Google’s new least expensive Pixel 10 has been upgraded with extra cameras, a quicker chip and a few high quality software program that has introduced it out of the shadow of its pricier Professional siblings to set a brand new normal of what it’s best to anticipate from a base-model flagship telephone.
The common Pixel 10 prices £799 (€899/$799/A$1,349) – the identical as final yr’s Pixel 9 – undercutting the ten Professional by £200 and matching rivals from Samsung and Apple whereas providing extra on your cash.
The design is nearly equivalent to the Pixel 9, aside from some new daring colors and the all-important new third digital camera within the pill-shaped lump on the again. The satin aluminium and glass physique seems like a top quality piece of {hardware} and the design definitely stands out in a sea of samey slab telephones. The 6.3in OLED display screen is crisp, super-bright and easy with a 120Hz refresh fee.
The glass again hides one other improve: Qi2 wi-fi charging and magnetic accent assist. Google is making its personal Pixelsnap devices however Qi2 is an open normal and cross-compatible with the plethora of equipment designed for Apple’s wonderful MagSafe, together with chargers, wallets, handles and stands that simply persist with the again of the telephone.
Specs
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Display screen: 6.3in 120Hz FHD+ OLED (422ppi)
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Processor: Google Tensor G5
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RAM: 12GB
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Storage: 128 or 256GB
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Working system: Android 16
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Digital camera: 48MP+ 13MP UW + 10.8MP 5x tele; 10.5MP selfie
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Connectivity: 5G, eSim, wifi 7, UWB, NFC, Bluetooth 6 and GNSS
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Water resistance: IP68 (1.5m for half-hour)
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Dimensions: 152.8 x 72.0 x 8.6mm
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Weight: 204g
Tensor G5
The brand new Tensor G5 chip is about 34-38% quicker than Google’s earlier prime processor in testing, which is sort of a leap for the model, however nonetheless falls in need of the uncooked efficiency of Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon chip utilized in rivals. The Pixel feels speedy in operation and can deal with most issues simply wonderful.
The battery life is strong if not class-leading. It manages roughly two days of sunshine utilization between prices or about 33 hours of heavy use, together with 5 hours of 5G out and about with seven hours actively utilizing the display screen. Most individuals might want to cost it each different day.
The Tensor G5 additionally features a considerably quicker AI processor that runs Google’s superior AI faster and handles extra complicated techniques on-device, making the Pixel a showcase for Google’s AI prowess.
Android 16 with AI
The Pixel 10 runs the most recent Android 16 out of the field and comes with software program assist till August 2032. Google’s tackle Android is filled with daring colors, large buttons and enjoyable typography with loads of good touches and haptic interactions all through the system. It’s a top quality expertise even if you happen to select extra refined color mixtures.
The Pixel is a automobile for a few of Google’s most superior AI techniques, working the most recent model of Gemini Nano on-device, which powers all kinds of AI options together with numerous writing, dictation and image-editing instruments. A flashy new voice translation system for telephone calls can communicate to you in a simulacrum of the caller’s voice, fairly than one of many default Gemini voices.
However Magic Cue is essentially the most superior new AI function which runs domestically in your telephone and goals to be your little assistant working within the background in your gadget to proactively assist you to do issues quicker in your telephone. It combines data out of your Google account with a number of knowledge sources in your telephone to pop-up solutions of helpful data when utilizing sure Google apps. As an illustration, it pulled up my order affirmation emails in a bit card within the telephone app once I referred to as to verify the place my supply was, giving me one-tap entry to the order quantity.
Or if somebody texts about when your flight is because of land, it reveals the time and date pulled out of your calendar able to ship them with a single faucet. The climate app suggests places on your upcoming journeys out of your calendar, too.
These items don’t sound significantly thrilling, however are a step in the suitable course for AI away from flashy gimmicks to helpful little background time savers. Magic Cue presently works with Gmail, maps, calendar, Hold notes, screenshots, contacts and messages, with Google Photographs and some different Google apps coming quickly. The largest downside is that it doesn’t work in third-party apps but, so if you happen to use WhatsApp fairly than textual content messages it will probably’t assist you to.
Digital camera
The Pixel 10 includes a 10.5-megapixel selfie and three rear cameras: a 48MP major, 13MP extremely extensive and a ten.8MP 5x telephoto. It addresses the principle criticism concerning the base-model Pixel telephones, which have lacked a telephoto cameras.
The principle and ultrawide cameras produce wonderful photographs throughout a spread of lighting circumstances, doing higher than rivals at this worth in increased distinction scenes or dimmer indoor lighting. The brand new 5x telephoto considerably closes the space to things taking pictures nice photographs and reaching as much as 20x digital zoom if wanted. The photographs from all three cameras present a bit grain when seen at full crop, however most might be very happy with them.
Google remains to be the most effective at reliably producing good photographs with out a lot thought. The brand new auto Finest Take mode improves on the favored group shot Finest Take system by taking pictures a number of photographs to routinely mix them collectively for a picture the place everyone seems to be wanting on the digital camera. In most photographs it gained’t should do an excessive amount of, however the extra individuals and the extra complicated the scenario, the extra the AI intervenes.
The favored Add Me function permits the photographer to be added in to bigger and extra complicated group pictures, and has been improved to assist bigger teams of individuals, extra complicated backgrounds and pictures of pets. The digital camera app additionally now provides C2PA content material credentials to photographs that present how the picture was captured and whether or not generative AI was concerned.
One of the vital overtly AI instruments is the brand new Digital camera Coach function, which makes use of Gemini that can assist you compose and body a shot for a greater image. Press a small button on the prime of the viewfinder and it sends the present view to Google’s servers to analyse and recommend a number of totally different potential compositions. Choose the one you just like the look of and it guides you thru the steps of shifting the digital camera, framing the shot and taking the photograph. In testing, the solutions have been fairly good, so for anybody enthusiastic about bettering their images, this might be a low-key approach of getting a little bit of assist.
General, the Pixel 10 shoots nice photographs and movies with usually useful AI additions, significantly with Finest Take and Add Me, however it’s potential you find yourself with photographs of a second which will by no means have really occurred.
Sustainability
The battery is rated to final in extra of 1,000 full cost cycles with no less than 80% of its authentic capability. The telephone is repairable by Google, third-party retailers or self-repair with manuals and elements out there.
The Pixel 10 is incorporates 32% recycled supplies by weight together with aluminium, cobalt, copper, glass, gold, plastic, rare-earth parts, tungsten and tin. The corporate breaks down the telephone’s environmental affect in its report and can recycle previous units without spending a dime.
Value
The Google Pixel 10 prices from £799 (€899/$799/A$1,349) in a selection of 4 colors.
For comparability, the Pixel 10 Professional prices from £999, the Pixel 9a prices £399, the Samsung Galaxy S25 prices £799 and the iPhone 16 prices £799.
Verdict
The Pixel 10 units a brand new bar for base-model flagship telephones, providing a high-quality expertise and nice digital camera with a significant telephoto zoom that doesn’t really feel like a poor second cousin to the Professional fashions.
The skin has not modified lots since final yr however it’s a horny design that stands out within the sea of fairly samey telephones, no less than from the again. It feels snappy in operation, even when it doesn’t have the quickest chip out there, and the battery lasts a good 1.5 to 2 days between prices.
Among the new AI options really seem to be significant enhancements, significantly Magic Cue, auto Finest Take and different small bits that run domestically within the background while you’re doing issues. Mixed with Gemini, Google is leagues forward within the period of truly helpful AI instruments in contrast with rivals resembling Apple, and it doesn’t get in the best way of the core smartphone expertise.
It isn’t fairly the killer cut price of Google’s cheaper Pixel 9a however the Pixel 10 is among the greatest telephones you will get and nice worth nonetheless.
Execs: seven years of software program updates, nice digital camera with 5x telephoto, nice display screen, Magic Cue and spectacular native AI options, Qi2 wi-fi charging and magnetic accent assist, good battery life, good dimension, quick fingerprint and face recognition.
Cons: face unlock possibility not as safe as Face ID, uncooked efficiency and battery life in need of best-in-class, no bodily sim card slot within the US.
