Google Pixel 10 series: Phone upgrades you’ll actually notice
Google has finally put to rest all the rumours surrounding the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro smartphones. And yep, most of them were spot on.
With the Pixel 10 series, Google is leaning into refinement rather than a bold redesign. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, given it had a design overhaul just last year.
Here's a run-through of all the highlights worth calling out from the Made by Google event before we dive into more details.
Key takeaways
- Prices across the board remain the same as last year. Pre-orders kick off today, 21 August 2025, though the Pixel 10 Pro Fold won't be on sale for another couple of months.
- Google is introducing Pixel Snap for the first time. It's a magnetic charging system that lets you snap your phone onto chargers, stands and other accessories. Think Apple's MagSafe, but for Pixel.
- The Pixel 10 series is the first to feature Google's in-house Tensor G5 chip, which, in theory, should better integrate Pixel features, including advanced AI, and help the phone run faster.
- The Pixel 10 base model now has a new telephoto lens, letting you get much 5x closer to your subject without losing detail. It's good for far-away shots.
- The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL gain pro-level camera upgrades, including up to 100x Pro Zoom and improved video stabilisation.
- All models have a longer battery life and faster charging. For example, on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, you can get 30+ hours of battery charge to 70% in just 30 minutes.
- The Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a new hinge, stronger aluminium, and IP68 dust and water resistance, so it's more durable for everyday use. Since it's the first foldable to get an IP68 rating, this is kind of a big deal.
- The foldable also features a bigger 8-inch outer display and supports multitasking with split-screen and drag-and-drop between apps.
- Displays on all Pixel 10 phones are brighter, with a fresh, playful look that changes with notifications.
- AI is front and centre again, with new features like Camera Coach and Magic Cue, which actually sound helpful.
- Google also unveiled the Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Buds 2a, which won't be available for a couple of months.
How much does the Pixel 10 series cost?
Prices for the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold remain the same as last year's Pixel 9 lineup.
Here's what you can expect to pay:
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Pixel 10 128GB | $1,349 |
| Pixel 10 256GB | $1,499 |
| Pixel 10 Pro 128GB | $1,699 |
| Pixel 10 Pro 256GB | $1,849 |
| Pixel 10 Pro 512GB | $2,049 |
| Pixel 10 Pro 1TB | $2,399 |
| Pixel 10 Pro XL 256GB | $1,999 |
| Pixel 10 Pro XL 512GB | $2,199 |
| Pixel 10 Pro XL 1TB | $2,549 |
| Pixel 10 Pro Fold 256GB | $2,699 |
| Pixel 10 Pro Fold 512GB | $2,899 |
| Pixel 10 Pro Fold 1TB | $3,289 |
Prices for the Pixel Watch 4 start at $579. The Pixel Buds 2a cost $239.
When will the Pixel 10 series be available in Australia?
Similar to last year, the availability timeline is a bit staggered, mainly for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
Pre-orders for the Pixel 10 lineup open on 21 August 2025, with the phones officially going on sale from 28 August.
The foldable is expected to go on sale from 9 October, alongside the Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Buds 2a.
You can buy the phones outright from the Google Store, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, or Officeworks, or grab them on a plan through Optus, Vodafone or Telstra.
Want a roundup of all the best Pixel 10 pre-order deals?
There's a bonus PS5 and a $600 discount in play.
What's new in the Pixel 10 series?
The key takeaways up top already paint a clear picture of what to expect in terms of upgrades and refinements.
But there are a few areas worth digging into further.
Exciting new AI features
If anyone does AI well on a smartphone, it's Google. This year, it's once again focused its efforts on making AI capabilities on the Pixel 10 series even more useful.
Here are some of the standouts from the launch:
Magic Cue: It promises to provide smart suggestions based on your actions, using the context on your phone. So, if you're calling your airline, it'll automatically pull up relevant information, allowing you to quickly share it. It'll be interesting to see how this works in practice.
Camera Coach: Being able to capture great images will definitely appeal to the masses. Camera Coach can read the scene and offer you suggestions to help you find the best angle and lighting.
Auto Best Take: Your Pixel phone will automatically find and combine similar photos into one. For example, if you take a group photo and not everyone is looking at the camera at the same time, it can merge the shots so everyone looks their best.
Tell me more about Pixel Snap
Pixel Snap will let you easily snap your phone into wireless chargers, stands, docks and other accessories, even while using Google's Pixel Snap cases.
It uses Qi2 wireless charging, and while some Samsung phones, such as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, also support magnetic wireless charging, they don't automatically 'snap' into place - you need a compatible case that has magnets built in.
Google is also offering Pixel Snap accessories such as a standard Pixel Snap charger, a charger with a stand, and a ring-style stand.
Pixel 10 series: Colours and specs
Here's a quick snapshot of all the key specs and colours you can expect.
The Pixel 10 base model in particular comes in some playful colours, like Indigo and Lemongrass.
| Specification | Pixel 10 | Pixel 10 Pro & Pro XL | Pixel 10 Pro Fold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3-inch Actua display 1080 x 2424 OLED at 422 PPI Smooth Display (60-120Hz) Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass HDR support | 6.3-inch and 6.8-inch Super Actua displays 10 Pro: 1280 x 2856 LTPO OLED at 495 PPI 10 Pro XL: 1344 x 2992 LTPO OLED at 486 PPI Smooth Display (1-120Hz) Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass HDR support | External screen: 6.4-inch Actua display, 1080 x 2364 OLED at 408 PPI, Smooth Display (60-120Hz) Internal screen: 8-inch Super Actua Flex display, 2076 x 2152 OLED at 373 PPI, Smooth Display (1-120Hz) Ultra Thin Glass HDR support |
| Brightness | Up to 2000 nits (HDR) and up to 3000 nits (peak brightness) | Up to 2200 nits (HDR) and up to 3300 nits (peak brightness) | External screen: Up to 2000 nits (HDR) and up to 3000 nits (peak brightness) Internal screen: Up to 1800 nits (HDR) and up to 3000 nits (peak brightness) |
| Dimensions and weight | 152.8 x 72 x 8.6 mm, 204g | 10 Pro: 152.8 x 72 x 8.6 mm, 207g 10 Pro XL: 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm, 232g | Folded: 155.2 x 76.3 x 10.8 mm Unfolded: 155.2 x 150.4 x 5.2 mm, 258g |
| Battery | 4,970mAh typical 30+ hour battery life Up to 100-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver | 10 Pro: 4,870mAh typical 10 Pro XL: 5,200mAh typical 30+ hour battery life Up to 100-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver | 5,015mAh typical 30+ hour battery life Up to 84-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver |
| Charging | Fast charging– up to 55% in about 30 minutes using Google 30W USB-C (Charger sold separately) | 10 Pro: Fast charging– up to 55% in about 30 minutes using Google 30W USB-C (Charger sold separately) 10 Pro XL: Fast charging– up to 70% in about 30 minutes using Google 45W USB-C (Charger sold separately) | Fast charging– up to 50% in about 30 minutes using Google 30W USB-C (Charger sold separately) |
| Memory | 12GB RAM | 16GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB | 10 Pro: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 10 Pro XL: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Processor | Google Tensor G5 | Google Tensor G5 | Google Tensor G5 |
| Rear camera summary | Advanced triple rear camera system 48 MP wide | 13 MP ultrawide | Super Res Zoom up to 20x and optical quality at 0.6x, 1x, 5x, 10x | Pro triple rear camera system 50 MP wide | 48 MP ultrawide with Macro Focus | 48 MP 5x telephoto lens | Pro Res Zoom up to 100x and optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x | Advanced triple rear camera system: 48 MP wide | 10.5 MP ultrawide with Macro Focus | 10.8 MP 5x telephoto lens | Super Res Zoom up to 20x and optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 5x, 10x |
| Front camera | 10.5MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus | 42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus | 10 MP Dual PD (same for inner camera) |
| Video | 4K video recording | 8K video recording | 4K video recording |
| Dust and water resistance | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| Colours | Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, Obsidian | Moonstone, Jade, Porcelain, Obsidian | Moonstone, Jade |
| Security and OS updates | 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates | 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates | 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates |
| Operating system | Launched with Android 16 | Launched with Android 16 | Launched with Android 16 |
Sources
Ask a question