A good phone with no must-have features

Google has a penchant for invalidating a few of its Pixel units yearly.

With final 12 months’s Pixel 9 collection, I felt Google put the base Pixel 9 mannequin in a bizarre place with the launch of the smaller Pixel 9 Pro. The 2 units have been extremely comparable, with the principle distinction being the telephoto digicam on the Professional mannequin. I finally discovered myself preferring the 9 Professional simply due to that digicam. Then the Pixel 9a got here alongside and supplied a virtually an identical expertise to the Pixel 9 for considerably much less cash.

This 12 months, the Pixel 10 beats out the Pixel 10 Professional within the ways in which really matter, due to sensible enhancements like a brand new telephoto digicam and a bigger battery. On paper, the Pixel 10 Professional is best – extra RAM, higher digicam {hardware}, and so forth. However relating to precise real-life use, the Pixel 10 does every part nicely sufficient to make spending extra for the ten Professional redundant for most individuals.

I’ll get into the small print all through the overview, however in virtually each head-to-head comparability (such because the telephoto cameras), the Pixel 10 matched up very nicely to the ten Professional. After all, we don’t but know what’s going to occur with the Pixel 10a, however until Google does one thing actually loopy, I feel there might be extra significant differentiation between the Pixel 10 and 10a this 12 months.

However whereas the Pixel 10 nips on the 10 Professional’s heels, the cellphone is way from excellent. Google has improved the Tensor chip, however I don’t suppose the corporate went far sufficient. Furthermore, most of the new AI options don’t reside as much as Google’s guarantees, Magic Cue being probably the most notable offender.

That leaves the Pixel 10 in a bizarre spot of being a usually good cellphone with no compelling cause to improve until your present cellphone simply bit the mud. (Arguably, more people should wait to upgrade until they really need to anyway.)

Specs

Acquainted outdoors, new inside

There isn’t a ton to say concerning the {hardware} this 12 months as a result of most individuals can be hard-pressed to inform the Pixel 10 and Pixel 9 aside. Except for the brand new color choices and third digicam on the rear, the Pixel 10 sports activities a virtually an identical design. There are small tweaks, however little or no substantial – at the least externally. The excellent news right here is that should you just like the look of the Pixel 9 collection, then the Pixel 10 is extra of the identical. (And if for some cause you’re upgrading from a Pixel 9 to a Pixel 10, your circumstances ought to nonetheless work with out situation.)

Internally, issues are a bit completely different. There’s a brand new chip, the Tensor G5, the battery is greater, there are digicam modifications, and there’s Pixelsnap.

Pixelsnap is Google’s tackle Qi2 wi-fi charging, which implies it’s a magnetic system similar to MagSafe on iPhones. Pixelsnap has the additional benefit of being constructed straight into the Pixel 10 collection, that means you don’t want a case to make the most of the options. This can matter most to those that choose to not use a case on their cellphone, however both approach, it’s a pleasant addition. To this point, the Pixel 10 collection are the one Android units with a MagSafe equal in-built.

The primary-gen Pixel Stand (left) and new Pixelsnap Charger with stand (proper).

I haven’t used MagSafe in any respect because it launched on the iPhone 12 back in 2020 (I can’t consider it’s been 5 years!), so the Pixel 10 is my first expertise with the magnetic accent system. To this point, I’ve solely actually used it with Google’s Pixelsnap wi-fi charger, and it’s positive. It’s wi-fi charging, and I like the best way the Pixelsnap charging stand permits my cellphone to virtually levitate above my desk as a result of it’s held in place with magnets as an alternative of slightly lip on the backside of the stand, like with the previous Pixel wi-fi charging stand.

Curiously, Pixelsnap alters wi-fi charging speeds, for higher and worse. Per Google’s website, the Pixel 10 and 10 Professional can cost at 15W with Pixelsnap, the identical as Pixel 9 with the 2nd-gen Pixel Stand, however slower than the 9 Professional (21W). The Pixel 10 Professional XL can cost at 25W with Pixelsnap, up barely from 23W with the Pixel Stand. With out different Qi chargers, the Pixel 9 collection was locked to 12W wi-fi charging.

Nonetheless, Pixelsnap/MagSafe hasn’t blown me away but. Perhaps I simply haven’t tried sufficient equipment, however at this level, Pixelsnap looks like a nice-to-have characteristic however not one price upgrading for, particularly since you possibly can simply slap a suitable case on another cellphone to get an analogous expertise.

Tensor’s higher, however nonetheless has catching as much as do

Google made an enormous deal about its enhancements with the Tensor G5, however my expertise with the Pixel 10 was combined. The largest enchancment I’ve famous is best battery life, notably with standby time, however Tensor G5 doesn’t really feel that a lot quicker in day-to-day use. I’ll word that gaming efficiency appears improved, however I nonetheless wouldn’t advocate it for critical players.

I had some fascinating outcomes when benchmarking the Pixel 10. Preliminary makes an attempt yielded surprisingly poor outcomes, with the Pixel 10 scoring worse than the Pixel 6a. Nonetheless, after additional testing, I consider the preliminary outcomes have been marred by some fairly heavy throttling on account of warmth and probably battery life. Subsequent Geekbench 6 assessments, as soon as the battery was topped up and the cellphone had cooled down, yielded outcomes extra in keeping with what I’ve seen from different testers, with scores of two,297 for single-core and 5,092 for multi-core. (Outcomes have been finally in all places, suggesting to me that the Pixel 10 has some aggressive throttling occurring.) The Pixel 10 Professional carried out barely higher in benchmarks.

I really feel like a little bit of a damaged document at this level, however benchmarks don’t all the time line up with real-world expertise, and the Pixel line is a shining instance of that. For years, Tensor chips have carried out worse than the chips you’d discover in different flagships just like the iPhone or Samsung’s Galaxy line. Nonetheless, Pixel telephones nonetheless really feel actually easy to make use of, and I not often discover efficiency points throughout typical use. The identical is true for the Pixel 10, which has felt extremely snappy in day-to-day use. Scrolling feels easy, apps load shortly, and I haven’t observed points with apps getting booted out of reminiscence. For many issues folks do on their telephones, the Pixel 10 runs nice.

Gaming has been a long-running weak spot for Tensor, and whereas G5 brings some GPU enhancements, there are nonetheless higher choices on the market for cellular players. To an extent, the video games folks select to play might be an element. Much less graphically intense titles run nice, whereas heavier titles can have points. I attempted out Pokémon Go on behalf of MobileSyrup’s Brad Bennett, who needed to understand how the sport carried out on Pixel 10 in comparison with Pixel 9, which he discovered would drop from round 110fps to round 45fps after simply 5 minutes of enjoying.

Taking part in Diablo Immortal on the Pixel 10 is best than on earlier Pixels.

Initially, I discovered the sport very uneven on the Pixel 10, however after enabling the native refresh fee choice within the recreation’s settings, it ran a lot, a lot smoother. Greater than that, in my trials, the Pixel 10 managed to take care of a reasonably constant common framerate of about 100fps in Pokémon Go, even after 10 minutes of enjoying. The cellphone did warmth up, however not sufficient to see vital efficiency throttling regardless of enjoying on a heat, sunny day.

I had an analogous expertise enjoying Diablo Immortal, which with Pixel 9 was capped at 30fps on low graphics. On the Pixel 10, it ran at a reasonably strong 60fps on excessive graphics more often than not, often dipping to the mid-40s and even 30s in hectic fights or in areas with numerous different gamers, equivalent to whereas on the town. Nonetheless, the cellphone will get fairly scorching after a couple of minutes of enjoying. Nonetheless, it’s an enchancment over earlier Pixels, simply not fairly sufficient to make the Pixel 10 a cellphone for players.

Nice battery for gentle cellphone customers

A mixture of a bigger battery and extra environment friendly standby has enabled higher battery life on the Pixel 10. Sadly, it’s not excellent. First, the nice: I used to be recurrently getting a day and a half to 2 days out of the Pixel 10 on gentle use.

On a number of events, I ended the day with a few hours of display time and about 60 per cent battery within the tank, and was in a position to stretch it by the second day, often to night and even bedtime (typically round 10:30 for me), placing the Pixel 10 on the charger with about 10 per cent or much less cost.

I fairly like this side of the cellphone, and it untethered me from charging the Pixel 10 each evening. More and more, I simply throw it on cost when it really wants a cost.

Nonetheless, I additionally observed that with heavy use, the Pixel 10 will be fairly energy hungry. For instance, on a day I travelled from my dwelling in Hamilton, Ont., to Toronto for a day within the workplace, the Pixel 10 solely lasted from round 7am to about 4pm as a result of tethering completely drained the battery. Naturally, tethering is a fairly power-intensive use case, however I used to be slightly shocked by how shortly the battery drained. I tethered for about two hours, par for the course after I go into the workplace. However after I did that on the Pixel 9 Professional, it nonetheless lasted the entire day. Furthermore, the display is often probably the most power-hungry element on telephones, however I persistently noticed the CPU topping the Pixel 10’s battery utilization chart.

And given how heat the Pixel 10 will get throughout extra intensive use like gaming or tethering, it appears to me that Tensor G5 might not be probably the most power-efficient chip. Finally, I fear that Tensor G5 – even with enhancements – nonetheless isn’t sufficient. Google’s pitch with Tensor continues to be targeted on AI, with the corporate claiming that Tensor permits it to do on-device AI options. Nonetheless, we additionally see comparable on-device AI options coming to different units that don’t use Tensor chips and now have a lot better efficiency, so I don’t completely purchase what Google’s promoting right here.

My largest situation comes right down to the value of those units. Like I stated above, Tensor has by no means been a efficiency chief. With earlier Pixels, I used to be extra forgiving as a result of Tensor was nonetheless within the early phases and Google charged so much much less for its telephones. However just like the Pixel 9, the Pixel 10 is equally priced to the iPhone 16, and it’s actually exhausting to justify shopping for a Pixel over an iPhone when the iPhone ships with one of many best-performing cellular chips in the marketplace. The Galaxy S25 is in an analogous place, though it’s slightly costlier. And I say this as a Pixel fan who has used a Pixel as my major cellphone for the reason that authentic Pixel.

So whereas the Tensor G5 is best and a step in the proper course, if Google needs to proceed charging flagship costs for the Pixel line, it additionally wants to supply flagship-level efficiency.

Magic Clueless

Talking of AI capabilities enabled by Tensor, the Pixel 10 ships with fairly just a few new options. The headliner is Magic Cue, and oh boy, is it underwhelming.

My drawback with Magic Cue is that Google’s promise could be very removed from the fact of utilizing it. Google claims that Magic Cue will prevent time by suggesting contextually related info so that you don’t have to modify between apps as typically. The truth is that it not often exhibits up, and when it does, it’s not almost as useful as anticipated.

For starters, I had a hell of a time attempting to get Magic Cue to work within the first place. There are just a few causes, although I’m unsure how a lot affect every had. I needed to swap off utilizing beta variations of the Messages and Telephone apps. I had points referring to Google accounts on the system, one in every of which was a piece account, and there’s a general 24-hour waiting period whereas Magic Cue pulls in information earlier than it really begins providing options.

Whereas not all of this can affect everybody, I do need to focus briefly on the Google accounts situation, because it possible will affect many. First, Magic Cue can solely work with one Google account, even if in case you have a number of on the system. Furthermore, it doesn’t play good with work accounts relying on organizations’ information and privateness settings. Should you’re an individual with a number of accounts or who hopes Magic Cue will assist with work-related duties, nicely, you would possibly simply be out of luck. For me, this actually set again the usefulness of Magic Cue because it couldn’t present any related details about what’s occurring at work, although all that information is on my cellphone.

Account points apart, I discovered Magic Cue didn’t present up fairly often, and when it did, it was seldom useful. I spent a variety of time working with MobileSyrup units editor Dean Daley, making an attempt to drive Magic Cue to indicate up simply to make sure it was working. We despatched one another messages we anticipated would set off the characteristic, like asking what was on our calendars or for contact info. After just a few days of fiddling, we began seeing Magic Cue options seem.

The contacts one labored as marketed, pulling related information from my contacts. Calendar options have been much less useful, nevertheless. For instance, when Dean texted me, “What are you doing on Wednesday?” tapping Magic Cue’s suggestion bubble simply kicked me to the calendar app so I might see the occasions I had. Certain, it saved me a pair faucets, however I had hoped Magic Cue would possibly supply a listing of my calendar occasions as an alternative of forcing me to modify apps.

Google’s Pixel case this 12 months feels higher and helps Pixelsnap.

Nonetheless, extra particular questions didn’t work. In one other take a look at, I had an occasion in my calendar for when our new sofa can be delivered, however texts asking me concerning the supply didn’t set off Magic Cue. Later, after I referred to as customer support with a guaranty query, Magic Cue appeared within the dialer with entry to an e mail concerning the sofa, however as an alternative of grabbing the receipt with useful information just like the order quantity, it grabbed the e-mail asking me to overview my buy.

In truth, over the week and a half I’ve been utilizing the Pixel 10, I’ve solely had a handful of Magic Cue options seem that weren’t deliberately triggered, and none of them have really been helpful. Furthermore, Google outlined different locations the place Magic Cue ought to present up, equivalent to within the climate app, the keyboard, or within the new Every day Hub, however none of those interactions have really occurred for me (and the brand new Every day Hub hasn’t appeared on my Pixel 10 in any respect).

It’s attainable that Magic Cue wants extra time on my cellphone to get helpful. Perhaps in a month or two, I’ll really feel extra constructive concerning the characteristic. However proper now, it barely exhibits up and infrequently works nicely when it does. Because it stands, Magic Cue is just not a cause to purchase the Pixel 10.

Different new AI options

Google Pixel 10 Professional (left) and Pixel 10 (proper).

Magic Cue is however one in every of many new AI options on the Pixel 10. I’ll run by different new options shortly, although I’ve solely really been in a position to attempt just a few of them.

The cellphone app has a voice translation characteristic in-built, which sounds helpful, however I haven’t had an opportunity to check it but. The app now additionally has a ‘Take a Message’ characteristic, which may transcribe missed or declined calls. Nonetheless, according to Google’s support document, this characteristic isn’t accessible in Canada, so I didn’t get to attempt it both. (Nonetheless, you will get comparable options by your service should you’re keen to pay for it.)

The Pixel 10 collection ships with a brand new Journal app infused with AI options. I don’t actually journal a lot, and after I do, I choose writing by hand, so the Journal app didn’t spark curiosity from me. However should you’re into journaling in your cellphone, it looks as if a good choice.

The Pixel Screenshots and Studio apps obtained enhancements, as did some generative AI writing options in Gboard. Google stated it upgraded voice dictation in Gboard as nicely, enabling extra natural-language textual content modifying. Pixel’s voice dictation has all the time been top-tier, so these enhancements have made it even higher. For some cause, Google additionally added the power to generate music with AI within the Recorder app, however this didn’t present up on my Pixel 10.

Megapixel smackdown

There’s yet one more AI characteristic price mentioning, and that’s Digital camera Coach. It makes use of Gemini fashions to information customers by taking higher photographs. It leverages the preliminary scene you level the digicam at to supply options, together with methods to enhance the framing, altering your positioning, and extra.

Whereas I actually like the concept, and it appears to work nicely, it’s completely not a characteristic for me. And that’s completely positive! I feel this might be nice for individuals who perhaps aren’t tech savvy or don’t know so much about pictures, because it helps information them to taking higher photographs.

Digital camera Coach makes use of AI to information folks to take higher photographs.

Except for Digital camera Coach, the Pixel 10 provides some notable modifications in comparison with earlier Pixels. Final 12 months, the Pixel 9 and 9 Professional had the identical rear digicam {hardware}, with the principle distinction being that the Pixel 9 didn’t have a telephoto digicam. This 12 months, Google added a telephoto digicam to the Pixel 10, but in addition downgraded the opposite two cameras.

Fundamental digicam comparability

As an alternative of a 50-megapixel predominant digicam, the Pixel 10 sports activities the identical 48-megapixel major digicam because the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. It additionally swaps the 48-megapixel ultrawide digicam for a 13-megapixel ultrawide digicam. Lastly, the Pixel 10’s telephoto digicam sports activities a ten.8-megapixel sensor as an alternative of the 48-megapixel one on the Pixel 10 Professional.

Ultrawide digicam comparability

On paper, the digicam {hardware} doesn’t look nice. Nonetheless, megapixels aren’t every part, and I used to be usually impressed with the output from the Pixel 10 cameras. In head-to-head comparisons, the Pixel 10’s 48-megapixel predominant shooter produces outcomes shut sufficient to the Pixel 10 Professional’s 50-megapixel major digicam that you actually need to dig deep to discover a distinction. I feel the Pixel 10 Professional retains some element slightly higher than the Pixel 10, however usually each predominant cameras are nice.

5x telephoto digicam comparability.

Equally, the Pixel 10’s telephoto digicam put out ok photographs that I used to be keen to forgive the decrease megapixel depend. In some eventualities, you’ll get extra element out of the Pixel 10 Professional, and the ten Professional permits for as much as 100x zoom (leveraging AI fashions to supply frankly mediocre outcomes) whereas the Pixel 10 caps out at 20x. Each telephones, nevertheless, supply 5x optical zoom and at that time, the Pixel 10 is sweet sufficient. The ten Professional is best, retaining extra element total and dealing higher in poor lighting, however the Pixel 10 is totally ok. That alone is, I feel, sufficient cause to say the Pixel 10 might be the best choice for most individuals.

The Pixel 10 and 10 Professional are extremely comparable, with the digicam {hardware} being one of many few true differentiators. However with the Pixel 10 providing comparable digicam efficiency to the ten Professional with worse {hardware} at a lower cost, I feel it’s the clear choice. Until you could have a necessity for the higher-end digicam {hardware} on the Professional line, the Pixel 10 will do exactly positive.

Must you purchase a Pixel 10?

Pixel 10 Professional (left) and Pixel 10 (proper).

Regardless of my harsh critiques of some elements of the Pixel 10, I really actually just like the cellphone. I’ve been a Pixel consumer for years and there are a variety of issues I like concerning the cellphone collection – the Pixel 10 takes all of that and tunes it up. Certain, it’s not the best-performing cellphone in the marketplace, however it’s a step up from earlier Pixels. Lots of the new AI options aren’t pretty much as good as promised, however the options I already like and use are pretty much as good as ever.

However whereas I actually just like the cellphone, it feels powerful to advocate. For starters, it feels extra like a Pixel 9.5, providing a number of small enhancements to what was already a strong cellphone. Furthermore, if in case you have a latest Pixel – like a 9, 8, or perhaps a 7 – I don’t suppose the Pixel 10 provides something compelling to the expertise. Magic Cue was presupposed to be that headline characteristic to attract folks in, however it doesn’t reside as much as the hype.

Finally, my ideas come right down to this. The Pixel 10 is a strong cellphone, particularly for earlier Pixel homeowners. I additionally suppose the Pixel 10 is a strong entry level for somebody seeking to make the soar to Pixel from one other model. Nonetheless, it’s solely price getting should you’re already in want of an replace, however if in case you have a cellphone that’s a pair years previous, I don’t suppose the Pixel 10 provides a compelling cause to improve.

The Pixel 10 starts at $1,099 in Canada for the 128GB mannequin, making it barely cheaper than the iPhone 16 ($1,129) and the Galaxy S25 ($1,199). Whereas each these telephones supply higher efficiency, particularly in taxing use circumstances like gaming, the Pixel 10 nonetheless works nicely. It additionally provides respectable battery life, a strong digicam expertise, and a few respectable ‘intelligence’ options. Whereas I maintain out hope that Magic Cue will enhance, I wouldn’t advocate shopping for the Pixel 10 only for that characteristic alone.