Google Pixel 10 series review

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/08/google-pixel-10-series-review-dont-call-it-an-android/

by thunderbong • 11 months ago

69 107 11 months ago

dtagames• 11 months ago

My older Pixel got the UI updates and I hate them. The look is inelegant, even childish, and like Apple they've decided to hide things under extra button presses.

The insistence on adding AI just makes startup slower. I have not had a single use for AI on my phone ever, though I'm a big fan of it for software dev.

deanCommie• 11 months ago

My "older" pixel (9 XL) is also now slower as a result.

It literally takes a half a second to tap "speaker" during the dialer after the update, which it didn't before.

Disappointing.

matt3D• 11 months ago

I'm curious how these changes align with their accessibility commitments.

For those struggling with impairments it must be hard to continue to adapt to your phone shape shifting with each update.

jsheard• 11 months ago

The AI tax is crazy, Pixels now reserve 3.5GB of RAM to keep Googles local models permanently loaded regardless of how much you use them, or whether you use them at all. The base Pixel 10 has 12GB of RAM so that's nearly a third set aside for something you may never use!

Last year they had the relative sense to only enable that "feature" on the higher end SKUs with 16GB of RAM, while the lower end SKUs with 12GB would load the models on-demand, but starting with the Pixel 10 series it now applies across the board.

gausswho• 11 months ago

That is wild. And so disrespectful of apps that may need that extra memory. I wonder if GrapheneOS will also suffer this memory overhead, once they do support this newest Android. Or possibly allow disabling it.

maxhille• 11 months ago

Thanks for the reminder. I just disabled AICore and freed 2GB in my Pixel 9 Pro.

jotux• 11 months ago

I've used nova launcher on my pixel phones for maybe 6 years now. I specifically switched to it because I didn't like UI updates that moved things around -- I like to customize my UI and have it stay there after an update.

gljiva• 11 months ago

Don't you have problems with the app drawer not being scrollable until the launcher's restart? The app is sadly no longer maintained

MattPalmer10863• 11 months ago

Yep, same. But mostly because I didn't want a Google search bar on the screen all the time. And I use DDG anyway for that.

Copernicron2• 11 months ago

I used to be all about nova launcher on my android phones. But they got purchased by a mobile data analytics company a while back. I don't trust them anymore and I don't recommend them anymore. Good thing there are loads of quality alternatives available.

MattPalmer10863• 11 months ago

Yeah, just got them too and I also dislike them. Everything got really big and ugly and I couldn't figure out how to do what seemed like obvious things.

I don't get what they are trying to do with it; previous updates were mostly fine, but really don't like this one.

detritus2• 11 months ago

Is this the one that very cleverly removed the full contact list from the Phone 'app', changed the Take/Deny call orientation, and made everything 200% bigger? Because I [expletive] hate it and don't see how in any way it's better.

Now I have to open up the contact list, a completely seperate 'app' to call someone if i can't quite remember who they are, so can't use the Phone's search functionality. So dumb. Well, it's trying to be smart, but I want it to stay dumb.

I wish we could preview these things and decide if we want them or not, rather than waking up to find the phone's decided to wear a new change of clothes and we have to tickle it differently to get it to do what we need (not want, NEED).

throw-the-towel• 11 months ago

You can disable updates, it's the second thing I do on every new phone. (The first thing I do is disabling sounds.)

fluidcruft2• 11 months ago

I was frustrated with some other change to Phone a while ago and was angry but then decided to just make the mental switch to Contacts as my main entry to phone long ago. I only ever go into phone directly if I need the dialer. But frankly I can't say I use phone itself much anymore, mostly I use some form of messaging. (But I have used Niagara launcher for a long time so finding Phone when needed is super easy/fast)

vel0city• 11 months ago

You can still get the full contacts list. Press the menu button and then press "Contacts".

ilioscio• 11 months ago

Google is really losing the plot lately, like worse than ever before. The changes to sideloading android apps is perhaps the biggest red flag they've ever thrown. But the new UI updates look largely silly and unhelpful, but maybe I'm being unfair.

dzogchen• 11 months ago

If you are calling 'installing an app on your own phone without involvement of the vendor' 'sideloading' then you are complicit.

sho_hn3• 11 months ago

I like this point very much.

That the term "sideloading" has normalized treating this as a special case is a problem.

It's unlikely the terminology can be rolled back at this point, but occasionally reflecting on this is useful.

AuthorizedCust• 11 months ago

Semantic wars are unhelpful distractions. Focus on the issues.

joshmn• 11 months ago

Not OP, but to add to your sentiment: It was called installing when I was a child. I would download software—from CNET just casually browsing, or whatever from a warez forum—and open the package to reveal an installer (I was fond of InstallShield-based installers, I do not know why). I could customize the directory which the application would install to, stare endlessly at the verbose “advanced” or “custom” mode, and listen to my HDD spin a little faster.

dcdevito• 11 months ago

I’m not a fan of most AI implementations to date, but I will say Google is clearly making a bold statement by trying to make the Pixel product lineup hardware to run AI front and center.

I wonder if the general public will care - they can be pretty unpredictable. People generally like party tricks and having an AI assistant to talk to may go farther than we nerds think.

glandium• 11 months ago

The Pixel build of Android is now just as customized as Samsung's One UI or OnePlus' OxygenOS, if not more so.

sigh

swayvil• 11 months ago

The ui developments are obnoxious. And there are weird delays. And it gets hot in unexpected new ways.

Seriously considering Mobian. But my banking app.

markus_zhang• 11 months ago

Judt throw all banking apps to an old phone and buy a second one. I rarely use those banking apps except for auth so there is no need to pollute a new phone with those garbages.

clumsysmurf• 11 months ago

The thing that annoys me the most about this device, if true, is their handling of the Pixel 10 battery. They keep cutting corners. After my 4a and 6a batteries got nerfed, you would think Google might have learned something.

https://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-10-battery-hea...

I like the swipe at "post truth cameras" and would prefer AI be limited to suggestions, etc, not so baked into the processing pipeline.

microflash• 11 months ago

Yeah, this is one of the reasons I no longer use Pixels. Their battery life is subpar and they get dangerously hot too in summers.

karim792• 11 months ago

I'm still "clinging" to my Pixel 6 Pro. I have an unboxed pixel 8 pro from 2 years ago. My corporate contract subsidizes a new phone every two years from the time of contract renewal.

I really think the phone update cycle needs to be lengthened, and that updates are so slightly incremental.

I would like to dip my toes into the fold phone pond, but that seems excessive. In November, Vodafone will call me and ask me which phone I want. It all seems ridiculous. I haven't noticed a difference in photo quality nor performance for years now have I felt the need to upgrade to the two-generations-later sitting in a drawer just meters way from me.

The only comment/complaint I have about newer software updates is the f*king voice which kicked in while taking a photo. "One pet cropped, move phone slightly down".

</uselessRant>

newsclues• 11 months ago

Why would you not sell the unused phone instead of it sitting in a box depreciating?

karim792• 11 months ago

I don't think it's depreciating much but you're right. It's going to one of my sisters. I held off a bit because it is corporate property but now it's written off in accounting terms.

wg02• 11 months ago

Why in the world I would buy a phone (any not just Google) that costs north of $800 is beyond me unless I want to signal my purchasing power. If utility is my metric and not outward signalling and flex, I find this worst deployment of my funds.

So called "budget" phones these days have OLED screens some even come with 120Hz displays (beyond me why someone would want that) and plenty of compute and memory.

You want camera, buy a camera. You want gaming, buy a console or gaming machine.

dudus• 11 months ago

Pixel phones are rarely full price. Right now you can get it on Google Fi for $450.

They run promos around the clock. iPhones OTOH are never discounted.

linsomniac• 11 months ago

For existing Fi users, it's $450 off, plus another $200 in store credit for the Pro models (not money off since it's parked in Google Store, but if you're buying accessories or other items over the next year it's like money). Selling my old phone brings the price of a 10 Pro down to around $400 (not counting the $200 store credit).

If you sign up for Fi when buying the phone, the deals are pretty enticing: $300 off right away, $500 more in Fi bill credits over 24 months. I think you also get the $200 store credit too.

zem• 11 months ago

for me it's the hope of at least some minor degree of longevity. I used a pixel 3 for six years, until the degenerating battery finally drove me to get a new phone, and I paid whatever exorbitant amount they wanted for a pixel 9 pro which will hopefully last me another six years

sho_hn3• 11 months ago

For me it was "want camera", and I chose the top SKU (P8 Pro) because I wanted maximum camera.

"Buy a camera" doesn't work because (a) I don't want to pocket two devices, (b) most point-and-shoot dedicated cameras that are actually better are more bulky, too, (c) even entry-level good digital cameras are >$500 (e.g. a ZV-1F or something), so even the combo with a midrange phone often comes out more expensive and (d) a seperate camera makes it really annoying to send photos anywhere on the go.

That said: I came away fairly unhappy with the Pixel 8 Pro camera, which my book has a too editorialized post-processing look that I simply don't like. In retrospect, I think I should have gone for the Xperia in that generation, which appears to have been the last phone with high-end smartphone camera gear that took neutral-looking shots. My S21, despite having a worse sensor and optics, took subjectively nicer photos.

I've now updated my definition of "maximum phone camera" to be more choosy ...

xnx• 11 months ago

$800 sounds like a lot, but is very reasonable for a device someone might use 3+ hours a day for 2 years. At the end of those years, it can likely be sold for at least $400. That works out to something like $0.36/hour.

raincole• 11 months ago

It's an extremely weird way to look at price. My family use the same dining table for more than two decades. So it's about 5,000 ~ 10,000 hours. But it doesn't make it somehow worth a few thousands of bucks.

theamk2• 11 months ago

What if I want:

(1) a camera with zoom and night shot capability comparable to my 2010 Sony Cybershot camera.

(2) An internet terminal with enough CPU/RAM to browse modern websites.

(3) A music player with a space for 150-300 GB of MP3's and nice-ish UI

(4) Online and offline map

(5) wireless charging (because I keep destroying charging ports in my devices)

(6) all of this should fit in my pocket. I've spent >5 years of my life carrying a separate camera on the belt, I am not doing this again.

All functional requirements, no "outward signalling or flex". What should I get?

(Genuine question, I've spent few days researching this recently and high-end smartphone aeems to be the only match. Weirdly, it's good camera and wireless charging that raises the price, not CPU)

sroerick• 11 months ago

I just bought a refurbished pixel 8 for $200

dingaling• 11 months ago

Regardless of how 'good' a phone camera sensor might be on a spec list, it's looking through a massively aspherical plastic lens that's about 5mm thick and admits a magnitude less light than your Sony camera for any given scene.

I think the best comment on the subject was here in HN years ago; although they're both called cameras, they're really different media. One is like charcoal sketching and the other is like oil painting.

wg02• 11 months ago

Get Samsung A series and it will last you easily four years or five. Priced around $300 or so.

Sohcahtoa82• 11 months ago

So called "budget" phones these days have OLED screens some even come with 120Hz displays (beyond me why someone would want that) and plenty of compute and memory.

Are you mistakenly calling the Pixel 10 a budget phone? Because it's not. The actual budget phones are like $200, and they certainly don't have 120 Hz OLED screens.

You want camera, buy a camera. You want gaming, buy a console or gaming machine.

Because why would I buy a separate camera and portable gaming machine when I can have them all on a single device?

Do you honestly not see the benefits of having a single device that does everything rather than having to pack multiple things? Especially a camera. They're bulky as hell and require a whole-ass bag dedicated to them. At least a Nintendo Switch can still fit in a large pocket.

I'm not a professional photographer and don't pretend to be one. I just want something that'll create "good enough" pictures to share with friends and family.

jajuuka2• 11 months ago

It's like buying a hammer with only one head and saying to use a crowbar if you want to remove a nail. You can get both in one. Overwhelming majority of people don't need or want to carry around a DSLR or know how to use it. They also don't want to lug around a PS5 and monitor. Believe it or not you can actually get all that in one device for cheaper.

Budget phones tend to come with very short support windows so you'll be buying multiple budget phones while someone with a flagship keeps the same phone for many more years. You could use plastic silverware for every meal or you could spend more on metal silverware and clean it. You'll save more in the long run and it works much better.

thecrumb• 11 months ago

The summary is perfect. I had the first Pixel phone and at the time is was sooo nice compared to everything else. No bloat! Now it's just a hot mess with weird functionality and UI choices. It's like there are multiple teams working on it and they don't talk to each other.

thanhhaimai2• 11 months ago

Disclaimer: opinions are my own.

I'm using the Pixel Fold at the moment, and it's the best phone I've used to date. It's something I didn't know I want until I have it.

Quick review:

- The phone construction feels good on hand and in the pocket. The screen is beautiful.

- When folded, functionality-wise it's like previous Pixel (beside looking better with the metal edge). I spent about 75% of my phone time in this mode. Also no notch!

- When unfolded, you have access to much more screen real estate. I didn't realize how this dramatically improve reading documents / browsing the web. Things that were unusable (like opening Google Sheet) is now much more comfortable. You can also do split screen, where you keep 2 apps on at the same time (todo list + message)

- The weight feels solid. The fold mechanism is solid. Battery ~50% per day with no battery saving. Camera is good as usual.

Software:

- I've mentioned before on HN, the Spam Screening feature singlehanded keeps me in the Pixel ecosystem. No spam call at all.

- Android Auto is solid

- Gemini is a gentle surprise, especially with how it's easy to interact with the "current phone screen".

Review caveats:

- I don't game on the phone or any CPU intensive tasks. It's plenty fast for me so far.

- I don't use the speaker (only use bluetooth headphones)

adithyassekhar• 11 months ago

Apart from the call screening feature rest are pretty much standard or even better across all android foldables. I

SirMaster• 11 months ago

What’s special about spam screening on Pixel? I don’t get any spam calls or texts on my iPhone.

thanhhaimai2• 11 months ago

Depending on the information Google knows about the incoming phone call:

- If Google is confident the source is spam (e.g. known spam center). The call is blocked outright. It still has a log that a call from this has been blocked.

- If it only suspects spam, Google will answer the call using AI bot, something like "Hi, I'm Google Assistant on behalf of XYZ, what's the call for?". The phone shows that it's screening a phone call, but doesn't ring. Only after the caller gives the reason, and it passes the spam check, then it rings the phone. You can always pick up the call early if you recognize what they talks about (from the transcript)

- If it's known good source (contact list, doctors,...), then it rings directly.

So far, the rate of spam I got is 0, and it screens about 20 calls a month.

okdood64• 11 months ago

How? I get multiple everyday. Is there a setting I need to enable?

runjake2• 11 months ago

As of iOS 26, iPhone also has call screening. It’s been working pretty well!

Workaccount2• 11 months ago

Android can screen calls, but normally your phone doesn't even ring, and if it does, it is listed as spam. They must have some kind of Google insider internet info that can recognize these types of calls.

This is big because I often receive calls from unknown numbers for work, and those get through. What sucks is that people tend to hang up if you screen the call, even if it is legit.

jajuuka2• 11 months ago

That's been the biggest upgrade for me on the beta. Loved that about Pixel phones but hated how locked down Pixels are for an Android phone. Honestly confused by Samsung hasn't rolled out something similar. There was talk of them doing it and Bixby has something similar but it's complete trash. Maybe Samsung owns a telco in Korea.

modeless3• 11 months ago

Coming from a Pixel 7 Pro the single biggest upgrade is the fingerprint sensor. Dramatic improvement. I turned it off before; it actually works now.

Magnetic charging is nice. The first party charger stand is just OK. I find it slightly less comfortable to hold because of the more squared sides, though I appreciate the flat front glass and the fact that it sits on tables without wobbling.

nilamo• 11 months ago

Security hygiene involves disabling biometrics. At least in the us: what you know has stronger protections than what you have.

modeless3• 11 months ago

That's what lockdown mode is for.

jauntywundrkind• 11 months ago

The convenience of fingerprint sensors is clear, but I can't imagine ever using one in the US. Police being able to compel your fingerprints means it's just not an option. Its never been an issue for me, there really wouldn't be much harm in it, but this idea that the state can break into my castle because it's only my fingerprint protecting it and not a passphrase is so weird, so unfortunate.

bogdan2• 11 months ago

I have a pixel 7 pro and never really had issues with the fingerprint sensor :shrug:. Regardless, never buying Google again because of their decision to lock down apk installs.

modeless3• 11 months ago

This does worry me. If it goes through I may switch to iPhone. The freedom to install native code on my own device without a gatekeeper is the reason I put up with inferior hardware. If I can't have that then I might as well have the better hardware at least.

classichasclass• 11 months ago

Likewise, my P7P's fingerprint sensor seems fine. I am similarly concerned about the APK installation lockdown. I may go GrapheneOS on my next device from day 1.

ThePowerOfFuet• 11 months ago

Why not grab a used Pixel 9 to avoid giving Google any money, and GrapheneOS to avoid giving them any data?

ksec• 11 months ago

It is the Android I wanted to switch away from iPhone. But Google have decided to not make it available in Hong Kong for whatever reason. And this was before AI being restricted. ( But M$ and Grok continues to operate in HK just fine so I don't think that is an argument either )

the-rc• 11 months ago

Isn't HK under PRC control? The GFW might not be there right now, but who knows what happens over the seven years during which new Pixels are supported.

dmacvicar• 11 months ago

I upgraded from a Pixel 4a (running Calyxos) to a 8a, only because at some point Whatsapp videos broke on the 4a and friends got videos with some green encoding. Otherwise, I had no reason to upgrade.

I hate my new phone. I could use the 4a with one hand comfortably, but that is not the case with the 8a. My thumb does not reach the top of the screen like before. I have to hold it in diagonal position just to be able to do the gestures Android -by design- expects.

The fingerprint sensor moved from the back to the front. That design helped having the phone in the right direction when taking it out of my pocket. Now it comes half of the time upside down. The fingerprint sensor is bad. Half of the time does not work and I have to use the pin. On the 4a was flawless.

Camera is better. Yes.

Jyaif2• 11 months ago

Agree with you on everything. Moving the fingerprint sensor to underneath the screen is unbelievably stupid, even dumber than the Touch Bar. The Pixel leadership favored shipping something that looks cool to a few idiots to (I assume?) drive sales, over shipping something that works well and is ergonomic.

And even the idiots realize 0 seconds into using the new fingerprint sensor that it's a massive downgrade.

I fantasize about Apple releasing a phone with a fingerprint reader on the back just to teach the Pixel folks a lesson and force them to move the reader back to the back.

crossroadsguy• 11 months ago

My god that ugly bump! But they have been at it for a few versions so that means people actually buy that shit. And then there’s the sleek a’s.

By the way, is there a Moore’s law sort of thing that predicts the base phone size increase every year across OEMs?

abrookewood• 11 months ago

I don't know why people are soo obsessed over their phones. I moved from a Pixel 5 (which was perfectly serviceable until it died) to a Pixel 9 and the overall feeling was ... so? Apart from the cameras improving, there isn't really anything that feels amazing.

hecturchi• 11 months ago

The main use of Pixel phones is that you can put GrapheneOS on them and regain full ownership of your hardware in a completely painless way. Plus adding a huge device security bonus on top.

You can have a profile completely de-googled and another one with Google Services for apps that need compatibility but remains off most of the time. You can uninstall Google too.

Owning your devices is a superpower that 99.9% of people don't have, but you can have it. The irony is that it's thanks to Google devices. Let's see how long it lasts.

MattPalmer10863• 11 months ago

Oh interesting! I didn't know you could have most of the phone ungoogled but still keep compatibility for the things that absolutely need it.

Gonna have to have a play with it now on my old Pixel.

buibuibui• 11 months ago

I am suprised that the Galaxy S25 seems so far ahead in the benchmarks.

kotaKat• 11 months ago

Why did we have to make every single phone the same generic looking piece of glass-and-metal?

I'm tired.

Yizahi3• 11 months ago

Maximizing screen size while keeping structural integrity so it won't fold in a pocket. And our hands can't really grow longer to operate wider phones. So the exterior hit hard limits until folding tech improves. Anything not a glass slab is really a fashion statement nowadays or a professional tool (like CAT phone) and is priced accordingly.

Jyaif2• 11 months ago

Feel free to go for foldable phones, like the pixel fold.

Yizahi3• 11 months ago

Google Pixel line is nice in theory over past several generations, but unfortunately in some regions of the world their pricing makes no sense. For example one of the EU countries:

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL 256Gb - 1560 USD (converted to USD for easier comparison)

Samsung S25 Plus 256Gb - 1095 USD (lowest price in reputable shop, there are even lower listing at grey market ones)

Samsung S25 Ultra 256Gb - 1370 USD

Apple 16 Pro Max 256Gb - 1500 USD

Oneplus 13 256Gb - 1015 USD

Prices shown are lowest ones in the big retail shops only, for better comparison.

In no universe Pixel would win against those. Apple is more advanced and more perceived "prestige". Samsung is a staple top of the line and respectable in reputation, definitely on par with features. Chinese phones are not far off in features too (and in some areas are ages ahead, BBK's corporation 100W fast charging beats all western competitions fair and square).

StopDisinfo910• 11 months ago

I think Google is fairly honest regarding prices in Europe. You can't compare to Apple at all. Apple prices in Europe are daylight robbery.

European prices are tax included while US prices are given without state taxes. That would already be a 20% difference.

Where I live the Pixel 10 Pro is sold for 1099€. That's around 1281$ at current exchange rate. So, 1000$ in the USA, plus 20% taxes, you get a 81$ premium for currency risk.

Compare that to the iPhone 16 Pro: 1299€. That's a whooping 1432$ for a phone priced the same as a Pixel 10 Pro. Even accounting for taxes, Apple thinks you should pay an extra 232$ because, well Apple, why not gouge foreign customers on top of making a mockery of the law of their countries.

Yizahi3• 11 months ago

You see, that's why I said about some countries. In yours iPhone 16 and Pixel 10 have 230 EUR difference, but in Poland they literally the same or even worse for Pixel:

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Amazon.pl → 5 499 zł Mediaexpert.pl → 5 499 zł RTV Euro AGD → 5 499 zł MediaMarkt.pl → 5 699 zł Proshop.pl → 5 799 zł iDream.pl → 6 299 zł Maxelektro.pl → 5 755 zł Erli.pl → 4 395 zł tradeinn.com → 5 094 zł Allegro → 5 349 zł

Pixel 10 XL Mediaexpert.pl → 5 700 zł Proshop.pl → 5 699 zł Play.pl → 5 699 zł Morele.net → 5 872 zł Mediaexpert.pl → 5 700 zł Mediaexpert.pl → 5 700 zł Mediaexpert.pl → 5 700 zł

Imo this is mental. And it is not a fluke, exact same picture was two years ago, when I've been looking for a phone. Pixel 8 at that point was extremely overpriced.

dgacmu• 11 months ago

I decided on a foolish whim to upgrade from a 9 pro to a 10 pro, and so far I'm nothing but disappointed - it does nothing better than my old phone and the battery life is worse despite the newer CPU and larger battery , presumably due to all the background AI processing that I don't want. (The hope for increased battery life is the reason I upgraded.)

(I will say, though, that the 9pro was an amazing phone if you want a good camera to take annoying numbers of pictures of your kids.)

sharts• 11 months ago

I’m going to take wild guess (though I’m sure it’s still true) and say that even after 10 iterations an Android device simply can’t even perform backups in any comprehensive and cohesive way, comparable to an iPhone.

Somehow the indoctrinated will claim that this is a feature.

hactually• 11 months ago

how do you mean?

I go from pixel to pixel and it's exactly as I left it - wallpaper, call logs, messages, whatsapp, chrome.

daveoc642• 11 months ago

On iOS, each app's files and settings are usually completely backed up by the OS.

That means that when you restore a backup, the app should be exactly as it was when the backup was taken.

That includes all files stored in the app, accounts remaining logged in, settings exactly as they were.

Some things won't be backed up to save space/time (e.g. if you downloaded a Netflix movie offline, it won't be backed up), but it is almost a perfect replica of how things were before the backup.

Android has support for a similar concept, but apps can opt out.

If the app stores files in a non-standard location, they won't be backed up.

One of the worst parts of setting up a new Pixel device is having to log in to dozens of apps again! It's a pleasant surprise when an app used the backup framework properly.

daveoc642• 11 months ago

It's theoretically possible, but a lot of apps opt out or do something that breaks it.

I have to admit, it's one of the things I do miss from iOS.

Google Pixel 10 series review

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