Google’s newest flagship phones seamlessly integrate AI into your everyday apps — whether you’re prepared for it or not.
Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL
The latest Pixel flagships are priced the same as last year, but get meaningful upgrades across the board.
The Pro XL model, with its base storage of 256GB and faster wired and wireless charging, is the best Pixel phone right now.
You’ll just have to settle for the same design and camera hardware as last year.
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G 128GB Unlocked Phone (Awesome Black):
$350 (save $50)
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE 128GB Unlocked AI Phone (Gray):
$525 (save $125)
Moto G Stylus 5G 256GB Unlocked Phone(2024 Model, Caramel Latte):
$300 (save $100)
Apple iPhone 14 128GB Unlocked Phone (Refurbished, Midnight):
$338 (save $291)
It’s hard to believe that we’re officially at year 10 for the Google Pixel, but even just a look back at the past three generations of the search giant’s phone lineup paints a clear picture of its maturity and where things are headed.
Case in point, the Pixel 10 Pro series, consisting of the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, is, at first glance, a safe upgrade. Their designs look nearly identical to last year’s models, you’ll struggle to spot the differences in specs between the 10th and 9th generations, and they’re priced squarely in the threshold of modern flagships.
But they also have a software suite that truly advances the way we interact with our smartphones — or at least, that was my takeaway after using the phones for the past few weeks. With the Pixel 10 series (standard model included), I’ve never been more convinced that AI on phones is here to stay. It doesn’t have to be forced, intrusive, or excessive; it just has to be intelligent enough to know its place.Google Pixel 10 Pro series
Google’s latest flagship phones feature a more durable design, Pixelsnap support for Qi2 magnetic accessories, and a Tensor G5 chipset that does everything better than the last.
Before I dive into all the AI madness, there’s a critical topic that deserves just as much attention: eSIM. It’s the first hurdle every new Pixel 10 owner (in the US) will encounter — whether they’re switching from an older Pixel or jumping ship from an iPhone — and thankfully, it’s one Google has made surprisingly painless.
To compare the setup processes, I ported my physical SIM from T-Mobile onto the Pixel 10 Pro XL and my secondary eSIM from Mint Mobile onto the Pixel 10 Pro. Both methods took less than five minutes and were only a few QR code scans away from working cellular connections.
I’d never had a more burdenless interaction at my local carrier shop, but something did catch me off guard. At one point, the T-Mobile associate congratulated me on switching to a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. That’s not a typo. With the Pixel 10 Pro series, the year-over-year difference in hardware design is at an all-time low, and I don’t blame Google for that — or the associate for mixing up the models.
The Pixel 10 Pro in Moonstone (left) and Pixel 10 Pro XL in Jade (right).
The contoured edges still greet your fingers with a warm embrace, the polished aluminum frame exudes premium, and the camera bar constantly reminds you how seriously Google takes its mobile optics.
Allow me to chase my geekery with one of the few downsides of this year’s Pixel design: the weight. At 232 grams, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is one of the heaviest phones on the market, beating my previous daily driver, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (218 grams), and iPhone 16 Pro Max (227 grams). The phone isn’t necessarily top or bottom-heavy, either, meaning you’ll feel the slow build-up of wrist strain no matter how you hold the device up.
Google tells me there are several reasons why its phones weigh more this year, which I can only nod in approval to.
