Google Pixel 10 review: a mischievous look at a quantum leap in smartphone tech
19.9.2025
Translation: Katherine Martin
The Google Pixel 10 is the best Pixel smartphone the world has ever seen. In this detailed review, I’ll be looking at stagnation in the smartphone world through a humorous lens for once.
The Pixel 10 marks a big anniversary for Google. Pixel phones (which aren’t quite as brightly coloured as they used to be) have officially been around for 10 years. With this in mind, Google’s brought back its «iconic» shade of indigo for the Pixel 10. It’s the sort of blue you’d see reflected in the eyes of a newly hatched sea turtle. The blue of a pirate’s yearning for the wide open sea. A blue that’ll change the way you see the world. Forever.
Now, to make sure this review isn’t as boring as the phone, I’ve spiced it up with a few sprinkles of sarcasm. Hopefully you (and Google) will forgive me for that, and feel entertained.
Design: oh, what a smartphone!
I can practically already see the «if it were a bit smaller, it’d be fine» comments rolling in. Honestly, though? I think the size is right on the money – even for these small Michelle hands. The design is pretty much the Terminator of smartphones. The Futurama of animated films. Yep, I’m talking about the Pixel 10’s glorious USP: its camera bump. This time, it actually comes with an upgrade. Google’s well aware that you, a low earner and keen saver, have been chasing one of those precious Pro-model telephoto cameras. But now that misery’s come to an end. The Pixel 10 has been given one of these very cameras, so you can experience life up close!
As well as this nature-inspired, eco-friendly looking indigo (Google might even have planted a tree during the manufacturing process), there are a few other colours to choose from. There’s obsidian representing the darkness of your soul and the coffee that runs through your veins every day. There’s frost, in a white that’d make your not-quite-so-white teeth chatter at the sight of it. And lemongrass, the green of the moment. A ray of hope for a minty-fresh future and a nod to German rapper Shirin David’s «iced matcha latte».
Speaking of that catchy tune: the high-resolution OLED display (1080 × 2424 pixels) makes short work of ultra-colourful 2K bird documentaries, but it could just as easily play this epic cover version of David’s song:
Hardware and performance good enough for more than just doomscrolling
If Google got a certificate for its Tensor G5 chip, it’d say: «Struggling, but trying hard». It’s a positive thing that the company’s using its own chips, without having to rely on others. What’s less positive is that competitor Qualcomm’s chips leave it trailing behind in benchmarks. Take the Samsung Galaxy S25, for example.
When I compare the Pixel 10 Pro (which has the same chip as the regular Pixel) there are hardly any differences. That being said, the Pro model does have the advantage of four additional gigabytes of RAM (16 instead of 12). This is definitely a plus when it comes to AI applications. Once you read my take on the phone’s software, you’ll be able to decide whether you’ll need those applications (spoiler alert: you won’t).
Honestly, the performance more than covers my daily dose of doomscrolling, nightly Whatsapp voice messages and listening to my favourite podcasts. Graphics-heavy games such as Genshin Impact take the phone’s visuals down a notch. However, I usually opt for classics like Solitaire or Hatsune Miku’s music game Colorful Stage! anyway, so I’m happy.
According to PCMark, the Pixel’s battery lasts almost 20 hours. The benchmark simulates typical, day-to-day use, including watching videos, messaging and browsing the internet, at medium display brightness. This considered, the phone definitely lasts longer than I do. Basically, it adapts to my sleep rhythm, but needs to be charged every day anyway. But hey, what can you do?
You could say the Pixel 10 has animal magnetism. Mainly thanks to the new Qi2 standard, which Google calls Pixelsnap. At the end of the day, it’s gotta sound fancy. While Pixelsnap doesn’t charge my phone any faster, it does do it better. Provided you have the right accessories. Unfortunately, that even applies to your power adapter – you’ll only have full power with a high wattage. However, seeing as I charge my phone over night, I don’t feel the difference between the 1.5 hours with my 35-watt adapter and the over two hours of wireless charging at 15 watts. Your choice of charger will depend on your preferences.
Now, don’t underestimate the absolutely epic possibilities of this magnetic attraction. I used the magnet for fluffy, colourful accessories, including my muffin-shaped purse.
Cameras: food porn up close
If you’re doing Futurama, you’ve got to do it right. With this in mind, Google’s added a telephoto camera to the camera bump. The rest of the camera features have stayed the same, because, obviously, the Pixel 9 cameras already delivered spectacular results. Will Google claim the same for the Pixel 11? Stay tuned. Here’s what you’ll be working with until then:
- Main camera: 48 MP with macro function
- Telephoto: 10.8 MP with 5× optical zoom
- Ultra-wide angle: 13 MP
- Selfie: 10.5 MP
The main camera puts everything you’re capturing into the best light. Want the proof? Even this bin looks great with the Pixel 10 camera:
With the new telephoto camera, you can optically get five times closer to objects or digitally get up to 20 times closer. In Hamburg, I barely had to move to see the most beautiful buildings right up close.
Fortunately, the selfie camera’s resolution isn’t that high, allowing my stress spots and dark circles to disappear into the murky depths of low res. Hopefully, my pink hair’s a distraction too.
Ninety per cent of the time I’m using the main camera, it’s for food photos. Far be it from me to deprive you of those images. After all, I took them at a razor-sharp resolution of 48 megapixels, having manually activated this instead of the usual 12 megapixels. And we can’t forget the automatic macro setting, which switches on when I get close enough. This makes the food taste at least 48 per cent better.
Software and AI: meet Gemini, my new Japanese teacher
Google has delivered the Pixel 10 with Android 16 and its own user interface. It’s also included all the Google apps, whether you want them or not. On the bright side, there’s no other annoying bloatware. Just as it’s done for generations, the manufacturer promises seven years of software and security updates – a commendable move. In practice, the phone’s software will almost definitely outlive its hardware.
That brings us to the AI features, which dwarf everything else. One of the AI innovations is the Pixel Studio image generator. All you have to do is enter some text, and it’ll spit out an image. Although this sort of thing has been around for a long time, Google’s image generator has recently started creating people too.
Shout-out to all the artists who’ve contributed to Google’s image databases. Years of working and honing your skills have paid off. At least for Google. Let’s face it, the results are surprisingly good – even if a closer look reveals inconsistencies. Still, it’s a good thing that Google marks AI images as such in the metadata.
Though I’m still waiting for the day when Gemini can fill out my tax return, it’s nice to have its images as a source of inspiration for my own work. I don’t want to completely hand over artistic creativity to AI (I really don’t!).
What Google’s AI does prove kind of useful for is Gemini. The manufacturer positioned it right on the home screen when it released Android 16, ready to answer all manner of questions. You can talk to Gemini about anything, be it through text or video. I’m currently trying to turn the AI into my Japanese sensei (先生) by using its learning function. Now that I’ve learned to swear, Gemini’s teaching me to be much more respectable by showing me how to apologise and say thank you.
In a nutshell
The smartphone that makes your life better
The Google Pixel 10 is the phone the world doesn’t deserve, but has been given anyway. With its Terminator-level design and unique camera bump, it proves that stagnation in the smartphone market can certainly be stylish.
The battery life definitely won’t force you to rein in your doomscrolling – the Pixel 10 easily lasts throughout the day. With seven years of updates, your main concern is the hardware giving up the ghost before the software. So no change there.
The camera software takes away any need for photography talent, and the AI does your thinking for you. That way, you have more time to customise your phone with muffin-shaped wallets, play solitaire or learn Japanese with Gemini. It’s a true quantum leap for your life. The Pixel 9 will only be an alternative for you if you genuinely prefer pink over indigo. Which would be understandable, in my view.
Pro
- Stays true to previous designs
- Enough battery life for daily doomscrolling
- AI takes on thinking and creativity for you
Contra
- Thanks to seven years of updates, the software might outlast the hardware
Header image: Michelle Brändle
In my world, Super Mario chases Stormtroopers with a unicorn and Harley Quinn mixes cocktails for Eddie and Peter at the beach bar. Wherever I can live out my creativity, my fingers tingle. Or maybe it's because nothing flows through my veins but chocolate, glitter and coffee.
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