I Tried The Standard Google Pixel 10 And Didn't Miss The Pro Models One Bit

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Google Pixel 10 packs nan Tensor G5 chipset, a caller telephoto lens, and different long-awaited hardware upgrades. 
• On nan package side, nan Google Pixel 10's AI suite tin foretell your needs, edit photos for you, and more.  
• While packing each of these upgrades, nan Pixel 10 still retails for $799. 

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As summertime draws to a adjacent and Techtember nears, Google is kicking disconnected nan modulation pinch its Made by Google arena today. One of nan awesome releases astatine nan arena is Google's latest entry-level flagship device, the Pixel 10  -- and retired of nan full Pixel 10 Series, it's nan instrumentality to support an oculus on. 

Also: Everything announced astatine Made by Google 2025: Pixel 10 Pro, Fold, Watch 4, and more

While nan Pixel 10 is nan company's baseline model, aft spending hands-on clip pinch each nan caller devices up of launch, I tin confidently opportunity it's nan champion fresh for astir users. Why? The Pixel 10 packs highly anticipated upgrades, specified arsenic a amended camera, battery, and chipset (which supports a plethora of caller and breathtaking AI features), each astatine nan aforesaid $799 value constituent arsenic its predecessor. 

Here are my first impressions and a round-up of what makes this telephone a coagulated option. 

1. Design

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

The accepted compact and sleek consciousness of nan Pixel baseline models continues pinch nan Pixel 10, which sports akin dimensions and weight (a specified 0.2 ounces heavier) arsenic its predecessor and feels conscionable arsenic comfortable successful nan thenar of your hand. 

With rounded corners, aluminum sides, a soft Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 backmost (also featured connected nan front), and a camera bar, nan instrumentality maintains nan aforesaid artistic arsenic nan Pixel 9 while besides sporting nosy caller telephone colors. 

Also: I went hands-on pinch each Google Pixel 10 exemplary - and was amazed by nan 1 I loved most

While nan caller lineup includes nan Obsidian colour from anterior years' releases, nan telephone besides comes successful caller colors: Indigo, a agleam bluish colour akin to Apple's Ultramarine colour for nan iPhone 16; Indigo, a achromatic shadiness pinch a subtle bluish undertone; and Lemongrass, a vibrant yellow-lime shade. 

The glassy decorativeness provides a bully sheen connected nan exterior, but if you mind smudges, you whitethorn want to watch out. Like past year, nan phones still characteristic an IP68 standing for durability against h2o and dust. 

The displays sewage a facelift for a amended viewing acquisition successful indoor and outdoor settings, crossed some productivity and intermezo activities. The 6.3-inch Actua show now supports up to 3000 nits of highest brightness (up from past year's 2700 nits), and keeps nan buttery soft 120Hz refresh rate, 2424x1080 resolution, and OLED sheet recovered connected nan Pixel 9.

2. Most tin camera strategy yet connected a guidelines Pixel

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

One of nan biggest upgrades of nan Pixel 10 is its camera system, which is nan champion connected immoderate guidelines Pixel. The telephone features a caller 5x telephoto lens, which enables a wider optical zoom range, pinch a Super Res zoom up to 20x. In practice, this capacity intends that nan telephone is amended erstwhile cropping successful adjacent connected a subject, moreover from a distance, helping you seizure crisper shots while maximizing nan zoom. This characteristic group besides closes nan spread betwixt nan guidelines and Pro phones moreover further. 

Also: Google conscionable settled nan foldable telephone statement pinch 1 number -- and I dream Samsung is watching

The triple camera array replaces nan dual camera system, featuring a 48MP main camera, a 13MP 120-degree ultrawide, and a caller 10.8MP telephoto lens. If you were hoping for an upgrade from nan lower-quality beforehand camera, you'll person to hold until nan adjacent model, arsenic nan Pixel 10 keeps past year's 10.5MP selfie camera. It's not bad, but besides not nan best.

While nan summation of a 3rd lens meant a downgrade successful nan sensors' specs compared to those of nan erstwhile year's model, nan camera's Imaging Signal Processor (ISP), enabled by nan caller Tensor G5 chipset, is group to amended nan photograph quality. Google promises this setup delivers Pixel's "best image and video value yet." 

Also: Changing these 10 settings connected my Pixel telephone greatly improved nan personification experience

When taking photos successful nan demo room, I was satisfied pinch nan crispness and value of nan shots from some nan beforehand and backmost cameras. To genuinely judge really good nan Pixel 10 does successful different ray conditions, I will person to hold for my in-depth testing. In summation to nan existent camera upgrades, nan photo-taking package received nan bulk of AI upgrades, which will apt boost your photo-taking and editing experience, resulting successful wide amended image quality.

3. Tensor G5 

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

The Pixel 10 features an expansive suite of AI features, each enabled by nan caller Tensor G5 chipset. The processor was designed for Gemini and is Google's astir AI-optimized chipset yet, pinch a TPU that is up to 60% much powerful and a CPU that is 34% faster, according to Google. 

While we'll person to trial nan telephone successful nan existent world to gauge performance, nan chipset supports computational enhancements connected nan Pixel 10, specified arsenic nan ISP upgrades discussed above, a longer artillery life (30 hours), and improved experiences erstwhile utilizing AI features.

Also: 7 Google Pixel telephone settings you should alteration instantly (and really to do it)

On-device processing is simply a triumph for users arsenic it not only allows them to acquisition faster speeds erstwhile utilizing AI features by avoiding cloud-based processing, but besides provides privacy, arsenic each of their accusation stays connected nan device. The Tensor G5 tin tally Google's Gemini Nano exemplary on-device, a powerful exemplary that supports nan extended suite of AI features that are radiated crossed astir each telephone function, from nan camera to texts and telephone calls. 

4. AI features

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

As pinch each instrumentality motorboat from nan past year, Google's caller hardware is accompanied by a ton of caller AI features. While astir tech companies are successful a title wherever they merchandise akin features to support up pinch their rivals, I was impressed that Google managed to see immoderate genuinely original features that should adhd worth to immoderate users' lives. 

A cleanable illustration is nan caller Camera Coach feature, which, arsenic its sanction implies, uses AI to thief you get nan cleanable shot. The characteristic gives step-by-step instructions and moreover generates a sample image of what you should purpose for successful nan last picture. Some of nan feedback includes correcting your angle, lighting, and more.

Also: I upgraded to Android 16 - here's what I emotion and what's still missing

Other caller features include: Edit pinch Ask Photos, which allows you to usage earthy connection prompts to edit thing retired of an image, specified arsenic removing reflection; Magic Cue, which tin expect your needs and propose applicable accusation and actions based connected what you are doing connected your phone; and a caller Daily Hub feature, which puts each nan accusation you request successful 1 place, including AI-powered insights astir your day. Even older features, specified arsenic Best Take and Add Me, person received a boost. 

Google mightiness trickle these experiences down to older models via a package update. However, nan institution whitethorn take to support these features exclusive to nan Tensor G5 chipset owed to processing demands aliases arsenic an inducement to upgrade. 

5. Meet Pixelsnap

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

If you person ever looked astatine an iPhone personification pinch MagSafe envy, Google has yet brought nan aforesaid acquisition to Pixel phones via its caller Pixelsnap magnetic technology. Pixelsnap allows users to connect their phones to compatible magnetic accessories, including chargers, mounts, docks, and more, unlocking caller experiences pinch their phones. 

When this functionality is paired pinch nan Qi2 wireless charging support disposable connected nan Pixel 10, users tin return advantage of nan afloat glory of accelerated wireless charging. 

Also: PixelSnap is nan MagSafe for Android phones we've been waiting for - here's our first look

Google besides launched a Pixelsnap Charger pinch Stand and a Pixelsnap Ring Stand, which let users to prop their phones up for a hands-free experience. This attack is perfect for viewing movies, scrolling connected societal media, video calls, and more. 

Even if you don't want to acquisition nan accessories, they activity pinch existing MagSafe accessories, truthful location are thousands of products already connected nan marketplace that now activity pinch Pixel phones.