluminum sides, and a smooth Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back (also on the front). The camera bar, 6.3-inch Actua display, and similar weight (just 0.2 ounces heavier than last year) all resemble the Pixel 9, but this isn't a complaint. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Despite the surface similarities, more time with the phone makes the upgrades more evident. For example, the display now supports 3000 nits of peak brightness, up from last year's 2700 nits. This, combined with the 120Hz refresh rate, 2424x1080 resolution, and OLED panel, makes for a bright, vivid display in all lighting conditions. A closer look at the camera bar also reveals a new third 5x telephoto lens, which makes it easier to get crisper shots of distant objects. While I typically wait until much later in a review to touch on the camera, I have to say the Super Res zoom up to 20x left me impressed. It didn't sacrifice details when cropping closely in on a subject, partially due to the camera's Imaging Signal Processor (ISP) enabled by the new Tensor G5 chipset. The triple camera array is comprised of a 48MP main camera, a 13MP 120-degree ultrawide, and a new 10.8MP telephoto lens, with a 10.5MP selfie camera on the front. Consistent with prior models, the camera system is capable of taking vibrant, detailed shots with rich contrast. The expanded zoom capabilities make it more on par with the Pro models, which have always had telephoto cameras. Also: I've bought every flagship Google Pixel phone since the first - but 2025 has me reconsidering Another upgrade, though not immediately visible, is the new Pixelsnap magnetic technology, which works similarly to MagSafe on iPhones. With the Pixelsnap, users can attach magnetic accessories to the back of their phones (including MagSafe-compatible ones), such as chargers, mounts, and docks. This alone is a convenient addition that you probably won't appreciate until you find an accessory you love. As an iPhone user, I can't imagine life without my MagSafe portable chargers. Under the hood, the phone received some upgrades, including a slightly bigger battery that Google claims lasts up to 30 hours, up from the 24 hours on the Pixel 9. During my time testing, even after normal work activities, including playing music nearly all day as I write, doom scrolling on social media, and texting (only during breaks, of course), I was able to not only make it through an entire day, but also have some juice leftover the next morning. Also: Why Google's best Pixel 10 announcement was an iPhone feature - and I don't mind Lastly, the phone's most notable upgrade is the Google Tensor G5 chipset, the company's most advanced processor. Not only does it support an overall better performance from your phone, including faster speeds, optimal battery performance, and better photography, but it also powers all of the advanced AI features found on the Pixel 10. The Tensor G5 was designed with Google DeepMind and, as a result, optimized for on-device AI workloads. For example, the Tensor G5 runs Google's Gemini Nano model entirely on-device, giving users optimal speeds and the peace of mind that their data isn't leaving the device. This powerful model supports the extensive suite of AI features, which is what really sets the Pixel 10 apart. In the era of AI, nearly every phone launch also includes a suite of automated, machine-learning-based features. However, in my experience, many of these features are easy to ignore. With the Pixel 10, Google struck a good balance, baking various tools into many of the phone's primary functions so that they're intuitive to use, while not being too overbearing. A prime example is Magic Cue, a new predictive feature that uses the context of what you're doing -- combined with your activity across Google's apps -- to generate suggestions in real time for actions or information. For example, if someone asks me in a text what time our reservation is, Magic Cue "reads" it and surfaces the information so that I just have to tap on it to reply. Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2025 While I can confirm the feature works, as I tested the Pixel 10 in everyday interactions, Magic Cue wasn't intrusive, one of the concerns I had going into it. I think of it more as something you can tap into should you need it, to reduce the friction of having to dig to find information. Another AI-powered feature I enjoyed is the new Daily Hub feature found in the Discover feed. Using context from my Google Calendar and YouTube activity, it curated a convenient summary of my day that I could be briefed on at a glance instead of having to toggle between different apps. The camera app received the bulk of the updates, with features such as Camera Coach, where the AI instructs you on how to improve your shot, Add Me, which now works with even more people, and Auto Best Take, which automatically finds the best picture with all your subjects in what Google considers the ideal state. Also: I compared the Pixel 10 Pro to every older Google flagship model - the biggest upgrades There are also a plethora of other AI features, including a real-time Call Translation feature, a Take a Message feature, which uses AI to provide transcripts for missed calls, Pixel Journal prompt suggestions, and even a NotebookLM integration in Pixel Screenshots. I've enjoyed my experience with the Pixel 10 and would recommend it to most users looking for a relatively accessible Android, especially if the helpful AI features resonate with you. Ultimately, it delivers on performance, camera, battery life, and AI features, making it a strong competitor against other flagship smartphones in the same price range. You can preorder yours now for a starting price of $799, with several phone carriers offering additional promotions and deals. The colors include Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and Obsidian, and storage sizes range from 128GB to 256GB. You can keep up with my latest stories and tech adventures on social media. Follow me on Twitter/X at @sabrinaa_ortiz and on Instagram at @sabrinaa.ortiz.

My first week with Google Pixel 10 Pro gave me a taste of AI superphones - and I'm nearly sold

It's hard to believe that we're officially at year 10 for the Google Pixel, but even just a look back at the past three generations of the search giant's phone lineup paints a clear picture of its maturity and where things are headed. Case in point, the Pixel 10 Pro series, consisting of the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, is, at first glance, a safe upgrade. Their designs look nearly identical to last year's models, you'll struggle to spot the differences in specs between the 10th and 9th generations, and they're priced squarely in the threshold of modern flagships. Also: I compared the Pixel 10 Pro to every older Google flagship model - the biggest upgrades But they also have a software suite that truly advances the way we interact with our smartphones -- or at least, that was my takeaway after using the phones for the past week. With the Pixel 10 series (standard model included), I've never been more convinced that AI on phones is here to stay. It doesn't have to be forced, intrusive, or excessive; it just has to be intelligent enough to know its place. Before I dive into all the AI madness, there's a critical topic that deserves just as much attention: eSIM. It's the first hurdle every new Pixel 10 owner (in the US) will encounter -- whether they're switching from an older Pixel or jumping ship from an iPhone -- and thankfully, it's one Google has made surprisingly painless. To compare the setup processes, I ported my physical SIM from T-Mobile onto the Pixel 10 Pro XL and my secondary eSIM from Mint Mobile onto the Pixel 10 Pro. Both methods took less than five minutes and were only a few QR code scans away from working cellular connections. Also: Google made a bold move with the Pixel 10, even if it's not obvious yet. Here's why I'd never had a more burdenless interaction at my local carrier shop, but something did catch me off guard. At one point, the T-Mobile associate congratulated me on switching to a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. That's not a typo. With the Pixel 10 Pro series, the year-over-year difference in hardware design is at an all-time low, and I don't blame Google for that -- or the associate for mixing up the models. The contoured edges still greet your fingers with a warm embrace, the polished aluminum frame exudes premium, and the camera bar constantly reminds you how seriously Google takes its mobile optics. Allow me to chase my geekery with one of the few downsides of this year's Pixel design: the weight. At 232 grams, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is one of the heaviest phones on the market, beating the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (218 grams) and iPhone 16 Pro Max (227 grams). The phone isn't necessarily top or bottom-heavy, either, meaning you'll feel the slow build-up of wrist strain no matter how you hold the device up. Also: Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: I tested both Androids, and it's pretty darn close Google tells me there are several reasons why its phones weigh more this year, which I can only nod in approval to. First, the Pixel 10 Pro series features upgraded top and bottom speakers, producing a change in loudness that I noticed almost immediately when playing my usual recipe videos by J. Kenji López-Alt in the kitchen. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL also have larger 4,870 and 5,200mAh batteries, respectively, up from last year's 4,700 and 5,070mAh capacities. Throughout the weekend, I was ending my days with roughly 35% of battery remaining on the XL model, a minor but still appreciated improvement over its predecessor. The faster 45W wired charging, exclusive to the XL, was another welcome touch. Perhaps the biggest new feature, and the one that may be most effective in convincing iPhone users to switch over, is Pixelsnap, a system of in-body magnets that can pull in wireless power at the Qi2 standard. Think MagSafe for Android. This enables the phones to snap onto the thousands of magnet-based accessories on the market, from tripod stands to wallet cases to charging docks. Also: The best Google Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro cases of 2025 Google has fully embraced the technology by offering a slew of screen savers that appear when you're charging its Pixel 10 phones. These include a full-scale weather display, a Google Photos slideshow, smart home controls, and a clock. As someone who often sets their phone on a wireless charging stand bedside and at the office desk, the ambient feature is easy to appreciate. The option to proc the screen saver when the Pixel 10 Pro is charging or charging and set upright is a nice touch. You can also restrict the feature to when the device is in wireless charging only, as it would otherwise appear with even a wired connection. However, the screen savers aren't perfect. For one, the weather panel, especially when I saw it demoed on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold at the Made by Google event, can appear too conspicuous and display an excessive amount of information for what will likely be something I look at every half an hour. And while the clock screen saver can also display the temperature, it doesn't show incoming notifications, making it feel more like a downgraded always-on display. Also: I'm a longtime iPhone user, but Google just sold me on the Pixel 10 with these features One of the looming questions going into my Pixel 10 Pro testing was how significant an upgrade the new Tensor G5 chipset brings. Since Google took the matter of processing power and silicon into its own hands, the brand has always played second fiddle to Qualcomm's Snapdragon models. Based on benchmarks, that still holds true, with the Tensor G5 performing worse than the Snapdragon 8 Elite found on competing flagship phones. But from a more practical outlook, I've found the Tensor G5 still capable enough to operate under intense workloads, from editing HDR, 60fps videos to gaming to running Android Auto navigation while on a call. The in-house processor, which features a modified architecture that dynamically shifts between full and sub models, is truly realized in the various new AI features on the Pixel 10 Pro series. I'm talking faster compute times across Pixel Screenshots, Recorder transcriptions and translations, and other native AI tasks that would typically take seconds longer. That time adds up, folks. Also: 7 AI features I'd like to see the iPhone 17 embrace from Google, OpenAI, and others A standout AI feature for me is Magic Cue, which sifts through your Gmail, Calendar, and other Google services to populate relevant information and context when and where it makes sense. I recently booked the wrong return flight for a work trip, and during my call with United, Magic Cue displayed my flight and account information on the phone app screen, reducing the friction of me parsing through my Gmail and the various confirmation messages that typically come with booking flights. It's this seamless, intuitive integration of AI that keeps catching me off guard - in the best way. That carries through to the cameras, a familiar assembly of 50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP telephoto sensors. The most notable change with the Pixel 10 Pro camera is the Tensor G5 chip's enhanced image signal processing (ISP) and the slew of AI tricks that it handles. I took hundreds of photos over the past week with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, 9 Pro XL, and Galaxy S25 Ultra, and I found the former to deliver the ideal combination of colors, shadows, and highlights. The improved image stabilization on the main lens also helps preserve detail with fast-moving subjects and low-lit photography. Also: Pixel just zoomed ahead of iPhone in the camera photography race Where the Pixel 10 Pro camera truly shines this year is in far-distance capturing, thanks to a new Pro Res Zoom that uses generative AI to correct noise and distortion. It's a touchy subject, I know, but the output, even at 100X zoom, is what customers who favor idealism over realism and convenience over labor have been waiting for. The difference between the Pixel Pro Res Zoom and Samsung's Space Zoom leans heavily in Google's favor. The AI-enhanced zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro series isn't flawless -- at times, it overcorrects and makes people look like sci-fi characters. But when it works, which is at a 95% success rate for me, it's genuinely impressive. Camera Coach is the other big new AI feature within the camera app, and I found the on-screen instructions easy to follow, clear to understand, and flexible enough to capture various shots of the same subject. Where it falls short is in capturing moving objects like impatient children or speeding vehicles, as going through the tips and tricks requires time and constant focus. So long as you're leaving the camera app with one helpful takeaway each time you use the feature, I'd consider that a win for Google. There's still plenty to unpack with the Pixel 10 Pro series, but my first week with the devices has shown me what living with AI superphones feels like. For longtime Pixel users eyeing an upgrade, both models are a no-brainer -- showcasing Google's best hardware to date and an Android 16 experience that feels tastefully familiar, delightfully playful, and genuinely useful. The Pixel 10 Pro is the way to go for users who prefer a more ergonomic and comfortable mobile experience. If mobile entertainment and fast charging are high on your priority list, consider the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The larger model costs $100 more than last year, but it also starts with 256GB of storage (versus 128GB), so the $1,199 may be easier to justify. As always, consider the various trade-in offers and promotions from your carriers and big-box retailers. There's a good chance you'll score a couple of hundred dollars off with minimum effort.

My first week with Google Pixel 10 Pro gave me a taste of AI superphones - and I'm hooked

It's hard to believe that we're officially at year 10 for the Google Pixel, but even just a look back at the past three generations of the search giant's phone lineup paints a clear picture of its maturity and where things are headed. Case in point, the Pixel 10 Pro series, consisting of the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, is, at first glance, a safe upgrade. Their designs look nearly identical to last year's models, you'll struggle to spot the differences in specs between the 10th and 9th generations, and they're priced squarely in the threshold of modern flagships. Also: I compared the Pixel 10 Pro to every older Google flagship model - the biggest upgrades But they also have a software suite that truly advances the way we interact with our smartphones -- or at least, that was my takeaway after using the phones for the past week. With the Pixel 10 series (standard model included), I've never been more convinced that AI on phones is here to stay. It doesn't have to be forced, intrusive, or excessive; it just has to be intelligent enough to know its place. Before I dive into all the AI madness, there's a critical topic that deserves just as much attention: eSIM. It's the first hurdle every new Pixel 10 owner (in the US) will encounter -- whether they're switching from an older Pixel or jumping ship from an iPhone -- and thankfully, it's one Google has made surprisingly painless. To compare the setup processes, I ported my physical SIM from T-Mobile onto the Pixel 10 Pro XL and my secondary eSIM from Mint Mobile onto the Pixel 10 Pro. Both methods took less than five minutes and were only a few QR code scans away from working cellular connections. Also: Google made a bold move with the Pixel 10, even if it's not obvious yet. Here's why I'd never had a more burdenless interaction at my local carrier shop, but something did catch me off guard. At one point, the T-Mobile associate congratulated me on switching to a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. That's not a typo. With the Pixel 10 Pro series, the year-over-year difference in hardware design is at an all-time low, and I don't blame Google for that -- or the associate for mixing up the models. The contoured edges still greet your fingers with a warm embrace, the polished aluminum frame exudes premium, and the camera bar constantly reminds you how seriously Google takes its mobile optics. Allow me to chase my geekery with one of the few downsides of this year's Pixel design: the weight. At 232 grams, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is one of the heaviest phones on the market, beating the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (218 grams) and iPhone 16 Pro Max (227 grams). The phone isn't necessarily top or bottom-heavy, either, meaning you'll feel the slow build-up of wrist strain no matter how you hold the device up. Also: Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: I tested both Androids, and it's pretty darn close Google tells me there are several reasons why its phones weigh more this year, which I can only nod in approval to. First, the Pixel 10 Pro series features upgraded top and bottom speakers, producing a change in loudness that I noticed almost immediately when playing my usual recipe videos by J. Kenji López-Alt in the kitchen. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL also have larger 4,870 and 5,200mAh batteries, respectively, up from last year's 4,700 and 5,070mAh capacities. Throughout the weekend, I was ending my days with roughly 35% of battery remaining on the XL model, a minor but still appreciated improvement over its predecessor. The faster 45W wired charging, exclusive to the XL, was another welcome touch. Perhaps the biggest new feature, and the one that may be most effective in convincing iPhone users to switch over, is Pixelsnap, a system of in-body magnets that can pull in wireless power at the Qi2 standard. Think MagSafe for Android. This enables the phones to snap onto the thousands of magnet-based accessories on the market, from tripod stands to wallet cases to charging docks. Also: The best Google Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro cases of 2025 Google has fully embraced the technology by offering a slew of screen savers that appear when you're charging its Pixel 10 phones. These include a full-scale weather display, a Google Photos slideshow, smart home controls, and a clock. As someone who often sets their phone on a wireless charging stand bedside and at the office desk, the ambient feature is easy to appreciate. The option to proc the screen saver when the Pixel 10 Pro is charging or charging and set upright is a nice touch. You can also restrict the feature to when the device is in wireless charging only, as it would otherwise appear with even a wired connection. However, the screen savers aren't perfect. For one, the weather panel, especially when I saw it demoed on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold at the Made by Google event, can appear too conspicuous and display an excessive amount of information for what will likely be something I look at every half an hour. And while the clock screen saver can also display the temperature, it doesn't show incoming notifications, making it feel more like a downgraded always-on display. Also: I'm a longtime iPhone user, but Google just sold me on the Pixel 10 with these features One of the looming questions going into my Pixel 10 Pro testing was how significant an upgrade the new Tensor G5 chipset brings. Since Google took the matter of processing power and silicon into its own hands, the brand has always played second fiddle to Qualcomm's Snapdragon models. Based on benchmarks, that still holds true, with the Tensor G5 performing worse than the Snapdragon 8 Elite found on competing flagship phones. But from a more practical outlook, I've found the Tensor G5 still capable enough to operate under intense workloads, from editing HDR, 60fps videos to gaming to running Android Auto navigation while on a call. The in-house processor, which features a modified architecture that dynamically shifts between full and sub models, is truly realized in the various new AI features on the Pixel 10 Pro series. I'm talking faster compute times across Pixel Screenshots, Recorder transcriptions and translations, and other native AI tasks that would typically take seconds longer. That time adds up, folks. Also: 7 AI features I'd like to see the iPhone 17 embrace from Google, OpenAI, and others A standout AI feature for me is Magic Cue, which sifts through your Gmail, Calendar, and other Google services to populate relevant information and context when and where it makes sense. I recently booked the wrong return flight for a work trip, and during my call with United, Magic Cue displayed my flight and account information on the phone app screen, reducing the friction of me parsing through my Gmail and the various confirmation messages that typically come with booking flights. It's this seamless, intuitive integration of AI that keeps catching me off guard - in the best way. That carries through to the cameras, a familiar assembly of 50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP telephoto sensors. The most notable change with the Pixel 10 Pro camera is the Tensor G5 chip's enhanced image signal processing (ISP) and the slew of AI tricks that it handles. I took hundreds of photos over the past week with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, 9 Pro XL, and Galaxy S25 Ultra, and I found the former to deliver the ideal combination of colors, shadows, and highlights. The improved image stabilization on the main lens also helps preserve detail with fast-moving subjects and low-lit photography. Also: Pixel just zoomed ahead of iPhone in the camera photography race Where the Pixel 10 Pro camera truly shines this year is in far-distance capturing, thanks to a new Pro Res Zoom that uses generative AI to correct noise and distortion. It's a touchy subject, I know, but the output, even at 100X zoom, is what customers who favor idealism over realism and convenience over labor have been waiting for. The difference between the Pixel Pro Res Zoom and Samsung's Space Zoom leans heavily in Google's favor. The AI-enhanced zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro series isn't flawless -- at times, it overcorrects and makes people look like sci-fi characters. But when it works, which is at a 95% success rate for me, it's genuinely impressive. Camera Coach is the other big new AI feature within the camera app, and I found the on-screen instructions easy to follow, clear to understand, and flexible enough to capture various shots of the same subject. Where it falls short is in capturing moving objects like impatient children or speeding vehicles, as going through the tips and tricks requires time and constant focus. So long as you're leaving the camera app with one helpful takeaway each time you use the feature, I'd consider that a win for Google. There's still plenty to unpack with the Pixel 10 Pro series, but my first week with the devices has shown me what living with AI superphones feels like. For longtime Pixel users eyeing an upgrade, both models are a no-brainer -- showcasing Google's best hardware to date and an Android 16 experience that feels tastefully familiar, delightfully playful, and genuinely useful. The Pixel 10 Pro is the way to go for users who prefer a more ergonomic and comfortable mobile experience. If mobile entertainment and fast charging are high on your priority list, consider the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The larger model costs $100 more than last year, but it also starts with 256GB of storage (versus 128GB), so the $1,199 may be easier to justify. As always, consider the various trade-in offers and promotions from your carriers and big-box retailers. There's a good chance you'll score a couple of hundred dollars off with minimum effort.

I tested the Google Pixel 10 for a week, and I'm this close from switching from my iPhone

Google's entry-level flagship Pixel has proven to be a capable smartphone, with just the right specs and features to please the masses. So when I switched over to the latest model, the Pixel 10, I wasn't expecting to be wowed. After a week of use, however, I stand corrected. With the Pixel 10, Google kept its sleek design, while adding hardware upgrades that will improve users' everyday experiences in subtle -- but meaningful, Google hopes -- ways. These include an improved battery, a new telephoto lens, and Pixelsnap: Android's version of MagSafe. Also: I tried every new AI feature on the Google Pixel 10 series - my thoughts as an AI expert Yet, the Pixel 10's suite of AI features, powered by the Google Tensor G5 chipset, is the heart of what makes the smartphone stand out. Despite the upgrades, the Pixel 10 retails for the same price as its predecessor: $799. I've been using the Pixel 10 every day since Jimmy Fallon put it down on the Made by Google stage. Let's determine if these upgrades are significant enough to warrant an upgrade from the previous models. I love a Goldilocks analogy, and it's especially relevant here. When a product is done well, it won't leave you longing for more. Such is the case with the Pixel 10's performance. The form factor is nearly identical to its predecessor, with rounded corners, aluminum sides, and a smooth Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back (also on the front). The camera bar, 6.3-inch Actua display, and similar weight (just 0.2 ounces heavier than last year) all resemble the Pixel 9, but this isn't a complaint. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Despite the surface similarities, more time with the phone makes the upgrades more evident. For example, the display now supports 3000 nits of peak brightness, up from last year's 2700 nits. This, combined with the 120Hz refresh rate, 2424x1080 resolution, and OLED panel, makes for a bright, vivid display in all lighting conditions. A closer look at the camera bar also reveals a new third 5x telephoto lens, which makes it easier to get crisper shots of distant objects. While I typically wait until much later in a review to touch on the camera, I have to say the Super Res zoom up to 20x left me impressed. It didn't sacrifice details when cropping closely in on a subject, partially due to the camera's Imaging Signal Processor (ISP) enabled by the new Tensor G5 chipset. The triple camera array is comprised of a 48MP main camera, a 13MP 120-degree ultrawide, and a new 10.8MP telephoto lens, with a 10.5MP selfie camera on the front. Consistent with prior models, the camera system is capable of taking vibrant, detailed shots with rich contrast. The expanded zoom capabilities make it more on par with the Pro models, which have always had telephoto cameras. Also: I've bought every flagship Google Pixel phone since the first - but 2025 has me reconsidering Another upgrade, though not immediately visible, is the new Pixelsnap magnetic technology, which works similarly to MagSafe on iPhones. With the Pixelsnap, users can attach magnetic accessories to the back of their phones (including MagSafe-compatible ones), such as chargers, mounts, and docks. This alone is a convenient addition that you probably won't appreciate until you find an accessory you love. As an iPhone user, I can't imagine life without my MagSafe portable chargers. Under the hood, the phone received some upgrades, including a slightly bigger battery that Google claims lasts up to 30 hours, up from the 24 hours on the Pixel 9. During my time testing, even after normal work activities, including playing music nearly all day as I write, doom scrolling on social media, and texting (only during breaks, of course), I was able to not only make it through an entire day, but also have some juice leftover the next morning. Also: Why Google's best Pixel 10 announcement was an iPhone feature - and I don't mind Lastly, the phone's most notable upgrade is the Google Tensor G5 chipset, the company's most advanced processor. Not only does it support an overall better performance from your phone, including faster speeds, optimal battery performance, and better photography, but it also powers all of the advanced AI features found on the Pixel 10. The Tensor G5 was designed with Google DeepMind and, as a result, optimized for on-device AI workloads. For example, the Tensor G5 runs Google's Gemini Nano model entirely on-device, giving users optimal speeds and the peace of mind that their data isn't leaving the device. This powerful model supports the extensive suite of AI features, which is what really sets the Pixel 10 apart. In the era of AI, nearly every phone launch also includes a suite of automated, machine-learning-based features. However, in my experience, many of these features are easy to ignore. With the Pixel 10, Google struck a good balance, baking various tools into many of the phone's primary functions so that they're intuitive to use, while not being too overbearing. A prime example is Magic Cue, a new predictive feature that uses the context of what you're doing -- combined with your activity across Google's apps -- to generate suggestions in real time for actions or information. For example, if someone asks me in a text what time our reservation is, Magic Cue "reads" it and surfaces the information so that I just have to tap on it to reply. Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2025 While I can confirm the feature works, as I tested the Pixel 10 in everyday interactions, Magic Cue wasn't intrusive, one of the concerns I had going into it. I think of it more as something you can tap into should you need it, to reduce the friction of having to dig to find information. Another AI-powered feature I enjoyed is the new Daily Hub feature found in the Discover feed. Using context from my Google Calendar and YouTube activity, it curated a convenient summary of my day that I could be briefed on at a glance instead of having to toggle between different apps. The camera app received the bulk of the updates, with features such as Camera Coach, where the AI instructs you on how to improve your shot, Add Me, which now works with even more people, and Auto Best Take, which automatically finds the best picture with all your subjects in what Google considers the ideal state. Also: I compared the Pixel 10 Pro to every older Google flagship model - the biggest upgrades There are also a plethora of other AI features, including a real-time Call Translation feature, a Take a Message feature, which uses AI to provide transcripts for missed calls, Pixel Journal prompt suggestions, and even a NotebookLM integration in Pixel Screenshots. I've enjoyed my experience with the Pixel 10 and would recommend it to most users looking for a relatively accessible Android, especially if the helpful AI features resonate with you. Ultimately, it delivers on performance, camera, battery life, and AI features, making it a strong competitor against other flagship smartphones in the same price range. You can preorder yours now for a starting price of $799, with several phone carriers offering additional promotions and deals. The colors include Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and Obsidian, and storage sizes range from 128GB to 256GB. You can keep up with my latest stories and tech adventures on social media. Follow me on Twitter/X at @sabrinaa_ortiz and on Instagram at @sabrinaa.ortiz.

I switched to the Google Pixel 10 from an iPhone 16, and it was surprisingly delightful

Google's entry-level flagship Pixel has proven to be a capable smartphone, with just the right specs and features to please the masses. So when I switched over to the latest model, the Pixel 10, I wasn't expecting to be wowed. After a week of use, however, I stand corrected. With the Pixel 10, Google kept its sleek design, while adding hardware upgrades that will improve users' everyday experiences in subtle -- but meaningful, Google hopes -- ways. These include an improved battery, a new telephoto lens, and Pixelsnap: Android's version of MagSafe. Also: I tried every new AI feature on the Google Pixel 10 series - my thoughts as an AI expert Yet, the Pixel 10's suite of AI features, powered by the Google Tensor G5 chipset, is the heart of what makes the smartphone stand out. Despite the upgrades, the Pixel 10 retails for the same price as its predecessor: $799. I've been using the Pixel 10 every day since Jimmy Fallon put it down on the Made by Google stage. Let's determine if these upgrades are significant enough to warrant an upgrade from the previous models. I love a Goldilocks analogy, and it's especially relevant here. When a product is done well, it won't leave you longing for more. Such is the case with the Pixel 10's performance. The form factor is nearly identical to its predecessor, with rounded corners, aluminum sides, and a smooth Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back (also on the front). The camera bar, 6.3-inch Actua display, and similar weight (just 0.2 ounces heavier than last year) all resemble the Pixel 9, but this isn't a complaint. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Despite the surface similarities, more time with the phone makes the upgrades more evident. For example, the display now supports 3000 nits of peak brightness, up from last year's 2700 nits. This, combined with the 120Hz refresh rate, 2424x1080 resolution, and OLED panel, makes for a bright, vivid display in all lighting conditions. A closer look at the camera bar also reveals a new third 5x telephoto lens, which makes it easier to get crisper shots of distant objects. While I typically wait until much later in a review to touch on the camera, I have to say the Super Res zoom up to 20x left me impressed. It didn't sacrifice details when cropping closely in on a subject, partially due to the camera's Imaging Signal Processor (ISP) enabled by the new Tensor G5 chipset. The triple camera array is comprised of a 48MP main camera, a 13MP 120-degree ultrawide, and a new 10.8MP telephoto lens, with a 10.5MP selfie camera on the front. Consistent with prior models, the camera system is capable of taking vibrant, detailed shots with rich contrast. The expanded zoom capabilities make it more on par with the Pro models, which have always had telephoto cameras. Also: I've bought every flagship Google Pixel phone since the first - but 2025 has me reconsidering Another upgrade, though not immediately visible, is the new Pixelsnap magnetic technology, which works similarly to MagSafe on iPhones. With the Pixelsnap, users can attach magnetic accessories to the back of their phones (including MagSafe-compatible ones), such as chargers, mounts, and docks. This alone is a convenient addition that you probably won't appreciate until you find an accessory you love. As an iPhone user, I can't imagine life without my MagSafe portable chargers. Under the hood, the phone received some upgrades, including a slightly bigger battery that Google claims lasts up to 30 hours, up from the 24 hours on the Pixel 9. During my time testing, even after normal work activities, including playing music nearly all day as I write, doom scrolling on social media, and texting (only during breaks, of course), I was able to not only make it through an entire day, but also have some juice leftover the next morning. Also: Why Google's best Pixel 10 announcement was an iPhone feature - and I don't mind Lastly, the phone's most notable upgrade is the Google Tensor G5 chipset, the company's most advanced processor. Not only does it support an overall better performance from your phone, including faster speeds, optimal battery performance, and better photography, but it also powers all of the advanced AI features found on the Pixel 10. The Tensor G5 was designed with Google DeepMind and, as a result, optimized for on-device AI workloads. For example, the Tensor G5 runs Google's Gemini Nano model entirely on-device, giving users optimal speeds and the peace of mind that their data isn't leaving the device. This powerful model supports the extensive suite of AI features, which is what really sets the Pixel 10 apart. In the era of AI, nearly every phone launch also includes a suite of automated, machine-learning-based features. However, in my experience, many of these features are easy to ignore. With the Pixel 10, Google struck a good balance, baking various tools into many of the phone's primary functions so that they're intuitive to use, while not being too overbearing. A prime example is Magic Cue, a new predictive feature that uses the context of what you're doing -- combined with your activity across Google's apps -- to generate suggestions in real time for actions or information. For example, if someone asks me in a text what time our reservation is, Magic Cue "reads" it and surfaces the information so that I just have to tap on it to reply. Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2025 While I can confirm the feature works, as I tested the Pixel 10 in everyday interactions, Magic Cue wasn't intrusive, one of the concerns I had going into it. I think of it more as something you can tap into should you need it, to reduce the friction of having to dig to find information. Another AI-powered feature I enjoyed is the new Daily Hub feature found in the Discover feed. Using context from my Google Calendar and YouTube activity, it curated a convenient summary of my day that I could be briefed on at a glance instead of having to toggle between different apps. The camera app received the bulk of the updates, with features such as Camera Coach, where the AI instructs you on how to improve your shot, Add Me, which now works with even more people, and Auto Best Take, which automatically finds the best picture with all your subjects in what Google considers the ideal state. Also: I compared the Pixel 10 Pro to every older Google flagship model - the biggest upgrades There are also a plethora of other AI features, including a real-time Call Translation feature, a Take a Message feature, which uses AI to provide transcripts for missed calls, Pixel Journal prompt suggestions, and even a NotebookLM integration in Pixel Screenshots. I've enjoyed my experience with the Pixel 10 and would recommend it to most users looking for a relatively accessible Android, especially if the helpful AI features resonate with you. Ultimately, it delivers on performance, camera, battery life, and AI features, making it a strong competitor against other flagship smartphones in the same price range. You can preorder yours now for a starting price of $799, with several phone carriers offering additional promotions and deals. The colors include Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and Obsidian, and storage sizes range from 128GB to 256GB. You can keep up with my latest stories and tech adventures on social media. Follow me on Twitter/X at @sabrinaa_ortiz and on Instagram at @sabrinaa.ortiz.

A week later with Google Pixel 10 Pro: These upgrades are convincing me to leave Samsung

It's hard to believe that we're officially at year 10 for the Google Pixel, but even just a look back at the past three generations of the search giant's phone lineup paints a clear picture of its maturity and where things are headed. Case in point, the Pixel 10 Pro series, consisting of the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, is, at first glance, a safe upgrade. Their designs look nearly identical to last year's models, you'll struggle to spot the differences in specs between the 10th and 9th generations, and they're priced squarely in the threshold of modern flagships. Also: I compared the Pixel 10 Pro to every older Google flagship model - the biggest upgrades But they also have a software suite that truly advances the way we interact with our smartphones -- or at least, that was my takeaway after using the phones for the past week. With the Pixel 10 series (standard model included), I've never been more convinced that AI on phones is here to stay. It doesn't have to be forced, intrusive, or excessive; it just has to be intelligent enough to know its place. Before I dive into all the AI madness, there's a critical topic that deserves just as much attention: eSIM. It's the first hurdle every new Pixel 10 owner (in the US) will encounter -- whether they're switching from an older Pixel or jumping ship from an iPhone -- and thankfully, it's one Google has made surprisingly painless. To compare the setup processes, I ported my physical SIM from T-Mobile onto the Pixel 10 Pro XL and my secondary eSIM from Mint Mobile onto the Pixel 10 Pro. Both methods took less than five minutes and were only a few QR code scans away from working cellular connections. Also: Google made a bold move with the Pixel 10, even if it's not obvious yet. Here's why I'd never had a more burdenless interaction at my local carrier shop, but something did catch me off guard. At one point, the T-Mobile associate congratulated me on switching to a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. That's not a typo. With the Pixel 10 Pro series, the year-over-year difference in hardware design is at an all-time low, and I don't blame Google for that -- or the associate for mixing up the models. The contoured edges still greet your fingers with a warm embrace, the polished aluminum frame exudes premium, and the camera bar constantly reminds you how seriously Google takes its mobile optics. Allow me to chase my geekery with one of the few downsides of this year's Pixel design: the weight. At 232 grams, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is one of the heaviest phones on the market, beating my previous daily driver, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (218 grams), and iPhone 16 Pro Max (227 grams). The phone isn't necessarily top or bottom-heavy, either, meaning you'll feel the slow build-up of wrist strain no matter how you hold the device up. Also: Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: I tested both Androids, and it's pretty darn close Google tells me there are several reasons why its phones weigh more this year, which I can only nod in approval to. First, the Pixel 10 Pro series features upgraded top and bottom speakers, producing a change in loudness that I noticed almost immediately when playing my usual recipe videos by J. Kenji López-Alt in the kitchen. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL also have larger 4,870 and 5,200mAh batteries, respectively, up from last year's 4,700 and 5,070mAh capacities. Throughout the weekend, I was ending my days with roughly 35% of battery remaining on the XL model, a minor but still appreciated improvement over its predecessor. The faster 45W wired charging, exclusive to the XL, was another welcome touch. Perhaps the biggest new feature, and the one that may be most effective in convincing iPhone users to switch over, is Pixelsnap, a system of in-body magnets that can pull in wireless power at the Qi2 standard. Think MagSafe for Android. This enables the phones to snap onto the thousands of magnet-based accessories on the market, from tripod stands to wallet cases to charging docks. Also: The best Google Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro cases of 2025 Google has fully embraced the technology by offering a slew of screen savers that appear when you're charging its Pixel 10 phones. These include a full-scale weather display, a Google Photos slideshow, smart home controls, and a clock. As someone who often sets their phone on a wireless charging stand bedside and at the office desk, the ambient feature is easy to appreciate. The option to proc the screen saver when the Pixel 10 Pro is charging or charging and set upright is a nice touch. You can also restrict the feature to when the device is in wireless charging only, as it would otherwise appear with even a wired connection. However, the screen savers aren't perfect. For one, the weather panel, especially when I saw it demoed on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold at the Made by Google event, can appear too conspicuous and display an excessive amount of information for what will likely be something I look at every half an hour. And while the clock screen saver can also display the temperature, it doesn't show incoming notifications, making it feel more like a downgraded always-on display. Also: I'm a longtime iPhone user, but Google just sold me on the Pixel 10 with these features One of the looming questions going into my Pixel 10 Pro testing was how significant an upgrade the new Tensor G5 chipset brings. Since Google took the matter of processing power and silicon into its own hands, the brand has always played second fiddle to Qualcomm's Snapdragon models. Based on benchmarks, that still holds true, with the Tensor G5 performing worse than the Snapdragon 8 Elite found on competing flagship phones. But from a more practical outlook, I've found the Tensor G5 still capable enough to operate under intense workloads, from editing HDR, 60fps videos to gaming to running Android Auto navigation while on a call. The in-house processor, which features a modified architecture that dynamically shifts between full and sub models, is truly realized in the various new AI features on the Pixel 10 Pro series. I'm talking faster compute times across Pixel Screenshots, Recorder transcriptions and translations, and other native AI tasks that would typically take seconds longer. That time adds up, folks. Also: 7 AI features I'd like to see the iPhone 17 embrace from Google, OpenAI, and others A standout AI feature for me is Magic Cue, which sifts through your Gmail, Calendar, and other Google services to populate relevant information and context when and where it makes sense. I recently booked the wrong return flight for a work trip, and during my call with United, Magic Cue displayed my flight and account information on the phone app screen, reducing the friction of me parsing through my Gmail and the various confirmation messages that typically come with booking flights. It's this seamless, intuitive integration of AI that keeps catching me off guard - in the best way. That carries through to the cameras, a familiar assembly of 50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP telephoto sensors. The most notable change with the Pixel 10 Pro camera is the Tensor G5 chip's enhanced image signal processing (ISP) and the slew of AI tricks that it handles. I took hundreds of photos over the past week with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, 9 Pro XL, and Galaxy S25 Ultra, and I found the former to deliver the ideal combination of colors, shadows, and highlights. The improved image stabilization on the main lens also helps preserve detail with fast-moving subjects and low-lit photography. Also: Pixel just zoomed ahead of iPhone in the camera photography race Where the Pixel 10 Pro camera truly shines this year is in far-distance capturing, thanks to a new Pro Res Zoom that uses generative AI to correct noise and distortion. It's a touchy subject, I know, but the output, even at 100X zoom, is what customers who favor idealism over realism and convenience over labor have been waiting for. The difference between the Pixel Pro Res Zoom and Samsung's Space Zoom leans heavily in Google's favor. The AI-enhanced zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro series isn't flawless -- at times, it overcorrects and makes people look like sci-fi characters. But when it works, which is at a 95% success rate for me, it's genuinely impressive. Camera Coach is the other big new AI feature within the camera app, and I found the on-screen instructions easy to follow, clear to understand, and flexible enough to capture various shots of the same subject. Where it falls short is in capturing moving objects like impatient children or speeding vehicles, as going through the tips and tricks requires time and constant focus. So long as you're leaving the camera app with one helpful takeaway each time you use the feature, I'd consider that a win for Google. There's still plenty to unpack with the Pixel 10 Pro series, but my first week with the devices has shown me what living with AI superphones feels like. For longtime Pixel users eyeing an upgrade, both models are a no-brainer -- showcasing Google's best hardware to date and an Android 16 experience that feels tastefully familiar, delightfully playful, and genuinely useful. The Pixel 10 Pro is the way to go for users who prefer a more ergonomic and comfortable mobile experience. If mobile entertainment and fast charging are high on your priority list, consider the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The larger model costs $100 more than last year, but it also starts with 256GB of storage (versus 128GB), so the $1,199 may be easier to justify. As always, consider the various trade-in offers and promotions from your carriers and big-box retailers. There's a good chance you'll score a couple of hundred dollars off with minimum effort.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL Review: The Smartest Phone Ever?

The Pixel 10 series runs on Android 16 with the Material 3 Expressive UI design and will get seven years of OS updates, feature drops, and security fixes. This is equal to Samsung's seven-year commitment to some of its phones, the longest support period in the Android world. Google packs the Pixel 10 with many new features, and they all work just as Google claims. The two marquee features are Magic Cue and Voice Translate, the latter of which caused my jaw to almost hit the floor. Magic Cue Magic Cue proactively gives you pertinent information when you need it without asking. If you don't want to use the feature, you can opt out during setup or later in Settings. In demos, a person called an airline using the Google Phone app. During the call, a card with their flight information, such as the flight number, time, date, and confirmation number, popped up. I tested this by putting reservations in my calendar for Magic Cue to find. In a text exchange, I asked a friend about the time and location for our dinner. At first, Magic Cue pulled up the dates of past reservations. In subsequent tests, it found the new reservation and brought it up in a card. When I asked my friend where the restaurant is located, Magic Cue automatically populated the full address on a card. I think this feature needs some time before it really "knows" what information to present, so don't expect Magic Cue to pick out every relevant detail immediately. Voice Translate Voice Translate requires you to download the language packs to the Phone app before it will work. Once you do, it is available in calls under the Call Assist button. Voice Translate lets you talk to people in French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Hindi and Japanese are available as previews. I tested it with a French speaker. I made a call, tapped the Voice Translate feature, and set the language to French. Once the call connected, it played a recorded message for my callee, letting them know the conversation was being translated on the device. The Pixel sampled my voice, and it spoke to my callee in French, complete with my vocal tones and patterns. The caller responded in French, and the Pixel sampled their voice, so I heard the response in English in their voice and intonation on my phone. We found the conversation timing may be awkward because you can hear the other person speak their native language before the Pixel translates the response. The Pixel also displays an on-screen text transcription, which is useful if you miss something. Keep in mind, only one party in the call needs to have a Pixel 10 phone for this to work. If you can get around these quirks, the Pixel 10's Voice Translation tool works well enough to hold a rough conversation with someone in another language, which is terrific. Photography Tools Camera Coach is a new tool in the Photos app that gives you basic tips on how to frame your photos as you take them. The feature is not finished yet, but it gives you a general idea of what to do. Camera Coach provides suggestions and then highlights targets on the screen as it teaches you. Auto Best Take is a variant of Best Take, which lets you easily edit group photos by replacing people's faces from other photos. With Auto Best Take, you can just tap Edit, and if Best Take is an option, you'll see it. The new image takes just a few seconds to load, and you are presented with a fully finished picture with happy faces. You can accept the image as is or tap one or more faces in the group to choose an alternate expression. Pixel Studio now lets you edit photos using plainspoken language. In the photo above, I asked the app to replace the background with a dumpster fire in one session and then to put me in a suit. The resulting image was better than my imagination, especially since Pixel Studio corrects lighting to match the background. My black suit actually has a red tinge from the fire behind me. This is perhaps more fun than functional, but a little fun never hurt anyone, right? It is unclear if all of Google's AI features in the Pixel series will make their way over to the Galaxy S25 line. While Samsung's Galaxy AI is nothing to sneeze at, a benefit of buying a Pixel is that you are guaranteed first access to the latest and greatest from Google.

Google Pixel 10 review: The new smartphone standard

Google marked the tenth generation of Pixels with four new smartphones. While the 'pro' and foldable Pixel 10 models might have no-compromise specs (and prices to match), Google has blurred the lines between its entry-level Pixel 10 and those premium devices. This year, the base Pixel 10 has a bigger battery, a new 5x zoom telephoto camera and almost as many AI features as the flagship Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. If the celebrity-loaded Made By Google event was anything to go by, the company is putting a lot more effort (and money) into making the Pixel a genuine threat to the Galaxy S series and iPhones, and conveying that message to everyone. The Pixel 10 deserves those comparisons, and in a lot of ways, it's the better smartphone. Google's 10th-generation of Pixels look a lot like their predecessors. There's a protruding pill-shaped camera unit, which is the central design flourish. It's substantial, which still looks a little jarring, but it also doubles as a sort of grip for my index finger while holding the phone, something I noticed after a year of using the Pixel 9 Pro. Google has also refreshed the color range of its Pixel family. Both a vivid blue (Indigo) and mild yellow (Lemongrass) shades are welcome additions to the typical black and white hues. The 6.3-inch screen's refresh rate still tops out at 120Hz, but that's now pretty much standard across midrange devices and up. Even the entry-level Pixel 9a has the same smooth scrolling experience. However, Google has boosted the Pixel 10's brightness, now peaking at 3,000 nits, which is a slight increase from 2,700 nits on the Pixel 9. The screen maxes out at 2,000 nits at its brightest setting for HDR, which is also a bump up from the Pixel 9. Google has also boosted the sound quality on the Pixel 10 to be noticeably less tinny and a little bassier than previous Pixels. Another addition is Pixelsnap, which is essentially MagSafe for Pixels. The wireless charging integration is largely the same, with magnets that firmly attach the device to charging pucks, accessories and docks. It easily worked with a range of wireless chargers, although Qi2-supported options are still rarer than they should be. You're more likely to find a MagSafe-branded wireless charger from third-party companies like Belkin, but those don't achieve the faster charge speeds of Qi2. If you're feeling spendy, Google's official Pixelsnap charger is $70 and reaches speeds up to 25W, while there's a PopSocket-like Pixel ring stand that can snap to the back of the phone. Additionally, the Pixel 10 series supports most of the MagSafe peripherals that iPhone users have been enjoying since 2020. The big hardware upgrade this year is the cameras. The photo unit includes a 48-megapixel wide-angle setup, a 13MP sensor with an ultra-wide lens and a 10.8MP 5x telephoto camera. For a base phone, it's an impressive combo, even though it doesn't quite match the higher-res sensors found in the Pixel 10 Pro -- or last year's Pixel 9 Pro. That new telephoto lens isn't some middling 2x or 3x zoom, but a 5x zoom which puts it beyond rivals at a similar price point, like the Galaxy S25 (3x zoom) and the iPhone 16's meager 2x optical zoom. It's like using a Pixel Pro, with an additional cropped zoom up to 10x and a (less consistent) Super Res Zoom up to 20x. This is a significant step up for the base model and something I'm sure we'll see the aforementioned rivals likely try to match. Simply put, the Pixel 10 is just a better, more versatile camera phone than, say, the Galaxy S25. I tested the Pixel 10's telephoto against the 9 Pro's, and there were noticeable differences in detail and crispness, which is understandable as the latter has a much higher-res 48MP sensor. However, that doesn't detract from the leap in both detail and shooting range compared to the base Pixel 9 from last year. The Pixel 10 can also capture 10-bit HDR video now, although it doesn't offer the Pixel 10 Pro's 8K video, Night Sight Video and Super Res Zoom Video options. There's no Video Boost, either, which uploads footage to Google's cloud to enhance online. There are plenty of other notable camera features onboard, including Night Sight low-light shooting, or Add Me, which is still the standout Pixel camera feature from last year and hasn't been replicated by rivals yet. For those who missed my praise last year, Add Me stitches together two group photos, taken by two different people. The mode guides users to line up the shots, meaning your group photos can finally include the person who takes all of them (me). Camera Coach is an intriguing addition to the Pixel camera experience. Above the viewfinder, there's a new camera icon with a plus sign in the top right corner. Tapping it makes the screen flash, and the coach will offer multiple framing and photo-taking suggestions. It'll also add a Get Inspired option that goes a bit more avant-garde, generating thumbnails of possible results based off of the sample it took, filling the gaps with generative AI. I witheringly launched the Coach, ready to criticize its basic suggestions or common-sense ideas. But, you know what, it's not bad. With hooks in Gemini AI, the mode will offer angle, lighting and composition suggestions. You can also choose whether to emphasize, say, the pattern of some leaves, or the background behind it or the group of people to the side. While the feature utilizes Google's Tensor G5 chip to analyze shots, it does require an internet connection. Thanks to the Tensor G5 chip, the Pixel 10 can run Google's newest Gemini Nano model on-device. This means generative AI experiences can now be used without the need for connectivity. However, as I mentioned with Camera Coach, that isn't always the case. However, Magic Cue does work without having to summon its answers from the cloud. And when it works, it's what I've wanted from AI assistants for years. After gaining your permission, Gemini gets into your screenshots, calendar, Gmail accounts and more. Magic Cue will pull in the information you need, hopefully, where you need it. For example, it displays the email address for that comedy show venue your friend wants tickets for, or nudges your calendar to show availability when a friend asks what your weekend plans are. These cues are highlighted with a rainbow "aura" that has become the de facto visual shorthand for artificial intelligence. This is just the start: Google will eventually add the ability for Magic Cue to tap into your photos, suggesting images when someone's mentioned in text messages, emails and more. Magic Cue has some blind spots, though. As my colleague Sam Rutherford noted in his Pixel 10 Pro review, I found it particularly fussy with calendar cues, often failing to identify dates or times in screenshots or emails. It's also missing a major area of where I want all of this info: third-party messaging apps. But hey, if you're using Google Messages, you're good to go. Google's almost-instantaneous voice translation during calls is impressive too. Managing Editor Cherlynn Low laid out how that works, and while it's a technical marvel, I'm not sure how much I'd use the feature for high-stakes conversations like booking accommodations or sorting out travel issues. I also liked Take a Message, which transcribes calls when you're unable to answer. However, just like I did while I was testing Apple's similar feature during my iOS 26 preview, I either answered calls instinctively [Ed. note: Mat is clearly a different specimen from the rest of us humans] or people didn't leave voicemails. There are plenty of minor upgrades to existing tools and features on the Pixel 10. Gemini Live, which can "see" through your camera or read what's on screen, can also now offer visual guidance, highlighting objects onscreen after hearing your request or question. NotebookLM now integrates with Pixel Screenshots and Recorder. If the former detects something that could be useful to an existing NotebookLM project, it'll suggest adding it for easier access. There are also Writing Tools (sound familiar?) within Gboard, which can retool your existing prose into specified writing styles. It'll even suggest which emojis to add into the mix. For now, this is only compatible with US English, so it's not my favorite. There's also a new Pixel Journal app, which sounds pretty familiar too. I briefly tested it out during the days I've had the phone, but if you haven't found the app/notebook/diary to journal in yet, it's a perfectly fine option, with AI-powered suggestions on what to write about and the ability to attach photos and other details that your smartphone can log. Something that wasn't apparent during my review was that the Journal app will learn about your writing patterns and offer up insights on how often you write, when you typically write and more. Google says its new Tensor G5 chip is 34 percent faster than last year's G4, while the TPU (Tensor Processing Unit, ugh) is 60 percent faster at AI tasks. Performance testing apps like Geekbench 6 can't be installed on Pixel devices before the phones go on sale, so I wasn't able to quantify the upgrade. I can feel those improvements with heavier processing tasks though, like transcription, translation and image generation, in apps like Pixel Studio. The Pixel 10 also had no issues running graphically intensive games like Infinity Nikki and Zenless Zone Zero, and seemed quicker to load most apps compared to Pixel phones of the past. Google's Tensor chips are definitely catching up. Anecdotally, I find myself using Google's Pixel AI features (and Gemini) significantly more often than on other Android devices I've used and tested. With comparable AI tasks, such as transcribing an interview, the Tensor G5 appears to handle them more efficiently, delivering results in less time. The Pixel 10 has a 4,970mAh battery, which is not only bigger than the Pixel 9 (4,700mAh) but also the Pixel 10 Pro (4,870mAh). However, the Pixel 10 doesn't quite match the 27 hours-plus rundown time of the Pixel 9. Running a looping video, this year's phone lasted around 22 hours, which is a bit disappointing given the specs. I'll retest and update this review if the results differ. The Pixel 10 supports wired charging up to 30W, returning to over 50 percent in under 30 minutes. It can also be wirelessly charged at up to 15W, thanks to Qi2 support. That's an improvement, but it's not Qi2.2 like the Pixel 10 Pro XL, which can reach 25W charging wirelessly. The Pixel 10 redefines what we should expect from base flagship smartphones. With Apple's next iPhone just around the corner, Google has added a 5x telephoto camera, rounding out the Pixel's photography chops offering while augmenting it with more features powered by Gemini. Camera Coach might not be for everyone, but Magic Cue -- like Pixel Screenshots last year -- is a glimpse into the future of how we'll use AI on smartphones. The Pixel 10 is a substantial upgrade from the Pixel 9, although given it has the Tensor G5 chip, it's a shame that software features like Zoom Enhance from last year's Pixels didn't make the cut. Unless you're a die-hard smartphone gamer, there isn't a more capable smartphone at this price.

Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL review: Redefining the smart in smartphone

You might not like it, but this is what peak AI looks like (at least for now). In the '90s, the term "smartphone" emerged to denote devices with "advanced computing" features that allowed you to do more than just make calls. But if we're being honest, applying that label to pocket-sized gadgets that ran cut-down versions of desktop PC apps with half-baked UIs was kind of overselling it. More recently though, we've seen handsets like those from Google come with sophisticated features that simply aren't available anywhere else, due in no small part to the rise of AI. And now with the arrival of the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, these devices feel like they are redefining the "smart" in smartphone as we know it. The overall look and feel of the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL haven't changed much since last year. You still get polished aluminum sides sandwiched by slabs of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The main differences are a slightly updated lineup of colors (moonstone, jade, porcelain and obsidian) and a switch from a matte to shiny finish on the back. This is a small bummer for me as I prefer the soft-touch feel of its predecessors. The pale gold frame on the jade model is a nice touch, even if I would have preferred a richer shade of green. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL's 120Hz OLED screens have gotten a touch brighter, now topping out at 3,300 nits (up from 3,000). This makes them a bit easier to see outside in direct sunlight while retaining the gorgeous vivid colors we've enjoyed on Google's phones since switching to its Super Actua-branded displays. And with the screens themselves coming in at 6.3- and 6.8-inches, there's no deviation in sizing either. My one small gripe is that at least in the US, the Pixel 10 family is now eSIM-only. As someone who prefers the convenience of being able to swap mobile networks at a moment's notice, I really wish Google hadn't. But ever since Apple made a similar switch back on the iPhone 14, this was bound to happen at some point. Like microSD card expandability and 3.5mm audio, physical sims have become another endangered feature on the brink of extinction. With Google's focus on AI performance, the everyday speed of its phones has always lagged a touch behind other Android flagships. However, thanks to the Tensor G5, the Pixel 10 line has closed that gap considerably due to CPUs that are more than 30 percent faster than before. Even without the ability to run some of our traditional tests like Geekbench 6 (which on Pixels often can't be installed prior to a device's official on-sale date), I noticed significantly shorter loading times in some of my favorite games. Booting up Sword of Convallaria only took 14 seconds, which is just one second longer than what I got recently from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and its Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip. I recently clocked the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and its Tensor G4 processor taking 18 seconds to do the same task, so that's a very encouraging improvement. And holding everything together is Google's Material 3 Expressive UI for Android 16, which makes the whole OS feel snappier and more alive. The most tantalizing new feature on the Pixel 10 family is Magic Cue, because when it works, it really does feel like magic. If you allow it, it will look through your screenshots, calendar events, contacts, Gmail and Messages. So when someone texts you "Where are we getting dinner on Thursday?" that info appears in its own little animated rainbow bubble, exactly where you need it, instead of you needing to flip back and forth between multiple apps. It's like your phone is actually looking out for you and wants to simplify things by cutting out tedious steps. Plus, all of this happens on device, so there's no need to send your data into the wild wild web. In addition to reservations, if someone asks if you're free, Magic Cue will pull up a shortcut to your calendar to make sure there aren't any conflicts. It can also retrieve flight info (or call the airline directly), phone numbers and more. And sometime later in September, Google is adding the ability for Magic Cue to send photos of a specific person or pet when they come up in conversation. On the flipside, for all the times when Magic Cue feels like wizardry, there are just as many limitations. For example, if an event hasn't been entered into your calendar (like a work event planned in Slack) , Google's AI may not be able to find it. Magic Cue also doesn't work on appointments that are more than 10 days away. And perhaps my biggest issue is that even within Google's own first-party software, Magic Cue isn't supported in Google Chat, not to mention the vast sea of third-party messaging apps like Discord, Line, etc. That's a problem because those services have largely replaced texting for me. Now I'm sure Google will expand Magic Cue support to more apps in the future, but this is how it works right now. It's a similar situation for another new feature: natural sounding on-the-fly voice translation in calls. I rarely answer calls in general nowadays, let alone calls in a language I can't speak. But when this works, it's damn impressive and my relatives said the AI-generated voice sounded a bit like me (though the lack of support for Chinese seems like a strange omission). Same goes for Take a Message, which can create real-time transcripts (similar to Live Voicemail on iPhone) when you miss a call that you might have otherwise wanted to answer. To me, it's a more modern take on voicemail, the difference being that Google will send the transcript to you as a text message as well. But once again, how often do people do that? For me, it's become increasingly rare, but your mileage may vary. That said, I do like the new Daily Hub as a way to make the far left panel on the Pixel 10 Pro's homescreen more useful. It puts upcoming events, the forecast and interesting videos and articles (tailored to me, of course) all in one place, but I wish the box for it was a bit larger. On the flipside, I'm still kind of out on the Pixel Journal app. I've never been a big Dear Diary person and I'm not sure a digital version will get me to pick up the habit. But I do appreciate that it tries to surface things like the coolest photos you took on a certain day while encouraging you to be more introspective, or prompting you to keep track of things like fitness goals. Plus, you can lock it behind a PIN or biometrics to keep prying eyes away from your inner thoughts. While the physical hardware behind the Pixel 10 Pro's 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide and 48MP telephoto cameras hasn't changed much, its photo skills got a bump thanks to improved software. Now with support for full resolution portrait shots, the Pixel 10 Pros can capture a new level of detail which is generally great, unless you're like me and you instantly cringe when you can see every single pore on your face. That said, all those pixels put more strain on processing power. I noticed that anytime I shot more than three max-res pics in a row, the phone has to pause while it cleared out its buffer before letting me snap any more. That isn't great if you're trying to capture candid reactions. If you're looking for guidance, Camera Coach does a surprisingly good job providing step-by-step instructions on how to improve your pics. Or, if you need inspiration, it can also suggest some more outside-the-box compositions. The downside to all this is that it does ask more of the user. Instead of just opening the camera app when you want to snap a quick pic, you need to carve out time to see how far Camera Coach's AI-powered advice can really take you. This may result in more trial and error than some folks will really want to deal with. But considering this is a very optional learning tool, that last part isn't a big deal. This brings us to the new natural language editing powers in Google Photos. Instead of needing to fool around with sliders or figure out how to use an app like Lightroom or Photoshop, you can simply tell the Pixel 10 what changes to make and it will do it. This might be the most powerful new tool on the entire phone, because instead of needing to know about things like levels, curves or exposure, I was able to simply ask the Pixel 10 Pro to brighten my photo and voila, suddenly (well, after a few seconds of waiting) I had a low-light picture that was easier to see. As a fan of telephoto photography, my favorite new camera feature is easily Pro Res Zoom. By taking the 5x optical lens and combining it with the power of on-device generative AI, the Pixel 10 Pro line can shoot at up to 100x. Sure, it's not perfect and the results aren't as good as real glass, but that's not really an option for phones. And when I compared what Pro Res Zoom captured at 100x compared to what a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra produced at the same magnification, the Pixel 10 Pro XL's shot was sharper, more detailed and just better looking in almost every way. However, there are some limitations on Pro Res Zoom when taking long range shots of people that may cause you to fall back on 20x Super Res Zoom in certain situations. Still, all this feels weird because I remember a time when scenes from CSI where people yelling "Enhance" at a computer in order to create magically crystal clear zoom images from extreme digital crops felt like a meme. But now, that's not very far off from what the latest round of Google's AI-powered enhancements have given us. When it comes to standard daytime and low-light shots, Google's image processing remains unmatched. Nighttime pics are brighter and more accurate while the Pixel 10 Pro XL more capably preserved things like highlights in my photo of some garden-raised tomatoes. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL feature 4,870mAh and 5,200mAh batteries respectively, which are up from the 4,700mAh and 5,060mAh cells on last year's phones. This translated into runtimes of 27 hours and 24 minutes for the 10 Pro and 28:01 for the 10 Pro XL -- both healthy increases from the 25 hours of life we saw previously from the Pixel 9 Pro. And in the real world, Google's latest handsets felt even more efficient than that, often ending the day with upwards of 35 percent juice left in the tank. As for charging, wired speeds for both phones have gotten a small boost with the 10 Pro now topping out at 30 watts (up from 27W) or 40 watts (up from 37W) for the 10 Pro XL. However, the biggest upgrade when it comes to charging convenience is the addition of official magnetic Qi2 wireless support, or what Google is calling Pixelsnap. This means the entire Pixel 10 line now works with a huge range of accessories (including most MagSafe peripherals for the iPhone) that makes it easy to slap a wireless puck on the back without having to worry about if it's properly aligned or not. Furthermore, while wireless charging speeds for the 10 Pro are staying the same at 15 watts, the 10 Pro XL can now go up to 25 watts. Unfortunately, there still aren't that many compatible accessories that support charging at that speed. But between Google's new family of Pixelsnap peripherals and increased adoption for Qi2 as a whole, that won't be the case for long. So if you care about getting the Pixel with the fastest charging speeds, the 10 Pro XL is what you want. The one small downgrade for 2025 is that the Pixel 10 family no longer supports reverse wireless powersharing (aka Battery Share), which is a feature that has been available on several previous generations of Google phones. I will fully admit that this feature was never something I used everyday. But every now and then I would find myself with a gadget that needed some juice, and even if it was slow, it was really nice to be able to bestow some excess energy upon a device without a cable. Now that we can look back at 10 generations of devices, Google's overarching strategy is more convincing than ever. For the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL, the company has combined iterative hardware upgrades with a solid (and attractive) design while its software and AI continues to outpace its rivals. Even though Magic Cue doesn't work for everything and is limited to a handful of first-party apps, it feels like the omniscient computers from sci-fi shows and movies have finally been beamed into a device to help us organize our lives. Then you tack on support for high-res portraits and an AI-powered zoom that produces results better than the base optics ever could on their own and you get what might be the most versatile mobile cameras around. And let's not forget all the great existing Google tools and features like the Pixel Recorder, Call Screener and more. For the past couple years, my wife has been asking me if this is the year to upgrade. And up until now, I've said she's better off waiting. But with the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL, unless you're a hardcore gamer or high-level mobile creator who might actually notice a difference in performance, or have need for a stylus, Google's latest handsets are the smartest picks.

Pixel 10 Review: Google Delivers the AI Phone That Apple Promised

Google has basically declared the tech specs race over for phones. It's all about AI and Gemini now. If you just look at the Pixel 10’s physical design, you’re going to be disappointed. Google’s new $800 Android smartphone looks almost identical to last year’s Pixel 9, save for an additional 5x telephoto camera lens and some new colors, including the makes-me-smile Indigo blue. But like most new phones, there are a bunch of small upgrades internally that adfd up to a better daily experience, even if they’re not revolutionary. All of that stuff is good and necessary for a new phoneâ€"though, there are some features that are a downgradeâ€"but the real star of the Pixel 10 is AI. Google has injected a heavy dose of AI and Gemini into Android to make the Pixel 10 feel genuinely more personalized and helpful. The Pixel 10 is still fundamentally the touchscreen phone experience that Apple pioneered with the original iPhone. Android 16, with the new Material 3 Expressive design language, is still a home screen of app icons and widgets that you tap and swipe through. More than before, AI and Gemini are integrated in more places. There’s a lot of AI to take in and learn, and it’ll take more than the one week I’ve been testing the Pixel 10 to rewire my brain to not only use the phone’s many AI features but also remember that they exist. However, I can already see where Google thinks phones are headedâ€"the intersection of phones and AI is inevitable, whether you like it or not. I’ll get to the AI part in a moment because even though the Pixel 10 looks similar to the Pixel 9, Google did make some small, but notable improvements. Those include a 6.3-inch 120Hz OLED display that can reach a higher 3,000 nits of peak brightness, a more powerful Tensor G5 chip, a larger 4,970mAh battery, slightly better-sounding speakers, and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. The Pixel 10 also supports faster Qi2 wireless charging and the new Pixelsnap magnetic wireless charging puck, which is Google’s own version of Apple’s MagSafe for iPhones. I’m happy to report that the Pixelsnap puck attached to the Pixel 10 with a satisfying snap, and it’s quite strong. There’s nothing groundbreaking about any of these upgrades, but I appreciate them all the same, especially the longer battery life and Pixelsnap. The Pixel 10, from a hardware standpoint, may look less appealing when you dig deeper into some of the other specs. While finally having a telephoto lens is great, the main and ultrawide cameras are actually smaller image sensors with less resolution compared to the same cameras in the Pixel 9. The main camera got knocked down from a 50-megapixel main camera to a 48-megapixel one, and the 48-megapixel ultrawide down to a 13-megapixel shooter. If those camera modules sound familiar, that’s because they’re the same ones found in the $500 Pixel 9a. The selfie camera is the same 10.5-megapixel shooter from the Pixel 9. They’re not bad cameras by any meansâ€"Google’s own image processing still does a lot of the heavy lifting to tweak photos so that they look decentâ€"but sticking the same cameras from a $500 phone into an $800 one is not going to go over well with nerds. Photos from the Pixel 10 are good enough for posting on Instagram, but if you really zoom in on the details, you'll find less vibrant colors, soft and muddied details, and just an overall lack of sharpness even outdoors. The 5x telephoto is making use of an updated version of Super Res Zoom, which enhances the sharpness of photos at 5x zoom and above. It works, but I wasn't blown away by zoomed-in photos. If you want better photos on a Pixel, it's clear to me that you'll need to step up to the Pixel 10 Pro or 10 Pro XL. I'm still a little shocked that Google's camera stack has fallen so behind as it prioritizes AI camera features like Auto Best Shot, which combines several similar images into one "best" shot. It's time for Google to go back to basics and focus on image quality again. Other unforgivables that may upset people include the removal of reverse wireless charging, an LTPS instead of LTPO screen, no vapor chamber for better cooling, and the loss of the SIM card slot for U.S. Pixel 10 models. The one that bugs me the least is the display technology. Like I said in my Nothing Phone 3 review, the real-life gains of an LTPO display that can drop down to a lower refresh rate versus an LTPS screen that can’t go as low are negligible. Losing reverse wireless charging, which was useful for juicing up Pixel Buds on the go, inconvenienced me the most. Google's official reason is that the magnets for Pixelsnap interfered with the reverse wireless charging coils; fair enough, but I suspect Google justified the reason because few people used it. And while eSIM is more widely used nowadays, I still prefer a physical SIM card that I can easily move between devices. I’m no hardcore mobile gamer, but the lack of any vapor chamber is going to have gamers looking at other phones to get their entertainment fix. Now, on to the main eventâ€"AI and Gemini. It’s no secret that there’s an all-out AI race currently happening. Like every tech company, Google is throwing AI at the wall and seeing what sticks. The rules are being written and rewritten at a speed we’ve not seen in technology. Even nearly three years after ChatGPT’s breakout moment, we’re still figuring out what AI is, what it can be, and how it can fit into our lives. The Pixel 10 is a vessel for Google’s experiments, and mastering the many AI and Gemini features will require changing a decade-plus of smartphone muscle memory. With the Pixel 10, Google’s asking you to rethink how you interact with your phone using AI. There’s so much AI and Gemini sprinkled into Android 16 that it can be overwhelmingâ€"it was for me, and it’s my job and passion to mess around with new technology. That’s really the big challenge of injecting AI into the existing touchscreen phone experience. How much AI is too much AI? Samsung and Apple have taken a more reserved approach to adding AI features into their phones, choosing to introduce a few new applications in small doses every year or so. That has the benefit of not breaking with familiarityâ€"consumers hate changes to their stuff that force them to relearn everything. The downside to these slow-and-steady AI drops is that they may not go far enough. The same way people asked more of Siri and then gave up on the assistant when it couldn’t do what they requested, if Gemini can’t do what Pixel owners ask it to do, then it leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Unconvinced people are going to be less likely to give it another shot when things improve. Having tried most AI features in the latest crop of flagship phones, I’ve noticed a trend, which is thoughtful AI. Google has put a lot of thought into coming up with helpful AI features that should either make doing phone stuff faster or easier. Many stick the landing; some do not. For example, Magic Cue is very well done when it works. The opt-in AI feature suggests relevant information or actions within certain apps, like the Phone, Messages, and Google Maps apps. Instead of manually having to find something like a hotel reservation or flight booking details from within an email, Magic Cue can simply surface it when the AI detects you may be talking about it. You’ll know something is a Magic Cue suggestion because it’s labeled as such or there’s a little rainbow outline around it. Magic Cue is limited right nowâ€"I really liked looking up restaurant reviews in Chrome and then seeing the business suggested as an option in Google Mapsâ€"but I see the potential. This is just the start of proactive intelligence on phones to help triage all the information we have stored in our apps. Rightfully so, this convenience of letting AI “connect the dots†of all your data from across your apps does mean you have to consider the privacy of it all. While Google has repeatedly said that privacy is core to the Pixels and Google service, and some AI features are processed on devices, only you can decide whether you’re comfortable letting any company have what’s essentially a map of your digital life. The rest of the AI and Gemini features on the Pixel 10 really comes down to a matter of personal preference. Maybe there are people who will use all of the AI features in the Pixel 10, but most likely, you’ll only use the ones that suit you. If you’re clueless about editing photos or just want to do a quick edit, the “Help me edit†feature can be clutch. Instead of manually moving sliders around or circling things to erase from a photo, you can simply describe how you want a photo to be edited, and Gemini will do it all for you. Results are mostly good, but as with all generative AI, sometimes you’ll get some bad or even comical edits. I was surprised by how Gemini nailed “remove shadows from faces.†And don’t worry, “Help me edit†works on all photos in your Google Photos library, not just ones you take with the Pixel 10. Voice Translate during phone calls is a potential game-changer. The AI features essentially deepfakes your voice into another language in near real time. In my testing, it was generally fast and accurate with the translations (so I was told by my friends). It still freaks me out to hear my voice speak French or Spanish. At the time of testing, the feature only supports translation for languages to and from English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish. I’ve been learning Mandarin Chinese for over a year, and I'm surprised that a language spoken by about 1 billion people isn't supported at launch but Swedish, which is spoken by around 10 million people is. I also found AI features like Writing Tools in Gboard (basically a spellcheck or style rephraser), the improved Pixel Screenshots (lets you turn screenshots into helpful and searchable notebooks with NotebookLM), and Take a Message (real-time transcriptions for missed or declined calls) useful, though you may never use them at all. A week is simply not enough time to fully immerse myself in all of the Pixel 10’s AI features and get a good understanding of how it’ll change my phone workflow long-term, but I already know some of the duds I won’t be revisiting. There’s a feature that lets you turn voice recordings in the Recorder app into music (you choose a vibe such as “chill beats†or “dancy party†and the AI will generate a song); Pixel Studio, which is a better version of Apple’s cheesy Image Playground, and uses Imagen 4 to generate images for whatever you might need some media for; Camera Coach lets you point your Pixel 10 camera at a scene and Gemini will suggest a few ways to improve the shot like focusing on certain objects or switching to a different lens or tilting up or down (it’s basically photography for dummies). Again, there’s a lot of AI and Gemini inside the Pixel 10, and while most of it is easy to understand, it will take longer to sink in. My first instinct was to just do everything on the Pixel 10 the same way I’ve always been doing itâ€"bounce between apps and tap, tap, tap, swipe, swipe, swipeâ€"but once you let some of the AI do the driving (i.e. Magic Cue surfacing info from within Google apps), the whole AI “vision†clicks into place. AI is a better way to make sense of all your data. Google has basically done what Apple promised with its botched Apple Intelligence and AI-powered Siri for iPhone. In a table of tech specs comparing the Pixel 10 to other phones starting at $800, like the iPhone 16 or Nothing Phone 3, Google’s 10th-generation phone is going to seem like a lesser deal. Sure, the build quality is tops and the cameras are solid (though not the best anymore), but the performance of the Tensor G5 chip lags behind the competition, especially for gaming. But, if you look at the Pixel 10 through the lens of an “AI phone,†it leads the pack. Apple has yet to get its botched Apple Intelligence act together, and as I already said, Samsung and others are integrating AI with a slower pace, so as not to upset consumers with the unfamiliar. Google has put together the most comprehensive “AI phone†that I’ve seen. The Pixel 10 is certainly more AI-centric than the Copilot-powered “AI PCs†that Microsoft has been pushing unsuccessfully over the past few years. Practical AI that you actually want to use and that actually helps you do things faster and easier is finally here. It’s not perfect by any means, but the Pixel 10 shows that AI is the future for phones. This is the way.

Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL Review: Familiar Hardware, Smarter Gemini AI Brain

With better cameras and more long-term runway for AI improvements, Google's "Pro" Pixel 10s are, unsurprisingly, better than the base Pixel 10. There is not much that I need to cover in this review of the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL that I didn’t already get to in my Pixel 10 review. The story is the same: Google improved the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL in a handful of not immediately noticeable ways and is leaning full throttle into AI and Gemini integration. Following the same vision, it’s no surprise that the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL are better “AI phones†than the Pixel 10 thanks to their hardware. Is Google’s Gemini vastly better on these “Pro†Pixels? Not especially, but as a whole phone package, the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL are nicer in every way, with upgraded cameras, more RAM for AI tasks, and even brighter displays. Should you throw your Pixel 9 Pro or 9 Pro XL in the trash and upgrade to Google’s latest and greatest phones? I don’t think so, unless you’re deeply excited for all the Pixel 10-exclusive AI features like Magic Cue, Voice Translate, and Gemini Live. As glass slabs, the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL are no different than the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL. Same polished aluminum frame with frosted glass back, though the “G†logo is now metallic. The Pixel 10 Pro has the same 6.3-inch OLED screen, and the 10 Pro XL has the same 6.8-inch display. Both “Super Actua Displays†are brighter than before, with 3,300 nits of peak brightness. I’m all for blinding my eyeballs at night, but I’d be lying if I told you I could tell any difference in brightness between the Pixel 10 Pro and the 9 Pro that I use on a semi-daily basis. But, brighter is brighter, and who doesn’t want a screen that they can say is more “pro†than an iPhone 16 Pro’s screen, which only tops out at 2,000 nits? On the plus side, the Moonstone color is *chef’s kiss*. Here at Gizmodo, our staff has been baffled by the color. It’s mostly gray, but I see shades of purple under warmer light; others say there’s no purple at all or that it looks lavender-ish. To sum up: Moonstone hot! Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white), and Jade (green-ish yellow) are fine. But get the Moonstoneâ€"it looks really nice. Same as the Pixel 10, the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL have Google’s new Tensor G5 chip. These more premium phones have more RAM (16GB versus 12GB in the Pixel 10). That’s more than my work-issued 8GB M2 MacBook Air, which is to say it’s more than enough for the average user. Unless you’re really pushing a lot of AI functionalityâ€"and maybe you will!â€"it’s a spec that matters less than it used to. As for the Tensor G5 going toe-to-toe with the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite in the likes of the Galaxy S25 Ultra or the A18 Pro chip in the iPhone 16 Proâ€"it doesn't. It can run 3D games fine, but not at the same performance levels as Samsung and Apple's flagships. I saw more frame rate dips in Genshin Impact than I should have on phones that start at $1,000 and $1,200, respectively. Also like the Pixel 10, Google upgraded the speakersâ€"both the top and bottomâ€"on the Pixel 10 Pros. I did some listening tests with the Pixel 10 Pro, blasting Spotify tunes at their loudest volume and comparing how it sounded with the Pixel 9 Pro. Everything sounds a little clearer, but not by much. At normal and low levels, the speakers sound about the same as the Pixel 9 Pro. In terms of battery life, the Pixel 10 Pro (4,870mAh) and 10 Pro XL (5,200mAh) last longer. They also work with Qi2 wireless chargers and Google’s new MagSafe-like Pixelsnap magnetic wireless charging. The larger dimensions of the 10 Pro XL do come with one advantage over the smaller Pro model: faster 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging versus 15W Qi2. That’s just physicsâ€"the bigger body allows for better thermals for more power throughput. Otherwise, the Pixel 10 Pro would probably melt if you tried to transfer more power (and heat) through its wireless charging coil. As I said in my Pixel 10 review, Google took a break from upgrading the cameras in any big ways. The Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL have the same triple-lens camera system on the rear (50-megapixel main, 48-megapixel ultrawide, and 48-megapixel telephoto) and a 42-megapixel selfie camera. New is an AI-powered 100x “Pro Res Zoom†feature on both that uses generative AI to enhance photo details at 30x zoom or higher. This is like the “Super Res Zoom†sharpening on steroids, and works in a pinch if you really need to sharpen details at that kind of zoom level, but it isn’t going to be magic every time. It’s very hit-or-miss depending on the texture you’re asking AI to enhance. To be honest, I found it nearly impossible to use the telephoto at 100x. The camera sensor was shaking so much that it was hard to hold the Pixel 10 Pro stable enough to even frame a shot. But hey, look at the results of Pro Res Zoom on the World Trade Center and judge for yourself. The only other real camera features are AI and Gemini-powered ones, like Camera Coach, which offers suggestions on how to improve taking a specific photo based on the identified scene, and Auto Best Take, which composites together similar photos into one single one. There’s also the “Help me edit†AI feature within Google Photos that lets you simply prompt Gemini to make edits to photos. It’s pretty cool for light adjustments. I’ve pushed it with complicated edits, and sometimes Gemini does the job, but sometimes things can go wrongâ€"such is the nature of generative AI, and you kind of just laugh and try again. Beyond these AI camera and editing features, the cameras take photos that look similar, if not identical, to the ones out of the Pixel 9 Pros. Image quality is definitely better than on the Pixel 10, which has the same main and ultrawide cameras as the Pixel 9a. And recapping what I wrote in my Pixel 10 review, Google dropped the SIM card tray in the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL sold in the U.S., opting only for eSIM. If you’re already using an eSIM, then great. But if you swap phones often, it’s a real pain in the ass. I’m not going to repeat the specifics of the new AI and Gemini features that I already covered in my Pixel 10 review. Check that out if you want more details on features like Magic Cue and Voice Translate, but the gist is that the Pixel 10 phonesâ€"all of them, including the Pixel 10 Prosâ€"deliver on this longtime dream of a proactive AI or assistant helping you to do things on your phone faster or easier. Magic Cue, which suggests relevant info from across apps, has so much potential to save us from the entrapment of our phones and our data that’s spread out in other apps. I said it in my Pixel 10 review that we’re only at the starting line, but Google has delivered the AI phone that Apple said it would with its AI-powered Siri, but then completely fumbled the execution. It’s no wonder that Apple is reportedly in exploratory discussions with Google to use Gemini to power a next-gen Siri. The Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL hardware are iterative. You don’t need 20/20 vision to see that they’re the equivalent of an “S†model iPhone from back in the day. Where the Pixel 10 Pros outshine the regular Pixel 10 is the cameras and longevity. They take better photos, which is super important, and there’s more runway for AI and Gemini improvements years down the line. They’re solid phones if you’re not already locked into the iPhone and Apple’s ecosystem, and offer a real glimpse at how AI is going to reshape phone usage. From here on out, phones are going to be ramming AI down our throats, and the Pixel 10 Pros do it mostly with success.

My favorite Pixel 10 feature is a hidden upgrade

Using a Google Pixel 7 Pro? The Pixel 10 Pro XL is the upgrade you've been waiting for There's a lot to love about the Pixel 10 lineup. PixelSnap is the Android version of MagSafe we've been teased with for years, and nifty upgrades like Thread and UWB support make even the base Pixel 10 the most versatile Pixel yet. I'm not keen on the increased presence of Gemini on the device, but overall, it's a great upgrade to the Pixel lineup that could make me abandon my well-loved Pixel 8. Still, my favorite feature on the Pixel 10 isn't its flashy magnetic accessories, but a storage upgrade that is far more than it seems on the surface. Each Pixel 10 device has a UFS 4.0 chip; UFS 4.0 enables faster storage speed and lowers power consumption. Unlike PixelSnap, this isn't an innovative step for Google; Samsung has used UFS 4.0 in its phones for years. I'm surprised Google doesn't tout this feature front and center on its store page for the Pixel 10 because I think it is the best feature of the phone. What is UFS 4.0 and ZUFS? Harder, faster, better, stronger UFS (Universal Flash Storage) is the technology behind your phone's storage. It affects how fast you can transfer files, open apps, save video recordings, and more. UFS 4.0 is the latest version of the storage specification, with UFS 4.1 introducing Zoned Storage, which we'll touch on later. UFS 4.0's benefits over UFS 3.1 are clear: Up to 2x faster read and write speeds. UFS 3.1 (1840 MB/s -1580 MB/s) vs. UFS 4.0 (3490 MB/s - 2930 MB/s) 46% more power-efficient. UFS 4.0 is faster and more power-efficient than UFS 3.1. It's the standard for flash storage going forward, so it's not massively surprising to see it on the Pixel 10. My only guess as to why Google dragged its feet on installing it on the Pixel 10 is that UFS 3.1, like Tensor chips, is fast enough for most people. So UFS 4.0 is faster and more power-efficient, but not in a way that will dramatically affect your everyday use of your phone. However, UFS 4.1 and Zoned UFS (ZUFS) are much more exciting. ZUFS is only available on Pixel 10 devices with 512GB or more storage. This technology organizes data into different zones in storage, improving speed and lifespan of storage. ZUFS apparently can increase storage lifespan by 40% and can improve on-device AI performance through its more efficient storage management. Upgraded storage arrives at the right time for the Pixel 10 It's not just Tensor that powers on-device AI Before you get too excited, let's place these statistics in the real world. On my Pixel 8 (which uses UFS 3.1 storage), I've never felt like the device struggled to open apps or transfer files. UFS 3.1 is fast enough for most situations, unless you do heavy video editing or regularly transfer large files on your Android device. Think about the last time you transferred a large file to your Android phone or opened an intensive game like Genshin Impact. Now halve that time. But improving my load and transfer times by a few seconds isn't why I like UFS 4.0. Longevity is. When Google announced a seven-year lifespan for the Pixel 8 and all future devices, the big question was "will it last?" Software longevity doesn't matter if the hardware doesn't match up. Storage degrades over time. Part of the reason old devices don't perform as well after a factory reset is due to the slow corruption of storage. The more you write data to storage, the faster it degrades. Guess what newfangled technology uses a lot of storage space? That's right, AI. I rarely use Gemini on my Pixel phone, so the AICore app (which handles on-device AI processing) takes up an insignificant proportion of my phone's storage. However, even after just a few weeks of Gemini use, the user data stored in AICore can balloon into the gigabytes. With NotebookLM built into Pixel Screenshots and Recorder, along with Gemini Live, Magic Cue, and 4K video recording, the Pixel 10 will make significantly more use of storage than previous phones, even for casual users. The Pixel 10 finally introduces useful AI features I'm ready to use AI on my Pixel I struggled to fit Generative AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini into my life at first, as my ability to think made them irrelevant. However, a number of AI tools have emerged that manage to solve problems rather than creating them. NotebookLM is a potent AI assistant that I wish I had in university. Magic Cue saves endless scrolling through photo galleries for key information. Using Pixel Screenshots means you'll never lose a screenshot. I still consider myself an AI sceptic, but I'm thankful that Google finally decided to start solving problems with AI. If I pick up the Pixel 10, I will make heavy use of all these features. Thanks to UFS 4.0, I won't have to wait as long for AI to generate a response, or worry about storage degradation years down the line. Hardware upgrades must be paired with software upgrades to feel meaningful If Google had introduced UFS 4.0 with the Pixel 9, I would have written it off as a mostly irrelevant upgrade. But Google has subtly supercharged the new software on the Pixel 10 by upgrading the storage specification. It's meaningful upgrades like this that draw me to a new phone, not flashy junk like Gemini Live. The only catch is that I'll need to upgrade to the Pixel 10 Pro for the ZUFS benefits. Perhaps it's time to go Pro at last. Google Pixel 10 SoC Google Tensor G5 RAM 12GB Storage 128GB / 256GB Battery 4970mAh Operating System Android 16 Front camera 10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera This striking-looking addition to the Pixel line offers a slew of Gemini features, an 5x telephoto lens, and seven years of updates, making this a smartphone that will last you a while. $799 at Amazon $799 at Best Buy Expand Collapse

The Google Pixel 10 is the Android you buy when you're sick of using an iPhone

Google's objective with the Pixel lineup has been clear for the last couple of years. It's not interested in putting out the most powerful phone on the market, and Google doesn't care what enthusiasts think. It's concerned with building a pleasant user experience, with premium hardware and easy-to-use software. It's straight out of Apple's playbook from 15 years ago, and it's effective. The Pixel 9 series sold better than previous generations, and Google looks to make even more headway with the Pixel 10. If Google's looking to compete head-to-head with Apple on carrier store shelves, the Google Pixel 10 is the phone to do it. It's well-built, snappy, and Google's friendly software is ideal for first-time Android users. If you're finally looking to jump ship from an iPhone, the Pixel 10 should be at the top of your list. Editor's choice Google Pixel 10 9 / 10 SoC Google Tensor G5 RAM 12GB Storage 128GB / 256GB Battery 4970mAh This striking-looking addition to the Pixel line offers a slew of Gemini features, an 5x telephoto lens, and seven years of updates, making this a smartphone that will last you a while. Pros & Cons Gorgeous display Excellent battery life Useful AI tools Still slow charging Gaming performance underwhelms $799 at Amazon $799 at Google Store $799 at Best Buy Expand Collapse Price, specs, and availability The Google Pixel 10 is available through Google, Amazon, and Best Buy starting at $800. The base model includes 12GB of RAM with 128GB of storage, with a 256GB variant available for an additional $100. Google offers the Pixel 10 in four colors: Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and Obsidian. The Pixel 10 is compatible with Google's Pixelsnap lineup of accessories. I was able to test the Pixelsnap charger with a stand, and I highly recommend picking one up for $70. What's the point of having a Qi2-compatible smartphone if you don't enjoy it? The Google Pixel 10 only supports eSIM in the United States and is compatible with most carriers. Specifications SoC Google Tensor G5 Display type Actua display Display dimensions 6.3 inches Display resolution 20:9 RAM 12GB Storage 128GB / 256GB Battery 4970mAh Operating System Android 16 Front camera 10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera Rear camera 48 MP wide with Macro Focus | 13 MP ultrawide | 10.8 MP 5x telephoto lens Wi-Fi connectivity Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth V6 Dimensions 6.0-inches x 2.8-inches x 0.3-inches IP Rating IP68 Colors Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, Obsidian Expand Collapse Not too many design changes The Pixel 10 is still premium and sleek You either loved or hated the Pixel 9 design. Google backed away from its traditional quirkiness with last year's device, releasing a polished smartphone with premium materials. The Pixel 10 is more of the same, running back the same look and feel as its predecessor. That's not a negative, and while I still enjoy my Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel 10 is a well-built phone, featuring Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back, as well as an aluminum frame. If you were hoping for a lighter or thinner Pixel 10 this year, you'll be disappointed, but with its relatively compact design and 6.3-inch display, it's not a cumbersome phone to carry around. It's also IP68-rated, but that's table stakes for a flagship device in 2025. I wish Google used the same matte glass finish on the Pixel 10 as it does on its other flagship devices, but that's easily addressed with a case. I've used Actua displays on several Pixel devices over the last couple of years. I can't say I don't notice a difference in screen quality when I move from my Pixel 10 to my Pixel 10 Pro XLbecause I do. Still, that doesn't mean the Pixel 10 has a substandard panel -- far from it. It's a vibrant 6.3-inch 1080p OLED refreshing at 120Hz. Google has increased the maximum brightness for the Pixel 10, and I can tell. We've had some bright summer days in the last week, and I've had no issues seeing the Pixel 10 outdoors. I crank up the brightness all the way, and I can use my phone even in direct sunlight. Software takes center stage Google wants you focused on Gemini Although the external design of the Pixel 10 may not have changed, its software experience has undergone a complete overhaul. The phone ships with Android 16 and Material 3 Expressive out of the box. Google's new Android skin is gorgeous, and it meshes well with the entire user interface. You'll immediately notice little touches that add up to a big impact, from media controls to the redesigned weather app. It's a matter of personal preference, but Material 3 Expressive is the best Android skin among major manufacturers, including Samsung. It's friendly, intuitive, and colorful -- precisely what you expect from a Pixel. Google has also made multiple improvements to Gemini. It's a complete change in philosophy, and Google has made sure to highlight that it doesn't want users to have to know which AI tool to use -- it just wants AI to work. That's exactly the approach the company needs to have if it wants casual users to pick up on Gemini functionality. It's incredibly frustrating to have to know which app to use or which prompt to put in to get what I need. With Google's new approach to Gemini on smartphones, AI is constantly in the background, waiting to assist. Magic Cue works well. I had a friend ask me if we could make plans, and Magic Cue prompted me to bring up my Google Calendar, without requiring me to leave the app or provide any input on my end. Camera Coach will help me analyze a scene I want to photograph, offering suggestions on how to compose the shot. I enjoyed natural language photo editing. I could type or speak the changes I wanted to an image, and Gemini would generate options for me. It's a fantastic feeling not having to decide which editing tool to use. It just works. Close It all runs smoothly, but more importantly, it's not intrusive. Gemini now feels like an extension of what I'm already doing. There if I need it, mostly invisible when I don't. It's the implementation of AI I've been waiting for, and Google's gotten there first with the Pixel 10 series. As expected, the Pixel 10 is slated for seven years of software support and Pixel feature drops. The Tensor G5 is exactly what I thought it would be TSMC wasn't going to magically make it more powerful I'm increasingly frustrated when I see people talk about the Tensor G5 chipset. Benchmarks aren't everything, and they hardly ever reflect real-world usage. Complaining about the Tensor G5's benchmarks is like criticizing Google for not winning a race it wasn't running. Google could make a more powerful chipset, but it chooses not to. It's not part of the company's plan for Pixel devices, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Yes, I would've liked slightly better gaming performance on the Pixel 10. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for a flagship device. Google was tight-lipped about any GPU improvements this year, and I don't see many in usage. Games like Genshin Impact still default to medium settings, and it's not a device I'd recommend if you spend your days on Call of Duty Mobile. That's not to say the Pixel 10 can't game. Genshin Impact was smooth and enjoyable to play on medium settings. Pokémon Go ran without a hitch. It's a phone I'd recommend for when gaming is part of your smartphone experience, and not your entire smartphone experience. The Pixel 10 is a well-balanced phone and an excellent value, pound for pound, but it's not a gaming beast. Otherwise, the Tensor G5 is everything I'd want from a chipset. I never experienced any slowdowns or lag, and Google's gotten overheating in line. Even after gaming or using more intense apps, the device didn't warm up beyond a reasonable level. Google's focused on the user experience with its Tensor chipsets, and it's hard to complain when it delivers an excellent one. Google has paired the Tensor G5 with 12GB of RAM. It's a solid combination, especially in an $800 phone. The Pixel 10 has quality sound Improved speakers for this year's phone Google highlighted the improved speakers in the Pixel 10, and I've been pleasantly surprised. The speakers get loud without distortion, and the volume was high enough for my daughter to enjoy bopping along to her favorite tunes while out on our deck. Google made the speakers a point of emphasis this year, and I can tell the difference. All-day battery life and then some Real magnets, too Google didn't reduce the weight or thickness of the Pixel 10, but it added some features that justify it remaining at its old size. The phone features a larger 4,970mAh battery cell this year, a notable increase from the Pixel 9. The resulting battery life has been fantastic, and I rarely feel the need to charge my Pixel 10 before the end of the second day of use. If you haven't used a Google smartphone since the Pixel 7, you'll be amazed at how well the devices do on battery life. I'm disappointed the Pixel 10 didn't get the faster 45W wired charging of the most expensive Pixel 10 Pro. 30W is borderline pathetic in 2025, and Google needs to do better. I've never been a fan of wireless charging. I don't have wireless charging pads all over my office, and I'm never bothered when a device doesn't support it -- until now. Qi2 compatibility, real Qi2 compatibility, has made me a believer. I love setting my Pixel 10 on the Pixelsnap charging stand at night. I select my desired screen saver, and I get to enjoy my phone while it charges. The magnets are strong, and I look forward to a whole range of car mounts and accessories. Once you've experienced Qi2 on a smartphone, you won't settle for the Qi2-ready nonsense you get from other manufacturers. Google added a lens to the Pixel 10 The entry-level Pixel gets a telephoto Of course, no Pixel discussion is complete without mentioning the camera. In addition to its 48MP primary lens and 13MP ultrawide sensor, the Pixel 10 picks up a 10.8MP 5x telephoto lens this year. It really adds a versatility that was missing in Google's entry-level flagship, and I'm glad the company decided to include one. Overall, the Pixel 10 camera is precisely what you've come to expect from the company. The photos are sharp and detailed, with good color reproduction. Night Sight still produces some of the best low-light photography on smartphones. I wish Google would maintain more color saturation in its photos, as I've come to prefer the warmer tones of Samsung's photos, but that's a matter of personal preference. I'd still recommend the Pixel 10 for most shutterbugs, and over the course of 100 point-and-shoot photos, you'll be most pleased with Google's imagery over the competition. Should you buy a Google Pixel 10? This is the third year I've been pleased with a Google launch. The Pixel 8 was solid, the Pixel 9 was refined, and the Pixel 10 is the complete package. The Pixel 10 Pro XL's price tag is steep, and not everyone wants to pay $1,200 for a smartphone. If you're looking for a premium experience, with easy-to-use software, and a more attainable price tag, the Pixel 10 is the phone you should look at, especially if you're tired of looking at the same iPhone every year. Editor's choice Google Pixel 10 9 / 10 SoC Google Tensor G5 RAM 12GB Storage 128GB / 256GB Battery 4970mAh The Google Pixel 10 is an outstanding value, boasting a 6.3-inch OLED display and a powerful Tensor G5 chipset. It'll never benchmark as well as some other flagships, but it doesn't need to. The Pixel 10 features several Gemini upgrades, with Magic Cue and Camera Coach, and it's a worthy entry-level flagship. $799 at Amazon $799 at Google Store $799 at Best Buy Expand Collapse

Pixel 10 Pro XL after a week: surprises, disappointments, and intriguing questions

Here I am, a week into using the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, and although I'm enjoying it, I don't feel that's a suitable amount of time to review a phone which is going to cost you $1,200. Yes, it really is that expensive, and when you study the specification, it's not dramatically different to the $1,000 Pixel 10 Pro. I'm giving the phone plenty of time to impress for another reason too, because one of the major spec differences hasn't lived up to my expectations yet. In the meantime, here's what has stood out to me so far, and why I shouldn't be surprised by the one thing letting it down. The magnets are very welcome Everyday convenience How can magnets in the back of the Pixel 10 Pro XL, a simple feature on its own, be so game changing? It's all about convenience. In my case, I have a collection of accessories which use Apple's MagSafe system, and they all now work with the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The reason I use MagSafe products with my iPhone? They're really useful, and should not be underestimated. In the car, I use a Belkin MagSafe BoostCharge mount, and it securely holds the Pixel 10 Pro XL in place, just like it does my iPhone. I used it for several hours over the weekend, and despite the car not having the most compliant suspension, it never came loose. The Pixel 10 Pro XL also works with the Anker Qi2 Nano Power Bank, which firmly attaches to the back of the phone. While I have these accessories already as I also use an iPhone, newcomers to the Pixel 10 Pro can purchase MagSafe accessories with confidence, opening up a world of products beyond Google's own Pixelsnap accessories. Unfortunately, Google has not added its own version of iOS's StandBy Mode, so when you place the Pixel 10 Pro XL on a wireless charger, it doesn't turn the display into a lovely bedside clock. There are apps available that introduce a similar feature, but what a shame it's not part of Android 16 itself. Android 16 is brilliant to use Not sure the design is a selling point I've already used and enjoyed Android 16 on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, and it's just as good on the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The days when Android could feel ponderous or laggy have long gone, and because it's so logical and free of silly design or interface problems, it's effortless to use. Google's Material 3 Expressive design has been talked up a lot, but I'd be lying if I said I'd noticed huge differences between it and Android on the Pixel 9 Pro. Yes, it's a bit springy, there's more blur, and various buttons and sliders have been redesigned; but it hasn't felt transformative, or dramatically different yet. Once I started using Material 3 Expressive and Android 16, I really didn't want to swap to another version of Android I take this as a good thing. I don't want to pick up a new phone and instantly have to learn new ways of doing basic things, or be faced with an interface which has moved everything around just for the sake of it. Android 16 on the Pixel 10 Pro XL is superbly judged, smooth, fast, and easy to learn and understand. Once I started using Material 3 Expressive and Android 16, I really didn't want to swap to another version of Android. 100x zoom is like magic Yes, really Rarely is there any point in using a phone camera zoom that goes beyond 10x, as the quality decreases to such a point where you have to look past the pixelation to see the subject. Now, I'm not going to say the 100x zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro XL is perfect, but it's definitely a wow moment when you first try it out. When you shoot a 100x photo the result, initially, is pretty poor. But give Google's AI software a moment, and the photo suddenly turns into something, well, actually rather good. It's obvious software is filling in the blanks, but it does so without too much smoothing or by taking too many liberties either. I'm not convinced it's a feature I'll use that often, but it's worth trying out just to see the magical switch between the photo it took, and the final AI-enhanced version. It's a fun party piece, particularly as the edit takes just a few seconds, and everyone I've shown it to has said wow when the final photo is revealed. Fantastic hardware You won't feel short changed The Pixel 10 Pro XL is beautifully made, and there's no question you're holding an expensive smartphone. The Moonstone color of my review version looks excellent, although it doesn't pop quite as much as I'd hoped, making it still a somewhat conservative choice. The Indigo version is a cool option, especially if you're a keen Pixel historian. At 232 grams it's heavy though - the fact it's heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will surprise many - and it's almost identically sized to the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, meaning it takes up plenty of room in your pocket. All this said, the design is such a winner you won't care. No, it doesn't look any different to the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but it's fine, because the Pixel has its own eye-catching style that's unlike any other brand, and I love how Google continues to run with it. This is a thick and heavy phone, and therefore the anti-Galaxy S25 Edge, but I think a lot of people will love it for that reason alone. The battery situation never changes Will it ever be a Pixel strong point? Now we get to my problem with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and also why I don't feel quite ready to give it a final review score yet. So far, the battery has only returned around four-to-five hours screen time on a single charge, and considering it has a larger capacity cell than the Pixel 10 Pro, I don't think this is very good. However, because the phone is still settling down after setup, it may improve, and I want to give it that chance. The battery performance does call into question any advancements Google has made in efficiency with the Tensor G5 processor. I'm concerned as I haven't really been pushing the phone that hard, with this battery usage coming with tasks like a little over two hours of GPS navigation, taking photos, and some general app use. Not exactly hardcore usage, yet I'm seeing it draw around 75% of the battery. The 3DMark gaming benchmark app is blocked from use on the Pixel 10 Pro XL (not uncommon for pre-release devices), making deeper insight into efficiency harder to assess at this time. A Google Pixel phone has never been the one to choose if long battery life is important to you, and it doesn't look like the Pixel 10 Pro XL is going to change that. It also doesn't bode well for the smaller battery cells in the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro either. Is it upgrade material? Think carefully before deciding While I continue working on my review, there's something else in my mind about the Pixel 10 Pro XL, which is who should be upgrading to get it. If I owned a Pixel 9 Pro or a Pixel 8 Pro, I don't know if I'd be looking at it with envious eyes. A Pixel 7 Pro and earlier? Those may make me take a quick look at my bank balance. Taking this into consideration, alongside how much the Pixel 10 Pro XL costs and the modest changes between it and the Pixel 10 Pro, and Google has given us a lot to think about before we recommend you hand over the cash for its largest, non-folding Pixel 10 phone. Our review is coming very soon, when we'll have the definitive answer on whether this is the Pixel 10 to buy or not.

Google Pixel 10 Initial Review: Constrained, concise, costly upgrades [Video]

The Pixel 10 feels like the biggest, broadest step into its own space since the introduction of the Pixel Pro lineup and the base model. It not only sits in the "best" position it can, but it is not as easy to recommend as I had initially hoped. Why "Initial Review"? Well, the simple truth is that after one week with a device, it's impossible to truly ascertain the extent of what it can do. While we have some concrete thoughts, some are a little more fluid. We'll revisit this post over time and provide more insight once we have used the device for an extended period. What follows goes beyond impressions and into a true day-to-day experience based on using the Pixel 10 as a main device. It looks exactly like the Pixel 9. There isn't much more to say about the visual design choices. The only major alteration is to the camera bar. It's marginally thicker with a bigger glass visor embedded within the protruding metal frame. Bad luck if you wanted to pick up or use some Pixel 9 accessories. They might not fit all that nicely. This is to say that we can't fault it too much. Moving the SIM tray to the top of global models is odd. There is a visual benefit, though, as now the bottom frame cutouts are symmetrical, which means the speaker switches sides to the right for a microphone. The display is still excellent at this price range. It's brighter, smoother, has an excellent fingerprint scanner, and has great viewing angles. However, it still defaults to 60Hz out of the box. I'm not sure why Google keeps doing that, but we've been dealing with it for years now. Pixelsnap is a killer change, and although it's great, you need to work out its limits. Some existing MagSafe accessories can look a little bulky on the Pixel 10. I have ditched a few Anker magnetic power banks because they effectively added more weight than I wanted. It's a nitpick, but a great problem to have. Maybe the magnets could be a little stronger; you can wiggle things off if the magnets have a soft-touch material cover. The Peak Design mobile tripod is one accessory that doesn't work well in my testing, but it'll be trial and error for a little while. I figure it might be due to the glossy finish on the base model. The strength of the magnets is important. I used a Moft Magsafe wallet and that was incredibly secure using both the Pixelsnap case or directly on the back of the phone. I highly recommend picking one of those up for $25 if you want a decent starter accessory. Shipping with Android 16 QPR1 pre-installed is a big upgrade over the Pixel 9's sort of bungled Android 14 launch software. You're getting something temporarily unique to the latest Pixel. While it's a big visual departure, functionally, it is exactly the same as Android 16 in most key areas. It feels instantly fresh, slick, and bold, and Material 3 Expressive is right at home with all the first-party apps, looking gorgeous. The big news you probably want to hear is about the chipset. I'm sorry to say, but Tensor G5 doesn't feel like a quantum leap. You might notice some little things here and there, but overall, nothing that instantly blows you away out of the gate, despite Google claiming "34%" as the magic performance boost over the previous gen. Sure, we didn't expect huge gains, and despite some details from Google on how this helps the Pixel 10 performance, other areas have a detrimental effect from a "feel" perspective. Case in point: I have used the Pixel 10 Pro XL alongside the Pixel 10, so my baseline for experience is tainted by a device that comes with faster storage. You lose milliseconds to loading screens or to an app refreshing. In isolation, maybe this isn't a big deal, but the Pixel 10 should be instant at this stage. Once you see it, it's hard to unsee. It was a home run. An easy way to give the Pixel 10 a leg up. Instead, you need a 256 GB model to get faster storage. I'm past the stage where the excuse of "does the average person care about this" flies when it comes to this kind of thing. Make your base model the best it can be, and then not only will fans come back, but new adopters or converts will be impressed and happy for years to come. Hardware optimization isn't something you can do ad nauseam. The tech is almost half a decade old and starting to bog down otherwise great devices. I do love that Google has synced the Android 16 QPR1 release to give Pixel 10 early adopters the first true taste of the latest OS. Last year, Android 14 was a weird starting point for the Pixel 9, no such problems this time and it's a breath of fresh air. The best way to experience Android right now - and that is coming from a recent One UI convert. That is the backdrop; the AI functions are shoved down your throat from the get-go. Some good, some, well, less good. At least in theory, Magic Cue isn't going to be something you'll use all the time. It's mostly just a clutch convenience function. In fact, I haven't had it trigger all that often in the seven days I've been using the Pixel 10. You might have issues if you are using the beta versions of the Google Phone and Messages apps, because it wasn't until a few days ago that we worked out that it won't work with those right now - but might in the future. It is also limited to Google's first-party apps, which somewhat diminishes its helpfulness, at least in my case. If I can't get calendar event suggestions while messaging in WhatsApp, then it kind of doesn't hold much use to me, as annoying as that is. Hopefully, we get more areas where Magic Cue can be used. I'm not sure if it's because I use a VPN or because I'm based in the UK, but I have yet to see the Daily Hub appear at the top of my Discover Feed. Instead, it's appearing in the At a Glance widget. The results seem pretty solid to me, with rundowns of my favorite teams plus some cool stuff surfacing ahead of a trip to Japan later this year. I can't fault it, but I can't say it has been something I'm desperate to use. Maybe it'll grow on me more. I haven't used Pixel Journal too extensively despite it feeling like the best new "app." The small affirmations and AI summaries are well handled. I can see this becoming part of my day-to-day life, like Pixel Screenshots from a pure organization perspective. Once devices hit shelves, I'm sure that these will actually start working as intended, but for now, they are just there. Be sure to check out our Pixel 10 Pro review for a bigger overview of all of the AI functions baked in. Nothing yet feels majorly groundbreaking; instead, Google is opting to make AI functions optional or less in-your-face. I like this approach, but I understand we're not really seeing how big a difference it can truly make to your day-to-day smartphone experience. A week really isn't a long time to determine how good a smartphone battery is, but it damn sure is enough time to know if a device has bad longevity. The good news is that the Pixel 10 doesn't have a "bad" battery. I'm reliably getting through every day. A few times while out taking photos I did need a bit of a top-up before heading out again for the evening, but it has been fairly reliable. Again, nothing groundbreaking. Fairly solid if unspectacular. I haven't noticed any overheating, and the phone doesn't get particularly hot to the touch, save a few times during setup -- basically like every phone in existence. I'm hoping that cooling and temperatures remain key focus points for the SoC's future development, as heat and power management haven't been Tensor's greatest strength. We'll have more to report on the overall lifespan when we revisit the device properly in a few weeks time. So far so good though. It isn't dying randomly nor is the cell just dropping like a stone from basic usage. Charging is still annoyingly slow compared to others, but you can deal with it. I'm certainly not giving Google a pass for that, but if it mitigates potential heat and therefore degradation of the battery, I can cope. I am ovejoyed that Google finally added a telephoto to the Pixel 10. I've referred to this as the "tourist" lens privately and it is going to be a gamechanger for many people that do go out and pick up this device. I was worried that it might be of lesser quality than comparable 5x optical lenses given the 10.8MP sensor. How wrong I was. This is the single biggest reason not to be too stressed about some other camera hardware changes. You are in good hands, as even at 20x images look pretty darn good. In fact, I'd say they look comparable to the Pixel 10 Pro XL's 20x zoom. Yes, a little softer, but overall in the same ballpark, but with sharpness dialed up when you get to the upper echelons of the zoom range. You are literally getting a new angle on every photo you want to take. Use it, try it, and fall in love with it. Pinch-to-zoom on touchscreens was made for this. On the main and ultrawide, it's just the 9a in all the same ways. I personally think it's a noticeable downgrade, but what you gain in terms of overall flexibility won't be spotted by the kind of people who will buy this phone. Maybe in the future, Google should use the previous-gen main sensor and put a bit more space between this and the A-series. For now, it's competent if a little bit confusing. Compared to the Pixel 9's main lens, the Pixel 10's consistently produces photos with higher contrast, featuring richer colors and deeper blacks. It still manages to create a natural-looking bokeh effect despite the smaller sensor, and in some cases, it does so with less aggressive background blur. Surprisingly, the two phones perform similarly in low light, although the Pixel 10 handles bright light sources better with less glare. Software tuning can do a lot to enhance a "lesser" camera system, and Google has been doing this for several years with the A-series. It's not the best base model camera setup, but banking on versatility will be a solid move if only for the people who just want consistency and a baseline of camera quality. You're definitely getting that here, but it'd be a lie to say we didn't want a little more based on the previous generations. The Pixel 10 has upgrades in areas that we've been desperate for the base model to have since the Pixel 6. It has also been downgraded enough to make a difference to the overall experience. You get a little bit of everything, but a few strange decisions diminish what is otherwise another solid Pixel phone. For several years, my biggest complaint has been just how close the "default" Pixel experience has flown to the previous A-series. Thanks to all of the new AI additions, it's enough of a step forward, but there are more distinct lines in the sand for each specific model. It's Schroginder's Pixel, which is to say that it is both the best base model the company has produced and the one I am having the hardest time recommending because of some important missing features. This cuts to a deeper issue. What are you happy to give up on a $799 phone? For me, the lack of UFS 4.0 storage on the 128GB version really diminishes many of the other good things. It is 2025; this would not have increased the production cost drastically. If Google is serious about sustainability and the long update promise leads me to believe that the company is, then give the Pixel 10 the smoothest experience for everyone. A tiered storage approach means that someone will inevitably have a phone that ages worse than another. It's noticeable how this elevates the experience right now - and will keep it smooth in years to come. It's an asterisk I can't quite let go, and it pains me to bring it up constantly, but it wouldn't be fair to give Google a pass mark because software tuning is very good. If it wasn't immediately obvious, Google is now 100% utilizing Apple's early S series playbook for the Pixel lineup. Make small quality-of-life upgrades or updates and pitch to those who haven't recently upgraded. There is a distinct line in the sand between each device. Ergo, the Pixel 9a is merely an appetizer or a brief taste of what the Pixel series is about. The Pixel 10 adds some seasoning to the dish with dipping sauce included, while the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL are the main event with all the trimmings. My biggest takeaway from the Pixel 10 is that it's a very constrained upgrade. The Pixel 10 Pro is a small, moderately powerful phone. It's similar to another device that was released earlier this year, but the truth is that the Pixel 10 just needs to be better than the Pixel 9a - which it is. It's harder to recommend by virtue of the price tag strapped around its neck. At $599, it's an absolute bargain. Less so at $799. A major saving grace is that as an upgrade from the Pixel 6 through to the Pixel 8, it's a solid buy. The rest? Well, the truth is not so much.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Initial Review: How to build an AI* phone

While AI's chatbot UI and prompt-based nature showcases the natural-language prowess of LLMs, I think a text field is daunting for most people. I see last year's Pixel 9 Pro as very much belonging to that initial wave of AI features where LLM capabilities are something you seek out by opening an app. In 12 months, Google has more naturally integrated AI into the core Pixel 10 Pro experience. This is our software and AI-focused review of the Pixel 10 Pro. For more on the camera and other hardware, stay tuned for our Pixel 10 Pro XL later this week. This past year, my daily driver situation strayed from the norm. I stopped using the Pixel 9 Pro after eight months and have been all-in with the Pixel 9a for the past four months. The takeaway is that I don't need everything a flagship phone offers. The mid-range model more than sufficed. In going back to a (Pixel 10) Pro this past week, the hardware upgrades are noticeable and nice, but not mandatory. It's akin to buying the luxury option. For starters, the minimal bezel feels premium and heightens the "floating window" effect. The screen brightness boost to 3,300 nits is also appreciated - one can never have enough when outdoors in direct sunlight. The accuracy of the optical fingerprint sensor on the Pixel 9a never annoyed me, but the white flash sure did. Ultrasonic is the way to go and that's been a welcome change going back to a Pro. I've mostly made my peace with Google's belief that a premium design requires more staid colors and a polished frame. As someone who went from the gray (fine, "Hazel") 9 Pro to the Iris 9a, I can say that this Moonstone 10 Pro feels like a regression. It once again feels like a shade of gray, especially when there's not much light. This vaguely blue-tinted blue is not as fun, and I value a little bit of whimsy from what's likely the object I most interact with every day. At least the cool feel of the glass back panel is premium-feeling and conveys a sense of rigidity. The color can be a non-factor in the grand scheme, but the shiny frame certainly isn't. It will never not be a fingerprint magnet as somebody that goes case-less. The smudges that build up feel grimy. Anything and everything is attracted to it, necessitating more frequent cleanings than other devices. This is a prime example of negatively valuing form over function, and feeling like the Pro model needs something premium/jewelry-esque when the base design is more practical. One small visual change that I appreciate is how the bottom edge is now symmetrical. When looking at the screen, the left grill is the speaker and the right one masks a microphone. It's cleaner this way, with Google moving the SIM card slot to the top outside the US. Personally, I've stuck to physical SIMs until this launch because it's just faster. I've thoroughly enjoyed not having to wipe the dust, pocket lint, etc. that collects on the raised Camera Bar, but that annoyance has unfortunately returned. Compared to the 9a, the Pixel 10 Pro's haptics are remarkably strong in Gboard. I'm certainly in the minority, but I applaud Google keeping the thermometer for three generations now. It's convenient when you're away, though my usual is mostly in the winter months. Here's a rather formulaic observation after five generations of Tensor: Each Google chip is better than the last one. However, what should be clear at this point is that Google's definition of "better" prioritizes AI above anything else. There will be traditional gains every year, like Tensor G5's CPU being 34% faster -- an improvement that's not really noticeable in day-to-day usage, but what Google really cares about is making possible more on-device generative AI. So far, it feels like any improvements made by the move to TSMC and the latest 3nm process have predominately been used for AI rather than those traditional improvements or even battery. This highly anticipated switch does not vault Tensor to the leaderboards that those with performance-based complaints, like mobile gamers, care about. That being said, Google met the threshold for performance ages ago and Tensor is good for the vast majority of people, myself included. In terms of Google's priorities, Gemini Nano is 2.6x faster and 2x more efficient for Pixel Recorder and Screenshots, while the TPU is 60% more powerful. One improvement I was looking for was never seeing "processing paused" in Screenshots. Again, I haven't used the app daily for the past four months, but that so far looks to be unchanged. A smartphone is more than its chip, but Tensor does not exist in a vacuum. It does feel like the really good Android competition will force Google to put traditional performance gains on its roadmap sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, our recommendation is to opt for the 256 GB model or higher to get the speed and efficiency benefits of UFS 4.0. It should have been standard on the smaller capacity after all this time, with device longevity being as important a reason as performance. At the very least, a "Pro" should have that specification. I realize I'm a power unicorn in that I predominantly change my phone once per day. It's placed on the 2nd-gen Pixel Stand, which I've been using since launch, before I go to sleep and that's it. The Pixelsnap Charger with Stand has replaced the 2021 accessory, and it's been straightforward enough. My one hang-up that I'm still adjusting to is how I can no longer just grab-and-go. Rather, it's a very conscious angled pull due to the magnets. Meanwhile, I feel that Stand owners will find the 1-meter cable too short, with Google absolutely needing to make a 2-meter version. I would have liked it if Google made a true 3rd-gen Pixel Stand because a fan (and standalone cable) always provides peace of mind during hot summer nights and the occasions where a fast wireless top-up is needed. By the time my 10 Pro reached 100% after two hours on Pixelsnap in an 81-degree (27.2 C) room, it was consistently north of 105 degrees (40.5 C) according to the built-in Settings app utility, or just within the boundaries of "Normal." I never had these issues with my old Pixel Stand. My normal schedule as of late sees me use my phone for 15-16 hours after taking it off the charger in the morning. With 3.5-4 hours of screen time, I end the day with over 30% of battery life on the Pixel 10 Pro. We'll have more to say about the camera in the coming days, but there are a few things to highlight. Pro Res Zoom is a worthy next-generation successor to Super Res Zoom that kicks in at 30x. It's the ultimate tourist camera. You might have one shot at a photo and a blurry mess is not something that you'll be happy with when looking back. There is an element of "is it me or the AI" that took this photo, but it is ultimately a way to preserve something by helping out a small smartphone camera sensor using software. The added details are less pronounced than on other phones, but it gives you the confidence that you're covered no matter where you're taking photos. Does it matter if AI has sharpened it up or improved? I am really not sure. Meanwhile, you should absolutely play with zoom in-between the 30x and 100x, with that middle ground providing something that's surprisingly usable. 10x vs. 100x Meanwhile, the Pixel Camera app now shows 10x zoom alongside 0.5, 1, 2, and 5x above the shutter button. With the 10 Pro featuring improved optical image stabilization, those 10x shots are noticeably sharper and more usable than last year. It has quickly become my default zoom range. 9 Pro vs. 10 Pro Camera Coach is something I'd use if I had more time to snap a photo. Fortunately, you can turn off the button in the top-right corner. Operating systems and their apps should get visual updates every so often to stay fresh. On the Android (16 QPR1) front, Material 3 Expressive does very well. Customizable Quick Settings with the option for smaller Tiles meaningfully reduces the need to swipe to another page. I doubt most people will have more than two at this point, while being able to see up to eight Tiles with the notifications shade might mean you don't need to expand Quick Settings as often. For me, that functional update has greatly made using my phone more efficient, while I greatly appreciate the consistency that a full redesign brings. After major Android redesigns, Google updates various parts of the interface in a piecemeal manner. That results in some inconsistent UIs, like how, as of Android 16's June release, there are three different slider designs for volume: What you get when you use the volume rocker is different from the slide-up panel and Settings > Sound & vibration. Material 3 Expressive brings a consistent design that's also shared with the brightness slider: People will appreciate that the Pixel Launcher allows for one more line of apps, while Live Effects results in fun lockscreen wallpaper customization. The Pixel 10 Pro allows you to see your background on the always-on display. It's a bit too busy for me and it's like there's a screen smudge with my wallpaper, but I'm sure most will like the persistence. Meanwhile, yes, Google for some reason made the gesture navigation area around the actual bar on the Pixel 10 series noticeably taller (9 Pro vs. 10 Pro below). In all, Android feels modern and consistent on the Pixel 10 Pro. It's a good foundation for what's to come (AI). However, the app side of Material 3 Expressive is more of a mixed bag. I think 5-10 years is the right timeframe for design language updates. Material (3) You is only four years old. In many ways, M3 Expressive can be thought of as Material 3.5 and a mid-cycle refresh for app designs. I'd say the biggest aspect of M3E is the use of containers to group together information and common actions, as well as make obvious what can be tapped. I agree with the principle, but do think it makes for unnecessarily cluttered interfaces with too many full-width containers for list views. I wouldn't mind if containers were used more sparingly. Some decisions like circles becoming rounded squares and going from tall to short bottom bars feel like rearranging deck chairs, especially when components like search bars are becoming universally bigger. Of the apps I use daily, few feel significantly more "expressive" than before. The exceptions are the new Google Photos upload header and the animated carousel in Files by Google that also functionally benefits by providing larger previews. Otherwise, apps look different but layouts are mostly unchanged -- Phone by Google aside -- and there's not much more motion. If animation is not actually the be-all and end-all of M3 Expressive, Google -- for the third design language in a row -- should really tone down the initial teaser videos showing hypothetical apps. As of the retail launch, most apps should have Material 3 Expressive, but there are some stragglers that Google should have really pushed harder to update. That's hopefully resolved by Android 16 QPR1's public launch. For the most part, using the AI features introduced last year required opening Pixel Screenshots or Studio. My usage of the latter app was quite minimal, with stickers being the primary appeal that only ticked up when it was integrated into Gboard this June. Meanwhile, my ability to switch to the Pixel 9a is somewhat an indictment of the Screenshots app not having enough utility or stickiness. For the past four months, I turned to Google Photos search and bluntly used favoriting to keep track of things I want to return to. Being able to make collections and tagging captures immediately from the corner preview is so much better. On the Pixel 10 Pro, AI's utility is no longer locked inside an app, and that increases the likelihood of you using it is an appreciable difference. Speaking of the corner screenshot UI, tapping the edit pencil brings up a new experience powered by Pixel Studio. It has all the same tools as Markup (crop, caption, draw, and highlight) with AI tools like generating stickers, erasing objects, and prompt-based additions. I'm now finding myself trying these gen AI much more, even though most of this functionality has been present for the past year. (You can also access this editor by opening an image in Pixel Studio or using the system share sheet target.) Magic Cue is AI done right. It's contextually aware of what you're doing on your phone and naturally surfaces information instead of you having to seek it out. This convenience is very much the promise of technology, and a culmination of the "ambient" tech goals Google has had over the past 10 generations of Pixel. Suggestions above the Google Messages text field and in Gboard feel natural and like a natural progression of what you've already been getting there. Besides being offered direct reply options like what time and where an upcoming event is, I'm finding the Magic Cue for "View calendar" (which opens the app) to be rather convenient. In practice, it does rely on you logging your schedule a bit more judiciously and far in advance using Google Calendar or Keep. AI doesn't have to be providing a suggestion every interaction to be useful. It just takes one or two AI suggestions per day for AI to feel pretty magical. Google made a point of saying how if Magic Cue doesn't find anything relevant it won't disturb the user, which is probably the right call. It could easily feel overwhelming or annoying if it were constantly butting in with information that isn't helpful. From my experience with Magic Cue so far, I see the utility and -- philosophically -- think Google found the right UI and UX for bringing AI suggestions to people. However, I do feel that it will take a few weeks for you to appreciate this new feature on their Pixel 10. That's both in how it surfaces and how you have to interact with it, as well as in the fact that it takes at least a few days to start reliably populating data. This isn't something you'll turn on the phone and immediately start using. Another interface for Magic Cue is Daily Hub, with your upcoming calendar and knowledge (from Gmail and Keep) that you should be aware of. There's also media recommendations and suggested Gemini prompts based on your interests. It is very much the company's latest take on Google Now, but with an underlying technology (LLM) that should allow for actual smarts. A centralized feed makes so much sense given how data is siloed in various apps. Giving people one place to see what's on their calendar and relevant information in emails and notes. It's an alternative to the information of notifications and having to go into individual apps. As somebody that has tried (and failed) to get into journaling several times, I like how much of a guided experience Google's take provides. It prompts you on what to write based on past topics, photos you've taken, Health Connect activity, and the Journal goal you set, like Mindfulness, Daily reflections, or Productivity. Meanwhile, the Pixel Journal app always opens to the entry page to make input as frictionless as possible. I think I need this heavy-handed experience. Voice translate in the Google Phone app is really an impressive demo of Tensor G5 running on-device translation that's adjusted to sound like the speakers. The utility, unfortunately, is not too broad. The Call Assist feature I've been using is the upgrade to Notes that generates "Next steps" that can be easily saved to Google Tasks. It's much more useful and actionable than a call summary. The ability to automatically enable Call Notes for certain numbers (or non-contacts) is also a time saver. Lastly, the highlighted visual guidance in Gemini Live launching with the Pixel 10 series and coming soon to all devices is pretty great, and fulfills a capability Google first talked about in 2022. It's incredibly natural and straightforward and great for supermarket shelves. Anyways, that movie-inspired asterisk is all about how the cloud-based Gemini app is not integrated enough with the Pixel 10 Pro's local AI features. This is very much an AI phone, but not necessarily a Gemini (app) phone. First off, a clarification is required due to how Google branded its AI offerings. There's a difference between the on-device Gemini models that power the new features and the Gemini app, which has the stated goal of being a personal, proactive, and powerful assistant. Daily Hub has very little to do with the broader Gemini app right now (save for prompt suggestions mixed in with YouTube videos). That summary of my day should be on the Gemini app's homepage, so I get a glanceable reminder before I start prompting. Meanwhile, its current location at the top of the Discover feed to the left of Pixel Launcher is not good. I do feel that the Gemini app eventually gets a feed like that since it can already tap into your Gmail and Calendar on demand. When it does - with availability on both the desktop web and mobile app - will it replace the Daily Hub version? I'm absolutely asking a forward-facing question, but I don't want to go all-in on a Pixel-specific version (with slower on-device processing hang-ups) only for the Gemini app to roll out something broader and more powerful. Meanwhile, I should be able to ask the Gemini app what my 30-minute phone conversation that Call Notes automatically transcribed and summarized was about, or tell me about a particular Recorder session. The Pixel 10 Pro's AI features end up being siloed in a different way this year and don't really connect to the Gemini app, which as an AI assistant should be able to serve as the connective tissue, if not interface. My future-facing concerns should not take away from the fact that the Pixel 10 Pro is what any AI phone should aspire to be. It very much feels like the first integrated AI mobile device that Google is uniquely in the position to build given Pixel, Android, and Gemini. In one year, Google has naturally placed AI in drastically more surfaces across the Pixel 10 Pro. The new Pixel Studio editor has been my unexpected standout for bringing powerful gen AI capabilities to something people do everyday. Magic Cue has the right unintrusive user experience out of the gate, while Daily Hub should be something Google and Gemini commit a large amount of effort to. AI should have an interface beyond a prompt box. That is how you'll actually get people to experience it, and Google's next wave of applied AI is nailing it. The Pixel 10 Pro's AI features are thoughtfully integrated to be actually useful in day-to-day life.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review: Minimal upgrades, maximum impact

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is named in part after its size. But to get to grips with how good a phone it is, it would be wrong to focus on physical qualities alone. It's easy to point to things like the phone's incredibly bright display or its versatile cameras as major selling points. But this is a phone where the true value lies beyond the specs list. There are, in typical Google fashion, lots of AI features to play around with; features with a wide range of applications and utility. It's just a pity that Google seems to have learnt some bad habits from Apple in not having all its features ready for launch day. Plus Google flagship phones' inherent weakness in terms of power remains, even if battery life has improved. As the final big Android phone launch we expect this year, I've been testing the Pixel 10 Pro XL against its main competition, and also the latest iPhone just in case you're considering switching to or from an Apple phone. It's resulted in some of the most interesting phone comparisons of 2025, and I'm thrilled to be able to take you through them. Pre-orders are up for the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and its siblings, until retail launch day -- August 28th. If and when you decide to buy the Pixel 10 Pro XL, it'll cost $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$1,999. That's technically more expensive than the Pixel 9 Pro XL from last year, but what's actually happened is that Google dropped the 128GB model. It's a shame that you can't get a cheaper XL Pixel now, but it's not strictly a price hike. If storage matters to you, you can spec 512GB or 1TB for $1,319 / £1,319 / AU$2,199, and $1,549 / £1,549 / AU$2,549 respectively, but increasing the storage locks off certain color options. Only Obsidian black offers all three options, while Jade green is only available in the basic 256GB. There are no big changes from last year in terms of the overall shape or materials. Google is still using matte-textured toughened glass on the back, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and shiny aluminum sides holding them together. There's still a reliable IP68 dust/water resistance rating too. There are alterations to be found if you look closer. Google made the phone's rear 'G' logo metallic, slimmed the bezel around the rear camera bar, moved the SIM card tray to the top of the phone (or removed it entirely in some places) and added a second speaker opening to the bottom. But the only real difference is the overall width. The size change results in a larger display and a total weight that's about 5% heavier than the Pixel 9 Pro XL. That gives the Pixel 10 Pro XL the status of the heaviest of the main flagship phones on sale today, although only by a few fractions of an ounce. One other change that applies only to U.S. Pixel 10s is the removal of physical SIM support. It's eSIM-only for American customers, while the rest of the world can still plug in their nanoSIM card. Your four color choices for the Pixel 10 Pro XL are Moonstone blue-gray, Jade green, Porcelain white or Obsidian black. It's a reasonable amount of choice, but the Pixel 10 base model has the most eye-catching hues in the family. The 6.8-inch, 120Hz adaptive display on the Pixel 10 Pro XL is slightly larger than the Pixel 9 Pro XL's but still a little smaller than the equivalent Samsung or Apple models. But the size difference is offset by the Super Actua screen's incredible brightness. The results above show just how intense the screen brightness on the Pixel 10 Pro XL can be, even compared to last year's Pixel 9 Pro XL. The Galaxy S25 Ultra does have the advantage of an anti-glare layer in its display, which helps deal with strong single sources of light, but in generally bright environments, you have an easier time looking at the Pixel's screen. Looking to the other results, we see that the Pixel 10 Pro XL lags behind the Galaxy S25 Ultra in terms of color gamut coverage, and also color accuracy (delta-e) in the default Vivid color profile. But potential buyers needn't worry too much about that -- the Pixel 10 Pro XL is still a great device for watching video or browsing photos on. You might be surprised to hear that the Pixel 10 Pro XL's cameras are identical to the Pixel 9 Pro XL's, at least on paper. The 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP 5x telephoto and 42MP selfie cameras are unchanged from the 2024 model, as all the upgrades are located on the software side. Let's kick off the comparisons with a main camera shot of a cottage. We see the first evidence of the Pixel 10 Pro XL's apparent default processing priority -- balancing the brightness of all colors in the shot. This is perhaps why the Pixel's shot is much warmer, with the Galaxy S25 Ultra's image being cooler and brighter. Against the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Pixel 10 Pro XL also looks less bright, but punches up the colors in return. The trees in the background in this view across a park are much easier to make out in the Google photo. And how does it compare against the outgoing XL Pixel? This photo of a disused telephone box shows that the Pixel 10 Pro XL gives slightly stronger colors on the blue end of the spectrum, but is otherwise identical to the Pixel 9 Pro XL's image. In night mode, with our subject being a mini bottle of Henderson's Relish, we see the Pixel 10 Pro XL struggle to capture the light compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. But the Pixel does have less of a red color cast, caused by the curtains in the room, than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which could be an advantage in some cases. Switching to the ultrawide cameras, and looking over a small stream in a wood, the Pixel's image pales compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra's far brighter shot. This is likely as a result of the Pixel's relatively small sensor not capturing as much light, and the post-processing not being able to do enough to compensate. Macro mode also uses the ultrawide sensor. Comparing the Pixel's efforts against that of the iPhone 16 Pro Max of a pink flower, the Pixel's shot is darker, again likely because of its small sensor. But the image still has good contrast as we can still make out the detail in the flower's center. The final rear camera on the Pixel we need to look at is the 5X telephoto camera, which I pointed at a bridge over a lake. The Pixel has tried to balance the mix of light and shade in the shot, resulting in an apparent lack of color compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. While the Samsung shot's richer color of the water is appealing, the bridge is blown out in return. In terms of selfies, firstly against the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Pixel 10 XL immediately trips up by failing to cut around my glasses like the iPhone. Its image is much less dramatic looking, but does show my face in a more even light. As for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, this also gets the portrait cutout right, and also tries to evenly light my face. But it washes out the background severely, unlike the Pixel. The Pixel 10 Pro XL's telephoto camera offers up to 100x max magnification for the first time, except with the power of Pro Res Zoom, images at that level are still legible, albeit potentially inaccurate. But let's start at a less extreme 50x. Zooming in on a milestone's carved lettering, it's already obvious that the Galaxy's shot is noisier than the Pixel's. But based on my own observation, the Pixel has oversmoothed the stone, removing some of the texture in an effort to clean up the shot. At 100x, this effect is even more noticeable. A stone that's been sitting outdoors for who knows how long is unlikely to be as smooth as the Pixel's shot would have you believe. But in terms of legibility, while both photos still show the lettering clearly, the Pixel shows them in crisper detail, When exporting the images, the Pixel 10 Pro XL conveniently gives you both your original Pro Res Zoom shot and the processed version, allowing some interesting comparisons. For instance, we have here a church window, about 1,000 feet away from where I was standing as I took the photo. It's an impressively sharp shot, but the Pixel's processing systems seem to have read the stone bars between the glass as wood, adding a vertical grain effect. While the detail of the brickwork has been impressively recovered, it shows a big limitation of these generative detail-enhancing tools -- it shows you what's likely to be there, rather than what truly is there. Google enhanced some of the Camera's associated features, such as making Best Take (the face-swapping tool) activate automatically with enough photos, and offering 50MP resolution for portrait modes. But the all-new feature, and the one I spent the most time with, was Camera Coach, the new photography teaching tool that's accessible right from the viewfinder. This is currently in "Preview," so hopefully its powers will multiply in the future. But right now, it's more of an interactive framing tool. It'll detect what you're pointing the camera at, offer some suggested compositions and then give you tips on which camera lens to use, where to stand and how to position the subject, if you can. It's a fun, personalized way to learn, but there are so many more tools in the Pixel 10 Pro XL's toolbox. I hope more options, or perhaps an advanced mode, appear in future to help guide users to try even more, like switching between vertical and horizontal shots, setting a manual focus or adjusting exposure. Google's updated the chip in its Pixel 10 models to a Tensor G5, and paired Pro models, including the Pixel 10 Pro XL, with 16GB RAM. Considering that previous Tensor-powered Pixels have lagged behind in performance, we were curious to see how this update changes things. As the results demonstrate, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is noticeably improved over the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but still underpowered when looking at the Snapdragon and A-series chips that power the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The Adobe Premiere Rush video test shows this especially. In my usual gaming test of playing the graphically intense RPG Ex Astris, in order to get a consistent 60fps frame rate, I had to turn off anti-aliasing, reduce the resolution from Ultra to High and environment quality down to Average, and even then the game would still experience hiccups. Android flagships with the Snapdragon 8 Elite can easily handle this game at maximum settings. Now that the 128GB Pixel Pro XL model has been discontinued, the Pixel 10 Pro XL starts with 256GB storage, with the option to up that to 512GB or 1TB storage. This should be speedy storage to load and unload, thanks to Google using the UFS 4.0 memory standard. With 512GB or 1TB of storage on a U.S. model, you also get Zoned UFS, a feature that supposedly organizes data within your device's storage to improve its efficiency, speed and the device's lifespan. We're not sure why this is limited to only two out of three storage options, and only to American customers, but it sounds like a bonus worth having. The 5,200 mAh battery in the Pixel 10 Pro XL is the largest Google's ever put in a phone. And fortunately, between the extra capacity and the improved Tensor G5 chip, this results in good battery life gains. The Pixel 10 Pro XL lasted 14 hours and 20 minutes in adaptive display mode on the TG custom battery test, which involves constant web browsing over a cell connection. This is almost an hour and a half longer than the Pixel 9 Pro XL achieved. But Google still has catching up to do if it wants to match the 17+ hours that the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max clocked. Using the Pixel 10 Pro XL's 45W wired charging, we were able to fill the phone from empty to 33% and 63% full after 15 minutes and half an hour charging times respectively. The Galaxy S25 Ultra manages to reach 37% and 71% in the same time frame, although its smaller battery capacity no doubt helps there. We must also highlight the 25W wireless charging that the Pixel 10 Pro XL now supports, using the new Qi2.2-compatible Pixelsnap accessories. You can use this with MagSafe chargers designed for iPhones too, opening up a huge world of possible add-ons for your Pixel. Google is the first big Android smartphone maker to adopt Qi2 fully, and hopefully this heralds wider adoption among Android brands down the line. But focusing on the Pixel for now, it means that if you do happen to switch from an iPhone, you can keep using your chargers and some other accessories, saving you spending more on a new set of peripherals. Here's where the Pixel 10 Pro XL's main upgrades lie. As the first big phone maker to embrace genAI features back in 2023, it's no surprise that this remains the Pixel 10 series' focus. The feature I was most looking forward to trying out was Magic Cue, which takes the password or 2FA code autofill you've seen on phones before to another level by surfacing info in your messages or in calls as the phone thinks you need it. But the magic in the name seems to apply to a disappearing act, as I didn't see the feature pop up once in my whole week of testing, despite switching everything on in Settings. I was aware that Daily Hub, the summary feature similar to Samsung's Now Brief, isn't yet available here in the U.K., but none of the suggestions that Google showed off on stage have popped up to help. Other additions to the Pixel 10 Pro XL's software feature arsenal include a Pixel Journal app, a nice way to record your daily thoughts alongside photos, locations and other info from your day. I also had fun with Create Music, which lets you turn Recorder files into tracks with AI-implemented music, based on a handful of genres. There's also Voice Translate in calls, which does a reasonable job of imitating people's voices in order to let you speak the same language. On the aesthetic front, there are new dynamic effects and templates for the lock screen, plus an AOD mode that shows your phone's wallpaper, in the style of recent iPhones and Galaxys, to help keep the Pixel up to speed with its main competition. And Pixel Screenshots, a handy index of all your screengrabs, still works excellently, even as other companies have now imitated the feature with their own phones. It's even got NotebookLM integration to help you add relevant captures to your notebooks. More important than any currently available (or unavailable) feature on the Pixel 10 series is the continued commitment by Google to provide the phone with seven years of full updates. That's the most that any major phone maker offers, and while we've yet to see a phone reach the end of a seven-year update schedule like this yet, hopefully we can trust Google to keep its word and offer Pixel 10 owners an update to Android 23 in 2032. A fun bonus that comes with your Pixel 10 Pro or Pro XL purchase is a free year of Google AI Pro. Normally costing $20 a month, this opens up Google's Gemini Pro and Deep Research tool, plus limited access to Veo 3 Fast video generation and 2 terabytes of cloud storage. Google's made a few but effective upgrades to the Pixel 10 Pro XL. It's a masterclass in efficiency, changing and improving just enough to stay amongst the top of the pack in most areas. The display's brightness is unmatched, and the cameras, ultrawide perhaps aside, offer a balanced, natural look that I can see a lot of people liking. It's unfortunate that the Pixel 10 series is still the lowest powered of the flagship phones on sale today, and lags behind its main rivals on battery efficiency. Hopefully access to Google's latest AI tools makes up for that for anyone who decides to take the plunge, although perhaps give it a couple of months if this is your primary reason. Hopefully by then, the seemingly incomplete Magic Cue and the "Preview" version of Camera Coach will have been made whole. The Galaxy S25 Ultra may still be a better pick for you if you want more power and power efficiency from your phone. The Pixel 10 Pro may also be a better fit than the XL, considering you only sacrifice display size and battery life for a cheaper phone that's otherwise just as capable as its larger sibling. But the Pixel 10 Pro XL is the most capable and competitive of Google's latest batch of phones. If you're buying a phone right now, and want best-in-class software combined with top tier hardware, this Pixel is probably the one to pick.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Review -- A Great Phone, But it Doesn't Feel Like Much of an Upgrade

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate. The Pixel 10 Pro feels like it's in a lull this year, thanks to the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro XL each getting some significant, exclusive upgrades. In comparison, the Pixel 10 Pro feels like a much more incremental update, with little worth shouting about from the rooftops. It's true that the phone isn't short of changes. There's a larger battery, Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, the Tensor G5 chipset, and a brighter Super Actua display. Android 16 also gets a fresh new coat of paint thanks to Material 3 Expressive, an update that still hasn't made it to older models just yet. That said, a lot of those changes are found on other Pixel 10 series phones as well. Having tested the Pixel 10 Pro, it does come across as a slightly fancier version of the Pixel 9 Pro. Not that this is a bad thing, the 9 Pro is an excellent phone, but it's not the kind of thing you can really get excited about. My Google Pixel 10 Pro review breaks it all down to help you figure out whether this phone is right for you -- or if the middle child syndrome pushes you towards a different model. Prices for the Pixel 10 Pro start at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 for a model with 128GB of storage -- which is the exact same price you'd have paid last year. After two consecutive years of price hikes, we're happy to see Google keep prices static. Other storage options are available, up to a maximum of 1TB -- which you may need if you're not up for paying for cloud storage. 256GB will cost $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849, while 512GB increases that price to $1,219 / £1,219 / AU$2,049. The aforementioned 1TB model will set you back $1,449 / £1,149 / AU$2,399. The phone goes on sale on August 28, and will include a full year of Google AI premium (normally $250). Color options include Moonstone (blue/gray), Jade (green), Porcelain (white) and Obsidian (black). The Pixel 10 Pro design hasn't visibly changed compared to the Pixel 9 Pro, though there have been a few tweaks if you know what to look for. The most notable being the 10 Pro is slightly bigger, which means it's just too big to squeeze into any Pixel 9 Pro-compatible cases. According to Google's official specs the difference is a matter of depth, with the Pixel 10 Pro coming in at 152.8mm x 72mm x 8.6mm (6.0 x 2.8x 0.3 inches), versus the Pixel 9 Pro which is 8.5mm deep. The phone is also slightly heavier, at 7.3 ounces (207 grams), and while that may not seem like much the change is noticeable when held in your hand. That weight is likely down to the new Qi2 wireless charging system, or Pixelsnap as Google is referring to it. This is the full magnetic charging system, with a ring of magnets that is compatible with Apple's MagSafe system -- to the point where I was able to use a grip designed for MagSafe on the Pixel 10 Pro without any issues. Other design tweaks Google made include dual speaker grills on the underside of the phone, and in the U.S. this replaces the physical SIM card tray -- since the phone is now eSIM only in the region. However, international models keep the physical slot, which has migrated to the very top of the phone. There's still the same 6.3-inch display up front, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 once again. The outside is also made up of polished "spacecraft-grade aluminum" that offers the same rounded iPhone-like corners Google introduced last year. Meanwhile, the back glass is matte in texture, also made of Victus 2 glass, which always looks significantly better than the glossy back of non-Pro pixels. The display specs are more or less the same on paper, with the Pixel 10 Pro offering 1,280 x 2,865 resolution, with 495 pixels per inch and a 20:9 aspect ratio. Likewise the LTPO display offers an adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate, which is pretty standard for premium phones these days. However, the main change is that the Super Actua display now reaches a peak brightness of 3,300 nits -- which I can certainly believe. After attempting to verify my identity in a banking app in a dark room, I can confirm that this screen is absolutely blinding when the brightness is ramped up. The testing data shows that while the Pixel 10 Pro didn't quite hit the 3,300 peak brightness Google promised, it was able to hit 1,976 nits with adaptive brightness switched on. That's only a marginal increase from last year, but since the Pixel 9 Pro's Super Actua display was rated for a 3,000 nit peak, it's not too surprising. Either way, both phones absolutely dwarf the screen brightness on the S25 Plus (1,350) and the iPhone 16 Pro (1,510). Sadly, brightness isn't everything, and the 10 Pro starts to falter in other display tests. sRGB testing shows that the 10 Pro scored 121.4 in Adaptive mode and 108.3 in Natural. While slightly better than the Pixel 9 Pro, it's still unable to recreate colors as well as some of its rivals, including the iPhone 16 Pro (113.5) and the Galaxy S25 Plus (152.1 in Vivid and 124.2 in Natural). It's a similar story with the DCI-P3 color gamut, with a score of 89.5 and 76.3 in both display modes. That's better than the Pixel 9 Pro in adaptive mode (86), but slightly worse in natural (76.7). It's the same story for the iPhone 16 Pro, which scored 80.4, and miles behind the Galaxy S25 Plus (107.8 and 87.9). Delta-e scores are even worse, since the aim is to have the lowest score possible. While the other three phones are on fairly equal ground (Pixel 9 Pro's Natural score aside), the Pixel 10 Pro is noticeably higher. 0.32 in adaptive mode and 0.25 in natural, meaning it's only able to beat the 9 Pro in the latter category. The dip in display specs is probably not going to be noticeable to some, especially since the enhanced brightness over rival phones will be quite obvious. But it doesn't change the fact that Google seems to be on a continual decline in this area -- and it's something the Pixel 11 Pro will need to fix. In the week I've been using the Pixel 10 Pro, Magic Cue has yet to actually make its presence really known. It's all switched on, with permissions in the compatible Google apps granted, but so far I haven't seen any indication of the new assistant a whole lot. In fact the only place it popped up was during a phone call, as part of Call Assist -- but all that told me was that I'd sent my wife a message on July 18. Which I guess is something, but it's hardly the super-useful AI assistant Google has promised. For several days Magic Cue seemed to be otherwise missing in action, though it has slowly started making itself more known. Just this morning I spotted an alert in Gmail informing me that a package is due to arrive tomorrow. Still, at this early stage, I still feel like Google has thrown Magic Cue out there expecting you to understand how it works, and what to do, without any meaningful instruction. Like so many other AI features on other phones. There are some tips in the new My Pixel app, but as of yet, Magic Cue isn't behaving the way Google says it should, which defeats the purpose of having an autonomous AI assistant running on your phone. It's probably going to take some time to get going, and maybe things will be better in a few weeks, though it's still disappointing that this flagship AI feature is moving so slowly. Camera Coach is certainly one of the more interesting features Google has, with the aim of helping you take better photos. All it takes is a simple tap of the Camera Coach button in the top right corner, and it will scan what's in frame and come up with ideas based on the kind of shot you want to take. It's not the kind of feature for quick snap-and-shoot photos, since it takes a little bit of time to scan and go through those motions. But if you have a deliberately posed shot, then the tips and advice the AI offers could be genuinely useful. There's rarely anything major, and it seems as though the AI is just telling you to adjust your own positioning. Some could be a little iffy, though, like telling me to switch to landscape mode even though I was already in it. But for the most part, so long as you have a willing subject who isn't likely to move around (like my dogs love to do), then this is a feature well worth taking advantage of. Taking a leaf out of Samsung's book, Google added a 100x Pro Res Zoom feature on the Pixel 10 Pro -- up from 30x on the Pixel 9 Pro. I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this, especially after seeing a preview of 100x magnification on the phone's screen. But I will admit that it surprised me with how good the results actually were. The preview shots are, as you'd expect, a blurry pixelated mess. And while the AI-processed images aren't pristine, as you'd get with an actual telephoto lens, they look pretty darn close. The AI is doing an awful lot of heavy lifting there, though in some cases you can tell. So don't expect to be able to read text or see other smaller details from a Super Res Zoom shot, because the AI isn't that good. Pixel Journal is a new app to let you document your day and activities, with the AI giving you suggestions on what to actually document. You tell it your goal, and it will come up with daily reminders based on photos you took or exercise you did - assuming you granted the app access to the Photos and Health Connect apps. However the actual substance of the journal entries is up to you, and Gemini won't be giving you any additional help beyond that nudge in the right direction. Which is great if you're big into journaling and need something basic, though it isn't really a selling point if you're not. In a change that I can't imagine anyone expected, Google has added the ability to add AI-generated music to your recordings from the Pixel recorder app. This does work, though it will take some time depending on the length of the recording in question, with multiple mood options -- and the ability to make some of your own. This isn't a feature I would personally use right now, since all my recordings are of fairly boring professional settings -- like interviews. But if you've been using the Pixel Recorder for other things, like recording song lyrics or slam poetry, then the addition of extra music could prove useful. Niche, but potentially useful. Other AI features coming to Pixel 10 Pro include an upgraded version of Add Me, which supports more people and apparently includes pets -- though I couldn't get it to work with photos of just my two dogs. Meanwhile, Best Take will work automatically, stitching together photos to get the best possible look for everyone. Calls are also supposed to have a Voice Translate feature, as part of the Call Assist menu, though only a handful of languages are actually supported right now. C2PA support also ensures that all your photos have a detailed log of where they've come from -- including how they were made/taken and what edits have been made along the way. On paper, the Pixel 10 Pro cameras haven't changed since last year. You get the same 50MP main camera, 48MP ultrawide and 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. Plus the 42MP selfie camera on the front. In terms of raw hardware, those are the same as the Pixel 9 Pro last year. That said, there's more to camera quality than resolution. While Google hasn't confirmed any changes under the hood, that's always a possibility. Not to mention the fact that Pixel cameras often lean heavily on post-shot processing, which has only increased in the era of AI. Better AI and camera software mean better photos with the same hardware. Of course, there's only one way to find out, so I took the Pixel 10 Pro out to take some photos and compare it to the capabilities of the Pixel 9 Pro. With the main camera, the differences aren't all that apparent. There's certainly a little more brightness on the Pixel 9 Pro than its successor, but the coloring on the Pixel 10 Pro does have a little more true-to-life coloring and realism in the details -- with less background blur. But for the most part, these two photos are pretty darn similar, to the point where most people wouldn't notice the difference. Move the action indoors, and the situation is more or less the same. There's a little more clarity on the Pixel 10 Pro's background, but overall the two photos are about as close to identical as you can possibly hope for. Macro photography on the Pixel 9 Pro was a little challenging, especially with trying to focus on the blackberry in shot. But it's clear that with the close-ups, the Pixel 10 Pro has better focusing ability, brighter colors and generally more overall detail on the subject itself. The ultrawide lens is another case where the two photos might as well have been taken on the same phone. The Pixel 10 Pro is a brighter picture, letting you see more detail in the shadowy areas -- but not by much. There's also a little more realism in the colors, especially on the lower end of the sky. In a switch of circumstances, the Pixel 10 Pro is actually the darker shot, when zooming in at 5x magnification -- the maximum optical zoom on both phones. The differences between the two shots end there, though, and detail-wise they look the same. However, given the bright sunlight, I think I prefer the Pixel 10 Pro since it looks a little less washed out than its predecessor. Push the magnification up to 10x, and you do start to see the differences come out. The Pixel 10 Pro jumps back to the realism in the color, while the Pixel 9 Pro has a murky hue to the final shot. That being said, it seems as though the Pixel 9 Pro managed to capture more details -- including some of the feathering on the pigeon's head and body. The differences are especially apparent when night photography is concerned, and both phones took a shot of this church in near pitch darkness. The fact that they've picked up so much is a testament to how good Google's Night Sight actually is on Pixel phones. Overall, the Pixel 10 Pro clinches it. It's brighter and has managed to pull out more detail from the greenery and the brickwork off in the distance, while the Pixel 9 Pro is generally a lot fuzzier. Though I do think I prefer the more muted look on the Pixel 9 Pro -- not everyone will agree. Selfies bring us back to the same dividing line, with the Pixel 10 Pro coming out slightly brighter than the Pixel 9 Pro -- with the same increased detail in the background. But the end result isn't different enough that I would be upset with either option. As for Portrait mode, I honestly can't tell the difference between the two. The only real discerning thing is the fact that the Pixel 10 Pro can shoot portraits in 1x magnification from the main camera, while the Pixel 9 Pro has a minimum of 1.5x. But both phones capture all the right details, and there are no issues with the bokeh effect around my dog's fur. Overall the Pixel 10 Pro does take good photos, but it doesn't do a whole lot to differentiate itself from the Pixel 9 Pro. On the one hand, the exact same hardware means this isn't actually that surprising. Plus the Pixel 9 Pro is already one of the best camera phones. But on the other hand, the fact that Google doesn't seem to have done a whole lot behind the scenes is a little disappointing. The fact the Pixel 9 Pro's 10x zoom proved better was a huge surprise, and one that I'm actually pretty disappointed about. It just suggests that improving the Pixel 10 Pro's camera was not high on the list of its priorities this year. Pixel phones have never been particularly strong performers, especially since Google shifted from Qualcomm chips to Tensor. The Tensor G5 is no exception, even now that it's switched to TSMC's 3nm process -- which typically offers a bump in performance and efficiency. So if you're hoping for a powerhouse Pixel, then you're going to be disappointed. Admittedly, there has been a notable leap in performance compared to the Pixel 9 Pro's Tensor G4. The single core Geekbench test produced a result of 2,335 to the 9 Pro's 1,948 and a multicore score of 6,375 to last year's 4,794. That said it's still significantly behind the Galaxy S25 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro which recorded significantly higher results -- 3,141 / 10,153 and 3,400 / 8,391, respectively. It's a similar story with the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited graphics tests. The G5 managed to pull off a score of 3,314 and an average frame rate of 18.77 -- noticeably better than the 2,567/15.38 recorded by the Pixel 9 Pro. But's still quite far behind the iPhone 16 Pro (3,840/23.03) and the incredible performance from the S25 Plus (6.579/39.3). Finally, we have the Adobe Premiere Rush video transcoding test, which is done to see how the phones perform with real-world tasks -- rather than benchmarking tests. Last year the Pixel 9 Pro disappointed by not being able to complete the test, so the fact the Pixel 10 Pro did is an achievement in itself. However, the 10 Pro's 2 minutes and 19 second transcoding time is pretty abysmal, especially compared to the 21-second score by the iPhone 16 Pro. The S25 Plus hit 54 seconds, which is considerably slower than the iPhone, but embarrassingly quick compared to Google. Google has spoken at length about how the Tensor chips are not built to pull in high benchmarking scores for the sake of it. Instead, it's all about AI, security and improved photography -- with a growing emphasis on AI with each passing generation. And we do get some exceptional Ai features with each passing year. So far the phone has performed pretty well with every day tasks, and didn't pose any issues playing PUBG on the highest possible settings. But if you want the best and fastest performance out of your phone, you may want to choose a different device. The Pixel 10 Pro does have a slightly larger battery than the Pixel 9 Pro, which should, in theory, translate to more battery life. Anecdotally, I've found that the battery does last a lot longer than the Pixel 9 Pro seems to. But I will caveat with the note that the Pixel 9 Pro battery seems to have worsened ever since I installed Android 16. So we'll have to rely on the data from the Tom's Guide labs to see what's going on. As ever, the phone went under our custom battery life test, which had a fully-charged device continuously surf the web over a cellular network until the battery ran out. As you can see in the table above the Pixel 10 Pro lasted 13 hours and 43 minutes during testing, which is higher than the 13 hours and 37 minutes battery life we recorded on the Pixel 9 Pro last year. That's not a particularly big difference, and clearly the 3nm process used to build the Tensor G5 isn't having as big an impact on energy efficiency as we'd hoped. Still, considering the history of Google Pixels and battery life it's better than seeing battery life decrease. Though we would have liked to see it increase a little more than this, especially with the extra 170mAh of battery capacity. The battery life isn't that far behind the iPhone 16 Pro's 14 hours and 7 minutes, though since the iPhone 17 is only weeks away, that might not matter for much. The Pixel is also dwarfed by the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, which lasted over 3 hours longer in the same testing regimen. As for charging speed, the Galaxy dominates again -- with its 45W charging reaching 70% after just 30 minutes. Meanwhile Pixel 10 Pro was only marginally better than Pixel 9 Pro (55% to 49%), and slightly below the iPhone 16 Pro. Which is pretty bad considering the 16 Pro is limited to 20W charging speed. In terms of wireless charging, the Pixel 10 Pro is limited to 15W Qi2 charging speeds - a downgrade from 21W on the Pixel 9 Pro. Though the benefit is you don't need a proprietary Google-made charger, since all Qi2-certified chargers offer the same speed. Sadly, though, the Pixel 10 Pro's charging speed lags behind the large Pixel 10 Pro XL. Not only does the phone support Qi2.2 wireless charging, with 25W speeds, it also supports up to 45W wired charging. It's unclear why Google chose to make this distinction, and it makes the Pixel 10 Pro less appealing as a result. Android 16 is not exactly a new thing, since it arrived on older Pixels back in June. But there were still aspects of the software that have yet to materialize on other phones, notably the Material 3 Expressive redesign. The goal of Material 3 Expressive is to try and make Android more "personalized," "expressive," and "reactive." Though so far I haven't noticed much difference in how Android actually performs, aside from the new visual design. Having looked over the Pixel 9 Pro with the pre-Material 3 Android 16 design, I don't see a whole lot of difference in the way things run. Some stuff has changed and been revamped, like the Lock Screen customization tools, but for the most part, it doesn't feel like Google is offering much that's new. It's just been tweaked and rearranged slightly. Which can be a good thing, but it's certainly not worth the amount of attention Google has been giving it. It's certainly no Liquid Glass. As for the design itself, I'm not a fan of how things have changed. I much preferred the old no-nonsense approach than the new design, rather than this new Google-interpretation of a "fun font." If Material 3 is about personalization, then there should be more options on offer for those of us that want to make changes. If the best Android launchers can offer it, then so can Google. Considering Google has pledged 7 years of full update support once again, it means there's plenty of time for Google to change things in the near future. I just hope the font choices don't stick around until 2032. Overall, the Pixel 10 Pro is a good phone, but it's let down by the fact this is a very incremental upgrade. It really just feels like a slightly different variation on the Pixel 9 Pro. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, considering the Pixel 9 Pro is one of the best phones. But, as much as I appreciate upgrades like Qi2, it's still disappointing to see how little Google has done with the new model. But when it comes down to the real stuff, there's very little to actually dislike about the phone. The camera is good, battery life is strong, and the display feels like it will literally blind you in the right circumstances. The AI upgrades aren't quite as impressive as I'd hoped, especially Magic Cue, but new features in addition to old ones can never be a bad thing. If you have a Pixel 9 Pro, this is definitely a phone to skip. But if you're looking for a Pro Pixel, and are happy to sacrifice charging speed for the more compact design, then the Pixel 10 Pro should suit you just fine.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Review for Photographers: The Most Minor Update Yet

Smartphone season is here, and, as usual, Google is starting things off. The Pixel 10 series has arrived, and although a telephoto lens has now been added to the base model, we prefer to evaluate the highest-end Pro series for its creative photo and video usage. At first glance, the specs and hardware look almost unchanged from the previous models. So is new software enough, or is this the most iterative update Google has ever released? We get the same sensor sizes and lens specs. The same 6.3- and 6.8-inch sizes on the LCD screens as last year. We even get the same body dimensions, which at least means that an older case would still fit. If all the changes are software and AI-based, can Google really make the 10 Pro and Pro XL worth the extra cost? As usual, I will be focusing on the photo and video capabilities only, and will stick to notable changes that I find exciting rather than giving a full overview of the phone in its entirety. We may have the same screen sizes as the previous models, but the screens are slightly brighter with an improved 2,200 nits of brightness overall and a max peak of up to 3,300 nits. This represents about a 10% improvement over last year's models. The 10 series uses somewhat faster Tensor G5 processors on a 3nm architecture, and storage options are about the same, with a maximum of 512GB of storage available on the 10 Pro models. Google has finally caught up with Apple's MagSafe conveniences by offering its own version called PixelSnap. This and all of the others are all variations of the magnet-based Qi designs and allow for cross-compatibility with magnetic chargers and phone accessories across the board. It's a great addition that I'm happy to see here. We should see slight increases in battery life given the larger battery and more efficient processors being used this year, although the more powerful AI features could rebalance this out. Color options have been slightly changed as well this year, but construction methods for the new phones are essentially identical to the previous models and it will be hard to tell the Pixel 9 and 10 apart even upon close inspection. It's fair to say that any physical changes between the 9 and 10 series of phones are minor at best. The same three cameras return for this season, with a 48-megapixel ultra-wide f/1.7 lens mated to a Type 1/2.55 sensor, a 50-megapixel wide f/1.68 lens in front of a Type 1/1.3 sensor, and a 5x 48-megapixel telephoto f/2.8 lens paired with a Type 1/2.55 sensor. All three of these cameras make a return from the Pixel 9 Pro series; however, there are some notable changes. The optical stabilizer has been improved in the main camera, which means more usable still frames to be compiled, as well as better video stability. This fact should not be poo-pooed as more stable frames always give a noticeable increase in image quality. We also see the return of the upgraded 42-megapixel f/2.2 selfie camera this year. The other big change is the ability for the 5x telephoto camera to focus closer than before. That said, this only shows when specifically locking the lenses and using the telephoto lens, and the tighter frame is only marginally noticeable when using autofocus. However, using manual focusing provides a way closer macro capability than before, which allows for lots of working distance from the subject. If you do not lock the lenses separately from each other, most users will notice no difference in the macro ability of the phone, as it will simply use or switch to the main and ultra-wide camera as the phone is brought closer to the subject. The major change to the lenses this year isn't actually a lens change but rather an AI-assisted software effect that will be sure to stir up some controversy. Google has a new feature designed to extend the range of the telephoto camera by allowing up to a 100x zoom effect. The phone can still push the zoom range to 20x and even further by digitally restoring lost pixels and maintaining a high pixel count, but the 100x works at a 12-megapixel level only. From what I can deduce, the phone does one of two things. It will analyze the scene and use AI to enhance the amount of detail, recreating edges and textures, while still following the structure of the original subject. Or it will flat-out replace the hard-to-identify structures with completely AI-generated objects. Sometimes the effect is quite useful, with an uncanny ability to restore lost detail akin to the security footage enhancement on an episode of CSI. However, we did also find situations where the phone will make up text or strange symbols where it feels it needs to, and I can imagine plenty of moon shots at 100x will be fully generated moonscapes to replace the white circle in the sky originally captured. My feelings are mixed on this. On the one hand, many casual users will find the 100x zoom effect very useful for enhancing the detail of something like a bird in a tree or a humpback whale tail at sea. The quality is not going to pass muster with more experienced photographers, but your friends and family on Instagram will get a much nicer image to look at than the blurry mess that would have been shown previously. The fully AI-generated effects, though, will be a line that many will feel shouldn't have been crossed, and I agree with them. It's one thing to choose to add a completely AI-generated subject to an existing scene as a fun distraction, and another to completely replace what reality gave you with a fully generated subject. So many of the image editing and processing features are ones we have seen before on the Pixel 9 series, and aside from some minor changes, they are largely the same as before. The excellent Google Night Sight returns, as well as Auto Best Take and Add Me, which we've previously tested. Google doesn't lock its manual controls behind a separate app, and it's easy as always to access RAW capture capability and filter options. Testing the dynamic range of the RAW files showed very similar results to the Google Pixel 9 Pro phones, with some ability to push and pull shadows or play with color. Playing with the fully AI-generated prompts in the editing suite yielded very similar results to past experiences. I can change the size of subjects in my images, move them to different areas, and add whatever strange objects and scenarios I feel like experimenting with. For example, I made Jordan Drake larger in one image, moved him to the right side of the frame, entered a prompt to generate a fish in his hand, and then asked the phone to create a pile of fish on the ground. The results are hokey and silly, with obvious halos around objects and some mistakes with masking present. Again, familiar results compared to past experiences. This feature hasn't improved much. Still, the camera does a good job of erasing unwanted objects and moving subjects around. I wouldn't find myself using these features, but I can see how more casual users would find some fun to be had playing with the editor. It's very important to note that Google has added the Pixel 10 phones to the C2PA authenticity standard, which will record any AI or editing changes made to the images as a way of showing some transparency in how said images came to be. This is absolutely the right thing to do and is a positive step in ensuring that any editing is tracked and monitored to some degree. Also notable is that Google is applying C2PA metadata to all photos, not just ones that have been altered with AI, which we called out as a major miss when Samsung added C2PA support earlier this year. So, good on Google here. There is a new learning tool this year, which I have to say is pretty invaluable for beginner photographers. Called Google Camera Coach, I must say I was more impressed with it than I thought I would be: it is very easy to use and very slick. I even found myself appreciating some of the reminders that it suggested. To us it, you simply frame a subject and then run the Camera Coach. The phone will analyze the scene, ask you what is important to you in it, and then give legitimately helpful suggestions to capture a better photograph. I found the interface easy to use and the process fun, making it easy to learn actually good techniques. If AI is going to be in our phones, this is the way I would prefer it to help. On that same topic, I often rely on portrait modes in smartphones and the selective focus effect that they offer. The Google Pixel 9 Pro had poor performance in this regard, and I'm happy to report that the 10 Pro is much better. It masks the subject well, has a far less obvious transition, and handles fly-away hairs and smooth gradients of focus much better than before. I wish there were more to say about the video features, but everything is essentially the same as before. Google made significant progress with the Pixel 9 Pro, and that naturally carries over. You can get 8K recording up to 30 frames per second (FPS), although this is possible only using Google's cloud-based video boost mode that raises resolution digitally after the fact. Otherwise, 4K up to 60FPS is present, and the image quality in 10-bit HDR mode is pretty good. We also really like the Audio Magic eraser tool, which can filter out unwanted sounds right in the camera. If you liked the Pixel 9 Pro video, you'll like this as well. With Apple ProRes Log being available for several years now and Samsung adding its own log profile earlier this year, its absence on the Google Pixel 10 series is exceptionally notable. The Pixel series has been our least favorite for shooting video, and that is unlikely to change this year. I think it's fair to say that the Pixel 10 Pro upgrades are pretty minor and, subsequently, underwhelming. As much as I enjoyed some of the new features, the only one that I would really benefit from on a regular basis is the improved portrait mode. Of course, a phone is more than just its cameras, and the AI assist tools for monitoring your correspondence or finding you great restaurants might very well be awesome to use, depending on how invasive you like your phone to be. However, from an image-making standpoint, the Pixel 10 Pro phones are largely more of the same, and I wouldn't upgrade from a Pixel 9. Even the Pixel 8 phones make many of the same shots that the 9 and 10 series do, and your enjoyment factor will mostly depend on how much AI you want in your images. I firmly believe that the North American phones are hitting a hardware plateau, and attention will be diverted to the software side of things in an attempt to really wow us. As of the date I'm writing this article, I will have to wait and see what Apple and Samsung come out with to confirm if my theory is true. Make no mistake, the Google Pixel 10 Pro is the best image maker that the company has offered, and I've always liked the control scheme and the more natural look to the color and detail. However, we definitely live in a world now where our smartphone images will be more AI-generated and less actual, real captures. Google is full-steam-ahead into this future of photography, for better or worse. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will give you a whole host of AI features -- many of which are shared with Google's Pixel since they both run Android -- and I really enjoyed the portraits and overall look to the photos it takes. Despite it being a little older, since Samsung does its release in January instead of the fall like everyone else, it feels like a competitive model to the Pixel 10 Pro, given that the updates are so minor this year. You could also look at the Google Pixel 9 Pro, which will now be at a better price and will give you a very similar overall photographic experience. For something less expensive with fewer AI features but still a competent camera system, the Nothing Phone 3 is a solid alternative. Maybe. If you have been holding out for a while, the Pixel 10 Pro is an excellent phone for the photographer. If you already have a Pixel 8 or 9 Pro, though, it might be worth waiting another year.

After a week reviewing the Pixel 10 Pro XL, I wouldn't give it up for all the iPhones in the world

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Find out more about how we test. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is the Pixel phone to buy this year. The Pixel 10 Pro can match the Pro XL on the most important features, but the benefits of the larger display, along with a couple of features that are simply better on the XL device, make the Pixel 10 Pro XL my favorite of the new Pixel family, and the phone I would recommend first, but not last. I feel confident recommending the Pixel 10 Pro XL above the rest - and above any other Android phone you can buy right now - because I spent the last year using the Pixel 9 Pro as my primary work phone. That means I know exactly why the Pixel is a great phone for being productive, but I also know that I wish I'd had a bigger screen than the 9 Pro's. The Pro XL will be my primary device this year, for sure. If you haven't checked out a Pixel phone in a while, you really should head to a store and get your hands on one. The latest Pixel 10 Pro XL is polished and well-built, with a refined look and gorgeous materials and color combinations. It's a much nicer-looking phone than the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max, and it delivers on a number of features Apple hasn't been able to match. Google's AI features are the most advanced on any smartphone, and often the most unobtrusive. The newest AI features, like Magic Cue and the live translation, don't feel pushy or overblown, and they don't produce embarrassing or useless results. Google is pushing AI into the background as a silent helper, where it should be. Of course, all of the new Pixel 10 series phones have Google's advanced new AI features, like the live translator that not only converts your language into another tongue, it also speaks with a voice that sounds remarkably like yours. That may sound alarming from a privacy viewpoint, but Google says this processing happens on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and not on a distant cloud computer, so your conversations - and your voice - should be safe. So what makes the Pixel 10 Pro XL so special, the best of the Pixel 10 bunch? First of all, Google's Pixel displays - so-called Super Actua displays - are among the best you'll see on any smartphone. These screens are bright and colorful and very sharp. When the screen is this good, I want as much screen as I can get, so I prefer having the larger XL display. At 6.8 inches, it's 0.5 inches bigger diagonally than the Pixel 10's display, and that equals 13 square centimeters of extra screen space. The Pixel 10 Pro XL also has the largest battery of all the new Pixel phones, and that equates to the longest battery life, both in my real-world testing and in our Future Labs battery rundown tests. It wasn't a massive difference - the Pixel 10 Pro XL only lasted an hour longer than the Pixel 10. Still, every bit helps. The Pixel 10 Pro XL also charges faster than any other Pixel 10 device, whether you're charging wirelessly or with a USB-C cord. If you have a 45W charger, the Pixel 10 Pro XL can charge that fast, compared to the 30W charging on the other two Pixel 10 phones. The Pixel 10 Pro XL can also use faster wireless charging. Again, it's not a huge difference, but every bit yada yada yada. The biggest benefit for me is the combination of Google's winning Super Actua display with the Pixel 10 Pro XL cameras. If I'm taking serious photos, I want the biggest viewfinder possible to get the right shot. The extra screen space on the Pro XL phone felt like a big advantage, and if photography is important to you, I'd recommend the Pro XL phone first. The Pixel 10 Pro has the exact same camera specs, but having the bigger Pro XL display helped me take better shots. Are there other benefits to the Pro XL? Well... not really. It isn't any faster than the Pixel 10 Pro... or even than the Pixel 10. In our benchmark tests, the extra RAM in the Pro models didn't seem to make much difference. Pixel phones still disappoint if you only care about the numbers. I don't rely on benchmarks, though, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL was satisfying and quick in almost every task. There was some lag on the camera, but most other features - including the latest AI helpers - ran smoothly with no delays. Google has another winner with the Pixel 10 Pro XL - and the whole Pixel 10 family. Between the premium design, the excellent software, and the advanced AI features, this is a phone that iPhone fans should seriously consider, and Galaxy owners should envy. I'll be keeping this phone close by - snapped to my MagSafe charging stand - until an even better Pixel comes along. I remember the days when a new phone would cost the same but come with more storage and RAM than last year's model because component costs had decreased. This year's Pixel 10 Pro XL is more expensive than before, and it comes with 256GB of storage, but I'm not awarding Google any medals for giving the phone enough space. This phone should be cheaper. To be fair, 256GB of storage is the right amount, unless you play a ton of games or you shoot video with your phone at high-resolution. There's a 1TB model available, but only serious enthusiasts need apply - and you know who you are. The color options this year are a bit drab. I like the Moonstone color and the Jade, but they aren't very exciting. My review unit is the Porcelain white, which looks classy but a bit bland. Google also sent along a silicone case with magnets built in that matches the hone perfectly. If you want the 1TB storage option, it's only available in the black Obsidian. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL has nearly the same spec sheet as the Pixel 10 Pro, with a few key differences. The display is larger, with more pixels (no pun intended), but it isn't quite as sharp. You won't notice, though, and both displays use LTPO tech for the best always-on display with low power drain. There's a bigger battery in the Pixel 10 Pro XL as well, and that meant longer battery life in my tests. I also found the 45W charging made a difference, with the Pixel 10 Pro XL charging faster than the other Pixel 10 phones. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is the Pixel 10 Pro all blown up. It doesn't add any extra buttons or physical details; the two phones look identical, just at a different scale. That's a good thing because the Pixel 10 Pro is a great-looking phone, and it keeps the same exact design as the Pixel 9 Pro that was my favorite phone of last year. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I like the Pixel 10 Pro XL design even more than the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max. It feels just as refined as Apple's phone, with fewer unnecessary buttons to get in the way. Does anyone actually use the Camera Control? I know I don't. To be fair, I don't use the temperature sensor on the back of the Pixel 10 Pro XL, but I can ignore that easier than a button. The color options are a bit 'professional' and bland, but closer inspections shows more attention to detail than I would have expected from Google. The Jade color of my Pro review sample, for instance, was matched with a light gold frame that looks barely gilded. It's a gorgeous match. The speaker grilles on the bottom of the phone are new, and color-matched to the frame you choose. It's a nice touch that most people won't ever notice. I have no complaints about the Pixel 10 Pro XL design, except that I'd like to see more interesting color options. Google at least matches its phones perfectly with its silicone case colors, and like the Pixel 10 phones, the latest cases have magnets inside that secure a very strong connection to any Pixelsnap (or MagSafe) accessories you might buy. Wow... I was expecting to be pleased with the Pixel 10 Pro XL's display, but this phone somehow looks even better than I anticipated. Google's Super Actua displays are among the best you'll find on any smartphone. For the past few years, Google's new Pixel displays have been dominant, topped only by Samsung's best Ultra screen, and this year hasn't been disappointing at all. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is a joy to use in any situation. It's great in outdoor light, even for shooting photos or reading my social feeds. It's perfect for navigating in the car or on the street. It's a great phone for reading in the dark late at night, or as a bedside lamp with the Pixelsnap screen savers. In fact, I like this display so much that I think it justifies paying more to have more of it. The Pro XL is the Pixel to buy not just because it has a bigger screen, but because the screen is so enjoyable that I want to have as much of it as possible. Whether I'm watching videos, taking photos, or playing games, the Pixel 10 Pro XL display is my favorite on any smartphone I own. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL highlights Google's clean and well-designed interface. I love the Material 3 Expressive interface design, as Google calls its Pixel version of Android. It's friendly without feeling cartoonish, and it packs plenty of useful widgets and tools that are easy to manage and don't hog my attention. With so much screen space, it was a joy to create AI wallpapers and populate my home screen with Google's slick widgets. I let the phone set all of my icon and widget colors to match my wallpaper, creating a unified theme, and the phone darkened the colors as the day went on, finally flipping to dark mode after sunset. That's the best of Pixel - a well-designed interface filled with just enough useful features to make the phone a tool you always want in your pocket. The Pixel 10 Pro XL will definitely remain my primary work phone after this review is published. It gives me simple customizations and shortcuts that remove the clutter of apps from my home screen and surface just the information I need. I wish iOS was better at this. The Pixel 10 Pro XL also has some of the most useful AI features you'll find on a phone, and I'm a big fan of Google's call-screening tools. I can let Google AI answer when an unknown number calls, and it will give me a text transcript of whatever my caller says. Then I can decide whether to answer the call or not. This feature is only available on Pro Pixel models, and it's worth the upgrade if you take a lot of calls. There are plenty of new AI features as well, and I've talked in depth about the new Magic Cue in my Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro reviews. I think it could be an important addition to Android in the long run, but it still doesn't work consistently. It offers useful links and buttons to info as you need it, and it doesn't get in the way or seem pushy, like other AI features, so I have high hopes for it. Otherwise, there are many smaller improvements that I've found scattered throughout the interface and which bring Google's experience closer to the holistic, thoughtful design I expect from iOS more than Android. Apple lets you make a contact card for yourself that will accompany your phone number when you share your details. Google lets you make the contact card for your contacts, instead of making them do the work. That seems like a better solution, since not everybody owns an iPhone, and Apple's contact cards don't work across platforms. Even Google's Daily Hub is more useful than other attempts I've seen. Samsung, Motorola, and now Google all offer a home page for your personal information, gathered and summarized by AI. On my Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Now Brief page has been useless at best, and oddly flippant at worst. On the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the Daily Hub offers more useful information, links I actually enjoy, and easy access to more information. There are still some odd and off-putting AI features, usually generative AI tools. The Recorder app for some odd reason offers to generate a musical background for your recordings; I don't really need a pop-metal soundtrack for my business interviews, thanks. Still, it's easy to ignore these oddities, and Google mostly doesn't shove its AI in your face. The Pixel 10 Pro XL and the Pixel 10 Pro have identical camera lenses and sensors, but I'm calling the Pro XL the better camera phone because of the larger display and longer battery life. Both of those attributes are features that camera buyers look for, and they make a difference when shooting with the Pixels. The photos I got from the Pixel 10 Pro XL were fantastic, perhaps the best I've seen on any camera phone (and I compile the Best Camera Phones list for TechRadar). I'll need to test the cameras in more situations, and head-to-head against more competitors, but in my week with the Pro XL it took pics that matched or beat my iPhone 16 Pro Max in most conditions. The Pixel 10 Pro XL took photos with very accurate colors and plenty of detail at every focal range. For night photography, it was no contest. The Pro XL took pics that looked like I had a professional flashgun attached, while the iPhone shots looked much darker and lacked focus. You can see plenty of AI help in the photos, but usually the results don't look fake or off-putting. It's a trade-off. I took a picture of a snowy egret from far away with my iPhone and the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The iPhone photo was grainy and fuzzy, but you could see the bird's reflection rippling in the water. The Pixel created a smoother, more recognizable image, but the AI removed the ripples from the end result. The only downside to Pixel photography is Google's Camera app. It's a nightmare. It's hard to use, with settings that seem to conflict with each other. Adjust one setting, like changing from 12MP to 50MP resolution, and a handful of other settings suddenly go dark without warning. I also tested the new Camera Coach feature, and you can read more about it in my Pixel 10 review. I think it helps more on the base-model phone, while the Pro XL Pixel takes photos that are good enough that you may not want an AI coach to get in the way. The Pixel 10 Pro XL's performance is the phone's only real letdown, and even though it didn't make a difference most of the time, at key moments the phone struggled to keep up. The gap between Pixel performance and the rest of the smartphone world isn't shrinking - it's getting bigger and uglier every year. The Pixel 10 Pro XL had no trouble navigating the Android menus and launching apps as quick as can be, but not every feature was so smooth. I had trouble in the Camera app, especially when I changed to the higher 50MP resolution. The camera sometimes stalled after I hit the shutter button, and made me wait for a few moments until I could snap my next shot. That's a huge disappointment, and I don't know any other phone outside cheap bargain options that fails to perform basic tasks this manifestly. I can press the shutter button on my OnePlus 13 as fast as my finger can fly and it never misses a beat - likely thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset inside. Qualcomm has a superior platform this year, and phone makers who don't use the latest Elite option are being left behind in more ways than one (see my battery complaints below). I no longer think the Tensor G5 is good enough for the Pixel 10 Pro XL. It isn't. It can't keep up with the latest Android software and features, and it's time for Google to rethink its platform strategy. The Pixel 10 Pro XL has the best battery life of any Pixel 10 phone so far (we haven't tested the Pixel 10 Pro Fold yet), but that isn't saying much. The Pro XL lasted through a full day with little trouble, but I was still nervous when the battery hit single digits before bed time, which was often. I alleviated my stress with the MagSafe chargers I have littered throughout my house and office space. Like the Pixelsnap charger, MagSafe is convenient for fast charging when I have 15 minutes to let my phone sit on a stand. A couple of those charge breaks every day made sure I had enough battery to last as long as I needed. This mediocre battery life is especially disappointing because I've seen massive gains in the rest of the Android world. Phone makers like Samsung and OnePlus - using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite platform - are offering new phones that get hours more battery life than last year's models. The Pixel 10 Pro XL lasted 15 minutes longer in our Future Labs battery tests than last year's Pixel 9 Pro XL. That's pathetic. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra achieved two hours more battery life than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, even though it uses a battery that's the same size, thanks to the newer Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. If Google can't offer similar improvements year over year, it's time to change platforms or it will be time to stop recommending the Pixel. I tested the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL for a week, alongside the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro. I used the Pixel 10 Pro XL as a work phone with my high-security work accounts. I loaded the phone with more than a hundred apps, and multiple Google accounts. I used the Pixel 10 Pro XL as a camera, testing every camera feature. I used AI features to ask questions and generate sample images. I connected Magic Cue to all of my personal Google account information, and I fed the Pixel 10 Pro XL a regular diet of screenshots of my personal dealings for the Screenshots app. I connected the Pixel 10 Pro XL to my Pixel Watch 3, my Pixel Buds Pro, and many other Bluetooth headsets and devices. I used Android Auto in my Kia and my friends' Acura and Subaru cars, and connected to Bluetooth in an older BMW. I've been testing phones for more than 20 years, since the days of BlackBerry and Palm OS smartphones and Samsung flip phones. I have tested hundreds of devices myself, and our Future Labs experts have tested hundreds more. I even did a brief stint as the internal phone reviewer for Samsung Mobile, testing products before launch in order to predict review scores and reception. Future Labs tests phones using a mix of third-party benchmark software and proprietary, real-world tests. We use Geekbench, CrossMark, JetStream, WebXPRT and Mobile XPRT, and 3DMark for performance testing. We test a phone's performance on video editing tasks using Adobe Premiere Rush. We also measure display color output and brightness. For battery testing, we have proprietary rundown tests that are the same for every phone, which we use to determine how long it takes for the battery to run down.

Pixel 10 Pro review: An impressive camera makes up for some notable flaws

A Mashable Choice Award is a badge of honor, reserved for the absolute best stuff we've tested and loved. Google's annual refresh of its Pixel line is always a treat. The Pixel hardware is lovely, and the visor on the back is quickly becoming an iconic look. (For Star Trek fans, it's giving major Geordi LaForge vibes.) The software offers one of my favorite user interfaces in the Android world, and it comes with a ton of goodies to play with besides. Anecdotally, I have seen more and more Pixel phones out "in the wild" in 2025, and not just among my fellow tech-nerd friends. The market share isn't there yet, but it's certainly climbing. This year's Pixel 10 Pro refresh doesn't have as much new as previous years, and not all of the new features are necessarily welcome. Google made some choices with this phone that aren't landing for me, and that is not a reference to having Jimmy Fallon host the Made by Google event. Overall, this has been a really fun phone to play with, largely because of the aforementioned camera bump on the back. Google promised the new flagship Pixel would land with the world's best-ever phone camera, and so far, it's living up to the hype. I've been using the Pixel 10 Pro for just under a week, and these are my initial thoughts. There's a lot to love in this phone (and the closely related Pixel 10 Pro XL), so let's get to it. First, let's take a peek under the hood: In terms of its aesthetics, Google clearly didn't want to alter the instantly recognizable look of the Pixel line. The phone has the exact dimensions as its predecessor. On top of that, the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro are so similar looking that I accidentally grabbed the Pixel 10 on my way to do some camera testing, and didn't notice until I'd been driving for 30 minutes. I get it -- that's a me problem. The Google-engineered Tensor G5 processor, built on a 3nm process, brings the Pixel in line with other modern flagships. The phone has a plentiful 16GB of RAM, but Google sent me the 128GB version, which is already 56 percent used up -- not great! We're well past the time when 256GB should be the standard, especially on a flagship. At least Google makes it easy to upload to its cloud storage. The battery is up just a hair over last year's Pro model by 3 percent. But the biggest upgrade to the battery has little to do with the actual battery. All phones in the Pixel 10 series now come with wireless Qi2 charging enabled -- magnets and all. That's right, Pixelsnap charging accessories are here. This is great news for me -- I am a MagSafe addict. This is arguably the first mainstream phone with built-in magnet support. Frankly, it's about time. For Android-heads, the Pixel software is among the best, if not the best. It's clean and has fun interactions throughout the operating system. Two new AI features that Google is touting are the Daily Hub and Magic Cue, though they represent both good news and bad news. Both are driven by Google's onboard AI. The good news is the daily hub, which gives you a sort of summary of your upcoming day at the top of your Google Discover feed. Tap on it, and you get a summary of what's going on based on your calendar, email, and other tastes. The top gives you upcoming events and reminders, while the bottom feeds you YouTube recommendations, because of course it does. How good they'll be probably depends on how much you use the platform. Meanwhile, on the other side, Magic Cue -- in theory -- can help you manage information from various sources, so when you need to recall that information, it'll serve it up to you. The most common way this can happen will be in the Messages app. Someone asks you for someone else's phone number, and Magic Cue will grab the contact information and feed you an autocompleted field with that info -- at least, in theory. Magic Cue is based on several apps all working together to give you this info, and on my review unit, I didn't have all the necessary software I needed. After working with Google for a bit, I got part of the way there. In the scenario I described above -- asking for someone's number -- Magic Cue worked. It gave me an autocomplete suggestion with the person's phone number. Super! When I was asked what time my flight was, Magic Cue opened a button to jump to my calendar, which is also nice, but the whole point of Magic Cue was to give you the information without jumping between apps. Finally, I was asked what my Global Entry number is, which is a pinned note in Google Keep (which is supposed to be a supported app), and I wasn't given any information at all. I also tried calling United Airlines, and I was served up a travel voucher that United Airlines sent me from my last flight. It's nice that it connected those dots, but honestly, if I'm calling United Airlines, and I'm flying tonight on United Airlines, wouldn't my itinerary be more helpful? So, Magic Cue seems to be halfway there, which is arguably better than a certain other company's track record rolling out AI features, but that's a different matter entirely. It's also fair to mention that Magic Cue can take some time to curate the proper information, so I think the fairest criticism I can make is that it's not quite done cooking, but as with any software, that can change fast. Historically speaking, Google Tensor processors have not been the best on the market. Like Samsung Exynos processors (Google collaborated with Samsung on Tensor processors from the beginning), they suffered in comparison to Apple and Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. I also noted the performance gap between Exynos and Snapdragon processors when I reviewed the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 a few weeks ago. That being said, while the processor isn't the fastest out there, it's plenty fast to open apps, switch between them, and power onboard AI features like live language translation. I played a few games on the Pixel 10 Pro, the heaviest of which was Asphalt Legends. After a 20-minute gaming session, the phone showed no lag, nor did it heat up too much. That's an improvement over past Pixels I've reviewed, and I'm happy about it. Anecdotally, I can say that the battery life seems to be fine. (As a smartphone reviewer, my usage isn't exactly typical.) Beyond the times when I was testing the cameras to their limits, I still had 30-40 percent left in the tank at the end of the day. Bottom line, unless you're a heavy gamer or taking high-def videos, you should be fine. I already tested the camera set extensively when I compared it with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Here's the headline: The Pixel 10 Pro main camera lives up to the hype, and Google set the hype bar extra high this year. On balance, the Pixel 10 Pro beats out the S25 Ultra. The 100x Super Res zoom in particular is eye-popping. Other aspects, like portrait mode, are a bit clunky, but overall, you'll struggle to take a bad photo during the day with this smartphone. At night, it's a different story. The main camera is OK, taking very acceptable photos at night with some amount of grain in the darker areas and blown-out highlights from light sources, but if you stray from that main camera to the ultrawide or telephoto lenses, or if your subjects are living (and therefore moving, even minimally), your photos fall apart quickly. Video is a similar story, unfortunately. The exception to that rule comes from the Night Sight video mode. This is not a new concept this year -- Night Sight Video Boost, which launched on the Pixel Pro 8, can do a lot of heavy lifting to clean things up in such a situation. There's still a good bit of grain, but the shudder and shake from footsteps is cleaned up considerably. I still wouldn't shoot -- to imagine a completely random scenario not at all based on real events -- a music video with it, but a fun night out with friends could work. This is pretty disappointing, to be perfectly frank. Considering how good the cameras are during the day, to see this much drop off by night is surprising. Google has built its Pixel brand on being great at photos, and this isn't it. Overall, this is an excellent phone with a few notable flaws. I haven't even addressed the fact that Pixels went to eSIM only in this review, which is at best inconvenient (as evidenced by the 30-minute hold required with T-Mobile's customer service to activate it), and at worst, consumer-hostile. eSIMs won't adversely affect the average consumer's life, but they're heckin' annoying for phone reviewers and anyone else who switches phones more than once per year. Nighttime photography is also very disappointing, though daytime performance (and Super Res Zoom) almost entirely makes up for it. Beyond those two drawbacks, though, this phone is quite good and a worthy upgrade. The hardware is on point, though the color selection could be better and brighter. The software is great as is, and if Magic Cue can start to deliver what it promises, that could range from neat to game-changing. Right now, it's more toward the "neat" side. The only thing stopping me from using this phone full-time is the fact that it doesn't fold, but that will change in October when the Pixel 10 Pro Fold lands, and I am here for it.

Google Pixel 10 review: New AI features don't quite make up for mostly iterative improvements

Some AI features feel superfluous Only iterative improvements over Pixel 9 Last year, I thought Google's Pixel 9 was a perfectly fine Android phone saddled with a bunch of AI features that ranged from "sorta neat to try once" to "actively pointless." I had a similar experience with the Google Pixel 10. The base model of Google's latest flagship, to its credit, does offer a couple of much-needed hardware improvements, namely a larger battery and a telephoto zoom lens on the phone's rear camera array. But for at least the second year in a row, Google has largely focused on AI features. Google Pixel 10 will do just fine if you're in need of a solid Android handset that takes nice photos and can give you a full day of use out of a single charge. And if you're excited about new AI smartphone features, this phone has a few notable ones. Beyond that, it's hard to get too excited about new phones in the era of incremental improvements. For starters, this is a $799 phone, just like the Pixel 9 was a year ago. In the tariffs era, that's a win in and of itself. Here's what you get for that price, specs-wise: While a proper 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate (which you can get on Pixel 10 Pro) would probably help with battery efficiency, the display on offer for Pixel 10 is more than good enough. Its peak brightness is 300 nits higher than last year's model, and I never found myself wanting for more while using the Pixel 10 in broad daylight. Everything is vivid and clear, making it a good display for both everyday usage and previewing your photos before you take them. Aside from that, the only other big difference from the Pixel 9 is the larger battery. Pixel 9's cell was 4,700mAh, for context. More on this later. Pixel 10 comes in four colors: Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and Obsidian. My review unit was the Indigo model, and I think it's downright gorgeous. It's no pink iPhone, but it's closer than any phone in recent memory to looking as good as that, in my opinion. Otherwise, you'd be forgiven for looking at a Pixel 10 and thinking it's just a Pixel 9. Google didn't go back to the drawing board this year. Pixel 10 still uses the same Cyclops-style (X-Men, not Greek mythology) horizontal camera bar at the top of the phone's backside. The only immediate visual tell that this phone is any different from the Pixel 9 is the presence of that third camera lens on the back. I don't mind this, but it does underscore my overall point that if you're not really excited about AI features, there isn't a ton to get hyped about this year. The Pixel 10 is powered by a new Tensor G5 chip. Spoiler alert: It's fine! Performance on Pixel 10 is more than adequate. Apps work quickly and smoothly, and more intensive tasks like Gemini or other AI features operate efficiently. I did notice the phone getting a little warm after extended use, but that's nothing that a good case can't fix. Sadly, the benchmarking software we use (Geekbench 6) was not available on Pixel 10 at the time of writing, so I can't offer precise metrics for this initial review. Still, in my time with the phone, performance has been smooth. Battery life is also solid. Impressive, even. Google rates the Pixel 10 for more than 30 hours on a charge, which I was not quite able to achieve in my testing. Some important context is that I used the phone's 120Hz mode in testing, which almost certainly reduced the battery life. Even so, I was still able to go roughly 26 or 27 hours between charges, not counting time spent sleeping. Not bad, Google. Pixel 10 expands on the AI toolkit that Google has been building up for the past couple of years, sometimes in ways that feel genuinely useful and transformative, but often in ways that feel superfluous. Let's start with the good features. Pixel 10 offers live language translation during phone calls across a variety of commonly spoken global dialects. It happens on-device, and it enables levels of communication that may not have been feasible before. This is the kind of neat thing that AI can and should enable. I was able to test this in a rudimentary fashion using whatever Spanish I could remember from high school and college. It was able to consistently pick up what I was saying. It does take a second to process what each speaker said, so conversations aren't seamless. Also, unlike other live translation features we've seen, it uses AI to translate what you said using your own voice. It's jarring to hear myself saying things in Spanish I didn't actually say. I suspect this will be a love-it or hate-it feature. Personally, I would have preferred a generic voice instead, but it moves us closer to real-time universal translation. The other potentially interesting new AI feature is Magic Cue, which is admittedly hard to test because it's entirely context-dependent. The basic idea here is that if you have personal information stored somewhere in your data, like in a text message, Gmail, or Calendar event, Magic Cue can pull up that information when you need it most. For instance, if I had information pertaining to an upcoming flight or hotel stay somewhere in my phone and someone texted me to ask about it, the Pixel 10 would bring up that information in the Messages app, without me needing to actively search for it. I tested this out by making a fake dinner reservation in my Calendar for Domino's Pizza. When I texted the Pixel 10 from my everyday phone asking about the reservation, lo and behold, a little Calendar app icon appeared in the text window, taking me to that information. Magic Cue is another example of an AI feature that will definitely save time for folks, even if it's not necessarily saving a ton of time. Unfortunately, the rest of the new AI features on Pixel 10 are mediocre, at best. There's a new Daily Hub widget that collates things like the weather forecast, calendar events, YouTube videos, and news articles into one place. It's a nice idea, in theory, but the most useful aspects of it (weather and events) have nothing to do with AI and take about 10 seconds to check outside of Daily Hub. I never wanted to tap on any of the news or YouTube recommendations, and the row of personalized Gemini prompts didn't tempt me at all. For example, the Pixel 10 recommended that I ask Gemini about the Kansas City Royals pitching staff because it knows I'm a Royals fan. When I did, it spit out the same basic stats you'd find on the ESPN app, alongside some simplistic analysis like, "the Royals have a good pitching staff." As a baseball fan, I don't really find that useful or compelling. If you're newer to the game, I could see it being useful for learning things like what the WHIP stat means (walks and hits per innings pitched, you're welcome), but I can't say it served me in any meaningful way. Speaking of Gemini, Gemini Live and Circle to Search are back, integrating AI search with the Pixel 10's camera. That means you can highlight an object in your field of view while talking to Gemini and ask the chatbot questions about said object. I was able to ask Gemini how many calories were in a can of Monster I was drinking, and it told me. That's neat, I guess, but I could also just, you know, look at the can. That said, I can easily see this working out in certain circumstances, like when you want to identify a plant or a bug. Lastly, I'd say the biggest addition to the photo editing suite this year is the ability to generatively edit images with text prompts. I took a picture of a flag during the day and asked the phone to make it sunset instead. I also told it to add a "jolly old man" to a photo of some dogs I took. Did it work? Sure, though the final results were extremely fake-looking. There are, of course, times when this might be useful. If you're inclined to sand out the imperfections in photos for social media, for instance, it's certainly easier to type "remove the pimple" than it is to do all of that yourself. Based on my experiences with this feature, I'd say it's best left to less-creative tasks like that. Google made some fairly significant changes to the rear camera array this year. Here are the overall camera specs: For reference, the Pixel 9's wide lens was 50MP and the ultrawide lens was 48MP. That feels like a big downgrade, at least numerically, but it's not without good reason: There's now a telephoto zoom lens with 5x optical zoom on the base Pixel model, after years of that being a Pixel Pro exclusive feature. And wouldn't you know it, the optical zoom looks pretty nice. I did not have as much luck with digital zoom. Once you get past 5x, the software starts to fill in blanks, leaving some photos looking smudgy and fake. I wasn't even standing particularly far away from the dogs in the "jolly old man" photo from earlier, but the Dalmatian on the right looks downright grotesque. Even static buildings look a little weird if you go all the way up to 20x. Aside from that, everything else is basically as it should be. Photos taken with the default lens settings can look pretty gorgeous, especially when you're shooting the greatest city in the world in the middle of an unbelievably beautiful late-summer day. Night Sight continues to be good at keeping the essence of nighttime intact while illuminating photos so they're actually, you know, legible. And portrait shots look as good as ever. An important note here: Google's biggest upgrade with the new Pixel line is a Pixel 10 Pro exclusive. I'm talking about the main rear camera on the Pixel 10 Pro, which Google repeatedly called the world's best-ever phone camera during the Made by Google event. In our testing, the Pixel 10 Pro and its 100x zoom beat out the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and it mostly lives up to the hype. So, if you care about photography above all else, go with the Pixel 10 Pro this year, which starts at $999. The Pixel 10 Pro is a Mashable Choice product; the base Pixel 10 is not. It's hard for me to recommend anyone sprint to their nearest smartphone distillery to get Pixel 10 because its non-AI changes are largely incremental, and the new AI toolkit failed to impress this AI-skeptical reporter. But that's not to say it's a bad phone, at all. And if you're excited to use its AI features, the Pixel 10 offers good specs at a competitive price. The cameras work well, and having telephoto zoom on a base Pixel is really nice. Performance and battery life are also strong. I just can't sit here and tell you that you need this phone, unless you're several generations behind and can get a nice discount through your carrier or something. That's less of an indictment of Google than of the incremental upgrade era. These annual smartphone launches are becoming extremely iterative and reliant on features that feel less and less impressive over time.

5 days in, the Pixel 10 Pro doesn't excite me, but it's fantastic

I've been using Google's new Pixel 10 Pro for the past five days, and while our review is still a few days away, I wanted to encapsulate my experience so far. As you can tell from the title, this is a fantastic phone, but it's equally exhilarating. That's not Google's fault per se, but rather a consequence of just how good Google's past phone is. A major upgrade last year for the ninth edition made the Pixel 9 Pro the best phone you can buy, but the more modest upgrades in the Pixel 10 Pro make it far less exciting than I was hoping for. Recommended Videos This is further accentuated by the phones the Pixel 10 Pro is launching around. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 feels incredibly special thanks to an ultra-thin design, and the Razr Ultra 2025 brings flagship specs to a flip phone. The OnePlus 13 leads the way in several areas, and Apple is set to dazzle the world with the iPhone 17 series, including the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, at its Awe-dropping iPhone 17 launch event next month. Against this backdrop, the Pixel 10 Pro is so good, yet so familiar, that it isn't as exciting as the competition. Ahead of our full Pixel 10 Pro review, here's why it's an excellent phone, but one that isn't that exciting. Modest upgrades to an excellent phone The Pixel 10 Pro feels fantastic yet forgettable. It's the uber-reliable workhorse smartphone that mostly won't let you down, but equally, it hasn't blown me away in any particular area. A family member asked me why they should buy the Pixel 10 Pro series, and the answer was much shorter than when discussing the best phones right now. The Pixel 10 Pro is slightly thicker and eight grams heavier than the Pixel 9 Pro, but this comes with the added benefit of a larger battery, improved cooling for the new flagship processor, and slightly higher peak brightness on the display. The hero hardware feature is related to PixelSnap, with the Pixel 10 Pro being the first Android phone to support the new Qi2 charging standard, thanks to built-in magnets. However, even this has lost its luster, given that the iPhone has been doing this for years, although it is a new feature in the best Android phones. Then there is the triple-camera setup with a 50MP main camera, 48MP ultrawide and 48MP telephoto camera offering 5x optical zoom. This the exact same as the one found on the Pixel 9 Pro. Yes, the Pixel 10 Pro gains a new 100x Pro Res Zoom feature that is as good as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but fundamentally, this is exactly the same camera setup. It delivers equally incredible photos, and that's fine, but it feels like Google should have evolved its camera setup, purely to differentiate the tenth-generation phone. As if for further proof, all the Pixel 10 Pro product photos in this article were captured in RAW using the Pixel 10 Pro XL, which features the same camera setup. All of these things are great improvements, but I've realized that the Pixel 10 Pro is missing a wow factor. The Pixel 9 Pro hardware is so refined, and Google focused heavily on the Pixel 10 with the added telephoto camera, that the Pixel 10 Pro is essentially a tweaked version of last year's flagship. That's at least on the hardware side, with Google betting heavily that AI is ready to take the prime time. The big bet on AI The Pixel 10 Pro is just as much a vehicle to expand the Gemini subscriber base as it is a goal to build a great phone. The focus is on creating incredibly helpful AI features that can work across multiple different form factors, and the two new additions to the Pixel 10 Pro have a lot of potential. Magic Cue is a new feature that can look across select apps to help surface information when you need it. When someone sends you a message asking what time your flight or train lands, Magic Cue can review your personal email and calendar to surface the answer with a single tap. When you call an airline or other similar company, Magic Cue can surface this booking information directly within the call. There are inherent challenges to this, especially if you predominantly use a Workspace-based email, such as a work email or personal email with a custom domain, as Magic Cue can only currently view your personal calendar. However, Google is working to change this, and the available Magic Cue features are the building blocks towards the AI we deserve. Then there's Daily Hub, which summarizes your calendar, key information, news, weather, and more into a single location in the morning and the evenings. This is another feature that has considerable potential, but its utility is not yet fully clear. Once Google can enable access to your work calendar, this should prove to be far more useful. The changing tide of the smartphone industry The biggest challenge for the Pixel 10 Pro is not the phone itself, but that it launches in the midst of a sizable shift in the industry. The Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy S25 Edge, and Honor Magic V5 all push the boundaries of smartphone thickness, and the upcoming iPhone 17 Air will condition customers to desire a sizeable hardware change. As the world becomes thinner, Google needs a compelling reason for the Pixel 10 Pro to stand out, and sadly, I haven't found one yet. I'm still fully testing the Tensor G5 processor and battery after some recent updates, so stay tuned for the full review to find out if this is enough of a reason.

I tested three key Pixel AI features on Pixel 10 Pro, here's what happened

The new Pixel 10 series poses a conundrum, especially for the Pixel 10 Pro. While its siblings have one or more notable hardware upgrades, the Pixel 10 Pro focuses on a few small upgrades to the Pixel 9 Pro. This isn't a bad thing, as the Pixel 9 Pro is an excellent phone; however, it does mean that the few unique features stand out even more. Compared to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which boasts the first IP68 dust and water rating on a folding phone, and the Pixel 10, which features a new 5x telephoto camera at the lowest price on a Pixel, the Pixel 10 Pro skates under the radar in an unassuming way, designed to get the job done. Even the Pixel 10 Pro XL has two key features that set it apart from the competition, as well as its smaller sibling. Recommended Videos The Pixel 10 Pro relies heavily on software experiences, and of course, AI and Gemini on Android play a huge role. Even the sole camera upgrade -- a new 100x ProRes Zoom feature -- relies on AI processing, although the results are among the best smartphone cameras. There are three notable AI features on the Pixel 10 series, and while they're still a little buggy at first -- to be expected as they're the first building blocks in this new path -- they are proving to be fantastic. Crucially, they're also a sign of the AI to come, and it's something I've been waiting for. Meet Magic Cue: useful suggestions, as if by magic Magic Cue is a key building block in Google's path towards Agentic AI, and it's a fantastic idea; Magic Cue surfaces key information in the form of contextual suggestions and smart replies, so you don't have to search for it. If someone asks you for your flight details in a text message, Magic Cue can surface the information from your calendar and make it available to insert with one tap. The same applies when someone asks how long you'll be before a meeting, where Magic Cue can look at Maps for your current location and your calendar for the appointment, and calculate how long it'll take to get there. Or if you call an airline or train company, Magic Cue can surface your booking information directly within the call, so you have it to hand. This is a fantastic idea, but two key issues currently make it less useful. Thankfully, Google is working to address both of them. Magic Cue doesn't always display results as it's still in preview, but I've seen considerable improvements in the past week, and it will continue to improve. Magic Cue also requires specific prompts to display information such as flight details. There are numerous privacy and security concerns associated with this. Still, Google is erring on the side of caution to ensure that data is only shared when Magic Cue is confident that it directly responds to the request. The biggest issue is that Magic Cue relies on your personal Gmail account and can't access any calendar appointments in a Google Workspace account. If you have a work account or a personal email with a custom domain, you'll need to copy the relevant information to your personal Gmail account. This is frustrating, but speaking with Google, the company is aware and working on eventually adding controls to Workspace that allow IT Admins and users to control the information -- whether sensitive or not -- shared with Magic Cue and other AI features. Neither of these is a dealbreaker, and Google has already demonstrated that its AI features can work across Google accounts, so I expect we'll quickly see a solution to the biggest issue. Daily Hub could be incredible in the future Nowhere has Google proven this more than with Daly Hub, which has a different issue from Magic Cue. Daily Hub is designed to surface key information in a single place at the beginning and the end of the day. Located in a small pill next to the stocks on the Google Discover screen when you swipe left on the homescreen, Daily Hub is in a convenient place and works fairly well to summarize pertinent information. Crucially, it also displays calendar events from all calendars on your phone, rather than just your personal calendar, like Magic Cue. This distinction is key as it makes Daily Hub much more useful. There's just one issue: Daily Hub only displays at specific times, and there's no way to set your routine hours for it to learn from. The biggest change I hope Google makes is to make Daily Hub ever-present on the Google Discover screen. It appeared on the screen once for me in the afternoon, although it was after a late start that day, and it was a surprisingly useful way to help plan the day. Hopefully, this can be a feature we can use on demand, rather than when the phone determines it is the right time to present the Daily Hub. Google has figured out ProRes Zoom, even if it's not technically accurate There's one Pixel 10 AI feature that is already available, key to the Pixel 10 Pro experience, and works exceptionally well: the new 100x ProRes Zoom feature. While the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL don't have a secondary telephoto lens like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the telephoto lens offers 5x optical zoom, and Google is using AI to enable the same 100x flagship zoom feature as Samsung's camera powerhouse. We had always expected Google to launch a feature to compete with Samsung, and my early tests show extremely promising results. Google keeps the before-and-after photos so you can compare the difference, but when you do, you may be put off by how processed the images are. However, despite this, I love the Zoom performance, and it's a trade-off that's definitely worthwhile. Overall, the Pixel 10 Pro has a few key features that help it partially stand out, but while Google has achieved great results with the ProRes Zoom feature, its efforts have been less rewarding with the early versions of Magic Cue and Daily Hub. Yet, both features offer outstanding promise, have consistently improved every day during this preview period, and are two of the most useful AI use cases on a phone to date. They're on track to make the Pixel series the best phone, as long as they deliver on their potential.

Testing the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL showed me a new use for AI that genuinely appeals to me | Stuff

Beaten on raw processing power by Snapdragon rivalsOnly a few superior specs over the smaller, cheaper Pixel 10 Pro Super-sized Pixels are an institution at this point, with each new iteration being a contender for that year's best smartphone crown - but this is only the second time one has worn the XL label. Google mixed things up last year by introducing a smaller Pro variant, meaning you didn't have to go big just to get the firm's best cameras anymore. The Pixel 10 Pro XL has had to work a little harder as a result. There's more here than a bigger screen and higher capacity battery. The speakers are louder, charging speeds are faster, and there's more storage as standard. That last one goes some way to justifying the $100/£100 price hike over last year's Pixel 9 Pro XL - as does the new Tensor G5 chipset, and the long-awaited addition of Qi2 magnetic wireless charging. At $1199/£1199 it still undercuts the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, but is now on par with the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Can Google possibly best them both? Be honest: if my Pixel 10 Pro XL review unit had been in either of the two returning colours, rather than the fetching new Moonstone hue, could you tell the difference between it and the outgoing Pixel 9 Pro XL? There's no denying Google has stuck closely with what worked last year, only changing up the design in a few very subtle ways. You're still getting two slabs of flat glass, set into a flat-sided frame made from (part-recycled) aluminium, with the distinctive pill-shaped camera bar returning at the rear. There's still an oddball temperature sensor alongside it. All the corners and edges are rounded off to varying degrees, leaving you plenty to grab onto but ensuring it doesn't dig uncomfortably into your hand. The camera island's glass fills slightly more of the pill this time around, and the SIM tray has been relocated to the top of the phone, making room for a second speaker grille at the bottom in its place, but that's really it. I'm all for it. The last-gen phone embraced modern phone design trends while doing something different at the rear, at a time the rest of the Android world (Samsung excluded) seemed obsessed with giant circular camera bumps. That hasn't changed for 2025, so the Pixel didn't need to change either. The dimensions are basically identical to the old phone. While it hasn't grown in stature, the Pixel 10 Pro XL has put on weight; at 232g this is a substantial handset now, weighing more than both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Qi2's magnets will have contributed a bit to that, and it doesn't feel at all unbalanced in your hand - but you won't forget it's in your pocket. I'm personally not a big fan of the polished frame, which is a proper fingerprint magnet, but I like that the frosted rear panel repels smears and smudges rather well. Victus 2 glass is sturdy stuff, not picking up any scratches at all during my testing, and the IP68 resistance rating provides extra peace of mind. IP69 might be the new flagship best, but having never accidentally put my phone through a dishwasher, I don't feel I'm missing out. Secure facial recognition is far more useful, letting me authenticate banking apps without having to put my thumb on the (admittedly speedy) ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor. Very few Android phones have this ability, and it's another feature parity with Apple that could attract iPhone owners. Wow, this phone gets bright when it needs to. Previous Pixels have been very good at getting close to Google's claimed brightness output, and the 10 Pro XL sets the new bar. A peak 3300 nits might not be as high as some flagships manage on paper, but I'd rather have a screen that's easier to see on sunny days than one that can shine HDR content that little bit more intensely. I'd say that only the Galaxy S25 Ultra and its Gorilla Armor glass are more legible in direct sunlight. It helps that the Pixel's 6.8in screen - which remains a real handful - is stellar in almost every other aspect. The 2992×1344 resolution is razor-sharp (even if it defaults to a slightly lower pixel count to save battery) and the LTPO adaptive refresh rate is fast to react to onscreen motion. Being able to dip as low as 1Hz means you can set a full-screen always-on display now, which is neat. Colours in general have the sort of wonderful saturation and bite that OLED panels do so well, along with black levels that are pretty much perfect. Viewing angles, too. Ultra HDR images have real impact, blending expressive highlights with areas of deep shadow. I feel the Adaptive colour profile the phone defaults to is right on the money, but there's a Natural preset if you prefer things to look a bit more subdued. The Pixel 10 Pro XL also has a fabulous set of speakers complimenting its screen. Google has overhauled the earpiece tweeter across the board this year, but only the XL gets a beefed-up bottom speaker too. Louder, clearer, and with more prominent bass, the difference in a single generation is impressive. It's up there with the very best phones for sound. Going by hardware alone, the Pixel 10 Pro XL's rear camera trio isn't much of an upgrade over last year's model. The 50MP lead lens, 48MP ultrawide and 48MP telephoto are essentially unchanged, with the former receiving some tweaks to optical image stabilisation and the latter promising better optical clarity. There's still 5x optical zoom on tap, and macro close-up abilities from the ultrawide, but algorithm updates are being asked to do most of the heavy lifting here - as is basically Pixel tradition at this point. The fact Best Take, which offers to replace the faces of anyone blinking or looking the other way in group shots, is now automatic and enabled by default, highlights just how much processing actually goes into every photo you take with this phone. That particularly applies to the new AI-assisted Pro Res zoom, which can extend your reach to 100x. The results can be genuinely impressive at times, while others clearly show signs of AI generation. The wires on the dart board in the image below disappear into the ether, for example - though I can't deny the 20 looks far crisper than a phone could achieve without generative assistance. There are safeguards in place that prevent you from using it on people, and it's rare I actually need to get this close to a subject, so it's not something I expect to reach for often. Everywhere else, image quality is up to Google's typical high standard. The lead lens might not have the natural depth of field of a phone with a 1in camera sensor, but I can't fault its ability to deliver brilliantly defined shots with natural tones and well-preserved dynamic range. Contrast is dramatic, as usual for a Pixel phone, with deep areas of shadow. These are preserved even when the rest of the scene is brightly lit, and without the obvious HDR processing I've seen on some rival phones. Sharpening is controlled very well, and there's basically no image noise. Colours lean a little more natural than Samsung's best efforts, but there's very little in it. There's a great consistency to colours and exposure across all three lenses, so there's no reason not to switch things up when the scene suits a zoom or ultrawide. The telephoto performs very well during the day, delivering maximum clarity at 5x and a satisfying amount of background blur when snapping portraits or closer subjects. While 10x zoom is a match on colour and contrast, there's a softness here that shows where the processing is at its limit. That said, only Huawei's Pura 80 Ultra and its dual lens magnification jumps out to me as being significantly sharper. In darker environments, Google's Night Sight still shines as one of the best low light modes on any smartphone. It can't save 10x shots from noise entirely, and there's less resolved detail overall, but 5x snaps are still impressively clean and usable. The lead lens is the standout, with natural-looking colours and preserved highlights, against areas of darkness and deep shadow. While the ultrawide shows less resolved detail overall, it still puts in a good showing across a range of lighting conditions. Google's Ultra HDR processing helps maximise dynamic range, even as the sun sets, and there's little distortion at the edges of the frame. The macro mode delivers sharp shots, too, though getting the perfect distance for maximum detail without losing focus was sometimes tricky. The selfie camera rounds things off brilliantly, with dynamic colours, accurate autofocus, and lots of detail. Even in low light, I got some very clean snaps. Arguably the photography feature worth getting most exciting about isn't even finished yet. Camera Coach is in preview right now, but it's possibly the most effective use of AI I've ever seen. The phone can analyse your viewfinder, then suggest different angles or camera modes to achieve a more pleasing composition, using generative AI thumbnails to hint at what you could achieve by switching to Portrait, taking a step back, or focusing in on one part of a scene. These might seem like the basics if you understand photography, but I can see it proving very useful for those who don't. Android 16 might've officially debuted on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, but it feels truly at home on the Pixel 10. Google's Material 3 Expressive design is now in full effect, with each of the firm's stock apps getting a fresh feel and bouncier, more dynamic animations. The Quick Settings panel looks a bit blockier now, and everywhere you look things are a little more pill-shaped than before. Theme colours that react to your wallpaper choices complete the look. It means returning Pixel owners will feel right at home, while everyone else will appreciate how bloat-free the app drawer feels when you first power on the phone. Google has admittedly crammed a little more pre-loaded software in than I'm used to, with the new additions almost all involving Gemini or AI in some way or another. Not everyone will find the journalling app that useful; research and note-taking tool NotebookLM is a bit more complicated than Google makes out; and live call translation (which creates a freaky AI approximation of your voice in the other language) is pretty niche too, even if the ten languages it supports right now covers a big chunk of the world. It's Magic Cue that I found the most helpful, putting prompts from Gemini onscreen when they're most useful. With access to your notes, emails, contacts and web searches, it can throw up flight details when calling your airline, or share saved addresses when inviting a friend to a gig over messages. Even in the short time I've had for testing so far, it's popped up quite a bit. I can see it has great potential, assuming you don't live entirely in WhatsApp. Hopefully Google will roll it out to Gmail and other apps soon. All the other Gemini features introduced with previous Pixels are present and correct, from Circle to Search to Gemini Live. The latter can now highlight parts of your screen when sharing your camera's viewfinder, to get help with what you're looking at. If you've used Gemini much before this could come in handy, but I can't say it got me chatting to my phone any more than usual. Seven years of new Android generations and seven years of security updates is now standard practice for Google, making it one of the best Android choices for long-term ownership alongside Samsung. Benchmark records have largely eluded the Pixel range since Google switched to silicon designed in-house, and the new Tensor G5 continues that streak. Pre-release software meant a lot of my usual testing apps refused to run, but a PCMark Work 3.0 score of 14883 puts the Pixel 10 Pro XL behind most of the current flagship crop - and even falls short of affordable handsets like the OnePlus Nord 5. However, no-one knows Android like Google does, so some impeccably optimised software means this phone feels anything but slow. Apps open in a blink and multitasking isn't an issue, thanks in part to the hearty 16GB of RAM. Most of the games I tried ran just fine, at high details and smooth frame rates. For the sorts of daily duties you'd expect a top-tier phone to handle, the Pixel always felt up to the task. Google was apparently targeting power consumption and thermals with this year's CPU, having swapped to chip-maker TSMC and more efficient 3nm architecture. It seems to have worked: the phone never got uncomfortably hot during my testing, and performance was perfectly consistent. The Pixel 10 Pro XL also gets a thumbs up for coming with 256GB of on-board storage as standard, rather than the measly 128GB you got on last year's Pixel 9 Pro XL. That puts it on par with both Samsung and Apple for out-the-box capacity. Far more exciting is the inclusion of Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, which means this phone plays as nicely with Google's new line of Pixelsnap accessories as an iPhone does with MagSafe kit - no ugly case required. You're getting the faster Qi2.2 variant here, too, meaning 25W top-ups if you have a compatible charging pad. OK, the niche HMD Skyline might've been the first non-Apple phone to support Qi2, but the Pixel has a much higher profile; including it here will surely encourage the rest of the Android world to get on board. Wired refuelling tops out at 45W with a compatible USB-C charger, which might be under half that of the fastest-charging Android rivals, but is enough to go from empty to full in about an hour. The Pixel 10 Pro XL's battery has seen a small increase from last year, to 5200mAh - again, not the largest I've seen lately, but still more than you'll find in either the Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max. Google's claim of "30+" hours largely bore out in my testing, where I could last an entire breakfast-to-bedtime day of fairly heavy use without having to plug in. Expect daily overnight top-ups unless you use the Extreme Battery Saver mode a lot. This year's Pro XL Pixel doesn't stray far from the formula set out by the last one - but still manages to improve on it in all the right places. Android 16 feels modern without alienating fans of the old look, Qi2 magnetic charging is a welcome (if overdue) addition that'll tempt iPhone owners thinking of making the switch, and the Gemini upgrades are genuinely useful. Even AI skeptics will have to admit Camera Coach is an excellent showcase of the tech, and really puts the phone's rear lens trio to good use. I do think Google's algorithm-led photography lacks some of the emotive charm rival phones are able to capture in-camera now, but not everyone likes the analogue film look. And while it's neither a performance or battery life champ, there's more than enough of each for real-world use. That means the overall package is undeniably appealing. Faster wireless charging and more storage as standard also give more reasons to buy one over the Pixel 10 Pro, beyond the bigger battery and screen. As a result, this is the new go-to phone for anyone after Google's best hardware.

After a week with the Google Pixel 10, I'd choose this over the Pro model every time | Stuff

Base 128GB storage feels tight in 2025Wireless charging isn't as fast as the Pro models I've been living with the Pixel 10 for the past week, putting it through its paces to see how much of Google's Pro-level magic has trickled down to the standard model. The short answer? Quite a lot. In fact, on paper, the Pixel 10 offers a very similar experience to the pricier Pro handsets, which could make it the best phone to buy if you don't want to stretch your budget. This year's design tweaks hope to make Google's flagship more refined, with slimmer bezels, a polished glass back and a satin-finish frame, while durability has taken a leap forward too. The 6.3in Actua display is sharper and far brighter than before, now hitting 3000 nits, so outdoor visibility shouldn't be a problem. Under the hood, the new Tensor G5 chip promises both smoother day-to-day performance and a wave of AI-powered tricks like Magic Cue and deeper Gemini integration. The camera system also claims to be much improved, adding a new 5x telephoto to the wide and ultrawide lenses for crisp 20x zooms and sharper low-light shots. Perhaps the biggest news is faster wired and Qi2 wireless charging. Okay, on the face of it, they don't look like massive updates, but could the Google Pixel 10 add up to more than the sum of its parts? Read on to find out... When it comes to design, the Pixel 10 strikes a superb balance between elegance and practicality. Google hasn't reinvented the wheel here; it looks very similar to the Pixel 9, but the subtle refinements make a big difference in everyday use. The first thing you'll notice is the frame: satin-finished metal edges with a soft matte texture that feels great in the hand. I actually prefer it to the Pro models, which flip the formula with glossy sides and a matte back. The Pixel 10's glossy glass rear contrasts beautifully with its matte frame, giving it a premium look that still manages to resist fingerprints better than you'd expect. Build quality is rock solid. There are no creaks, flex or gaps anywhere; it feels carved from a single block rather than assembled from parts. The power and volume buttons deserve a mention too: they're satisfyingly clicky, with a crisp response that makes you confident every press has registered. Combined with its slim dimensions and relatively light weight, the Pixel 10 feels easy to carry yet substantial enough to instil trust. Around the back, the iconic camera bar remains, but it's more refined than ever. It runs straight across the width of the phone, which not only looks neat and symmetrical but also means the phone lies flat on a desk without wobbling, something you can't say about many multi-camera flagships. It's an underrated detail, but one that makes the Pixel 10 a joy to use, whether you're typing on a table or balancing it for a photo. And then there's the colour. My review unit came in a bold, vivid blue that stands out brilliantly against the endless sea of black, grey and muted tones most phones seem stuck with. Google calls it Indigo, and it's easily one of the most striking smartphone finishes around. If bright blue isn't your style, there are three other shades to choose from: Obsidian (the classic black), Frost (a cooler, silver-white finish), and Lemongrass (a softer, yellow-green tone). Each has its own personality, but it's Indigo that really pops and feels different in a market dominated by safe neutrals. Overall, the Pixel 10 nails the fundamentals of smartphone design. It looks modern, feels premium, and is built to last. The combination of matte edges, glossy glass back, symmetrical lines and thoughtful detailing adds up to a phone that's every bit as desirable as the more expensive Pro models (maybe even more so). It's proof that style and substance don't have to come with a Pro price tag. The Pixel 10's display is one of its biggest strengths. Google has fitted it with a 6.3in Actua OLED panel that hits a seriously impressive 3000 nits peak brightness. That's a big step up from the Pixel 9 and puts it on par with the best screens you'll find on any flagship. It's sharp, vibrant and detailed, with a variable refresh rate that runs from 60Hz up to 120Hz, keeping everything smooth while balancing battery life. The resolution matches the Pro models, and so do the bezels; they're slim, even and symmetrical, giving the phone a sleek, modern front that looks every bit as premium as its pricier siblings. In day-to-day use, the difference is obvious. Colours are punchy without tipping into oversaturation, text is razor-sharp, and HDR content looks rich and cinematic. Outdoors performance is especially impressive: I had no trouble reading messages or maps in direct sunlight, where lesser screens often struggle. Whether you're streaming films, editing photos or just scrolling through social feeds, it feels like the Pixel 10's display consistently delivers. Audio has also had some attention. Instead of a single bottom-firing speaker, the Pixel 10 now has a pair, which makes for a much fuller soundstage. They're surprisingly loud and balanced for a phone this thin. Playing Chappell Roan's The Subway through them, the vocals came through crisp and clear, while the backing instruments avoided that muddiness you sometimes hear on smaller speakers. Even at maximum volume, the sound held up well without distorting, though as you'd expect, a proper Bluetooth speaker still wins on bass response. There's no headphone jack, so you'll need wireless buds or USB-C headphones if you want a more private listen. Still, for casual use, the Pixel 10's audio setup does justice to its stunning screen, making it a solid all-rounder for media The Pixel 10 may be the "standard" model in Google's line-up, but this year the camera system has had a serious upgrade. Where last year's Pixel 9 stuck with a more modest dual-lens setup, the Pixel 10 finally gains both a telephoto and an ultrawide alongside its main camera, making it a much more versatile shooter. It now feels much closer to the Pro models in everyday use, and for many people, the differences will be minor enough that this phone could easily be all the camera you need. On the spec sheet, you're looking at a 48MP main sensor with Pixel's HDR+ processing, a 12MP ultrawide with a 120° field of view, and a 10.8MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. Combined with Google's Super Res Zoom, you can push that to 20x if you really need to. Around the front, there's a 10.5MP selfie camera with autofocus and a 95° field of view. It's a flexible, well-rounded package that gives you the tools to handle almost any shooting situation. In practice, performance is exactly what you'd expect from a Pixel - excellent. Google's strength has always been its computational photography, and once again, the software magic here is undeniable. Point-and-shoot photos from the main sensor come out crisp, bright and colourful, with excellent dynamic range. The colours are nicely saturated without looking over-processed, and low-light scenes benefit from the company's clever Night Sight algorithms. The telephoto lens is a welcome addition. At 5x zoom, images remain detailed, clean and perfectly usable, with only minor noise creeping in when light levels drop. Push beyond that and things quickly get softer, with processing artefacts smudging away finer detail at 10x and especially 20x. Still, having a true telephoto at this price point makes a world of difference compared to relying solely on digital zoom. The ultrawide does a great job of matching the look of the main camera, so switching lenses doesn't result in jarring differences in tone or contrast. Photos are sharp, colours are consistent, and the extra width is perfect for landscapes or interiors. There is some distortion towards the edges of the frame; people standing at the corners will look a little stretched, but that's par for the course with ultrawides and hardly a deal-breaker. It's the macro mode that really impressed me. Using the ultrawide's close-focus capabilities, you can get up close to flowers, textures or tiny objects and capture sharp, vibrant images with plenty of detail. It's a fun tool that opens up creative possibilities you don't often get on "non-Pro" models. Selfies are handled by that 10.5MP front-facing camera, which delivers natural, accurate colours and sharp detail. There are no aggressive beauty filters smoothing out skin, which is a big plus if you prefer a more realistic look. The wide field of view also means group selfies are no problem. On the AI side, Google continues to push clever features. Auto Best Take is one I've found genuinely useful, especially as a parent of a two-year-old who rarely sits still. Take one shot, and the phone captures multiple frames, then automatically suggests or blends them so everyone's eyes are open and smiles are timed perfectly. It definitely sparks debate; what counts as real, and what's AI-generated? There's a lot to unpack there, but that's a conversation for another time... Camera Coach is another interesting addition: it uses Gemini AI to suggest better framing or angles, guiding you step-by-step to improve your shots. It's a neat teaching tool and a nice blend of AI with human involvement, although right now it feels a bit slow, requiring multiple taps before you can capture the final image. Video has seen improvements, too. The Pixel 10 records in 10-bit HDR by default, giving footage richer colours and more dynamic range. Stabilisation is excellent, keeping handheld clips smooth even when walking. Low-light video is cleaner than before, though it still can't quite match the very best in the industry. For casual filming, though, it's more than enough, and the results are consistently polished. All told, the Pixel 10's camera setup is a huge step forward for Google's non-Pro model. With three versatile lenses, smart AI features and class-leading processing, it delivers the kind of reliable, creative performance that makes taking photos fun again. It may not outgun the Pro in every department, but it's closer than ever, and that's a win for anyone who doesn't want to spend Pro money. Google's Pixel phones have always been about more than just hardware, and the Pixel 10 continues that tradition with some of the most thoughtful software you'll find on any Android handset. At its heart is Android 15, with Google's own spin layered on top, not heavy skins or gimmicks, but smart additions that make the phone easier and more enjoyable to use. The headline feature is Gemini, Google's AI assistant, now deeply integrated across the system. You can chat naturally with Gemini through voice or text, share your screen or camera during conversations, and even lean on it for creative tasks like brainstorming or simplifying complex information. On the Pro models, you get a year of Google AI Pro included, but even on the standard Pixel 10, Gemini feels like a step up from the old Google Assistant. Magic Cue is another standout. It proactively surfaces information based on what you're doing - your flight details appear when you call the airline, or a friend's address pops up when they ask for it. It works across calls, chats, searches and even within apps, giving the impression of a phone that understands context and acts on your behalf. Google has also overhauled the look and feel of the interface. Material You evolves into Material 3 Expressive, bringing refreshed typography, more dynamic colour schemes and live wallpaper effects that breathe life into the lock screen and always-on display. It makes the phone feel more personal without becoming cluttered. The supporting cast of Pixel-exclusive apps has grown, too. Pixel Studio lets you create and edit images with Google's latest generative AI model, while Pixel Journal is designed for private, on-device journaling with AI prompts and mood tracking. Pixel Screenshots automatically organises your screenshots and can suggest adding them to NotebookLM for research. Even Recorder now goes beyond transcription, letting you turn vocal snippets into music with AI-driven backing tracks. For everyday use, the Pixel 10 still nails the basics. Call screening, voice translation during phone calls, and real-time transcription for missed calls all remain, now smarter and faster thanks to Tensor G5. And with seven years of OS updates, Pixel Drops and security patches guaranteed, this is a phone built to stay current longer than almost any rival. Powering the Pixel 10 is Google's brand-new Tensor G5 chip, paired with 12GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. On paper, it's a healthy upgrade over the Pixel 9, and in use it feels just as fast as any other flagship phone on the market right now. Apps open instantly, multitasking is seamless, and the extra AI horsepower baked into the G5 is what unlocks features like Magic Cue and Pro-level camera processing. While synthetic benchmarks will likely show rivals like Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 pulling ahead, in real-world use the Pixel 10 never feels anything but fluid and responsive. That impression of smoothness is helped by the 120Hz Actua display, which keeps swiping and scrolling feeling snappy. Combined with the upgraded storage speeds (UFS 4.0 on the higher-capacity models), the Pixel 10 never hesitates, whether you're gaming, juggling multiple apps, or leaning on Google's AI features in the background. In 2025, I feel 128GB of base storage feels tight, but it's not just the Pixel 10 - Apple's iPhone 15 is in the same boat. Battery life is another area where the Pixel 10 delivers. The 4970mAh cell comfortably lasts through a full day, even with heavy use. I tested it both at home, where it breezed through video calls and streaming, and out in town, where it handled Google Maps navigation, Google Pay transactions, and plenty of Instagram scrolling on the train without complaint. You'll still want to charge overnight if you're a particularly heavy user, but for most people it's a true all-day phone. Charging speeds have also improved. Using Google's 30W wired charger, you can expect to hit around 55% in half an hour, which is a noticeable step up from previous generations. Wireless charging is supported via Google's new Pixelsnap magnetic system, delivering up to 15W on a standard Pixel 10. While it's not quite as fast as the Pro XL's upgraded 25W Qi2.2 support, it's still quick enough for convenient top-ups throughout the day. The Pixel 10 proves that you don't need to splurge on the Pro model to get a flagship-level experience. Over a week of use, it impressed with a refined design, solid build quality, and thoughtful details like the satin-finish frame, glossy glass back, and a symmetrical camera bar that keeps it stable on flat surfaces. The 6.3in Actua OLED display is bright, sharp, and vibrant, with 120Hz smoothness and excellent outdoor visibility, while the dual speakers deliver surprisingly full, clear audio for everyday media. Performance is smooth and responsive thanks to the Tensor G5 chip and 12GB of RAM. Multitasking, AI features like Magic Cue, and Pro-level camera processing all run without hiccups. Battery life comfortably lasts a full day, and faster 30W wired charging plus 15W PixelSnap wireless support make topping up painless. The camera setup has made a huge leap, adding a 5x telephoto alongside wide and ultrawide lenses, and AI tools like Auto Best Take and Camera Coach elevate everyday shooting. Android 15 with Gemini AI feels smarter and more personal than ever, while Pixel-exclusive apps and seven years of updates add long-term value. All told, the Pixel 10 delivers most of the Pro experience in a more accessible, highly desirable package.

Google Pixel 10 Pro (Quick Look) - AI-mazing

We've got our hands on the latest flagship Pixel device, which is set to headline the new 10 series that have only just been introduced to the wider world. "Hello everyone and welcome to a very special QuickLook. As you are watching this, the reviews for the Pixel 10, the Pixel 10 Pro and the Pixel 10 Pro XL has just dropped. No, that does not include the brand new Pixel Watch, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and the new Buds, that will come later. But the main, the core three flagship smartphones have now launched, Google has lifted the review embargo and we are able to say what it's been like testing it for the past week or so. This, to stand in, is the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the big boy of the range." "But please, please be advised that the elements that are, that differs, that creates differences or between the 10 Pro XL, the 10 Pro and the regular 10 are smaller than ever, meaning that you're going to really have to like a bit faster wireless charging, the little bit bigger battery, the bigger, like the more pixel accurate screen, which is obviously fitted to just a larger screen, in order to be wild about the XL. Otherwise, you can very comfortably choose the 10 Pro or even just the regular 10, which gets three cameras this year. So, we'll do a regular video on the 10, so just be advised and that should have dropped alongside this one. This is the 10 Pro XL and it continues a trend that Google have been on for a couple of years now, where they simply guide the way, lead the way as the Android flagship of choice for most people. It is the iPhone of the Android world, the simple, aesthetically pleasing and coherent result that delivers whenever you expect it to. So, let's go over why that is. First and foremost, there is this big screen here." "These are still Super Actua OLEDs, so they are either, I think, 495 PPI for the smaller 10 Pro and a little bit higher for the, or a little bit lower, I should say, for the 10 Pro XL. It's 120 refresh rate, obviously, it's LTPO, meaning that it can vary between 1Hz and 120 to save battery. It'll go through, it'll peak at like, I think, 3300 nits and it produces 24-bit color, it's great. The actual phone itself is IP68 dust and water resistance, has a large 5000 or slightly larger battery, which means that it will comfortably get you through a day, if not two. 16GB of RAM, this particular model and the 10 Pro can go to 1TB, although if you get the smaller 10 Pro, it will start at 128GB, which I do think is a bit stingy when the 10 Pro starts at $1000 and this at a little bit more. Inside here, we get the new Google Tensor G5. They have swapped the GPU module from Mali to PowerVR, but we haven't experienced any issues in just getting it to do well in Genshin Impact, rushing through some photo edits in mobile versions of Adobe Suite, that kind of stuff. It really does not slow down. There is some questionable things in here. First and foremost, there are a slew of AI things this year. So much AI, you can't really focus on any one of them." "The new things, there's MagicQ, which is basically lining up AI tools based on what you're doing on your phone. So let's say that a friend asks a question about something in a foreign language, it'll automatically pop up with a Google Translate notice to say, do you want me to translate this for you? In my experience, it gets in the way and most of the AI tools that are in this package still gets in the way. I do think that it's nice dressing, but I don't really like it. There is also a camera coach, which obviously lives in the camera housing here, which is also brilliant proof. We'll talk about that in a little sec. Which basically means that it will auto apply some less intrusive AI solutions to your picture or at the very least suggest them. That could be good. And I like the way that the pixel camera processing works, which is in and of itself, also a kind of AI, but all of the AI things where you can edit, like insert people into photos that were never there or manufacture or fabricate memories that were never real. I don't like that stuff. And I think that all smartphone companies should choose on an ethical level to not do them."

Google Pixel 10 Pro

There are now many Android manufacturers producing quite decent phones. If you want it all and more, Samsung has delivered both the Ultra series and the fantastic but conservative Folds, and over at Motorola, beautiful Razr models and a solid Edge or two are released every year. But there is still something about Google's Pixel line, a certain je ne sais quoi, an X factor. Perhaps it's Google's specific design language, these days called "Material You", that gives Android a more playful look, or perhaps it's those Apple Lite features that create deeper coherence between your Pixel and other Google gear, such as a Pixel Watch or a pair of Pixel Buds. Regardless, Pixel phones, especially over the past few years, have proven through software, unrivalled cameras, and streamlined design that they are definitely one of the best Android phones of the year, if not the best. Fortunately, the Pixel 10 Pro continues this trend. There are minor differences between the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, but they are relatively negligible, so we are reviewing them both as a whole, even though we refer to the 10 Pro. You get a new version of the excellent Super Actua display, which uses a 1280x2856 OLED at 495ppi. Once again, we get a 120Hz refresh rate through LTPO technology, which can lower the internal frame rate to 1Hz to save battery life. In addition, it performs up to 3300 NITS under ideal conditions and has both 24-bit colours and a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1. These are many figures that together testify that Google has hit the mark for the third time in a row with the Super Actua display, which delivers bright, deep, and high-contrast colours. Whether it's watching a regular YouTube video, viewing photos via Google Photos or watching the F1 film via the Apple TV app (even though that film belongs on a big screen), Super Actua can easily hold its own against Retina. You get 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage (there is a 128GB version, but that's starting to get a bit stingy, Google), and Google's brand new Tensor G5 SoC. Although there are, of course, those who would like to hear about cores and clock frequencies, Google itself promises a 34% CPU uplift, and in everything from Genshin Impact to Adobe's various services, the Pixel 10 Pro is fast, responsive, and cool. It should be noted that the GPU unit this time comes from PowerVR, not Mali, but although some have expressed concern, we did not immediately notice any measurable difference. Temperatures were also stable, even under pressure, and we did not detect any throttling or apps that lacked RAM or had to run with limited functionality. While it's difficult to comment on all usage scenarios, we can conclude that based on our stress tests, the previous teething problems with Tensor are now completely gone. Google continues to deliver the most visually appealing version of Android, in our opinion, and that continues here. The latest version of Material You is refined, offers more features than you know what to do with, and works flawlessly. But in the midst of this rosy picture, there are still a few thorns. It becomes more and more annoying every year that you cannot remove Google's At a Glance bar at the top, which does not look particularly attractive, but gives you information that you are then forced to see reproduced in other widgets on the home screen. Furthermore, Google's own widgets may be nice enough at times, but they just don't fit well on the screen symmetrically. Their Calendar widget, for example, is quite embarrassing, and again, At a Glance displays your upcoming event at the top anyway. Other than that, it's really hard to find anything to complain about. New features like Magic Cue give you AI suggestions based on your conversations (decide for yourself if that's something you want to use), but the basic version of the Pixel package with VPN, Titan security, automatic call screening, and a host of other features makes the Pixel ecosystem extremely attractive, especially for those who find other Android skins, such as Samsung's OneUI, a little too sterile and a little too confusing. And now we come to the big news of the year: Pixel Snap! Yes, Google is the first major, central Android manufacturer to use the Qi2 standard with the recommended layout, which, entirely by chance, has the same layout as Apple's MagSafe. It's the smaller Pixel 10 that gets the biggest camera upgrade this time around, but you still get three cameras on the back of your Pro consisting of a 50-megapixel 25mm wide, 48-megapixel ultra-wide at 123 degrees, and finally a 48-megapixel telephoto at 113mm and 5x optical zoom. It's pretty nice hardware that delivers solid results in most lighting conditions, not to mention Google's automatic algorithms, which continue to magically clean up and enhance without appearing AI-enhanced or artificial. Dynamic range, colour contrast, and clarity are still best here, even after all these years, and that's again in addition to the sea of AI tools that can make your photos more artificial, if that's what you want. Yes, this time around, some of these tools are more seamlessly integrated into the camera app, so they appear more organically. Here, you are more inclined to use them, and the new AI Camera Coach is actually a nice little tool - but we say the same thing we've said before; it's a party trick, a gimmick, and 95% of the time a waste of time. We really don't see much point in creating a memory that never existed, other than that it might be fun for five minutes with friends. Pixel Snap is the big news, but it comes as an extension of a smartphone that really fires on all cylinders and has been doing so for some time. It costs around £950 as a starting price - that's not nothing, and Pixel has definitely lost its "best and cheapest" status, because it simply isn't anymore. However, it's extremely functional, extremely aesthetically pleasing, and extremely easy to recommend.

Google Pixel 10

Whether it's the pricier Pro or the regular Pixel 10, Google is delivering the goods this year. Pixel has now reached its 2025 edition, and if you were expecting a new design, you will be disappointed. It still has rounded corners and a distinct camera housing, is still very streamlined and minimalistic, and the same can be said about its user interface. Everything has been designed to the utmost. The tested model was in a stylish indigo blue colour, which is very bold, attractive, and not garish. However, it's almost a shame, but necessary, to use a cover, as the surface is satiny to the touch. It strikes a good balance between premium feel and weight, and considering that Google has used recycled materials in pretty much everything, it feels both new and stylish. The AI and multifunction button is located above the volume button, something I had to get used to. The screen is Google's Actua, i.e. OLED, 1080×2424, and 422ppi. On paper, it's inferior to the Pro model, but in reality, it's really good. It's only when you compare it directly and with HDR content that you can see the difference, and believe me the difference is there, but it's mostly for nerds like me who are into nuances. The screen runs at 120Hz adaptively, is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass and can reach 3000 nits with HDR content, while the colours are 24-bit. Google has also included other features: Seven years of guaranteed updates that are not only security, but also functionality. It also comes with Android 16, which is amazingly fast, and almost everything happens instantly. I had to run two powerful games at the same time to notice a difference, thanks to Google's G5 Tensor CPU. There are a number of built-in safety features, including car crash detection. Fortunately, I didn't get to test it, but both the feature and a host of others, such as heart rate drop and fall detection, will be found in the upcoming Pixel Watch. Likewise, I didn't get to test the emergency call feature, as it's illegal to test it for fun, but it seems to work where I live. The battery is just under 5000 mAh and lasts more than enough for a whole day. Fast charging and wireless charging via Qi2 are supported, and now there is Pixel Snap, a magnetic system familiar from other manufacturers. It's fully compatible with Qi2 wireless charging, something other manufacturers seem to have forgotten exists. So whether you have MagSafe or Qi2 products, they work with the Pixel 10. AI has finally reached a level where it's useful, including simple things like better support for my own language. Now we're just waiting for real-time translation with your own voice during phone calls, which in my opinion, is one of the most impressive and useful features AI can offer. On the other hand, I love how many separate apps - e.g. QR code scanners or the "Arter" app, which can tell you whether a plant is poisonous, useful, or just a weed - are now redundant. See, that's sensible use of AI. However, there are a few flaws. If you edit directly in the camera app, the AI results are not always great, and it takes a little practice to make it look natural. If you use AI in the form of Gemini and edit there, you will usually get the message: "This feature is not available in your region." And considering that Gemini Pro is not included in the price but costs around £20 per month, that's not good enough. Now that we're on the subject of the camera, I have to admit that it's good, really good. The ability to take pictures in low light conditions is particularly impressive for what is an "entry-level" phone. The main camera is a 48 MP wide-angle camera that also does macro, a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle, and a 10.8 MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom. Google also has digital zoom up to 20x, which works fine at first, but as you approach 20x, image noise occurs. It's nice to have the option, but it's important to emphasise that it's significantly worse than optical zoom. 4K video is supported, and there's a 10.5 MP selfie camera for those who use it, however, I'm surprised that there isn't better slow-motion support. The price is a bit of a problem. It costs around £800 for the 128 GB version and around £900 for 256 GB. But then we're almost at Pixel Pro level, which starts at around £950. Google is also pleased with their built-in VPN, which works easily and effortlessly, but there is no option to configure it. Perhaps this will come when the phone is released, but not during the test period. However, we had no problems accessing streaming content from other countries, so there is some kind of automated magic at work. The sound is excellent and far better than I had feared for the cheapest model in the series. However, I am surprised that Wi-Fi 7 is not supported. Overall, the Pixel 10 is an excellent phone: fast, usable, practical, functional, with a good camera and a screen that really delivers. But it should, at that price. I think the price is too high when you consider the shortcomings that also exist and when some design elements are locked in place. For example, I can't stand that the search bar is stuck at the bottom of the screen, and I can't remove or move it. If I wanted a locked system, I would have chosen a different manufacturer. Furthermore, the leap to a Pro is not particularly big, because the Pixel 10 is already a semi-expensive cousin. Lower the price, please, then you'll have the best entry-level AI phone on the market.

Why Google's Tensor G5 is 50% slower than competitors and why it doesn't matter

Five years ago, Google took a gamble. It built a custom system-on-chip, Tensor, designed not just to crunch numbers faster but to anchor the smartphone experience around machine learning. Back then, most people were still treating AI as a background buzzword. Today, with generative AI touching everything from photo editing to live translation, Google's bet looks prescient. "Tensor was the very first mobile SoC to anchor our mission around machine learning, and this has never been more relevant now that we're fully in the Gemini era," Jesse Seed, Group Product Manager, Silicon explained during the closed-door briefing. Tensor as the "foundation" of Gemini runs through everything Google announced with the Pixel 10. The G5 chip isn't just an annual upgrade in speed or efficiency. It's Google's largest leap yet. Built on TSMC's 3 nm process, it brings a 34% faster CPU and a TPU with up to 60% more compute capacity while sipping 34% less energy. There's new memory (LPDDR5X), new storage (UFS4), better thermal controls, and a redesigned ISP for imaging. But raw specs only tell half the story. Tensor has always been about what AI can do once the silicon is tuned for it. "Three years ago, the state of the art for camera zoom models was around 10,000 parameters," Jesse explained. "This year, with Pixel 10 and Tensor G5, we're running an in-camera diffusion model that's nearly 1 billion parameters, on-device and in real time." Speech AI followed a similar trajectory. In 2021, Google's ambition of running a billion-parameter on-device translation model was called a pipe dream. Today, Tensor G5 runs Gemini Nano with a staggering 3 billion parameters for real-time, multilingual speech processing. Google says Pixel 10 launches with more than 20 Gemini Nano-powered features, like Voice Translate, which doesn't just spit out subtitles but reconstructs your own voice in another language during a live call. Or Magic Cue, a proactive assistant that surfaces context before you even ask. Or Personal Journal, which generates writing prompts based on your day, and an upgraded scam detection system that quietly runs in the background. Voice Translate on the new Pixel 10 series might be the best example. Speak into your Pixel 10, and Tensor G5 translates the call live, while preserving your voice without any robotic filters or an enrollment process. Just a few seconds of speech and suddenly you're conversing across languages with your own vocal identity intact and it's all happening locally on the phone. "It's not just about the complexity of the model," Jesse said. "It's about how often you can run it without draining your battery." Google claims over 30 hours of battery life despite the heavier AI load. That's partly thanks to the efficiency gains at 3nm and partly to the TPU's 34% boost in efficiency. The secret sauce this year is how deeply Google's silicon team worked with DeepMind, co-designing the latest version of their on-device Gemini Nano. "For over a year, the Tensor team and DeepMind researchers have collaborated on this latest version," Jesse said. "DeepMind would bring ideas to improve model quality. The Tensor team would feed back what made most sense for phones: memory, compute, power." Two standout innovations emerged from this collaboration. First, "MapFormer," a Matryoshka-style transformer ("model within a model" to balance speed and quality) that nests a smaller sub-model inside a larger one, letting apps trade speed for quality on the fly. Second, per-layer embeddings (PLE), a trick that improves model responses without straining the memory. The result: 2.6× faster and 2× more efficient AI tasks like screenshot summary or live transcription. And with a 32,000-token context window, triple than last year's, Pixel 10 can juggle months' worth of emails or 100 screenshots in one go. Pixel phones live and die by their cameras and the Tensor G5 pushes it further. The new ISP works alongside the imaging DSP and TPU to unlock a 100× ProRes Zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro, up from 30× last year. To make that possible, Google built its first camera-specific diffusion model, trained with nearly a billion parameters, running directly inside the camera app. "When you zoom beyond 30x, the model super resolves and recovers intricate details in seconds," Jesse explained, showing details in an image taken from over 4.6 km away at the One World Trade Center in New York. Alongside this AI magic, Google also stressed trust. The Pixel 10 camera now bakes in C2PA content credentials at the silicon level and every photo now carries cryptographic credentials that state whether it was edited or AI-touched. Elsewhere, scene segmentation has grown smarter, enabling truer skin tones in harsh lighting. Low-light video blur has been reduced and HDR video at 1080p and 4K30 is now on by default. All of it feeds back into Pixel's reputation for camera software that outpaces the hardware on paper. Early results from Digit Test Labs give us the clearest picture yet of how the Tensor G5 stacks up against its predecessor. On AnTuTu, the Pixel 10 Pro XL scored 1,321,483, a small 1.2% gain over the Pixel 9 Pro XL (1,306,281). But it lags far behind the Snapdragon 8 Elite (2,764,967) and Dimensity 9400 (2,359,676), roughly 52% and 44% lower, respectively. In Geekbench single-core, performance sees a healthy jump: 2,153 vs 1,923 last year (+12%), but it still trails Qualcomm (3,065) and MediaTek (2,719) by 30% and 21%, respectively. Multi-core is flatter: the Pixel 10 Pro XL hit 4,557, just shy of the Pixel 9 Pro XL's 4,601 (-0.9%). Against the Snapdragon 8 Elite (9,705) and Dimensity 9400 (8,090), Tensor G5 is well behind, by 53% and 44%, respectively. Graphics is where Tensor finally flexes. On 3DMark Wildlife Extreme, the Pixel 10 Pro XL scored 3,240, up a strong 26% from the Pixel 9 Pro XL (2,562). Still, it's almost half the performance of the Snapdragon 8 Elite (6,327) and Dimensity 9400 (6,161), 49% and 47% lower, respectively. For everyday use and AI features, this might not matter. For gamers, it could. Of course, these are preliminary numbers and we will be running more detailed testing to validate and expand on these early findings. Tensor G5 is the most convincing version of Google's AI-first vision yet. The partnership with DeepMind, the billion-parameter camera models, the real-time translation, are not just party tricks, they're glimpses of how AI-native phones might feel. At the same time, the benchmarks remind us that Google is still not playing the same game as Qualcomm or MediaTek. The weakness is real, and pure performance isn't Tensor's story, but the experience is. And maybe that's the point. For Google, the win isn't topping charts. It's making AI feel invisible, helpful, and local. Tensor G5 underlines Google's long bet that the future of smartphones is AI-first, everything else second.