Google marked the 10th era of Pixels with 4 new smartphones. Whilst the ‘professional’ and foldable Pixel 10 fashions may have no-compromise specifications (and costs to compare), Google has blurred the strains between its entry-level Pixel 10 and the ones top rate gadgets. This yr, the bottom Pixel 10 has a larger battery, a brand new 5x zoom telephoto digicam and practically as many AI options because the flagship Pixel 10 Professional and Pixel 10 Professional Fold.
If the celebrity-loaded Made Through Google tournament used to be the rest to move by means of, the corporate is placing much more effort (and cash) into making the Pixel a real danger to the Galaxy S collection and iPhones, and conveying that message to everybody. The Pixel 10 merits the ones comparisons, and in numerous tactics, it’s the simpler smartphone.
Billy Steele for Engadget/Samsuing
Google has redrawn the expectancies of base flagship smartphones. Whilst it doesn’t have cameras moderately as tough because the Pixel 10 Professional, it combines the software of a long-range telephoto digicam with an array of digicam tool gear that get advantages each skilled and newbie smartphone photographers alike. Beneath the hood there’s a tangibly extra tough processor and a larger battery, whilst Qi2 toughen with Pixelsnap way the Pixel 10 works with tripods, wi-fi charging docks and different equipment made for iPhones.
- Telephoto digicam with 5x zoom
- Magic Cue is actually useful (when it really works)
- Stepped forward efficiency
- Pixelsnap way it really works with MagSafe peripherals
- eSIM best in the United States
- Battery lifestyles doesn’t fit its predecessor
{Hardware} and show
Google’s Tenth-generation of Pixels glance so much like their predecessors. There’s a sticking out pill-shaped digicam unit, which is the central design flourish. It’s really extensive, which nonetheless appears a bit jarring, however it additionally doubles as a kind of grip for my index finger whilst conserving the telephone, one thing I spotted after a yr of the use of the Pixel 9 Professional. Google has additionally refreshed the colour vary of its Pixel circle of relatives. Each a shiny blue (Indigo) and gentle yellow (Lemongrass) sunglasses are welcome additions to the standard black and white hues.
The 6.3-inch display screen’s refresh price nonetheless tops out at 120Hz, however that’s now just about usual throughout midrange gadgets and up. Even the entry-level Pixel 9a has the similar easy scrolling revel in. Then again, Google has boosted the Pixel 10’s brightness, now peaking at 3,000 nits, which is a slight build up from 2,700 nits at the Pixel 9. The display screen maxes out at 2,000 nits at its brightest atmosphere for HDR, which could also be a bump up from the Pixel 9. Google has additionally boosted the sound high quality at the Pixel 10 to be noticeably much less tinny and a bit bassier than earlier Pixels.
Some other addition is Pixelsnap, which is basically MagSafe for Pixels. The wi-fi charging integration is in large part the similar, with magnets that firmly connect the machine to charging pucks, equipment and docks. It simply labored with a variety of wi-fi chargers, even if Qi2-supported choices are nonetheless rarer than they will have to be. You’re much more likely to discover a MagSafe-branded wi-fi charger from third-party firms like Belkin, however the ones don’t reach the speedier fee speeds of Qi2.
For those who’re feeling spendy, Google’s respectable Pixelsnap charger is $40 (or $70 with a stand) and reaches speeds as much as 25W, whilst there’s a PopSocket-like Pixel ring stand that may snap to the again of the telephone. Word that the Pixel 10 can best wirelessly fee as much as 15W, regardless that. Moreover, the Pixel 10 collection helps lots of the MagSafe peripherals that iPhone customers were playing since 2020.
Digital camera
The large {hardware} improve this yr is the cameras. The photograph unit features a 48-megapixel wide-angle setup, a 13MP sensor with an ultra-wide lens and a ten.8MP 5x telephoto digicam. For a base telephone, it’s an excellent combo, even if it doesn’t moderately fit the higher-res sensors discovered within the Pixel 10 Professional — or final yr’s Pixel 9 Professional.
That new telephoto lens isn’t some middling 2x or 3x zoom, however a 5x zoom which places it past competitors at a an identical worth level, just like the Galaxy S25 (3x zoom). The iPhone 16 does not actually have a telephoto lens and makes do with an “optical-quality” virtual zoom. It’s like the use of a Pixel Professional, with an extra cropped zoom as much as 10x and a (much less constant) Tremendous Res Zoom as much as 20x. It is a vital step up for the bottom type and one thing I’m certain we’ll see the aforementioned competitors most likely attempt to fit. Merely put, the Pixel 10 is only a higher, extra flexible digicam telephone than, say, the Galaxy S25.
I examined the Pixel 10’s telephoto towards the 9 Professional’s, and there have been noticeable variations intimately and crispness, which is comprehensible because the latter has a miles higher-res 48MP sensor. Then again, that doesn’t detract from the bounce in each element and capturing vary in comparison to the bottom Pixel 9 from final yr.
The Pixel 10 too can seize 10-bit HDR video now, even if it doesn’t be offering the Pixel 10 Professional’s 8K video, Evening Sight Video and Tremendous Res Zoom Video choices. There’s no Video Spice up, both, which uploads photos to Google’s cloud to fortify on-line.
There are many different notable digicam options onboard, together with Evening Sight low-light capturing, or Upload Me, which remains to be the standout Pixel digicam function from final yr and hasn’t been replicated by means of competitors but. For many who ignored my reward final yr, Upload Me stitches in combination two workforce pictures, taken by means of two other folks. The mode guides customers to line up the pictures, which means your workforce pictures can in spite of everything come with the one that takes they all (me).
Digital camera Trainer is an intriguing addition to the Pixel digicam revel in. Above the viewfinder, there’s a brand new digicam icon with a plus signal within the most sensible proper nook. Tapping it makes the display screen flash, and the trainer will be offering a couple of framing and photo-taking tips. It’ll additionally upload a Get Impressed choice that is going a bit of extra avant-garde, producing thumbnails of conceivable effects based totally off of the pattern it took, filling the gaps with generative AI.
I witheringly introduced the Trainer, in a position to criticize its fundamental tips or common sense concepts. However, what, it’s no longer dangerous. With hooks in Gemini AI, the mode will be offering perspective, lights and composition tips. You’ll be able to additionally make a selection whether or not to emphasise, say, the trend of a few leaves, or the background in the back of it or the gang of folks to the aspect. Whilst the function makes use of Google’s Tensor G5 chip to investigate pictures, it does require an web connection.
Instrument
Due to the Tensor G5 chip, the Pixel 10 can run Google’s latest Gemini Nano type on-device. This implies generative AI reports can now be used with out the will for connectivity. Then again, as I discussed with Digital camera Trainer, that isn’t at all times the case.
Then again, Magic Cue does paintings with no need to summon its solutions from the cloud. And when it really works, it’s what I’ve sought after from AI assistants for years. After gaining your permission, Gemini will get into your screenshots, calendar, Gmail accounts and extra. Magic Cue will pull within the data you want, confidently, the place you want it. As an example, it shows the e-mail cope with for that comedy display venue your pal needs tickets for, or nudges your calendar to turn availability when a pal asks what your weekend plans are. Those cues are highlighted with a rainbow “air of secrecy” that has change into the de facto visible shorthand for synthetic intelligence. That is just the beginning: Google will in the end upload the facility for Magic Cue to faucet into your pictures, suggesting pictures when any individual’s discussed in textual content messages, emails and extra.
Magic Cue has some blind spots, regardless that. As my colleague Sam Rutherford famous in his Pixel 10 Professional overview, I discovered it specifically fussy with calendar cues, continuously failing to spot dates or instances in screenshots or emails. It’s additionally lacking a significant space of the place I would like all of this information: third-party messaging apps. However good day, should you’re the use of Google Messages, you’re excellent to move.
Google’s almost-instantaneous voice translation all through calls is spectacular too. Managing Editor Cherlynn Low laid out how that works, and whilst it’s a technical wonder, I’m no longer certain how a lot I’d use the function for high-stakes conversations like reserving lodging or checking out commute problems.
I additionally favored Take a Message, which transcribes calls whilst you’re not able to reply to. Then again, similar to I did whilst I used to be trying out Apple’s an identical function all through my iOS 26 preview, I both responded calls instinctively [Ed. note: Mat is clearly a different specimen from the rest of us humans] or folks didn’t depart voicemails.
There are many minor upgrades to present gear and lines at the Pixel 10. Gemini Are living, which is able to “see” thru your digicam or learn what’s on display screen, too can now be offering visible steerage, highlighting gadgets onscreen after listening to your request or query. NotebookLM now integrates with Pixel Screenshots and Recorder. If the previous detects one thing which may be helpful to an present NotebookLM venture, it’ll counsel including it for more uncomplicated get admission to.
There also are Writing Gear (sound acquainted?) inside Gboard, which is able to retool your present prose into specified writing kinds. It’ll even counsel which emojis so as to add into the combination. For now, that is best suitable with US English, so it’s no longer my favorite favourite. There’s additionally a brand new Pixel Magazine app, which sounds beautiful acquainted too. I in brief examined it out all through the times I’ve had the telephone, however should you haven’t discovered the app/pocket book/diary to magazine in but, it’s a superbly superb choice, with AI-powered tips on what to put in writing about and the facility to glue pictures and different main points that your smartphone can log. One thing that wasn’t obvious all through my overview used to be that the Magazine app will find out about your writing patterns and be offering up insights on how continuously you write, whilst you usually write and extra.
Efficiency and battery lifestyles
Google says its new Tensor G5 chip is 34 % quicker than final yr’s G4, whilst the TPU (Tensor Processing Unit, ugh) is 60 % quicker at AI duties. Efficiency trying out apps like Geekbench 6 can’t be put in on Pixel gadgets prior to the telephones cross on sale, so I wasn’t in a position to quantify the improve. I will really feel the ones enhancements with heavier processing duties regardless that, like transcription, translation and symbol era, in apps like Pixel Studio. The Pixel 10 additionally had no problems working graphically in depth video games like Infinity Nikki and Zenless Zone 0, and appeared faster to load maximum apps in comparison to Pixel telephones of the previous. Google’s Tensor chips are undoubtedly catching up.
Anecdotally, I to find myself the use of Google’s Pixel AI options (and Gemini) considerably extra continuously than on different Android gadgets I’ve used and examined. With related AI duties, similar to transcribing an interview, the Tensor G5 seems to maintain them extra successfully, turning in ends up in much less time.
The Pixel 10 has a 4,970mAh battery, which isn’t best larger than the Pixel 9 (4,700mAh) but additionally the Pixel 10 Professional (4,870mAh). Then again, the Pixel 10 doesn’t moderately fit the 27 hours-plus rundown time of the Pixel 9. Operating a looping video, this yr’s telephone lasted round 22 hours, which is a bit of disappointing given the specifications. I’ll retest and replace this overview if the effects fluctuate.
The Pixel 10 helps stressed charging as much as 30W, returning to over 50 % in beneath half-hour. It can be wirelessly charged at as much as 15W, due to Qi2 toughen. That’s an growth, however it’s no longer Qi2.2 just like the Pixel 10 Professional XL, which is able to achieve 25W charging wirelessly.
Wrap-up
The Pixel 10 redefines what we will have to be expecting from base flagship smartphones. With Apple’s subsequent iPhone simply across the nook, Google has added a 5x telephoto digicam, rounding out the Pixel’s pictures chops providing whilst augmenting it with extra options powered by means of Gemini. Digital camera Trainer will not be for everybody, however Magic Cue — like Pixel Screenshots final yr — is a glimpse into the way forward for how we’ll use AI on smartphones.
The Pixel 10 is a considerable improve from the Pixel 9, even if given it has the Tensor G5 chip, it’s a disgrace that tool options like Zoom Make stronger from final yr’s Pixels didn’t make the reduce. Until you’re a die-hard smartphone gamer, there isn’t a extra succesful smartphone at this worth.
