The Pixel 10 lineup doesn’t dazzle on the outside, but inside, it packs serious power, sharper cameras, and next-gen AI—at the same price as last year’s models.
The Pixel 10 lineup, announced on Wednesday at the company’s Made by Google event, closely resembles last year’s models in design but comes with subtle refinements and improvements across the board. The most notable advancements revolve around Google’s latest Gemini AI features, powered by the new Tensor G5 processor. In fact, much of what sets the Pixel 10 series apart hinges on the capabilities of the G5 chip.
The lineup includes three models: the Pixel 10 ($799), Pixel 10 Pro ($999), and Pixel 10 Pro XL ($1,199). As with the Pixel 9 series, the Pro models are nearly identical in terms of specs, differing mainly in display size and battery life, while the standard Pixel 10 offers slightly scaled-back performance. All three phones are available for preorder now and will hit store shelves on August 28, but read on for my first impressions now.Design: Rehashed, But Refined
At first glance, you would be hard-pressed to spot any differences between the Pixel 9 and 10. However, Google has tweaked the hardware to be more comfortable to hold and use. The front glass of the Pixel 10 transitions into the metal frame with a smooth, slightly rounded feel, for a subtle but noticeable improvement.
The Pixel 10 and 10 Pro share identical dimensions at 6.02 by 2.83 by 0.34 inches (HWD), though the 10 weighs 7.2 ounces and the 10 Pro weighs 7.3 ounces. Both are slightly thicker and heavier than the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro (6.02 by 2.83 by 0.33 inches, and 6.98 and 7.02 ounces, respectively). It’s easy to confuse the 10 and 10 Pro, but there is one way to distinguish them: The 10 features a glossy back finish with a matte metal frame and camera enclosure, while the Pro has a matte back surface with a shiny frame and camera enclosure.
The 10 Pro XL is a big phone, just like the Pixel 9 Pro XL. They share their dimensions of 6.41 by 3.02 by 0.33 inches. The 10 Pro XL weighs 8.18 ounces, about 5% heavier than the 7.8-ounce 9 Pro XL.
For durability, the 10 series is IP68 rated for dust and water resistance, which is table stakes for flagship phones. All Pixel 10s use Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the front glass.
The Pro line continues to offer a thermometer sensor, which is located below the camera flash. Button placement is the same as the previous Pixels. A power button and volume rocker are on the right side, while the left is bare. Two speaker grilles are at the bottom, flanking the USB-C port. The US model does not have a SIM tray, while the international model will continue to include one. Google says it placed the mmWave 5G radio (required for US models) in the area where the SIM card is located on the international models, which do not offer mmWave. This flavor of 5G provides the fastest possible wireless speeds, though it’s not widely deployed outside of the US. The US models support up to two active eSIMs.
For biometrics, the Pixel series has an under-display fingerprint sensor and secure face unlock. This lets you use your face to securely connect to sensitive applications like financial apps.
New this year, Google has added a magnetic wireless charging feature called Pixelsnap to the Pixel 10 series. Pixelsnap uses the Qi2 wireless charging standard, so the phones can attach to magnetic chargers. It’s like Apple’s MagSafe tech.
Google has introduced a revised color palette for this year’s models.
