Google’s just dropped their 10th generation Pixel lineup, and honestly? It feels like they’ve finally hit their stride. After years of incremental updates and the occasional misstep, the Pixel 10 series brings some genuinely exciting upgrades that make you sit up and take notice.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, and even touch on the 10 Pro Fold – because this year’s lineup is more comprehensive than ever before.
The Big Picture: What’s New This Year Google Pixel
The entire Pixel 10 family is powered by the all-new Google Tensor G5 chip and the newest Gemini Nano model, making them Google’s most personalized, proactive and helpful Pixels ever. But beyond the fancy AI talk, there are some real-world improvements that caught my attention.
The biggest news is that the Pixel 10 phones are the first Android flagships with Qi2 wireless charging – that means MagSafe-style charging with the magnets built into the phone rather than needing to add a case. Google’s calling it “Pixelsnap,” and they’ve got a whole ecosystem of magnetic accessories ready to go.
Google Pixel 10: The Sweet Spot Gets Sweeter
Let’s start with the base model, because this might be the most interesting phone Google’s made in years. The vanilla Pixel 10 still starts at $799, and it comes with 128GB of internal storage for its introductory price.
Design and Build of Google Pixel 10
The phones all have the same display sizes as last year (6.3 inches for the Pixel 10) and the standard design elements carry over, with the Pixel 10 having matte aluminum rails. The Pixel 10 features a satin-finish metal frame, polished glass back and the iconic camera bar.
Color-wise, Google’s shaken things up. For the standard Pixel 10, the only color that carries over from the Pixel 9 series is Obsidian, the usual black colorway. New for this year are Indigo (a deep blue throwback to the original Pixel), Frost (a classy silver), and Lemongrass (a pale yellow).
The Camera Game-Changer of Google Pixel 10
Here’s where things get really interesting. The biggest upgrade on the standard Pixel 10 is a new 10.8MP camera with a 5x optical zoom, joining the existing 48MP main and 13MP ultrawide cams. This is the first time Google has ever put a dedicated zoom lens on a base Pixel, which is a huge value add because previously anyone who wanted a telephoto camera had to pay extra for one of the premium models.
This is massive, folks. You’re getting triple cameras on the base model for the first time ever.
Performance and Specs of Google Pixel 10
The base model comes with 12GB RAM, which should be plenty for most users. Every Pixel 10 phone has over 30 hours of battery life – that’s enough power to cover you from the minute you wake up until long after you’ve gone to sleep.
The Pixel 10 models are set to get a decent storage upgrade to UFS 4.0, as leaks indicated the Pixel 10 models would switch to UFS 4.0. This should make everything feel snappier, especially when recording 4K video.
Pixel 10 Pro: The Goldilocks Phone
Prices for the Pixel 10 Pro start at $999, which gets you a model with 128GB of storage – the same price capacity as last year. The Pixel 10 Pro has a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED screen, just like the vanilla Pixel 10, and has a 4,870mAh battery.
Display Excellence of Google Pixel 10
The maximum local screen brightness is 3,300 nits, and you also get Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. That’s seriously bright – we’re talking about a display that’ll be readable even in direct sunlight.
Camera System
The Pro models feature 50-megapixel (f/1.7, PDAF, OIS) + 48-megapixel (f/2.8, 5x telephoto, PDAF, OIS) + 48-megapixel (ultra-wide) rear cameras with LED flash. You also get a 42MP selfie cam and an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner embedded in the screen.
Exclusive to the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL, Pro Res Zoom captures astonishing detail at up to 100x zoom. It isn’t just a simple crop; Pro Res Zoom uses Tensor G5 and an all-new generative imaging model to intelligently recover and refine intricate details.
Performance and Memory
Memory and storage have received a boost as well, up to 16GB of RAM and as much as 1TB of storage. That’s professional-grade specs right there.
Charging and Battery
The Pro has 30W wired and 15W wireless charging. The addition of proper Qi2 wireless charging support – Google is calling this Pixelsnap – will be available on the entire Pixel 10 family, though the base Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro are still limited to just 15 watts.
Pixel 10 Pro XL: The Flagship Experience
The Pixel 10 Pro XL starts at $1,199, which gets you 256GB of storage. While that’s effectively a relative price hike of $100 over the Pixel 9 Pro XL price, you do get double the storage.
Size and Battery
The Pixel 10 Pro XL has a bigger 6.8-inch panel with a 5,200mAh battery. The battery life of the Pixel 10 Pro XL is getting better – it sports a 5,200mAh battery, up from the 5,060mAh capacity of the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Superior Charging
Here’s where the Pro XL really shines: the Pro XL supports 45W and 25W wired and wireless charging, respectively. The Pixelsnap Charger can charge the phones at 15W wirelessly, but the Pro XL has Qi 2.2 (it’s the first phone to go on sale with it), so it can reach 25W.
Pixel 10 Pro XL charges to 70% in about 30 minutes for ultrafast wired charging. That’s genuinely fast charging that can compete with anything else on the market.
The Heart of It All: Tensor G5
Google says the Tensor G5 processor’s CPU is 34% faster on average than the previous generation, and includes an up to 60% more powerful TPU, making your Pixel more responsive for everyday use and the latest AI features.
Tensor G5 is designed in the leading 3nm process node from TSMC – a manufacturing technology that allows more transistors to be packed into the chip so it’s more powerful and efficient.
What does this mean in real life? Tensor G5 is the first chip to run the newest Gemini Nano model, unlocking many fully on-device generative AI experiences at launch, and it does so faster and more efficiently than previous generations.
Software and AI: The Magic Stuff
Although Android 16 already officially launched and rolled out weeks ago, the Pixel 10 phones are the first to come with it out-of-the-box. Your phone will continue to feel fresh and secure with seven years of Pixel Drops as well as OS and security updates.
Magic Cue: Your Proactive Assistant
Google’s introducing Magic Cue, which meets you in some of your favorite apps – like Google Messages and the Phone app – to proactively offer the right information at the right time. For instance, when you’re calling an airline, it can automatically find your flight details from your email and display it during your phone call.
Camera Coach
There’s a new Camera Coach tool that uses AI to help you frame your shots, improve your composition or even suggest some new angles and ideas. The feature offers step-by-step instructions on how to recreate a specific shot.
Release Date and Availability
Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL are all available for preorder starting at $799, $999 and $1199 respectively, with all three phones going on shelves at the Google Store and retail partners on August 28.
The Pixelsnap Ecosystem
Google has launched its own range of Pixelsnap accessories, which you can buy to use with the Pixel phones. They range from a simple Ring Stand to a stand with a detachable charger. Google confirmed that “Pixelsnap is compatible with thousands of other magnetic accessories” from partners, including wallets, grips and more.
Final Thoughts
Look, I’ve been covering Google phones for years, and this feels different. The Pixel 10 All Models isn’t just about cramming in more megapixels or making things thinner. It’s about creating a genuinely useful, cohesive experience that gets better the more you use it.
The base Google Pixel 10 with its new telephoto camera is probably going to be the sweet spot for most people. You’re getting flagship features at a reasonable price, and that triple camera system is nothing to sneeze at. The Pro models are for those who want the absolute best Google has to offer, and that 100x zoom capability is legitimately impressive.
It’s hard to believe we are on the tenth generation of google Pixel 10 phones, and it might just be the company’s most important launch ever. After using these phones briefly, I think Google might finally have found the formula that works. The combination of improved hardware, smarter AI, and that magnetic charging ecosystem could be the trifecta that pushes Pixel into the mainstream.
Whether you’re upgrading from an older Pixel or jumping ship from another brand, the Pixel 10 All Models offers something for everyone. Just don’t sleep on that base model – it might just be the best value in smartphones right now.