ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Pixel 10 has officially launched with a starting price of $799.
- With a three-camera system, Google Tensor G5, and improved battery life, it’s Google’s best base model smartphone yet.
- The main and ultra-wide cameras have been downgraded in order to fit the new telephoto.
Google’s entry-level flagship Pixel has proven to be a capable smartphone, with just the right specs and features to please the masses. So when I switched over to the latest model, the Pixel 10, I wasn’t expecting to be wowed. After a week of use, however, I stand corrected.
With the Pixel 10, Google kept its sleek design, while adding hardware upgrades that will improve users’ everyday experiences in subtle — but meaningful, Google hopes — ways. These include an improved battery, a new telephoto lens, and Pixelsnap: Android’s version of MagSafe.
Also: I tried every new AI feature on the Google Pixel 10 series – my thoughts as an AI expert
Yet, the Pixel 10’s suite of AI features, powered by the Google Tensor G5 chipset, is the heart of what makes the smartphone stand out. Despite the upgrades, the Pixel 10 retails for the same price as its predecessor: $799.
I’ve been using the Pixel 10 every day since Jimmy Fallon put it down on the Made by Google stage. Let’s determine if these upgrades are significant enough to warrant an upgrade from the previous models.
Specs that won’t leave you wanting more
I love a Goldilocks analogy, and it’s especially relevant here. When a product is done well, it won’t leave you longing for more. Such is the case with the Pixel 10’s performance.
The form factor is nearly identical to its predecessor, with rounded corners, aluminum sides, and a smooth Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back (also on the front). The camera bar, 6.3-inch Actua display, and similar weight (just 0.2 ounces heavier than last year) all resemble the Pixel 9, but this isn’t a complaint. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
Despite the surface similarities, more time with the phone makes the upgrades more evident. For example, the display now supports 3000 nits of peak brightness, up from last year’s 2700 nits. This, combined with the 120Hz refresh rate, 2424×1080 resolution, and OLED panel, makes for a bright, vivid display in all lighting conditions.
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
A closer look at the camera bar also reveals a new third 5x telephoto lens, which makes it easier to get crisper shots of distant objects. While I typically wait until much later in a review to touch on the camera, I have to say the Super Res zoom up to 20x left me impressed. It didn’t sacrifice details when cropping closely in on a subject, partially due to the camera’s Imaging Signal Processor (ISP) enabled by the new Tensor G5 chipset.
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
The triple camera array is comprised of a 48MP main camera, a 13MP 120-degree ultrawide, and a new 10.8MP telephoto lens, with a 10.5MP selfie camera on the front. Consistent with prior models, the camera system is capable of taking vibrant, detailed shots with rich contrast. The expanded zoom capabilities make it more on par with the Pro models, which have always had telephoto cameras.
Also: I’ve bought every flagship Google Pixel phone since the first – but 2025 has me reconsidering
Another upgrade, though not immediately visible, is the new Pixelsnap magnetic technology, which works similarly to MagSafe on iPhones. With the Pixelsnap, users can attach magnetic accessories to the back of their phones (including MagSafe-compatible ones), such as chargers, mounts, and docks.
This alone is a convenient addition that you probably won’t appreciate until you find an accessory you love. As an iPhone user, I can’t imagine life without my MagSafe portable chargers.
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
Under the hood, the phone received some upgrades, including a slightly bigger battery that Google claims lasts up to 30 hours, up from the 24 hours on the Pixel 9. During my time testing, even after normal work activities, including playing music nearly all day as I write, doom scrolling on social media, and texting (only during breaks, of course), I was able to not only make it through an entire day, but also have some juice leftover the next morning.
Also: Why Google’s best Pixel 10 announcement was an iPhone feature – and I don’t mind
Lastly, the phone’s most notable upgrade is the Google Tensor G5 chipset, the company’s most advanced processor. Not only does it support an overall better performance from your phone, including faster speeds, optimal battery performance, and better photography, but it also powers all of the advanced AI features found on the Pixel 10.
The Tensor G5 was designed with Google DeepMind and, as a result, optimized for on-device AI workloads. For example, the Tensor G5 runs Google’s Gemini Nano model entirely on-device, giving users optimal speeds and the peace of mind that their data isn’t leaving the device. This powerful model supports the extensive suite of AI features, which is what really sets the Pixel 10 apart.
The most baked AI features on a smartphone yet
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
In the era of AI, nearly every phone launch also includes a suite of automated, machine-learning-based features. However, in my experience, many of these features are easy to ignore. With the Pixel 10, Google struck a good balance, baking various tools into many of the phone’s primary functions so that they’re intuitive to use, while not being too overbearing.
A prime example is Magic Cue, a new predictive feature that uses the context of what you’re doing — combined with your activity across Google’s apps — to generate suggestions in real time for actions or information. For example, if someone asks me in a text what time our reservation is, Magic Cue “reads” it and surfaces the information so that I just have to tap on it to reply.
Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2025
While I can confirm the feature works, as I tested the Pixel 10 in everyday interactions, Magic Cue wasn’t intrusive, one of the concerns I had going into it. I think of it more as something you can tap into should you need it, to reduce the friction of having to dig to find information.
Another AI-powered feature I enjoyed is the new Daily Hub feature found in the Discover feed. Using context from my Google Calendar and YouTube activity, it curated a convenient summary of my day that I could be briefed on at a glance instead of having to toggle between different apps.
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
The camera app received the bulk of the updates, with features such as Camera Coach, where the AI instructs you on how to improve your shot, Add Me, which now works with even more people, and Auto Best Take, which automatically finds the best picture with all your subjects in what Google considers the ideal state.
Also: I compared the Pixel 10 Pro to every older Google flagship model – the biggest upgrades
There are also a plethora of other AI features, including a real-time Call Translation feature, a Take a Message feature, which uses AI to provide transcripts for missed calls, Pixel Journal prompt suggestions, and even a NotebookLM integration in Pixel Screenshots.
ZDNET’s buying advice
I’ve enjoyed my experience with the Pixel 10 and would recommend it to most users looking for a relatively accessible Android, especially if the helpful AI features resonate with you. Ultimately, it delivers on performance, camera, battery life, and AI features, making it a strong competitor against other flagship smartphones in the same price range.
You can preorder yours now for a starting price of $799, with several phone carriers offering additional promotions and deals. The colors include Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and Obsidian, and storage sizes range from 128GB to 256GB.
You can keep up with my latest stories and tech adventures on social media. Follow me on Twitter/X at @sabrinaa_ortiz and on Instagram at @sabrinaa.ortiz.
