The Google Pixel 10 Pro has finally arrived, carrying both the excitement and criticism that usually surrounds Pixel launches. As the tenth generation in the series, many fans expected a major leap, especially with a new chip, refined design, and deeper AI integration. While the Pixel 10 Pro brings some meaningful updates, it also reminds us that the Pixel experience is still very much the same/brilliant in some areas, frustrating in others.
Design
At first glance, the Pixel 10 Pro looks almost identical to its predecessor. The iconic camera bar remains, paired with a glossy glass back and satin aluminum sides. For long-time Pixel fans, this design is familiar and practical. The bar makes the phone easier to grip, and the haptics and button feedback continue to be excellent.
However, the lack of a striking visual refresh might disappoint those expecting a bold redesign for the tenth anniversary. Unless you compare color options closely, telling the Pixel 9 Pro apart from the new model isn’t easy. But Google seems comfortable with this mature design language, banking on refinement rather than reinvention.
Display and Biometrics
The Pixel 10 Pro features a brighter OLED panel with sharp resolution and smooth animations. Outdoor visibility is improved, which is a welcome touch. The bezels are still not among the thinnest in the market, but color-matched speaker grills at the bottom add a bit of polish.
A notable upgrade is the shift from an optical fingerprint reader to an ultrasonic one. It’s faster and more reliable than before, though still slightly behind other top-tier flagships. This small but meaningful change makes everyday use smoother.
Cameras
Pixel phones have long been celebrated for their photography, often punching above their weight despite modest hardware. The Pixel 10 Pro maintains this legacy with a triple-lens system: a 50MP main camera, an upgraded ultrawide, and a 5x telephoto lens.
In good lighting, the results are excellent sharp, contrasty images with accurate colors and strong dynamic range. Night Sight remains one of the best low-light modes available, producing bright and detailed shots in challenging conditions.
However, when compared against rivals, the cracks begin to show. The ultrawide lens still suffers from softness at the edges, and zoom shots, even with Google’s Super Res processing, fall behind competitors like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. At high zoom levels, images often look over-processed or lack fine detail. Video performance also lags behind Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro, with less stability and weaker dynamic range in moving scenes.
In short, the cameras are good, even great in many cases, but they no longer feel untouchable. Competitors have caught up and, in some areas, surpassed Google.
Performance: The First TSMC Tensor
One of the biggest talking points around the Pixel 10 Pro is its new Tensor G5 chip. For years, Google’s in-house processors lagged behind Qualcomm’s Snapdragon and Apple’s A-series in raw performance. The Tensor G5 is the first fully Google-designed chip manufactured by TSMC on a 3nm process.
The result is a noticeable boost in efficiency and speed. Benchmarks show around a 30% CPU improvement over the previous generation, but it still falls short of Snapdragon 8 Elite or Apple’s A18 Pro. Where Tensor shines is in AI and machine learning. The TPU inside the G5 is 60% more powerful, making tasks like photo editing, live translations, and on-device AI processing faster and more seamless.
In real-world use, the phone feels smooth, with Android 16 running fluidly. Everyday tasks and multitasking are handled with ease, though heavy gaming reveals the GPU’s weaker side. Without hardware-accelerated ray tracing and with lower graphical scores than rivals, the Pixel 10 Pro isn’t designed for gamers chasing the highest frame rates.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro delivers solid performance powered by the Tensor G5 chip. On AnTuTu, it scores around 1.17M–1.41M points, a clear jump from the Pixel 9 Pro. In Geekbench 6, it records about 2,296 single-core and 6,203 multi-core, showing smoother everyday speed and faster multitasking. While the CPU gains are impressive, GPU performance remains weaker than rivals, making the Pixel 10 Pro excellent for daily use and AI tasks but less ideal for heavy gaming.
Battery and Charging
Battery life sees modest improvement thanks to slightly larger cells around 200 mAh more than the Pixel 9 series. With regular use, the Pixel 10 Pro comfortably lasts a full day, offering six hours of screen-on time under high brightness.
Charging remains one of the phone’s weak spots. Fast charging speeds are absent, and wireless charging caps at 15W (25W on the XL variant). However, Google introduces Pixel Snap, its version of magnetic alignment similar to Apple’s MagSafe. While it doesn’t increase charging speeds, it adds convenience with magnetic accessories and better wireless placement. For many users, this quality-of-life improvement is more valuable than faster wattage numbers.
Software and AI
The Pixel 10 Pro runs Android 16 out of the box, continuing Google’s tradition of shipping Pixels with the latest Android version. The interface feels colorful, responsive, and customizable with expressive Material You themes. Animations are fluid, and haptics remain among the best in the industry.
A major highlight is Google’s push into AI features. Tools like Magic Cue aim to surface relevant information across apps, though real-world performance is inconsistent. Sometimes it provides quick answers, while other times it redirects you to apps like Gmail or Calendar instead of offering the seamless automation it promises.
Conversational photo editing in Google Photos is another standout. Users can type natural commands like “brighten faces” or “remove the road sign,” and the phone executes them impressively well. It even handles creative prompts like adding objects to photos. While not exclusive to the Pixel 10 Pro, it’s a feature that showcases the power of Google’s AI ecosystem.
Other AI-driven tools such as Call Screening, Now Playing, and live translations continue to make Pixels unique. While not all features hit the mark perfectly, they collectively provide a distinctive user experience that no other Android phone fully replicates.
eSIM-Only Shift
In the U.S., the Pixel 10 Pro drops the physical SIM card slot, moving entirely to eSIM. While this simplifies the design and aligns with industry trends, it won’t please everyone. Frequent phone switchers or international travelers may find the lack of a physical SIM inconvenient.
Final Verdict
The Google Pixel 10 Pro is both familiar and refined. It improves on weaknesses like fingerprint recognition, AI performance, and charging convenience, but it still avoids chasing hardware extremes. For those who love the Pixel experience, clean Android, unique AI features, and excellent still photography the Pixel 10 Pro delivers another strong package.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro is priced at $999 in the US, €973.00 in Europe, and £999.00 in the UK, making it a premium flagship device with advanced AI features and top-tier hardware.
But if you’re looking for groundbreaking specs, bleeding-edge performance, or record-breaking camera hardware, you may feel underwhelmed. Google appears less focused on outmuscling rivals and more intent on shaping the Pixel into the ultimate AI-first smartphone.
In many ways, that’s both the good and bad news. The Pixel 10 Pro is still a Pixel brilliant in its own lane, but still trailing in others.
Interested in Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: A True Flagship Experience with Smarter AI.
FAQs
What is the release date of Google Pixel 10 Pro?
The Pixel 10 Pro was officially released on August 26, 2025.
What are the key features of the Pixel 10 Pro?
Key highlights include Gemini Nano AI, a 6.7″ LTPO OLED 120Hz display, improved cameras with advanced Night Sight, and better battery life.
Does Pixel 10 Pro have AI features?
Yes, it comes with Google’s Gemini Nano AI for smarter assistance, real-time language translation, advanced search, and context-based replies.
What is the battery life of Pixel 10 Pro?
Google claims over 32 hours of battery life, with Extreme Battery Saver extending it up to 72 hours.
How much does the Pixel 10 Pro cost?
The starting price is $999 in the US, with availability in multiple storage options.
