Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL Review

Qi2! Good performance. Solid battery life. Excellent cameras. Long software support. Lots of helpful smart features. Playful OS redesign.

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.

Ten-Four

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.

Take Wuthering Waves, one of the most graphically demanding games on Android. On the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, I maxed out the settings and played the game for more than an hour. I saw a few stutters here and there on the Pro, more on the base Pixel 10, which also warmed up noticeably faster. (The Pixel 10 lacks the vapor chamber cooling system of the Pro models.) The experience was completely playable and fine, and the game looked great, but it's not quite as smooth as you'll find on the iPhone 16 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which have better graphics performance. This example is for one of the more graphics-heavy games on the mobile market. Most titles, like Pako Forever and Alto's Odyssey, ran without a hitch.

Similarly, Google's Pixels don't offer the fastest charging speeds on a phone, nor do they have any major improvements in battery runtime. Things are slightly better across the board on the spec front, but real-world results feel largely the same as the Pixel 9 series. The batteries lasted me a full day with average use on all three devices, though the Pixel 10 Pro XL eked out the longest screen-on-time at nearly 7 hours. On a more demanding day, when I used the hotspot function, GPS for navigation, and an hour of video capture, I had to recharge the Pixel 9 Pro by 4 pm (I think that was fair considering what I was doing that day).

I'm more interested in the native Qi2 wireless charging, which marks these as the first flagship Android phones with the MagSafe-like feature. Long story short: Like iPhones, these Pixels have magnets baked in that allow for faster wireless charging that's also more efficient. But it's not just for charging. I have thoroughly enjoyed slapping the Pixel 10 to the various MagSafe accessories I already own, like this ShiftCam phone tripod, my car dock, and even a grip. Google's own Pixelsnap Charger with Stand also works well and has earned a permanent spot on my nightstand. Just know that only the Pixel 10 Pro XL supports Qi2 25W, allowing it to charge slightly faster wirelessly than the others with a compatible charger.

Qi2 is a broad ecosystem change that will affect the entire accessory market. As more and more Android phones follow Google's suit and add proper magnetic support (not "Qi2 Ready" like Samsung's Galaxy S25 phones), that means you'll have a wealth of accessories to choose from that'll work on iPhone and Android. Opposites do attract!

Google says it has improved the speakers on all its Pixel 10 phones, specifically the top speaker on the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, and the top and bottom speakers on the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The latter is noticeably louder when compared to the Pixel 9 Pro XL at the same volume. It sounds richer, with more depth and better bass response; a welcome change. There are small refinements to the displays to make them brighter, and I've had no qualms there.

What's not welcome is the loss of a physical SIM card slot on these phones in the US, even with the security improvements they bring. I am constantly switching smartphones, and the physical SIM has been the fastest way to transfer my number from one device to the next. Even when I travel, I often prefer buying a cheap data SIM at the airport rather than hassling with eSIM.

Part of the problem is that I used to have an incredibly frustrating time transferring eSIM from device to device on AT&T. So frustrating that I actually switched to Google Fi a few months ago, and it has made the eSIM process refreshingly simple. US carriers have done a god awful job of eSIM transfer, especially between Android and iPhones. Apple may have done it first, but this is one feature Google shouldn't have copied (yet).

My other hardware gripe is that Google still hasn't improved its secure face unlock technology to work in low light. Apple's Face ID has been around for how long now? Google may be one of the only Android phone makers with a secure Face ID alternative, but it should work at night by now. (Kudos for at least providing two secure biometric authentication methods, though.)

Camera Con

I've been testing the Pixel 10 cameras over the past week against the competition, specifically pitting Samsung's Galaxy S25 against the Pixel 10, since they both cost $799, and the Pro models against the iPhone 16 Pro Max. I also toted out the cheaper Pixel 9a to see how it fares.

With the main camera, the results are pretty great across the board. Sometimes the iPhone's photo was sharper, other times the Pixel 10 Pro got the win. The Pixel 10's main camera doesn't have as large a sensor and often wasn't as bright or sharp as its pricier siblings, but it held its own. Its photos were marginally better than those from the Pixel 9a. It traded blows with the Galaxy S25, with no decisive win over the other.

On the ultrawide camera, the Pixel 10 Pro phones deliver great results in sunny and low-light conditions, rivaling the quality from the iPhone 16 Pro Max, though they eke out a slight win in low light. The Pixel 10's ultrawide is a smidge better than the Pixel 9a's, but there's a noticeable drop in sharpness compared to the Pro models if you look closely. The Galaxy S25's ultrawide outperformed the Pixel 10, though not the Pixel 10 Pro.

All Pixel 10 phones now have a 5X optical zoom camera, though the sensors remain larger on the Pro models, which also sport better image stabilization. Let me just say that zoom on these phones is a treat. I love telephoto lenses, so I'm constantly using the zoom option on smartphones. The Pixel 10 Pro models outclass the 5X optical zoom on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, delivering sharper, cleaner results with less grain. That's in any lighting condition. What's even more impressive is that Google says you can get “optical” results at 10X digital zoom, and yes, there's a marked difference at that zoom level compared to the iPhone. It's impressive.

By nature of having a 5X zoom lens, the Pixel 10 outperforms the Galaxy S25, which is limited to 3X zoom. (For 5X, you'll have to upgrade to the S25 Ultra.) It's able to pick up more detail, even at higher digital zoom levels. Compared to the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 10's 5X zoom camera isn't as sharp, and photos are dimmer in low-light conditions.

For portraits, generally, I preferred the results from the Pixel. My wife did too. In one portrait photo comparison I did with her between the iPhone and Pixel 10 Pro, the iPhone turned her skin tone far more yellow than it was in the scene, whereas the Pixel's image was more balanced. I also tried portrait mode in low light via the selfie camera, and the iPhone's result was comically poor. Surprisingly, the Galaxy S25 took the cake, though the Pixel 10 Pro wasn't far behind. All of these phones delivered solid low-light selfies, but the Pixel 9a had softer shots (due to the lack of autofocus). The Galaxy S25's photo was also slightly blurry.

What the heck does all of this mean? I think the Pixel 10 Pro series offers the best balance between all the cameras, with an ultrawide that's among the best on a phone (at least in the US), a versatile main camera that measures up against its flagship competition, and some of the best telephoto zoom quality in any lighting. The selfie camera is strong, too. The Pixel 10 has a noticeable dip in quality across the board, but it still offers strong results that will satisfy most people, especially at that $799 price.

But the Pixel 10 cameras have a few more tricks up their sleeves. The two most notable smart features in this year's models are Camera Coach and Pro Res Zoom, though the latter is exclusive to the pro Pixels. Scan the scene with Camera Coach, and it'll offer a few example shots you can try to mimic. It'll then run you through a series of steps to nail that shot. It doesn't work perfectly all the time—some of its suggestions don't quite make sense—but I've been happy with a few of the photos it guided me to capture.

However, Camera Coach—which launches in a preview (sort of like a beta)—has a “Get Inspired” button that uses generative AI to deliver some photos it thinks you might like to try and mimic. These photos are often quite a bit different from the originally scanned image, and I found these less helpful. I think Camera Coach is a great way to teach someone about their phone's camera capabilities because most people barely scratch the surface, but I don't think this generative add-on was really necessary.

Then there's Pro Res Zoom, which is conflicting. On the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL, you can digitally zoom in anywhere from 30X to 100X, and the phone runs through more than 200 frames, blending images, and using generative AI to fill in the details. The results are spectacular. Take a look at the image of the Chrysler building in Manhattan, which I captured from Greenpoint, Brooklyn, across the water at 100X zoom. I've compared the image with real photos of the Chrysler building, and the results match up. It still leaves a weird taste in my mouth. The composition is mine, but a part of me feels like it isn't my photo. (Note: Google says it's not designed to work on people.)

Lastly, there's video capture. Google has made strides over the years in improving the video output of its phones, but it has largely started relying on Video Boost. Once enabled, this sends your footage to the cloud for processing, making the clips brighter, sharper, more colorful, and better stabilized. (It's exclusive to the Pro models.)

The videos I've shot in the past week do genuinely look great once they've been put through the Video Boost ringer, but I still find the iPhone delivers better native footage, with better stabilization. You also have to account for the fact that some of these boosted video clips arrived the next day for me (though you still have access to the original). It's a smart solution, but I'd like to see Google improve the native video capture. Case in point: the Galaxy S25's video footage was brighter, less grainy, and better stabilized than the Pixel 10.

The AI Assist

Finally, onto the software. It's probably not a coincidence, but both Google and Apple redesigned their operating systems this year, and I think Google's Material 3 Expressive design language came out on top. It's bubbly, colorful, fun, and playful. Apple's Liquid Glass feels a bit more stale to me.

The big new feature Google is debuting on the Pixel 10 is Magic Cue. This on-device AI tool automatically surfaces details from your personal context during conversations or just generally in the Gboard keyboard app. For example, if someone asks where the dinner reservation is for tomorrow, Magic Cue will find that information instantly from your Google Calendar (if you've opted in), and it'll serve up a button you can press to reply with, no need to find anything yourself.

Or at least, that's how it's supposed to work. During the entire testing period, Magic Cue hasn't consistently been available. A part of this is because I've been switching between the three Pixel 10 phones, and it takes time for Magic Cue to process all of your data. Also, I was in the beta version of the Messages and Phone app, which messed up access to the pre-release version of Magic Cue. It's now sort of working, still not consistently.

I looked at a few restaurant recommendations on Eater, and when I went to search for them on Google Maps, I saw the names of a few restaurants from the Eater article automatically populate in Gboard's suggestions bar. (Magic Cue can read what is on your screen to suggest a follow-up action.) When a friend asked for another friend's number, Magic Cue served up the contact details without me having to do anything. After repeated attempts, I finally was able to get Magic Cue to work in the Phone app. When I called a restaurant to cancel a reservation, the details of the reservation populated on the screen. This is probably more helpful if you're calling an airline, but I wasn't about to book a fake flight. It's far from consistent right now, and will require more testing. You also have to be comfortable with letting it read data from your apps like Gmail, Calendar, and Messages.

Some of the new AI features lacked polish. There's a new way to create music in Google's Recorder app if you have a recording of yourself singing. I've tried to generate a music track to accompany my singing a few times, but the app has been stuck on 90 percent “harmonizing the track.” I can't tell if that just means I'm a bad singer. And that phone voice translation feature I talked about earlier? After several minutes of real-time translation, the whole thing stopped working, and I couldn't hear my friend, so we had to restart the call. (It also gets chaotic really quickly with the voice translations, especially if people talk fast.)

I tried to generate an audio overview of a PDF file in Google's pre-installed NotebookLM app. I haven't used this app before, but it took hours for it to process, to the point where I assumed it just wasn't working. Thankfully, it finally did the job. It made what's essentially a podcast based around the topic of the PDF, and I surprisingly found it an entertaining and helpful way to ingest the information rather than sifting through PDF pages looking at tiny text.

I'm not much of a journaler, but you have the option with Google's new Pixel Journal app. I have one entry! I liked writing it, so maybe I'll try to stick with it. It's easy to use, and there's an AI-powered reflection that'll show up assessing your entry. That feels a bit unnecessary—again, generative AI overload.

Far and away the greatest feature debuting on the Pixel 10, but not exclusive to it, is Google's new conversational editing tool in Google Photos. Just tap the edit button on any photo, and you're greeted to a new text box where you can type and ask the phone to make any changes you want to the photo. This is what AI should be used for. Photo editing can be therapeutic (I very much enjoy it), but I don't really like the experience on mobile. Most people also don't want to edit their photos and fuss with tools and settings.

Here, I was able to ask the AI editor to remove objects from images without having to select an object on the screen. I asked it to fix the lighting of an image, and it color-corrected it nicely. It doesn't work perfectly—it struggles to straighten a picture for some reason—but this feature solves a pain point of photo editing, while also educating people about what their phone is capable of.

Juxtapose this with the new Photo to Video feature in Google Photos. It takes your still photos and uses gen AI to imagine up some movement, whether that's slightly moving your sleeping dog's leg, or a group photo with friends coming to life by making everyone move around slightly. I found it really weird, creepy, and I don't think I'd ever use it. It even added a fifth person that didn't exist to one of my group photos. No ghost person! Bad Google!

It's this balance you have to navigate. I've enjoyed my time with the Pixel 10 series, they're easily the best phones Google has made. They have some genuinely smart features as always, which continually get better. I still very much like Google's Assistant Voice Typing in Gboard, for example, which is one of the best on a phone. But then you have the other spectrum that takes creative liberties no one asked for.