Google Pixel 10 evaluate: A fantastic Android telephone with plenty of AI options

Final 12 months, I assumed Google’s Pixel 9 was a wonderfully fantastic Android telephone saddled with a bunch of AI options that ranged from “sorta neat to attempt as soon as” to “actively pointless.” I had an identical expertise with the Google Pixel 10.

The bottom mannequin of Google’s newest flagship, to its credit score, does supply a few much-needed {hardware} enhancements, specifically a bigger battery and a telephoto zoom lens on the telephone’s rear digicam array. However for not less than the second 12 months in a row, Google has largely centered on AI options.

Google Pixel 10 will just do fantastic when you’re in want of a stable Android handset that takes good photographs and can provide you a full day of use out of a single cost. And when you’re enthusiastic about new AI smartphone options, this telephone has a number of notable ones. Past that, it is exhausting to get too enthusiastic about new telephones within the period of incremental enhancements.

Google Pixel 10: Worth and specs

For starters, it is a $799 telephone, identical to the Pixel 9 was a 12 months in the past. Within the tariffs period, that is a win in and of itself. Right here’s what you get for that value, specs-wise:

• 6.3-inch show with 1080×2424 decision and 60-120Hz adaptive refresh fee

• As much as 3,000 nits peak brightness

• 12GB RAM

• 128GB/256GB storage

• Google Tensor G5 chip

• 4,970mAh battery

Whereas a correct 1-120Hz adaptive refresh fee (which you may get on Pixel 10 Professional) would most likely assist with battery effectivity, the show on supply for Pixel 10 is greater than adequate. Its peak brightness is 300 nits increased than final 12 months’s mannequin, and I by no means discovered myself wanting for extra whereas utilizing the Pixel 10 in broad daylight. All the things is vivid and clear, making it a superb show for each on a regular basis utilization and previewing your photographs earlier than you are taking them.

Other than that, the one different massive distinction from the Pixel 9 is the bigger battery. Pixel 9’s cell was 4,700mAh, for context. Extra on this later.

Google Pixel 10: Design

Pixel 10 is available in 4 colours: Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and Obsidian. My evaluate unit was the Indigo mannequin, and I believe it’s downright attractive. It’s no pink iPhone, however it’s nearer than any telephone in current reminiscence to wanting pretty much as good as that, in my view. 

In any other case, you’d be forgiven for a Pixel 10 and considering it’s only a Pixel 9. Google didn’t return to the drafting board this 12 months. Pixel 10 nonetheless makes use of the identical Cyclops-style (X-Males, not Greek mythology) horizontal digicam bar on the prime of the telephone’s bottom. The one instant visible inform that this telephone is any totally different from the Pixel 9 is the presence of that third digicam lens on the again.

I don’t thoughts this, however it does underscore my total level that when you’re not actually enthusiastic about AI options, there isn’t a ton to get hyped about this 12 months.

Google Pixel 10: Efficiency

The Pixel 10 is powered by a brand new Tensor G5 chip. Spoiler alert: It is fantastic!

Efficiency on Pixel 10 is greater than enough. Apps work rapidly and easily, and extra intensive duties like Gemini or different AI options function effectively. I did discover the telephone getting a little bit heat after prolonged use, however that’s nothing {that a} good case can’t repair. Sadly, the benchmarking software program we use (Geekbench 6) was not obtainable on Pixel 10 on the time of writing, so I can’t supply exact metrics for this preliminary evaluate.

Nonetheless, in my time with the telephone, efficiency has been easy.

Google Pixel 10: Battery life

Battery life can be stable. Spectacular, even.

Google charges the Pixel 10 for greater than 30 hours on a cost, which I used to be not fairly in a position to obtain in my testing. Some vital context is that I used the telephone’s 120Hz mode in testing, which nearly actually lowered the battery life. Even so, I used to be nonetheless in a position to go roughly 26 or 27 hours between prices, not counting time spent sleeping. Not unhealthy, Google.

Google Pixel 10: AI options

Pixel 10 expands on the AI toolkit that Google has been increase for the previous couple of years, generally in ways in which really feel genuinely helpful and transformative, however usually in ways in which really feel superfluous.

Let’s begin with the nice options. Pixel 10 presents dwell language translation throughout telephone calls throughout a wide range of generally spoken world dialects. It occurs on-device, and it allows ranges of communication that will not have been possible earlier than. That is the form of neat factor that AI can and will allow.

I used to be in a position to take a look at this in a rudimentary style utilizing no matter Spanish I may bear in mind from highschool and school. It was in a position to persistently decide up what I used to be saying. It does take a second to course of what every speaker stated, so conversations aren’t seamless. Additionally, not like different dwell translation options we have seen, it makes use of AI to translate what you stated utilizing your personal voice. It is jarring to listen to myself saying issues in Spanish I did not truly say.

I believe this will likely be a love-it or hate-it function. Personally, I’d have most well-liked a generic voice as an alternative, however it strikes us nearer to real-time common translation.

The opposite probably fascinating new AI function is Magic Cue, which is admittedly exhausting to check as a result of it’s solely context-dependent. The essential concept right here is that if in case you have private data saved someplace in your knowledge, like in a textual content message, Gmail, or Calendar occasion, Magic Cue can pull up that data if you want it most. 

As an example, if I had data pertaining to an upcoming flight or lodge keep someplace in my telephone and somebody texted me to ask about it, the Pixel 10 would convey up that data within the Messages app, with out me needing to actively seek for it. I examined this out by making a pretend dinner reservation in my Calendar for Domino’s Pizza. Once I texted the Pixel 10 from my on a regular basis telephone asking concerning the reservation, lo and behold, a little bit Calendar app icon appeared within the textual content window, taking me to that data.

Magic Cue is one other instance of an AI function that may undoubtedly save time for people, even when it is not essentially saving a ton of time.

Sadly, the remainder of the brand new AI options on Pixel 10 are mediocre, at greatest. There’s a brand new Each day Hub widget that collates issues just like the climate forecast, calendar occasions, YouTube movies, and information articles into one place. It’s a pleasant concept, in concept, however essentially the most helpful points of it (climate and occasions) don’t have anything to do with AI and take about 10 seconds to test outdoors of Each day Hub. I by no means wished to faucet on any of the information or YouTube suggestions, and the row of customized Gemini prompts did not tempt me in any respect.

For instance, the Pixel 10 really helpful that I ask Gemini concerning the Kansas Metropolis Royals pitching employees as a result of it is aware of I’m a Royals fan. Once I did, it spit out the identical fundamental stats you’d discover on the ESPN app, alongside some simplistic evaluation like, “the Royals have a superb pitching employees.” As a baseball fan, I do not actually discover that helpful or compelling. In case you’re newer to the sport, I may see it being helpful for studying issues like what the WHIP stat means (walks and hits per innings pitched, you are welcome), however I can not say it served me in any significant manner.

Talking of Gemini, Gemini Stay and Circle to Search are again, integrating AI search with the Pixel 10’s digicam. Which means you may spotlight an object in your subject of view whereas speaking to Gemini and ask the chatbot questions on stated object. I used to be in a position to ask Gemini what number of energy had been in a can of Monster I used to be ingesting, and it advised me. That’s neat, I suppose, however I may additionally simply, , take a look at the can. That stated, I can simply see this understanding in sure circumstances, like if you need to establish a plant or a bug.

Lastly, I’d say the largest addition to the photograph enhancing suite this 12 months is the power to generatively edit photographs with textual content prompts. I took an image of a flag in the course of the day and requested the telephone to make it sundown as an alternative. I additionally advised it so as to add a “jolly previous man” to a photograph of some canines I took. Did it work? Certain, although the ultimate outcomes had been extraordinarily fake-looking. 

There are, in fact, instances when this may be helpful. In case you’re inclined to sand out the imperfections in photographs for social media, as an illustration, it is actually simpler to sort “take away the pimple” than it’s to do all of that your self. Based mostly on my experiences with this function, I would say it is best left to less-creative duties like that.

Google Pixel 10: How are the cameras?

Google made some pretty important modifications to the rear digicam array this 12 months. Listed below are the general digicam specs:

For reference, the Pixel 9’s huge lens was 50MP and the ultrawide lens was 48MP. That seems like an enormous downgrade, not less than numerically, however it’s not with out good cause: There’s now a telephoto zoom lens with 5x optical zoom on the bottom Pixel mannequin, after years of that being a Pixel Professional unique function.

And wouldn’t it, the optical zoom appears fairly good. 

I didn’t have as a lot luck with digital zoom. When you get previous 5x, the software program begins to fill in blanks, leaving some photographs wanting smudgy and pretend. I wasn’t even standing notably far-off from the canines within the “jolly previous man” photograph from earlier, however the Dalmatian on the best appears downright grotesque. Even static buildings look a little bit bizarre when you go all the best way as much as 20x.

Other than that, every little thing else is principally accurately. Images taken with the default lens settings can look fairly attractive, particularly if you’re capturing the best metropolis on this planet in the course of an unbelievably stunning late-summer day. 

Evening Sight continues to be good at conserving the essence of nighttime intact whereas illuminating photographs so that they’re truly, , legible. 

And portrait pictures look pretty much as good as ever.

In case you care about images, improve to the ten Professional

An vital word right here: Google’s largest improve with the brand new Pixel line is a Pixel 10 Professional unique. I am speaking about the principle rear digicam on the Pixel 10 Professional, which Google repeatedly known as the world’s best-ever telephone digicam in the course of the Made by Google occasion.

In our testing, the Pixel 10 Professional and its 100x zoom beat out the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely, and it largely lives as much as the hype.

So, when you care about images above all else, go along with the Pixel 10 Professional this 12 months, which begins at $999. The Pixel 10 Professional is a Mashable Alternative product; the bottom Pixel 10 isn’t.

Is the Google Pixel 10 value it?

It’s exhausting for me to suggest anybody dash to their nearest smartphone distillery to get Pixel 10 as a result of its non-AI modifications are largely incremental, and the brand new AI toolkit didn’t impress this AI-skeptical reporter.

However that’s to not say it’s a foul telephone, in any respect. And when you’re excited to make use of its AI options, the Pixel 10 presents good specs at a aggressive value. The cameras work properly, and having telephoto zoom on a base Pixel is very nice. Efficiency and battery life are additionally robust.

I simply can’t sit right here and let you know that you just want this telephone, except you’re a number of generations behind and might get a pleasant low cost by your provider or one thing. That’s much less of an indictment of Google than of the incremental improve period. These annual smartphone launches have gotten extraordinarily iterative and reliant on options that really feel much less and fewer spectacular over time.

Affords on the Pixel 10 smartphone