Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro: Powerful Names, But Major Letdowns

Introduction

The Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro are finally here, and they arrive with a lot of hype. For years, Google’s in-house Tensor chips were criticised for heating issues and weak efficiency. This year, Google promised big improvements with the new Tensor G5, built on TSMC’s process.

I purchased both the Google Pixel 10 and the Google Pixel 10 Pro offline in India. The Google Pixel 10 is priced at around ₹80,000, though I managed to get it for ~₹73,000 with discounts. The Google Pixel 10 Pro is a much more expensive device, retailing at ₹1,25,000, and after offers, I paid ~₹1,15,000.

The big question: Are the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro worth the money, or should you just buy a Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 16 instead? Let’s dive into the review.

Design & Build Quality

Both the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro are designed with a premium audience in mind.

The Google Pixel 10 feels like holding an iPhone 16 with its flat edges and compact, modern look.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro reminds me of older iPhones with stainless-steel frames. It’s solid and luxurious, but also shows Google is borrowing Apple’s design language.

Coating & Finish

A major drawback: the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro do not have an anti-reflective coating on their displays. This is surprising, considering that Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra includes one, making sunlight visibility far better. Google only included an oleophobic coating to resist fingerprints and water — useful, but not enough at this price.

Bezels

The Google Pixel 10 has thick bezels for an ₹80K phone, looking more like a mid-range device. The Google Pixel 10 Pro fares slightly better, with slimmer bezels, but even then, rivals look sharper.

Overall, while the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro look and feel premium in hand, they cut corners where competitors deliver more.

Display Experience

The display is one of the most important parts of any flagship, and the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro handle it differently.

The Google Pixel 10 uses an LTPS panel, supporting fixed refresh rates of 60 Hz or 120 Hz only.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro upgrades to an LTPO panel, which allows adaptive refresh rates from 1 Hz to 120 Hz.

At this price, not offering LTPO on the Google Pixel 10 feels outdated.

Brightness & Reflections

The displays on both the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro are sharp, but outdoor reflections remain a big issue due to the missing anti-reflective coating.

PWM Dimming

Both models have weak PWM dimming performance. Sensitive users may experience eye strain in low light. Ironically, some ₹30K phones handle this better.

Verdict: The Google Pixel 10 display is behind the times, while the Google Pixel 10 Pro is more acceptable but still not class-leading.

Performance & Hardware

The Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro are powered by the new Tensor G5, built on TSMC’s 4nm process. It’s better than the old Samsung-made Tensor chips — but still not the best.

Benchmarks & Real Use

The Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro are smooth in daily use, but benchmark scores lag behind Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and Apple A18.
Under heavy load, both phones throttle performance quickly.
Multitasking is fine, but future-proofing looks weak.

Gaming Test

I tested BGMI on both the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro. They support 120 FPS gaming, but frame stability is poor. Even budget phones under ₹30K sometimes feel smoother. For devices costing ₹80K–₹1.25L, this is disappointing.

Heating

Both the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro heat up during extended camera use and gaming. They don’t overheat dangerously, but it’s noticeable.

Verdict: The Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro perform fine today, but may age poorly within 2–3 years.

Software & AI Features

Here’s where the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro truly shine.

Both phones run Android 16 with Google’s Material You 3 design.
The interface is clean, bloat-free, and extremely smooth.
Haptics are best-in-class.

AI Features

The Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro come loaded with AI tricks:

Camera Coach for better framing
Magic Editor and Magic Eraser for editing photos
Live Call Assist for spam filtering and quick replies
AI Suggestions across apps

Google also promises 7 years of Android updates for both the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro. That’s excellent, but Samsung is already moving to 8 years with the Galaxy S26.

Battery, Charging & Network

Google Pixel 10 → 5000 mAh battery with 30W charging
Google Pixel 10 Pro → 5200 mAh battery with 45W charging

Battery Life

Both phones deliver a full day of moderate use, but heavy users may need a recharge by evening.

Charging

Neither the Google Pixel 10 nor the Google Pixel 10 Pro include a charger in the box. At this price point, offering just 30W–45W charging without a bundled adapter feels cheap.

Network

Both the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro show improved network reception and 5G performance compared to last year’s models.

Camera System

Cameras are always the highlight of a Pixel phone. The Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro both focus on AI-powered photography.

Changes

The Google Pixel 10 now adds a telephoto lens, but oddly, it can’t be used for portraits.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro offers better zoom with its 5x lens.

Photos

Both the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro capture natural, realistic photos. Some people prefer this style, while others find it lacking punch compared to Samsung.

Video

Here’s where the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro struggle:

No 4K 60 HDR support
Weak slow-motion
Poor low-light video

Against the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S25 Ultra, both Pixel models clearly fall short in video.

Pixel vs Rivals

When comparing the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro with the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16, the differences are clear:

Performance: Pixels are weaker.
Display: Samsung leads, Pixels reflect too much.
Cameras: Photos are good, videos are weak.
Software: Pixels shine with AI and smooth Android.
Updates: Good, but Samsung is pushing ahead.

Pricing & Value in India

Google Pixel 10: ₹80,000 (discounted to ~₹73K)
Google Pixel 10 Pro: ₹1,25,000 (discounted to ~₹1.15L)

The problem? Google phones in India drop heavily in price after launch. Last year, the Pixel 9 Pro went from ₹80K to ₹35K within months. The same could happen with the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro.

Verdict – Should You Buy?

The Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro are designed for Pixel fans who value clean Android, best-in-class haptics, and AI features. If you’re loyal to Google’s ecosystem, you’ll enjoy them.

But for most people:

Performance is weak for the price.
Gaming is unstable.
Cameras, while good, are not the best anymore.
Displays a lack of polish.
Prices drop drastically, making early buyers regret their purchase.

Final Recommendation: If you specifically want Google’s AI experience, the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro are solid but overpriced. For everyone else, the Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 16 is are safer, more future-proof investment.

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Google Pixel 10 & Google Pixel 10 Pro Review: Premium Promise or Pricey Gamble?