A Week Later With Google Pixel 10, I'm Wondering Why Anyone Should Buy Pricier Flagships

3 days ago

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The Pixel 10 has officially launched pinch a starting value of $799.
With a three-camera system, Google Tensor G5, and improved artillery life, it's Google's champion guidelines exemplary smartphone yet.
The main and ultra-wide cameras person been downgraded successful bid to fresh nan caller telephoto.

Google's entry-level flagship Pixel has proven to beryllium a tin smartphone, pinch conscionable nan correct specs and features to please nan masses. So erstwhile I switched complete to nan latest model, nan Pixel 10, I wasn't expecting to beryllium wowed. After a week of use, however, I guidelines corrected.

With nan Pixel 10, Google kept its sleek design, while adding hardware upgrades that will amended users' mundane experiences successful subtle -- but meaningful, Google hopes -- ways. These see an improved battery, a caller telephoto lens, and Pixelsnap: Android's type of MagSafe.

Also: I ran a 100x camera zoom trial pinch nan Pixel 10 Pro and Samsung S25 Ultra - and there's a clear winner

Yet, nan Pixel 10's suite of AI features, powered by nan Google Tensor G5 chipset, is nan bosom of what makes nan smartphone guidelines out. Despite nan upgrades, nan Pixel 10 retails for nan aforesaid value arsenic its predecessor: $799.

I've been utilizing nan Pixel 10 each time since Jimmy Fallon put it down connected the Made by Google stage. Let's find if these upgrades are important capable to warrant an upgrade from nan erstwhile models.

Specs that won't time off you wanting more

I emotion a Goldilocks analogy, and it's particularly applicable here. When a merchandise is done well, it won't time off you longing for more. Such is nan lawsuit pinch nan Pixel 10's performance.

The shape facet is astir identical to its predecessor, pinch rounded corners, aluminum sides, and a soft Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 backmost (also connected nan front). The camera bar, 6.3-inch Actua display, and akin weight (just 0.2 ounces heavier than past year) each lucifer nan Pixel 9, but this isn't a complaint. If it ain't broke, don't hole it.

Despite nan aboveground similarities, much clip pinch nan telephone makes nan upgrades much evident. For example, nan show now supports 3000 nits of highest brightness, up from past year's 2700 nits. This, mixed pinch nan 120Hz refresh rate, 2424x1080 resolution, and OLED panel, makes for a bright, vivid show successful each lighting conditions.

A person look astatine nan camera barroom besides reveals a caller 3rd 5x telephoto lens, which makes it easier to get crisper shots of distant objects. While I typically hold until overmuch later successful a reappraisal to touch connected nan camera, I person to opportunity nan Super Res zoom up to 20x near maine impressed. It didn't sacrifice specifications erstwhile cropping intimately successful connected a subject, partially owed to nan camera's Imaging Signal Processor (ISP) enabled by nan caller Tensor G5 chipset.

The triple camera array is comprised of a 48MP main camera, a 13MP 120-degree ultrawide, and a caller 10.8MP telephoto lens, pinch a 10.5MP selfie camera connected nan front. Consistent pinch anterior models, nan camera strategy is tin of taking vibrant, elaborate shots pinch rich | contrast. The expanded zoom capabilities make it much connected par pinch nan Pro models, which person ever had telephoto cameras.

Also: I tried each caller AI characteristic connected nan Google Pixel 10 bid - my thoughts arsenic an AI expert

Another upgrade, though not instantly visible, is nan caller Pixelsnap magnetic technology, which useful likewise to MagSafe connected iPhones. With nan Pixelsnap, users tin connect magnetic accessories to nan backmost of their phones (including MagSafe-compatible ones), specified arsenic chargers, mounts, and docks.

This unsocial is simply a convenient summation that you astir apt won't admit until you find an accessory you love. As an iPhone user, I can't ideate life without my MagSafe portable chargers.

EMBARGO - Google Pixel 10 pinch PixelSnap Stand

Under nan hood, nan telephone received immoderate upgrades, including a somewhat bigger artillery that Google claims lasts up to 30 hours, up from nan 24 hours connected nan Pixel 9. During my clip testing, moreover aft normal activity activities, including playing euphony astir each time arsenic I write, punishment scrolling connected societal media, and texting (only during breaks, of course), I was capable to not only make it done an full day, but besides person immoderate juice leftover nan adjacent morning.

Also: Why Google's champion Pixel 10 announcement was an iPhone characteristic - and I don't mind

Lastly, nan phone's astir notable upgrade is nan Google Tensor G5 chipset, nan company's astir precocious processor. Not only does it support an wide amended capacity from your phone, including faster speeds, optimal artillery performance, and amended photography, but it besides powers each of nan precocious AI features recovered connected nan Pixel 10.

The Tensor G5 was designed pinch Google DeepMind and, arsenic a result, optimized for on-device AI workloads. For example, nan Tensor G5 runs Google's Gemini Nano model wholly on-device, giving users optimal speeds and nan bid of mind that their information isn't leaving nan device. This powerful exemplary supports nan extended suite of AI features, which is what really sets nan Pixel 10 apart.

The astir baked AI features connected a smartphone yet

In nan era of AI, astir each telephone motorboat besides includes a suite of automated, machine-learning-based features. However, successful my experience, galore of these features are easy to ignore. With nan Pixel 10, Google struck a bully balance, baking various devices into galore of nan phone's superior functions truthful that they're intuitive to use, while not being excessively overbearing.

A premier illustration is Magic Cue, a caller predictive characteristic that uses nan discourse of what you're doing -- mixed pinch your activity crossed Google's apps -- to make suggestions successful existent clip for actions aliases information. For example, if personification asks maine successful a matter what clip our preservation is, Magic Cue "reads" it and surfaces nan accusation truthful that I conscionable person to pat connected it to reply.

Also: The champion Android phones to bargain successful 2025

While I tin corroborate nan characteristic works, arsenic I tested nan Pixel 10 successful mundane interactions, Magic Cue wasn't intrusive, 1 of nan concerns I had going into it. I deliberation of it much arsenic thing you tin pat into should you request it, to trim nan clash of having to excavation to find information.

Another AI-powered characteristic I enjoyed is nan caller Daily Hub characteristic recovered successful nan Discover feed. Using discourse from my Google Calendar and YouTube activity, it curated a convenient summary of my time that I could beryllium briefed connected astatine a glimpse alternatively of having to toggle betwixt different apps.

The camera app received nan bulk of nan updates, pinch features specified arsenic Camera Coach, wherever nan AI instructs you connected really to amended your shot, Add Me, which now useful pinch moreover much people, and Auto Best Take, which automatically finds nan champion image pinch each your subjects successful what Google considers nan perfect state.

Also: I compared nan Pixel 10 Pro to each older Google flagship exemplary - nan biggest upgrades

There are besides a plethora of different AI features, including a real-time Call Translation feature, a Take a Message feature, which uses AI to supply transcripts for missed calls, Pixel Journal punctual suggestions, and moreover a NotebookLM integration successful Pixel Screenshots.

ZDNET's buying advice

I've enjoyed my acquisition pinch nan Pixel 10 and would urge it to astir users looking for a comparatively accessible Android, particularly if nan adjuvant AI features resonate pinch you. Ultimately, it delivers connected performance, camera, artillery life, and AI features, making it a beardown competitor against different flagship smartphones successful nan aforesaid value range.

You tin preorder yours now for a starting value of $799, pinch respective telephone carriers offering further promotions and deals. The colors see Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and Obsidian, and retention sizes scope from 128GB to 256GB.

You tin support up pinch my latest stories and tech adventures connected societal media. Follow maine connected Twitter/X at @sabrinaa_ortiz and connected Instagram at @sabrinaa.ortiz.