Google Pixel 10 Review
The Google Pixel 10 – like its sibling handsets – is quite a deceptive smartphone. In some areas it’s a mirror of the preceding Pixel 9, in others it actually offers less while simultaneously bringing new additions to the table. What’s most interesting, however, is that despite being very similar in certain departments, the Pixel 10 is actually remarkably different.
In this review, we’ll explore why we think the Pixel 10 is much more than its unassuming exterior. Enjoy the Google Pixel 10 with up to 256GB storage.
Things we like
• Magnetic charger support for the first time on a Pixel phone
• The Tensor G5 processor is lightning-fast
• AI features like Magic Cue feel genuinely impactful and useful
• A more versatile triple-camera array
Things to consider
• Visually, it’s a dead ringer for the Pixel 9
• The addition of another camera is offset by reduced MP counts
Release date
The Google Pixel 10 released on the 20th August 2025.
Specifications
• Dimensions – 152.8 mm (height) x 72 mm (width) x 8.6 mm (depth)
• Weight – 204g
• OS – Android 16
• Display – 6.3” Actua screen
• Resolution – 1080 x 2424 OLED
• Processor – Google Tensor G5
• Storage – 128GB; 256GB
• RAM – 12GB
• Rear cameras – 48MP wide; 13MP ultra-wide; 10.8MP telephoto
• Front camera – 10.5MP
• Battery – 4970mAh
• Water and dust resistance – IP68
• Connectivity – Wi-Fi 6E; Bluetooth v6; 5G
Design: Deja vu
The Pixel 10 is visually similar to the Pixel 9 when it comes to design, that much is clear. There’s no change in the phone’s height or width, and it’s only 0.1mm thicker. In fact, the only noticeable change is a slightly thicker camera bar on the back.
Despite the design similarities, the Pixel 10 is 6g heavier than the Pixel 9. If you like your phone to have a bit of heft to it, this extra weight will likely feel good in the hand. For those that prefer a lighter handset, it might take a bit of getting used to. IP68 ingress protection and a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover screen are the final design elements carried over from the Pixel 9.
As you can tell, there’s not much to shout about design-wise on the Pixel 10, but considering we loved the refinements made to the Pixel 9 last time around, we’re quite happy with the result here.
Display: Brightness leads the way
The Pixel 10’s display is almost a like-for-like, too. There’s a 6.3” OLED Actua display with a refresh rate cap of 120Hz, as well as support for HDR. Resolution is also unchanged at 1080 x 2424, giving the visuals a clean and crisp HD quality.
Similar to its premium Pixel 10 Pro XL brethren, the main generation-to-generation improvement is brightness. In the case of the Pixel 10, it can output a maximum of 3000 nits compared to 2700 on the Pixel 9, putting it within touching distance of the 10 Pro XL’s 3300 peak brightness. For context, this means the base Pixel 10 has the same peak brightness as the 9 Pro XL, which is fantastic to see on Google’s mid-range handset.
Performance: Tensor G5 brings the goods
So far, so familiar. When you start looking under the hood, however, the Pixel 10 starts to show its true colours. The Google Tensor G5 CPU is exciting not just because it’s faster at processing tasks, it’s also built using a 3nm process. This means more transistors can be included to improve speed and efficiency.
As a result, the Tensor G5 is more than a simple generation-to-generation upgrade. Changes to how the chipset is actually manufactured paved the way for more meaningful improvements, which are supported by 12GB RAM to further enhance workload efficiency.
Software: Cementing the Pixel as a must-have AI phone
The Pixel 10 doesn’t disappoint at software level either, thanks to the inclusion of Android 16 and improvements made to Gemini. Auto-Grouping and Live Updates are the big feature standouts, loading notifications with more information while streamlining how they’re presented to you in the notification drop-down.
On the AI front, Magic Cue is perhaps one of the most exciting AI-powered features to hit smartphones. Its ability to communicate between your apps and help you plan, such as when organising a day out, was so useful that jumping between apps ourselves felt prehistoric in comparison.
Cameras: Versatility over quality
The camera situation on the Pixel 10 is a curious one. You’re getting an extra camera in the array compared to the Pixel 9, comprised of a 48MP wide camera, a 13MP ultra-wide camera and a 10.8MP telephoto lens, so you can take a wider variety of shots. This versatility is great to see, but it does come at the expense of reduced pixel counts on each of these cameras.
The Pixel 10 is therefore in an interesting position. As the mid-range option in the Pixel 10 series, it’s designed primarily for those that want a balance between shot flexibility and raw photo quality. In that regard, the Pixel 10 is a winner; you’re getting more cameras out of the box. However, photos might look blurrier when cropping due to the lower MP counts.
In terms of camera software, the Pixel 10 benefits greatly from a range of features, many of which weren’t included on the Pixel 9. Camera Coach debuted with the Pixel 10 and provides tips on improving photos while lining up your shot. Auto Unblur is also included for removing blurry parts of the scene, as well as the AI-powered Pixel Studio for text-to-image generation.
Battery: Closing the gap on the iPhone
The Pixel 10’s legacy will likely be the advent of Pixelsnap and wireless magnetic chargers finally coming to Pixel phones. Supporting 15W charging, Pixelsnap is undoubtedly a revolution for Google’s handsets and helps them close the gap on iPhones that have supported magnetic chargers for several years.
The battery itself also received an upgrade on the Pixel 10, rising from 4700mAh to 4970. You can expect to get around a full day’s use out of the Pixel 10; similar to the Pixel 9, but when you’ve got Pixelsnap to easily charge the phone throughout the day, we rarely had any battery life fear.
Summary
Don’t write off the Google Pixel 10 at first glance. Whilst it looks incredibly similar to the Pixel 9 and shares other features, there’s a lot happening under the surface that makes it a top mid-range option.
Want to pick up the Pixel 10 but have a lot of old data to deal with? Our experts have created a step-by-step guide to get you set up in no time.