Google Pixel 10 Pro Review: Small Size, Small Upgrade

A compact device that gets everything from the top model? Google is happy to oblige. The Google Pixel 10 Pro does everything you expect from a flagship, in a more compact format.

No idea when the trend towards big, bigger, biggest started, but the undersigned has since kicked the habit of large smartphones. The big problem for those who prefer compact is that the range of top devices is quite small in that segment. You often find the very best internals only in combination with a large screen. Fortunately, Google (and Apple) don’t force you into that straitjacket.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro (starting at €1,099 including VAT) is identical on the inside to its big brother, the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The only compromise the smaller model has to deal with is a slightly smaller battery (4,870 mAh vs. 5,200 mAh) and slower charging (30 watts vs. 45 watts).

Within the handy format (screen size 6.3 inches), its predecessor, the Google Pixel 9 Pro, was the best choice in the Android category. The Pixel 10 Pro builds on that and does better, even if it’s by small percentages.

Copy, Paste

Copy, paste: that’s all Google has done with this generation. You have to put them side by side to see that there are now two cutouts at the bottom around the USB-C connection. Everything else is identical, down to the millimeter.

Unfortunately, this again includes the shiny aluminum frame that collects scratches and fingerprints very quickly. The matte glass on the back does provide a bit more grip this time. The ‘lesser’ Google Pixel 10 has a matte frame with a glossy glass back. If Google were to take that matte frame and use it here, the finish would be perfect in our opinion.

Just like the previous generation, you once again enjoy seven years of software updates and security updates. Since the phone comes standard with Android 16, you’re good with this model up to Android 23.

Tensor G5 Chip

Google sticks to its own Tensor processors in the Pixel 10 series, baked by TSMC this year. Every Pixel 10 phone has the same Tensor G5. It’s more consistent in this than Samsung, which switches between Qualcomm and Exynos chips as the wind blows. You don’t need to go for the XL for more computing power.

Google’s chips are more than capable in daily use. You won’t catch the Pixel 10 Pro XL making mistakes. Last year’s models sometimes suffered from heat, but that issue is resolved with the new generation. Across various workloads, the Pixel 10 Pro XL and its smaller siblings score more than decently.

From the chart above, you can conclude that the Pixel 10 can’t compete with Samsung and OnePlus flagships equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Elite. The Geekbench 6 test makes that gap in (theoretical) compute performance clear.

Weak, Bizarre GPU

For the GPU, Google makes an even more remarkable choice. It ignores the classic providers and opts for Imagine Technologies’ DXT-48-1536. This company supplied mobile GPUs for Apple until 2016, but nowadays every brand chooses Qualcomm (Adreno) or MediaTek (Mali). The Pixel 10 marks an unexpected return to the flagship segment.

The numbers don’t back Google. The GPU performs embarrassingly poorly in benchmarks, posting scores you’d expect from a budget phone. In day-to-day use, you’ll be able to run lighter games on the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, but it’s not the best choice for 3D apps and other heavy graphics workloads.

Extra important: due to the completely new GPU, some games may experience problems. We didn’t encounter any issues in our test, but keep this possibility in mind.

Pixel phones have never been the best in benchmarks, but the gap with Qualcomm’s flagship processors is widening year after year. It’s up to Google to draw conclusions from the figures.

Camera quality

The cameras in Pixel phones have been among the better in the field for years. With the Google Pixel 10 Pro, this is no different this time. Again, don’t expect anything revolutionary because the hardware hasn’t been tinkered with. The sensors are identical to the Pixel 9 Pro, which we were particularly positive about last year.

The only thing Google communicates about is improved stabilization compared to last year’s model. No matter which camera you use and what the conditions are in which you take the photo, your pictures are sharp and colors look realistic. Sunny weather, gray weather, or dark: it doesn’t matter to the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Below, take a look at a selection from the different lenses with photos from various conditions and try to spot the difference with the Pixel 9 Pro (right) in between.

Patronizing Coach

Just like the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the Google Pixel 10 Pro also has a camera coach on board. The app gives you instructions on how to take a better photo, but in our opinion, it comes across as quite patronizing.

What we are regularly impressed by is the zoom capacity of the Pixel 10 Pro. Behind the camera lies a small AI model called Pro Res Zoom. This model is specifically trained to artificially enhance close-ups without needing an internet connection.

The word “artificial” can be taken quite literally here. The model actually tries to predict as accurately as possible what might be in the photo. The more intermediate steps you take when zooming, the more information you give the model to make that prediction. You can even see that post-processing happen live right after taking a photo. Usually, the model is pretty close to reality, but sometimes it guesses and you get strange results.

View the full gallery of photos here.

Qi 2 Wireless Charging

Where Google surprises us with the Pixel 10 Pro is the integration of Qi 2 wireless charging. Specifically, this means that there’s a magnetic ring built into the device so that a Qi 2-compatible wireless charger slides directly into the right place when you get close. Result: the most optimal location for wireless charging with minimal power loss. Heat development remains present, though.

Apple was a pioneer in this with the iPhone, and many accessory makers have already integrated those magnets into cases so your phone can charge wirelessly optimally. Now Google is putting it into Android phones for the first time with the Pixel 10 series, not counting the HMD Skyline.

Google packs a lot of handy new (AI) features into Android 16. You can read all about it in our Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review.

Very Slow Charging

Pixels and fast charging remain a utopia. For a top device, charging at 30 watts is particularly slow. Quickly charging to 50 percent takes half an hour, a sprint to 80 percent takes almost 50 minutes. So much for quickly charging at the breakfast table to last a full workday until the next breakfast the day after.

Samsung used to lag behind here too, but is now doing much better. The Chinese brands (Oppo, OnePlus, Xiaomi) boast charging speeds of up to 100 watts, without the battery experiencing extra stress. How long will it take for Google to embrace this as well?

The battery (4,870 mAh) easily lasts a day, two days is possible if you’re frugal with your phone usage. That’s sufficient, but as you can see above, other devices can do (much) better. Even the Google Pixel 9a does better. That’s a blemish on the reputation of the entire Pixel 10 series.

Conclusion

Purely in terms of benchmarks, the Google Pixel 10 Pro (starting at €1,099 including VAT) is not a high flyer within its price range. Where you can apply the term ‘flagship’ is in the combination of software, AI functions, and camera quality. Few other smartphones take photos as good as those of the Pixel 10 Pro.

Few other smartphones take photos as good as those of the Pixel 10 Pro.

On the other hand, the upgrade compared to the previous model is particularly small. Through a software update, you have virtually the same experience with a Google Pixel 9 today. With 7 years of Android updates and security updates from launch there as well, you’re set for years to come. That’s precisely why Google misses out on the title ‘Editor’s Choice’ here. At this moment, the previous model is the more interesting purchase.