Google Pixel 10 Review: The New Normal

Worth When Reviewed

From $799

Greatest Costs At the moment: Google Pixel 10

The Google Pixel 10 collection of telephones has arrived, and there’s no ‘Edge’, Air’ or ‘Max’ in sight. 

As a substitute, the telephones mirror the earlier quartet and stick on the identical costs (principally) whereas bringing a collection of upgrades – one in all which can seemingly be a catalyst for the complete Android telephone market. 

It’s nothing new because the iPhone has had MagSafe for quite a few years, however Qi2, which is successfully the identical expertise, brings magnetic charging and equipment to an Android flagship for the primary time. 

The common Pixel 10 on assessment right here can also be fascinating in quite a few different methods. For starters, it has a minimum of three colourways you’ll be able to’t get on some other Pixel 10, whereas Google has additionally now added a telephoto lens to the digicam module, providing you with optical zoom at your fingertips. 

Though I’ve a couple of minor quibbles, for what appeared like a telephone to skip within the months main as much as its launch (based mostly on early leaks), I now assume it’s the default reasonably priced Android flagship smartphone that most individuals can buy. 

Let’s dive in… 

Design & Construct

• Similar look, new colors 
• Minor design tweaks 
• One massive invisible improve

Smartphones typically undergo a cycle of protecting the identical design for 2 or three generations earlier than introducing an overhaul. The Pixel 9 collection introduced a brand new look, so it’s comprehensible that the Pixel 10 is successfully the identical. 

It’s arduous to inform the brand new telephone other than its predecessor until you look intently at small issues. For instance, the underside of the telephone now appears extra pleasing with symmetrical holes on both aspect of the USB port (one mic and one speaker). 

The SIM-card tray has additionally moved to the highest of the telephone, which I discover fairly disconcerting because it’s so uncommon, but it surely’s rapidly forgotten about. This doesn’t apply within the US, the place the telephone is now eSIM solely, matching the iPhone.

I obtained the brief straw with Lemongrass. Perhaps you like it, but it surely’s one of many worst telephone colors I’ve ever seen

Extra necessary than these small adjustments is the brand new set of colourways Google has ushered in. It’s extra dramatic for this common mannequin, the place there are not any fewer than three new colors. 

Obsidian stays because the plain black possibility, then you could have Frost, Indigo and Lemongrass to select from – all of that are unique to this telephone. The Professional fashions have a extra grown-up and restrained set of hues. 

Whether or not that is good or unhealthy information depends upon your style, after all. I had my fingers crossed for an Indigo pattern, which is a throwback to the ‘Actually Blue’ of the first-gen Pixel telephones. 

Nonetheless, as you’ll be able to see, I obtained the brief straw with Lemongrass. Perhaps you like it (I could also be too previous to be the goal marketplace for this), but it surely’s one of many worst telephone colors I’ve ever seen.

One way or the other, relying on the sunshine, it’s a garish foam banana yellow or a sickly inexperienced. The steel body and digicam bar are a pale gold, which I nearly like, however the rear cowl is just too lurid for this to matter. 

The official Pixelsnap case within the matching color has a extra pastel tone attributable to its matt end, but it surely’s nonetheless removed from my cup of tea. I nonetheless want Google would make a extra different vary of official circumstances, together with the material ones, which have been nice. 

This 12 months’s model is a combined bag. It’s effectively made (no marks after 2 weeks of use), makes use of 42% recycled materials and provides good safety, however the exterior is oddly slippery – excess of the Pixel 9‘s. Inside is a pleasant microfibre lining and a faint circle hinting at a serious Pixel 10 improve.

Google including Qi2 to the Pixel 10 will little question be a catalyst for the Android market to comply with go well with

Pixelsnap is excess of simply the official case. It’s a complete vary of equipment, as a result of the Pixel 10 telephones have Qi2, a wi-fi charging commonplace which includes magnets, so you’ll be able to simply and precisely connect chargers and different equipment. 

It’s primarily the identical factor as MagSafe on the iPhone, and you’ll even use hundreds of MagSafe equipment with the Pixel 10 – with some caveats. 

Whereas MagSafe has been round for years, it’s been sorely lacking from the Android world. HMD launched it on the Skyline, but it surely was a telephone nearly no person cared about or took discover of. 

Google including Qi2 to the Pixel 10 will little question be a catalyst for the Android market to comply with go well with. 

This addition is among the causes the telephone is barely thicker and heavier than its predecessor, however solely marginally at an additional 0.1mm and 6g, so it’s not noticeable.  

As soon as once more, it’s a snug and balanced telephone to carry and use. It’s additionally properly compact, although the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S25 beat it in that regard in change for barely smaller screens. 

Display & Audio system 

• Primarily the identical display 
• Increased brightness 
• Good high quality audio 

Talking of screens, the Pixel 10 is basically unchanged from the Pixel 9. Meaning you get what’s fairly commonplace for an entry-level flagship smartphone in 2025. 

It’s 6.3 inches, makes use of an OLED panel with the identical decision and 120Hz refresh fee as earlier than. In actual fact, all of the specs of this Actua Show are the identical other than the brightness, which has been improved. 

The Pixel 10 can now hit 1,800 nits (HDR) and as much as 2,700 nits (peak brightness), which is 200 and 300 nits higher than its predecessor, respectively. It’s hardly ever noticeable side-by-side however welcome nonetheless.

The Pixel 10 Professional telephones can go even additional at as much as 3,300 nits peak brightness, relying on which mannequin you select. However the telephone already has glorious visibility in shiny environments, so there’s not a lot to achieve.

It’s one in all a reasonably lengthy checklist of issues the common Pixel 10 misses out on. The opposite key one right here is the Clean Show excessive refresh fee solely going from 60-120Hz, whereas the Professional fashions can dip to 1Hz to assist save battery when not required.

The respectable ultrasonic fingerprint scanner remains to be embedded into the display, and the Pixel 10 nonetheless has stereo audio system, as you’ll count on from a flagship. They’re superb certainly, with loads of velocity, readability and stereo separation. Issues get a bit messier at greater quantity ranges, however that’s nothing uncommon. 

Specs & Efficiency 

• Tensor G5 chipset 
• 12GB RAM 
• Two storage choices 

The Pixel 10 isn’t significantly thrilling when it comes to its core specs, one thing I think about most individuals shopping for it received’t care that a lot anyway, so I’ll maintain it temporary. 

As with most smartphones, the Pixel 10 comes with a brand new processor. This time round, it’s Google’s personal Tensor G5, which now reaches a 3nm manufacturing course of. 

As you’ll see beneath, the telephone doesn’t benchmark that effectively in comparison with rivals in uncooked efficiency exams like Geekbench 6. Nonetheless, I’d wager Google isn’t attempting to win that High Trumps battle anyway and, once more, most individuals shopping for this telephone received’t give an iota. 

Certain, the CPU is quicker than the Tensor G4 at 34% in response to Google, but it surely’s the TPU the place AI is dealt with, which will get the largest enchancment at 60%. With the agency leaning so arduous into AI options like Gemini, it makes whole sense. 

Percentages apart, what’s necessary is how the telephone runs every day. For me, the Pixel 10 is completely clean in day-to-day utilization, simply as Pixel telephones all the time are.

As soon as once more, there’s 12GB of RAM to assist maintain the whole lot clean and solely two choices for storage at 128- or 256GB. 

The previous now feels small and a bit stingy for a telephone this costly, particularly when Apple’s iPhone 17 now comes with 256GB as commonplace for a similar value. 

The Galaxy S25 is an identical story, however Samsung additionally provides a 512GB mannequin and at launch provides double the storage at no additional price for early adopters. 

In response to GSMArena, the smaller capability Pixel 10 will get UFS 3.1 storage, whereas the 256GB mannequin is UFS 4.0 at nearly double the learn/write pace. Nonetheless, that is as soon as once more one thing that most individuals received’t discover. 

For me, the Pixel 10 is completely clean in day-to-day utilization, simply as Pixel telephones all the time are

In case you’re a possible Pixel 10 purchaser who’s a bit extra nerdy and into specs, the telephone misses out on fairly an extended checklist of issues that you just get with the ten Professional fashions. 

This consists of Wi-Fi 7, as you solely get 6e, and also you don’t get issues like Extremely-Wideband (UWB), Thread compatibility or a Temperature sensor on the again. However I extremely doubt that any of those might be dealbreakers.

Google Pixel 10 benchmarks

Cameras 

• New set of rear cameras 
• Together with the addition of a devoted telephoto lens
• But extra AI options 

It’s all change on the subject of the Pixel 10 cameras, because the telephone not mirrors a few of the cameras discovered on the Professional fashions. As a substitute, the primary and ultrawide shooters look like those discovered on the less expensive Pixel 9a. 

You get a 48Mp major digicam, which solely drops 2Mp on the Pixel 9, but it surely’s a smaller sensor with smaller pixels. The ultrawide drops from 48- right down to 13Mp with a slower aperture and barely narrower area of view, albeit with a bigger sensor.

These mid-range cameras are prone to maintain prices down so as to add a telephoto lens, so it’s swings and roundabouts. Usually, it’s essential to purchase a Professional-level Pixel telephone to get optical zoom, however not anymore. 

Anybody nitpicking over the precise specs of the cameras most likely isn’t contemplating this telephone anyway. Over time, Google has confirmed it will possibly do loads with decrease megapixel cameras in comparison with rivals, with glorious software program processing, and that’s no totally different right here. 

As soon as once more, the Pixel 10 is a top-notch point-and-shoot digicam, no matter which digicam you might be utilizing. All three rear cameras are able to capturing handsome images with good publicity and pure color copy. 

The selfie digicam – the one one to stay unchanged from final 12 months – can also be glorious. 

The secret right here is versatility, with the primary digicam being the high-resolution go-to, however having the choice to change to the others once you want them. 

The brand new telephoto lens provides 5x optical zoom, which is spectacular. Many are 3x and require a fourth digicam to get you zoomed in any additional. Digital zoom extends to 20x, whereas the Professional fashions can now hit a whopping 100x, though we didn’t discover it to be overly spectacular anyway. 

Yearly, Google provides new AI options to the Pixel telephones and the cameras are all the time one of many key areas. This time round, Digicam Coach is the headline addition and goals that will help you take higher images. 

As soon as once more, the Pixel 10 is a top-notch point-and-shoot digicam, no matter which digicam you might be utilizing

When within the app, you merely faucet the icon on the high once you’re digicam is pointing on the scene or topic. The Digicam Coach will then offer you an in depth set of directions, corresponding to altering the digicam lens, mode or the way in which you might be framing the shot.

It’s spectacular, if a tad patronising at occasions. It additionally takes some time to undergo the steps, so you’ll be able to’t use it for something time delicate, however for the correct particular person in the correct state of affairs it may make an enormous distinction. 

There are extra options, corresponding to Add Me for placing the photographer into group images and Auto Greatest Take, which can now routinely mix the perfect photographs to ensure everybody in a selfie is smiling. Ask Pictures introduces conversational enhancing with Gemini, but it surely’s restricted to the US for now. 

Battery Life & Charging 

• Larger 4970mAh battery 
• Quicker 30W wired charging 
• Qi2 magnetic wi-fi charging 

There are a selection of adjustments and enhancements for the Pixel 10 right here. For starters, the battery is nearly 300mAh larger at 4970mAh, which is partly why the telephone is heavier this 12 months. It’s even larger than the 4870mAh one discovered within the 10 Professional.

Mixed with the extra environment friendly 3nm Tensor G5, this could end in higher battery life. A PCMark benchmark results of 14 hours and 55 minutes is spectacular – an enchancment of virtually an hour on the Pixel 9. 

Nonetheless, in real-world testing, I nonetheless don’t discover this telephone to be essentially the most comfy in battery life. Inconsistent might be the perfect phrase, with some days faring higher than others regardless of very comparable utilization. 

I famous in my Pixel 9 assessment that the battery saver popped up greater than earlier fashions, and I nonetheless discover it reaching this level (20%) greater than I’d like. The Pixel 10 can definitely final a day with some juice left, however different occasions it appears to vanish like a leaky bucket attempting to carry water. 

Maybe issues will enhance over time, however for now, if I’m leaving the home with the Pixel 10, I’m aiming to take a charger or energy financial institution with me simply in case. 

Shifting onto charging and issues have improved in quite a few methods, with wired charging now hitting 30W (up 3W), that means you will get 55% in half-hour with the correct charger. 

The Pixel 10 can definitely final a day with some juice left, however different occasions it appears to vanish like a leaky bucket attempting to carry water

That’s simpler mentioned than accomplished with as we speak’s mess of USB charging requirements and variations. It’s not merely in regards to the wattage displayed on the aspect of the charger. 

For instance, the 67W Xiaomi charger I needed to hand didn’t present quick charging on the Pixel 10, however a 125W Motorola one did. You’re primarily in search of one with USB PD (Energy Supply). 

With the Motorola, I obtained 56% in half-hour. It’s respectable, albeit effectively behind the quickest charging telephones round. Key rivals corresponding to Samsung and Apple aren’t far forward, although.

Wi-fi charging stays at 15W, however the massive information is the addition of Qi2, which brings magnets into the equation. Google has a spread of Pixelsnap equipment particularly for this, however you may also use a plethora of MagSafe equipment too (with some caveats like potential slower charging speeds). 

It’s an enormous improve for comfort and marks the primary flagship telephone (collection) to get the function. Little question, others might be way more inclined to comply with go well with. 

There are a few downsides right here to concentrate on. The Pixel 10 Professional XL is the one mannequin within the vary to get quicker Qi2.2, which is 25W, and the Pixel 10 is formally not appropriate with the Pixel Stand (both era), although it should cost slowly anyway.

Software program & AI

• Android 16 with Materials 3 Expressive
• Varied new AI options
• Market-leading software program help

As you’d count on, the Pixel 10 runs Google’s newest software program model, Android 16, out of the field. And you continue to get the wonderful promise of seven years of software program help for each OS and safety updates. 

Though it launched months in the past, the Pixel 10 telephones embrace the long-awaited Materials 3 Expressive replace. This can be a substantial overhaul to the way in which the interface appears and works.

As a long-time Pixel tester and person, it’s taking me a while to get used to it. Whereas the intention is that buttons, sliders and the like are simpler to work together with, I can’t assist however really feel Android has gotten extra garish and child-like with this replace. 

It’s maybe an indication of my age and inclination to maintain issues the identical, however up to now, I’m not a lot of a fan. Fortunately, it doesn’t have an effect on each day utilization an excessive amount of – primarily the fast settings for me – and with a while to tinker, issues can little question be improved. 

It appears inconceivable to cover from AI for the time being and the Pixel 10 may be very a lot an AI-focused machine, with Google’s big efforts into this space in recent times. Gemini is all over the place now – it’s not only a substitute for the Google Assistant to ask questions and switch lights on. 

Whether or not you want AI or not, Google does a significantly better job of integrating synthetic intelligence into the expertise than its rivals. Options usually are not half-baked both, and there’s extra care into educating customers what the telephone can do and the right way to do it. 

Other than the digicam options talked about earlier, the Pixel 10 comes with a spread of recent AI methods, beginning with Magic Cue. This goals to do all types of proactive issues to make your life simpler, however I haven’t seen it pop up but so it might take a while to kick in.

Google does a significantly better job of integrating synthetic intelligence into the expertise than its rivals

It’s not one for me, however there’s additionally the brand new Journal app if that takes your fancy. It’s a spot to, effectively, journal however with AI leaping in to assist with “writing inspiration and monitor the way you’re feeling”. Thanks, however no thanks. 

These extra keen to embrace AI than me may need to think about a Pixel 10 Professional mannequin the place you get a free 12 months of Google AI Professional, together with instruments like Veo 3 and NotebookLM. It prices £18.99/$19.99 per thirty days thereafter.

Worth & Availability

There’s no value change for the Pixel 10 vary, bar the XL mannequin now beginning at 256GB, which form of offers it a value rise of types.

This implies the most affordable mannequin on check right here will set you again £799/$799 for a 128GB mannequin. 

There’s just one different possibility with 256GB priced at £899/$899. 

Regardless of Google sticking to the identical value, the Pixel 10 lags behind the Galaxy S25, which additionally has a 512GB capability. In the meantime, the iPhone 17 comes with not less than 256GB for a similar value. 

You should buy the Pixel 10 from the official retailer in addition to an extended checklist of outlets, together with Amazon. 

Do you have to purchase the Google Pixel 10? 

As entry-level all-rounder flagship telephones go, the Pixel 10 is well top-of-the-line choices in the marketplace. 

It ticks a heck of loads of packing containers, together with a lovely design (Lemongrass colourway excluded), stable show, nice cameras and a user-friendly interface with genuinely helpful AI additions. 

The addition of a telephoto lens and Qi2 magnetic charging are each very welcome and ought to be the brand new regular for Android telephones going ahead. 

128GB is beginning to really feel a bit small for a flagship, and there’s higher battery life to be discovered elsewhere, however the Pixel 10 is a implausible telephone at this value level. For individuals with £800/$800 to spend (or an identical quantity on contract), it’s my go-to suggestion.

Certain, you miss out on an inexpensive checklist of issues the Professional fashions include, however that’s comprehensible. I don’t assume many Pixel 10 customers will discover, anyway.

Specs

• Android 16 with seven years of updates
• 6.3-inch FHD+ 120Hz OLED
• Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner
• Face Unlock
• Google Tensor G5 chipset
• 12GB RAM
• 128/256GB non-expandable storage
• 4970mAh battery
• 30W wired charging
• 15W Qi2 wi-fi charging
• Reverse wi-fi charging
• 48Mp f/1.7 major digicam
• 13Mp f/2.2 ultrawide digicam
• 10.8Mp f/3.1 5x telephoto digicam
• 10.5Mp f/2.2 entrance digicam
• Twin stereo audio system
• USB-C
• 5G
• NanoSIM + eSIM
• Wi-Fi 6e
• Bluetooth 6.0
• IP68
• Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (back and front)
• 152.8 x 72 x 8.6mm
• 204g