Introduction
Pixel 10 Pro :Google’s latest flagship, the Pixel 10 Pro, continues the company’s vision of intelligent hardware blended with clean Android software. Designed as a smaller, more refined version of the Pixel 10 Pro XL, this new model offers premium features in a compact form factor.
However, while the Pixel 10 Pro introduces a few upgrades such as a new Tensor G5 chipset and Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, much of it feels familiar — and not all improvements are impactful. Let’s explore how it performs in design, display, performance, camera, and battery life.
Design and Build Quality
Visually, the Pixel 10 Pro maintains the signature “camera visor” design, a hallmark of Google’s recent phones. It features a flat Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back, a glossy aluminum frame, and premium build quality throughout.
Despite its smaller size compared to the XL, it’s not particularly light at 207 grams. Google keeps its distinct design differences between models — the Pro version has a frosted glass back with a glossy frame, while the standard Pixel offers the opposite.
As expected, the phone is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, ensuring durability alongside aesthetics.
Display: Bright, Sharp, and Smooth
The Pixel 10 Pro carries over the same 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display seen on last year’s model, complete with a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate.
Display Highlights
- Resolution: High-resolution LTPO OLED
- Brightness: Up to 1,400 nits (manual) / 2,350 nits (auto)
- Refresh Rate: Adaptive 1–120 Hz
- HDR Support: HDR10+ and Ultra HDR images
The screen delivers excellent sharpness, contrast, and outdoor visibility, putting it among the brightest smartphone displays of 2025. The adaptive refresh rate ensures ultra-smooth scrolling while optimizing power efficiency.
Audio and Biometrics
The Pixel 10 Pro features dual stereo speakers that produce strong loudness and balanced sound, with clear vocals and a respectable low end.
For security, there’s an ultrasonic fingerprint reader beneath the display — it’s quick, accurate, and conveniently placed for natural unlocking.
Performance: The New Tensor G5 Chip
Under the hood, the Pixel 10 Pro runs Google’s Tensor G5 chipset, built in-house for improved AI performance and enhanced image processing.
However, despite these AI-focused improvements, benchmark tests show that it still trails behind competitors using Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Dimensity 9400 chips.
Key Takeaways
- Everyday performance is fast and fluid
- AI-driven tasks like voice typing, translation, and camera enhancements are smoother
- Thermal management remains a weak spot — heavy usage causes throttling down to 40% of max performance
In everyday use, the phone feels responsive, but power users and gamers may notice the gap compared to rival flagships.
Software: Android 16 and Smarter AI Integration
The Pixel 10 Pro launches with Android 16, featuring the Material You 3.0 design language. Animations feel smoother, and Google has refined the interface for a more polished experience.
New Software Highlights
- Live Updates Panel: Real-time tracking for deliveries, navigation, and timers
- Organized Notifications: App-specific grouping for a cleaner shade
- Magic Queue: AI feature that intelligently retrieves information across apps and emails
- Camera Coach: AI assistant for photography tips in real time
- AI Photo Editing: Describe what to change, and the AI adjusts the image automatically (U.S. only)
- Gemini Live Integration: Enhanced conversational AI for a more natural digital assistant experience
Google also promises seven years of OS and security updates, ensuring long-term support.
Storage Options
The Pixel 10 Pro starts at 128 GB of UFS 3.1 storage, while higher variants (256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB) use faster UFS 4.0 storage. There’s no microSD slot, which is typical for modern flagships.
Battery Life and Charging
Despite a slightly larger 4,870 mAh battery compared to last year’s 4,700 mAh, the Pixel 10 Pro surprisingly underperforms in endurance tests.
Battery and Charging
- Battery Capacity: 4,870 mAh
- Charging Speed: 30 W wired / 15 W Qi2 wireless
- Charging Time: 0–45% in 30 mins, full in 1 hr 40 mins
- Battery Life Score: Below average (9h 53m active use)
The addition of Qi2 magnetic wireless charging is a welcome upgrade — and now, it’s compatible with Apple MagSafe accessories. Unfortunately, reverse wireless charging has been removed this year.
Camera Performance
The Pixel 10 Pro retains the same triple-camera system as its predecessor:
- Main: 50 MP wide
- Telephoto: 48 MP (5x optical zoom)
- Ultrawide: 48 MP with autofocus
Daylight Photography
Photos from the main sensor deliver strong colors, great contrast, and Google’s signature tone mapping. Fine detail is sharp, though sometimes overly processed. Portraits show excellent skin tones but can appear slightly smoothed.
Low-Light Performance
Low-light photos are good, with strong color reproduction and dynamic range, but detail rendering looks overly digital — not class-leading compared to Samsung or iPhone competitors.
Telephoto and Ultrawide
The 5x zoom lens produces likable results with Pixel’s typical color profile but lacks crisp detail in distant textures. The ultrawide camera performs well but could use more sharpness in shadow areas.
Selfies and Video
Selfies from the 42 MP front camera look excellent, with vivid colors, natural tones, and superb dynamic range.
The Pixel 10 Pro shoots up to 4K at 60 fps across all lenses. Video quality is sharp, color-accurate, and well-stabilized, though some minor jitter remains while walking.
Verdict: The Pixel 10 Pro Is Polished but Not Perfect
The Google Pixel 10 Pro refines what made previous models successful — a brilliant display, premium build, and some of the best AI features on Android. However, it also inherits some of their flaws, including slow charging, average battery life, and subpar raw performance.
Pros
✅ Premium design and bright display
✅ Excellent AI-powered camera tools
✅ Qi2 wireless charging (MagSafe compatible)
✅ Long-term software support (7 years)
Cons
❌ Below-average battery endurance
❌ Slow charging for its class
❌ Noticeable thermal throttling
❌ Limited hardware upgrades
Unless you’re deeply invested in Google’s software ecosystem, there are more powerful and longer-lasting alternatives from Samsung, Xiaomi, or Apple in the same price range.
Still, for Android purists, the Pixel 10 Pro remains one of the most refined Google phones yet — intelligent, elegant, and distinctly Pixel.