Google’s Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL help you take a better picture, but something is missing
These new flagship phones have a clever camera helper and magnetic charging, but with a lack of power, is their price justified?
- disclaimer
-
The products or services listed have been independently tested by our journalists. We earn a commission from the affiliate links in this article. Read more >
Score: 8/10
We like:
- Camera coach helped improve my photos
- Convenient magnetic wireless charging
- Best AI features around
We don’t like:
- Performance is below the best
- Both phones are heavy, especially the XL
What is the Google Pixel 10 Pro?
The Google Pixel 10 Pro and its larger brother, the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, are the top models in Google’s current smartphone range. They’re similar in look and function to the regular Google Pixel 10, which I awarded eight out of 10 in my review, but with a couple of features added to warrant the ‘Pro’ addendum.
These include better cameras, more detailed and brighter displays and more storage options. There’s a premium to pay for such extras, with the Pixel 10 Pro costing £200 more than the regular Pixel 10 (£799) and £200 less the Pixel 10 Pro XL which starts at £1,199. (Prices comparing the smallest storage option of each model.)
With such high prices, the smaller of the Pro phones finds itself in direct competition with the Apple Phone 16 Pro, while the larger model is up against the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Are Google’s high-priced flagship phones up to the challenge?
JUMP TO:
How we test smartphones
Every smartphone I test serves as my own for a week or more. Swapping my personal SIM card into a phone, I can better appreciate how it performs in the real world. Running benchmark tests is one thing, but using a phone to place calls, deal with emails, browse the web and watch movies is the best way to highlight any potential issues.
The design of a phone matters, particularly at the top end of the market and I have similarly raised expectations for the displays. This is one of the key areas where the Pro models differentiate themselves from the regular Pixel 10, so I was looking for detail, brightness and a good representation of colours.
Google doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to performance, so I paid close attention to the benchmark numbers, as well as to the general experience of using the software. Battery life is another important metric and the main area I found noticeable differences between the Pro and Pro XL models.
That said, with Google’s Pixel smartphones, it’s all about the cameras. During my time with the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL, I snapped a large number of photographs in a variety of situations and lighting conditions.
Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended
Our tech experts continuously conduct in-depth, independent, real-world tests, scoring devices against pre-set testing metrics and industry benchmarks, so we can deliver definitive and comprehensive buying advice.
Telegraph Recommended reviews are never shared with product manufacturers before publication, we don’t accept payment in exchange for positive reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more.
Design and features
Score: 8/10
Google’s flat-edged design is similar in look and feel to the Apple iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S25. It doesn’t stand out here, but it does have a range of snazzy colour choices. I was sent the Moonstone (light grey) Pixel 10 Pro XL to test, with an Obsidian (black) Pixel 10 Pro.
The XL mostly earns its name through being larger than the Pixel 10 Pro. It’s a big phone, both thicker (8.5mm vs 8.2mm) and heavier (232g vs 218g) than the huge Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. It’s this size that gave me pause when weighing up which phone to take to a music festival and ultimately led me to choose the smaller Pro.
The non-XL Pro is a much lighter phone, which, like the Pixel 10, I found easy to slip into a trouser pocket. Though at 207g, it’s still quite heavy for its size.
Both phones use Google’s new Pixelsnap mounting system. This is the company’s equivalent of Apple’s MagSafe, enabling you to fix magnetic chargers and accessories to the back of the phone. It worked well with my Anker Qi2 charger, which I had previously only ever used on iPhones.
Display
Score: 9/10
The key difference between these phones is their screen size. There’s a relatively compact 6.3-inch display on the Pixel 10 Pro and a gigantic 6.8-inch screen on the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The latter is preferable if you watch a lot of movies or shows on the go, while the former is easier to use with one hand.
Both screens output clear pictures and lovely, natural colours. They use vibrant AMOLED panel technology, which means you get plenty of contrast and a high level of brightness that’s even higher than the Pixel 10. Scrolling through menus and web pages feels particularly smooth thanks to the 120Hz refresh rates (how often the screen updates the image).
The Pixel 10 Pro screen has a 1,280 x 2,856 resolution, while the XL’s resolution is slightly higher at 1,344 x 2,992 pixels. This results in a more detailed image on both phones compared to the Pixel 10. You need to select the higher resolution in the settings menu, however, as both are set to Full HD+ by default. I did so early on in my time with both phones, though you will get a longer battery life if you stick with the default setting.
Performance and battery life
Score: 7/10
Google’s new Tensor G5 processor powers the Pixel 10 range. In my Pixel 10 review, I voiced some concerns, as it’s not as fast as the processors used in rival devices. It’s arguably even more of a complaint in these two more expensive phones, though the performance shortfall is around the same.
Running both models through our benchmark tests, it’s clear that these are not the phones to go for if you’re an avid gamer looking for the smoothest and best-looking graphics. With that said, using the Pixel 10 Pro for regular tasks highlights a small but noticeable improvement over last year’s models. The phone felt more responsive, taking less time for apps and processes to execute.
The batteries in both phones are bigger, which, combined with the more efficient Tensor G5, produces a great battery life. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is the better of the two, with a day of moderate use (four hours of screen-on time), leaving me with around 50 per cent remaining compared to the Pixel 10 Pro’s 40 per cent.
The larger Pro XL also has the edge on charging speed. It can go from empty to 70 per cent in 30 minutes via a wired charger, with only 55 per cent on the Pixel 10 Pro.
Software and AI
Score: 9/10
Google’s Gemini AI assistant is on every Android phone now, but Google’s implementation on its own smartphones runs deeper and is more intuitive. You can now ask Gemini to check your email for dinner or flight reservations, initiate calls and even enter a live discussion about the merits of a YouTube video.
Debuting on the Pixel 10 phones is Magic Cue, which promises to work across all of Google’s apps and services to bring you relevant suggestions. The idea is that it can understand that you’re trying to establish where you’re eating dinner on a certain date in a message thread and surface the information for a one-tap response.
Google has also added a new Journal app, which offers context-sensitive feedback when you type or dictate your thoughts, often with a borderline therapeutic bent.
The Pixel 10 Pro comes with Google’s latest Android 16 software, along with a brand new interface called Material 3 Expressive. This is a slightly bolder take on Android that serves to make commonly used elements easier to locate. The call/hang-up button is now bigger; the settings menu has colour-coded icons; and the quick settings bar has a clearer font.
Cameras
Score: 9/10
The Pixel 10 Pro phones use a well-balanced camera setup, with a 50-megapixel main sensor, 48-megapixel ultrawide and a 48-megapixel five times zoom. All three capture shots with aplomb, including impressive contrast and vibrant colours.
The “camera coach” is a major addition. Point the Pixel 10 Pro at a scene and Google’s AI offers scene suggestions, with a selection of tips to improve the photo. I lined up a picture of an apple tree at the bottom of my garden and it told me to zoom in and reframe it with the tree in the bottom left corner and a background building in the top right.
The cameras can now zoom beyond their five times limit to capture up to 100x ‘Pro Res Zoom’ shots. Google uses AI to sharpen up these naturally blurry, cropped pictures. It mostly works well with simple man-made structures and objects, such as when I zoomed in on Bristol’s Clifton Observatory.
Something that continues to impress on Pixel Pro phones is the selfie camera, which here is the best example of its kind. The clarity and richness of these self-shots are excellent.
Technical specifications
The Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL are mostly similar, with the same look and broadly identical feature set. Some fundamental differences need to be taken into account, however, not least the asking price.
Don’t let that apparent £200 difference fool you, though. When you compare both 256GB capacity models (which is where the XL starts), there’s only a £100 difference.
Should you buy the Google Pixel 10 Pro?
The Google Pixel 10 Pro and its XL brother are relatively conservative updates, but they continue to provide two of the best premium smartphone packages around. Their design, camera setup and software are all at the top of the pile, while the new wireless charging feature sets it apart from all except Apple’s iPhone.
Google still has to address a shortfall in performance, while the lack of any serious advances in design is somewhat disappointing. These are heavy phones, too, at a time when both Samsung and Apple are looking to lighten the load.
Yes, if:
- You want the smartest AI
- You want a camera that can make you a better photographer
- You want fuss-free charging
No, if:
- You want the fastest phone
- You like to travel light
If you own a Pixel 8-series phone, the Pixel 10 Pro represents a worthwhile upgrade. If you own a Pixel 9 phone from last year, however, the list of upgrades is fairly minimal and you should probably hold on for another year at least.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is much larger and heavier than the Pixel 10 Pro, with a bigger display and battery. It also starts with double the storage (256GB) and supplies faster charging.
The Pixel 10 Pro camera is one of the best you can buy, turning out dependably bright and detailed pictures in all scenarios. Its selfie camera is the best in the business.
Both of these phones will get you through a day of heavy use and up to two days of lighter use. The Pixel 10 Pro XL lasts slightly longer.
Both phones went on sale in the UK and globally on 28 August 2025.