Pixel 10 Professional evaluate: Definitely worth the improve however with a couple of caveats

Google’s annual refresh of its Pixel line is all the time a deal with. The Pixel {hardware} is gorgeous, and the visor on the again is rapidly turning into an iconic look. (For Star Trek followers, it is giving main Geordi LaForge vibes.) The software program presents considered one of my favourite consumer interfaces within the Android world, and it comes with a ton of goodies to play with in addition to. Anecdotally, I’ve seen increasingly more Pixel telephones out “within the wild” in 2025, and never simply amongst my fellow tech-nerd pals. The market share is not there but, however it’s definitely climbing.

This yr’s Pixel 10 Professional refresh does not have as a lot new as earlier years, and never the entire new options are essentially welcome. Google made some selections with this telephone that are not touchdown for me, and that’s not a reference to having Jimmy Fallon host the Made by Google occasion.

Total, this has been a extremely enjoyable telephone to play with, largely due to the aforementioned digicam bump on the again. Google promised the brand new flagship Pixel would land with the world’s best-ever telephone digicam, and to date, it is residing as much as the hype. I have been utilizing the Pixel 10 Professional for just below every week, and these are my preliminary ideas. There’s rather a lot to like on this telephone (and the intently associated Pixel 10 Professional XL), so let’s get to it.

Pixel 10 Professional specs and design: Usual, usual

First, let’s take a peek underneath the hood:

• Processor: Google Tensor G5 chipset

• Rear cameras: 50MP huge, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto

• Entrance digicam: 48MP

• Show: 6.3-inch Tremendous Actua LTPO OLED show (1280×2856 decision)

• Refresh fee: 1-120Hz adaptive refresh fee

• Brightness: 3,300 nits peak brightness

• RAM: 16GB RAM

• Storage choices: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB storage

• Battery: 4,870mAh battery

When it comes to its aesthetics, Google clearly did not need to alter the immediately recognizable look of the Pixel line. The telephone has the precise dimensions as its predecessor. On prime of that, the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Professional are so related wanting that I by chance grabbed the Pixel 10 on my option to do some digicam testing, and did not discover till I might been driving for half-hour.

I get it — that is a me downside.

The Google-engineered Tensor G5 processor, constructed on a 3nm course of, brings the Pixel in step with different fashionable flagships. The telephone has a plentiful 16GB of RAM, however Google despatched me the 128GB model, which is already 56 % used up — not nice! We’re nicely previous the time when 256GB must be the usual, particularly on a flagship. Not less than Google makes it simple to add to its cloud storage.

The battery is up only a hair over final yr’s Professional mannequin by 3 %. However the greatest improve to the battery has little to do with the precise battery. All telephones within the Pixel 10 collection now include wi-fi Qi2 charging enabled — magnets and all. That is proper, MagSafe Pixelsnap charging equipment are right here. That is nice information for me — I’m a MagSafe addict. 

That is arguably the primary mainstream telephone with built-in magnet help. Frankly, it is about time.

I like Pixel software program, however some AI options really feel undercooked

For Android-heads, the Pixel software program is among the many greatest, if not the very best. It is clear and has enjoyable interactions all through the working system. Two new AI options that Google is touting are the Every day Hub and Magic Cue, although they signify each excellent news and unhealthy information. Each are pushed by Google’s onboard AI.

The excellent news is the every day hub, which provides you a form of abstract of your upcoming day on the prime of your Google Uncover feed. Faucet on it, and also you get a abstract of what is going on on primarily based in your calendar, e-mail, and different tastes. The highest provides you upcoming occasions and reminders, whereas the underside feeds you YouTube suggestions, due to course it does. How good they will be most likely depends upon how a lot you employ the platform.

In the meantime, on the opposite aspect, Magic Cue — in idea — may help you handle info from varied sources, so when you must recall that info, it will serve it as much as you. The commonest method this will occur might be within the Messages app. Somebody asks you for another person’s telephone quantity, and Magic Cue will seize the contact info and feed you an autocompleted area with that information — not less than, in idea.

Magic Cue is predicated on a number of apps all working collectively to offer you this information, and on my evaluate unit, I did not have all the required software program I wanted. After working with Google for a bit, I acquired a part of the way in which there.

Within the situation I described above — asking for somebody’s quantity — Magic Cue labored. It gave me an autocomplete suggestion with the particular person’s telephone quantity. Tremendous! After I was requested what time my flight was, Magic Cue opened a button to leap to my calendar, which can be good, however the entire level of Magic Cue was to provide the info with out leaping between apps. Lastly, I used to be requested what my International Entry quantity is, which is a pinned observe in Google Preserve (which is meant to be a supported app), and I wasn’t given any info in any respect.

I additionally tried calling United Airways, and I used to be served up a journey voucher that United Airways despatched me from my final flight. It is good that it related these dots, however actually, if I am calling United Airways, and I am flying tonight on United Airways, would not my itinerary be extra useful?

So, Magic Cue appears to be midway there, which is arguably higher than a sure different firm’s observe file rolling out AI options, however that is a unique matter fully. It is also truthful to say that Magic Cue can take a while to curate the correct info, so I believe the fairest criticism I could make is that it isn’t fairly finished cooking, however as with all software program, that may change quick.

Efficiency and battery

Traditionally talking, Google Tensor processors haven’t been the very best in the marketplace. Like Samsung Exynos processors (Google collaborated with Samsung on Tensor processors from the start), they suffered compared to Apple and Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. I additionally famous the efficiency hole between Exynos and Snapdragon processors after I reviewed the most recent Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 a couple of weeks in the past. That being stated, whereas the processor is not the quickest on the market, it is loads quick to open apps, change between them, and energy onboard AI options like reside language translation.

I performed a couple of video games on the Pixel 10 Professional, the heaviest of which was Asphalt Legends. After a 20-minute gaming session, the telephone confirmed no lag, nor did it warmth up an excessive amount of. That is an enchancment over previous Pixels I’ve reviewed, and I am completely satisfied about it.

Anecdotally, I can say that the battery life appears to be advantageous. (As a smartphone reviewer, my utilization is not precisely typical.) Past the instances after I was testing the cameras to their limits, I nonetheless had 30-40 % left within the tank on the finish of the day. Backside line, until you are a heavy gamer or taking high-def movies, you need to be advantageous.

Pixel 10 Professional cameras: A case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

I already examined the digicam set extensively after I in contrast it with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely. This is the headline: The Pixel 10 Professional predominant digicam lives as much as the hype, and Google set the hype bar further excessive this yr. On steadiness, the Pixel 10 Professional beats out the S25 Extremely.

The 100x Tremendous Res zoom specifically is eye-popping. Different points, like portrait mode, are a bit clunky, however total, you will battle to take a foul photograph throughout the day with this smartphone.

At night time, it is a totally different story. The principle digicam is OK, taking very acceptable pictures at night time with some quantity of grain within the darker areas and blown-out highlights from mild sources, however in the event you stray from that predominant digicam to the ultrawide or telephoto lenses, or in case your topics live (and due to this fact transferring, even minimally), your pictures crumble rapidly.

Video is an analogous story, sadly. The exception to that rule comes from the Night time Sight video mode. This isn’t a brand new idea this yr — Night time Sight Video Enhance, which launched on the Pixel Professional 8, can do quite a lot of heavy lifting to scrub issues up in such a scenario. There’s nonetheless an excellent little bit of grain, however the shudder and shake from footsteps is cleaned up significantly. I nonetheless would not shoot — to think about a very random situation by no means primarily based on actual occasions — a music video with it, however a enjoyable night time out with pals may work.

That is fairly disappointing, to be completely frank. Contemplating how good the cameras are throughout the day, to see this a lot drop off by night time is shocking. Google has constructed its Pixel model on being nice at pictures, and this is not it.

Pixel 10 Professional: My last verdict

Total, this is a wonderful telephone with a couple of notable flaws. I have not even addressed the truth that Pixels went to eSIM solely on this evaluate, which is at greatest inconvenient (as evidenced by the 30-minute maintain required with T-Cellular’s customer support to activate it), and at worst, consumer-hostile. eSIMs will not adversely have an effect on the typical shopper’s life, however they’re heckin’ annoying for telephone reviewers and anybody else who switches telephones greater than as soon as per yr.

Nighttime pictures can be very disappointing, although daytime efficiency (and Tremendous Res Zoom) nearly fully makes up for it. Past these two drawbacks, although, this telephone is kind of good and a worthy improve.

The {hardware} is on level, although the colour choice could possibly be higher and brighter. The software program is nice as is, and if Magic Cue can begin to ship what it guarantees, that would vary from neat to game-changing. Proper now, it is extra towards the “neat” aspect. The one factor stopping me from utilizing this telephone full-time is the truth that it does not fold, however that may change in October when the Pixel 10 Professional Fold lands, and I’m right here for it.