Google Pixel 10 Pro Review

Google has simply introduced its newest own-brand smartphones, and there are 4 of them.

To present you an concept of the scale, the cellphone is a bit of taller, wider, thicker and heavier than Apple’s iPhone 16e, although the Pixel 10 Professional has a much bigger, higher show and extra cameras.

The bigger Pixel 10 Professional XL is sort of an identical to the Pixel 10 Professional other than display dimension, battery dimension and value. Cameras are in any other case the identical, and the pace of wi-fi charging is quicker on the Professional XL. Total, for those who just like the sound of the Pixel 10 Professional however need one thing greater, the XL ought to be your alternative.

Like a number of producers, Google has discovered an industrial design it likes and this yr’s fashions look similar to final yr’s, other than among the colors. The primary updates this yr embrace the brand new processor, which powers Google Gemini AI and software program photographic advances, a much bigger battery and a brighter show.

Oh, and one thing referred to as Pixelsnap. In case you’ve used a current iPhone (other than the iPhone 16e), you’ll know there’s a hoop of magnets at the back of the cellphone, which implies it could actually click on satisfyingly into place on a wi-fi charging pad. This is identical system (and it even works with the identically-sized MagSafe chargers).

In case you preferred the look of final yr’s Pixel, you’ll like this. As with most smartphones, the whole entrance is show – on this case other than a tiny digital camera peeping by the center. The sting is a pleasingly shiny metallic band, and the rear is a glass panel that’s clean save for the Google G emblem and the digital camera panel.

The digital camera association is exclusive to Google (although that could be about to alter when the brand new iPhones are launched in September). As a substitute of a column or sq. of lenses, Google opted for a bar that stretches nearly the width of the cellphone. Three lenses and different sensors sit in a large, raised lozenge. The width means in case your cellphone is on the desk and also you’re typing on it (if anybody nonetheless does that), it doesn’t rock backward and forward.

The design is distinctive and recognisable, with the colors being the massive change this yr: in addition to the acquainted porcelain and obsidian choices, there are two new ones, moonstone and jade – the mannequin I’ve been testing. It’s an elegantly eye-catching pale inexperienced, with a touch extra sunshine than some photographs reveal.

Actually, the most important design change is Pixelsnap. It’s nice. Switching the wi-fi charging set-up to the more moderen Qi2 commonplace means there’s a ring of magnets to carry the cellphone in place whenever you’re charging. No extra waking to search out that it didn’t cost in a single day since you hadn’t put it in fairly the best place (I imply, it was late, it was darkish, it was a straightforward mistake to make).

Now, you realize it’s charging. The magnet ring dimension is an identical to Apple’s MagSafe, so charging equipment are suitable. New display savers imply you’ll be able to set it in panorama orientation, and the display will present a clock at evening – the iPhone 16 Professional has an analogous trick.

And right here we come to one of many few variations between Pixel 10 Professional and Pixel 10 Professional XL: the XL can cost extra shortly wirelessly: as much as 15W for the Professional, u to 25W for the Professional XL. In observe, the Pixel 10 Professional charged quick sufficient for my wants, and for those who cost in a single day, it’s simply executed in time.

The Pixel 10 Professional show seems great, with distinctive element, color constancy and richness. It has dynamic refresh charges between 1 and 120Hz, that means it’s clean for scrolling quick down menus, however the fee can drop whenever you’re static content material to save lots of battery life.

What’s new on the OLED display this yr is the brightness, which is increased than final yr. Frankly, it was already vivid at 3,000 nits, but it surely now goes to three,300 nits. In different phrases, vivid sunny days received’t fear it.

Google’s new, quick Tensor G5 processor means all the most recent options are right here. This consists of Magic Cue, which is AI-powered, sitting within the background and ready to assist. It implies that if someone texts you to ask for those who’re free on a sure date, Magic Cue will examine your calendar and e-mail to see if there’s a conflict and present you the small print proper subsequent to the messages keyboard.

It might additionally spot whenever you’re calling a quantity it recognises you’ve referred to as earlier than, and if there are related particulars in your e-mail, calendar or messages – it may very well be you’re chasing a web based procuring order, say – it should show all of the related info on the display. These are helpful particulars that can grow to be more and more helpful as our consciousness of them will increase.

Then there’s simultaneous voice translation of cellphone calls in actual time. And Google has added the aptitude on Pixel for the voice to imitate the speaker. It is a little more of a gimmick than a necessity, but it surely’s enjoyable.

There’s a brand new Journal app which makes use of AI to touch upon entries you make, maybe to encourage you to put in writing extra.

The precise snappers on the brand new telephones are the identical as they have been final yr, however the brand new processor and software program imply there are extra capabilities this time round.

The {hardware} continues to be spectacular: a 50-MP primary digital camera and two 48-MP sensors, for ultra-wide and telephoto.

Google has all the time been progressive relating to software program enhancements to images – the primary Google Pixel allowed portrait mode, with artfully blurred backgrounds on a cellphone with just one digital camera, which was distinctive on the time.

Now, there’s AI to boost zoom photographs. So, a brand new function referred to as Professional Res Zoom helps whenever you need to take excessive zoom photographs. Transcend 30x zoom (for those who should) and Professional Res Zoom will clear up the picture for photographs as much as the utmost of 100x. Outcomes are variable, but it surely may show helpful.

Digicam Coach is the brand new function which may supply solutions whenever you’re taking a photograph. Maintain up the cellphone and the display turns blue, makes a noise and on-device AI analyses what it sees to make solutions of how one can take an ideal image. It may get annoying, however you need to invoke it, and typically the solutions supply concepts you hadn’t had.

Total, the Pixel 10 Professional takes terrific photographs and good video, simply as final yr’s telephones did. I’d say the iPhone nonetheless outdoes it for photographs with actually nice style, however this can be a digital camera that’s arduous to beat.

There’s no doubting the pace and functionality of the Tensor G5 processor, and the cellphone feels responsive. That stated, it’s not fairly as fast throughout the board, and typically it doesn’t really feel as snappy as, say, the iPhone 16 Professional or the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely – telephones it clearly needs to be thought of alongside.

Battery life is okay, not distinctive. I do know, I do know; we use our telephones continuous nowadays, and higher options usually imply extra power-hungry options. Besides, although it obtained me by a day each day I’ve been testing it, I’d have preferred a bit extra wiggle room. That stated, for those who’re not as inclined to battery anxiousness as I’m, it should possible do you high quality with nightly charging.

Battery life on the Pixel 10 Professional XL was higher, however not a lot that it was a game-changer.

The design hasn’t modified from final yr, however that basically simply means it nonetheless seems good and engaging. Equally, the wonderful show shines all of the extra brightly this time (actually), and is a pleasure to make use of.

The cameras haven’t modified both, however new software program options have actually upped the sport right here. The Digicam Coach is a enjoyable addition, although you received’t use it for each shot.

Efficiency is first rate slightly than excellent. Battery life will see you thru the day.

Google’s Android OS has added vital upgrades this yr, and the benefit of selecting a Pixel is that you simply get the purest type of the working software program, which implies quick updates after they grow to be accessible. Like final yr, you get seven years of software program updates, which helps with the cellphone’s longevity.

Total, the look, options, digital camera and show are sufficient to make the Google Pixel 10 Professional a straightforward cellphone to advocate.