Google Pixel 10 Pro review – Great phone, slightly held back

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Would I recommend the Google Pixel 10 Pro?

After spending over a month with the Pixel 10 Pro as my default phone for the very first time, I can confirm it's a good phone, even a great one.

However, there's very little change compared to last year's Pixel 9 Pro, even if you consider upgrades like built-in magnetic charging.

Even after trying other flagship devices from Samsung and Apple, I still think the Pixel 10 Pro is an excellent choice if you want a solid Android phone with one of the best camera setups around and some handy AI features.

It won't match the raw performance of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or the iPhone 17 Pros, and the same goes for its battery life.

But if you're a moderate user, and mostly scroll, snap photos, watch videos, and message friends and family, the Pixel 10 Pro handles all of that well.

Google Pixel 10 Pro's design and display are still impressive

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

The Pixel 10 Pro is pretty much identical to last year with the same camera visor, glossy matte glass back and satin aluminium side.

This isn't surprising given Google overhauled the design just last year and what I said back then remains to be true - it's still a great looking phone that's comfortable to hold.

The 6.3-inch display still ensures buttery smooth scrolling and a 10% boost in brightness - taking it up to 3,300 nits peak brightness - helps with outdoor viewing.

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

It's one of the first phones to feature Qi2 wireless charging on the back, also called Pixel Snap.

This lets you easily attach your phone to wireless chargers, stands, docks, and other accessories - even while using Google's Pixel Snap cases.

Google Pixel 10 Pro cameras are among the best in business

There's no doubt Pixel phones continue to excel in photography, and the Pixel 10 Pro is no exception, as it maintains its signature quality.

It packs a triple rear camera setup: a 50MP wide-angle lens, a 48MP ultra-wide lens, and a 48MP 5x telephoto lens capable of optical zoom up to 10x.

Images are sharp and vibrant, with excellent colour accuracy even in low light. Whether you're shooting landscapes, close-ups, or macro shots, the results are consistently impressive.

It also taps into generative AI for up to 100x zoom. It's not flawless, but it'll definitely impress if you don't look too closely.

The only thing I'll say is, while it's a neat addition, how many of us are actually going to use it?

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Image: Mariam Gabaji/Finder

Google Pixel 10 Pro's performance and battery life still not best in class

The Pixel 10 Pro's Tensor G5 isn't the fastest chip out there, especially compared to Samsung's Snapdragon 8 Elite or Apple's A19 Pro.

That said, it is perfectly reliable for everyday use. Multitasking, streaming, and gaming all feel smooth, even if image processing takes a little longer on higher settings.

As I mentioned earlier, unless you are a heavy gamer or power user, performance will not be an issue. I am a moderate user at best, and I never felt the need to complain.

Battery life is also solid, though it still trails behind Apple and Samsung's flagships.

The 4,870mAh battery will comfortably last a full day, but I could stretch my iPhone 17 Pro and S25 Ultra further into the next morning.

Google Pixel 10 Pro's AI features are promising, but Magic Cue in particular is a work in progress

You'll find AI integrated into almost every part of the Pixel 10 Pro.

Features like Gemini Live let you have back-and-forth conversations, while Camera Coach reads the scene and offers tips to help you find the best angle and lighting.

Then there's Auto Best Take, which automatically combines similar photos into one.

For example, if you're taking a group shot and not everyone is looking at the camera at the same time, the AI will merge the images so everyone looks their best.

However, the biggest feature is Magic Cue, which works with Google apps and a few supported third-party apps.

It's designed to provide smart suggestions based on what you're doing on your phone.

For example, if you're calling your airline, it can automatically pull up relevant information from a flight confirmation in Gmail so you can see it while you're on the call.

In theory, all of this sounds great, but in practice, it hasn't been so smooth.

When I called Qatar Airways about my flight to Pakistan in December, nothing popped up about my flight details, even though I had a confirmation in Gmail.

I had a similar experience when calling a restaurant to change my reservation - the reservation was in my Google Calendar, but Magic Cue didn't surface anything.

A quick disclaimer though - I didn't go out of my way to make Magic Cue work, and I didn't create any dummy text exchanges either so all my attempts at using it have been fairly organic.

All opinions expressed in this review are based on the author's own experience with the phone. Use this review for informational purposes only.

How to buy the Google Pixel 10 Pro or 10 Pro XL on a phone plan

You can sign up for a 12-, 24-, or 36-month phone repayment plan with Optus, Vodafone and Telstra.

How to buy the Google Pixel 10 Pro outright

Price

RRP: $1,699.00

Where to buy

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