Google Pixel leaks are a very common occurrence, and the mass leaking of specs feels like it's been an annual tradition since the months running up to the launch of the Pixel 3. I have very mixed feelings about the fact that Google's mobile division is about as secure as a wet paper bag.

On the one hand, it's quite useful to have an idea of what's coming ahead of the big launch event, but I'm also fully aware that specs alone can be misleading — and could potentially cause issues. I say this because a boatload of Pixel 11 series specs leaked earlier this week, including information about the batteries in all four devices.

Unfortunately, the news isn't good, leaving me worried that Google still isn't taking Pixel battery life seriously.

The state of Pixel 11 batteries (as we currently know it)

The leaked Pixel 11 specs came from a leaker who goes by the handle Mystic Leaks. They didn't reveal every last detail about the four phones, but the list does include battery capacities. While the figures themselves aren't too disappointing, they are all noticeably lower than those of the Pixel 10 series.

Assuming these specs are correct, the Pixel 11 comes out the best with a loss of just 130 mAh of battery capacity, while the Pixel 11 Pro ups that difference to 163 mAh. The 11 Pro XL loses 200 mAh, though it retains the respectable-sounding 5,000 mAh of capacity in the process. Sadly, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold comes out worst for wear, losing 357 mAh of battery.

Considering the Pixel 10 Pro Fold didn't have amazing battery life to begin with (12 hours and 13 minutes), that's likely going to have an impact on its daily lifespan.

I will point out that these figures are rather high for premium phones. The Pixel 11 Pro XL's 5,000 mAh cell is about standard for the largest flagship variants, but the entry-level model usually ends up with significantly lower battery capacity than its compatriots. The Galaxy S26 and iPhone 17 have 4,300 mAh and 3,692 mAh, respectively, which are peanuts compared to the Pixel 11's rumored 4,840 mAh.

In fact, it's almost unheard of for the entry-level phone to have a bigger battery than its Pro counterpart, but Google may be about to do it for two years in a row. What I mean is, compared to other popular phones, Pixel owners are eating pretty well in the battery department.

But that doesn't change the fact Google has a turbulent history with battery life, and the loss of any capacity is cause for concern.

Battery life has been a recurring problem on Pixels

There's a reason why you've never seen a Pixel phone on our best phone battery life page: the battery life on Pixel phones used to be absolutely awful. Things have gotten a lot better in recent years, but even the best Pixel batteries can't seem to hold a candle to the likes of OnePlus, iPhone, or even certain Galaxy smartphones.

The Tom's Guide battery test involves setting a phone's display to 150 nits and running a custom script that forces a phone to continually surf the web over a 5G connection until the battery runs out. Out of all the phones we've tested, the longest lasting is the OnePlus 15, which scored 25 hours and 13 minutes — a result that's aided by the phone's enormous 7,300 mAh silicon nanostack battery technology.

Meanwhile, the longest-lasting Pixel 10 series phone is the Pixel 10 Pro XL, with the 5,200 mAh battery lasting 14 hours and 20 minutes. The worst result of the Pixel 10 series came from the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which lasted 12 hours and 16 minutes before dying.

That's still a considerable improvement compared to the Pixel 7, which only lasted 7 hours and 13 minutes when it was released in 2023. Before anyone suggests that this was due to Google adding a smaller battery, it's worth noting that the 4,355 mAh battery is only slightly larger than the one in the newly released Galaxy S26. Samsung's entry-level flagship lasted 11 hours and 28 minutes in our battery test, and while that's far from impressive, it's still leagues ahead of what Google was doing just four years ago.

Obviously, the sheer difference between the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 10 series is down to the fact Google has made huge leaps and bounds in the battery life department. Gains were made with the release of the Pixel 8 series, and we saw a huge increase in battery life with the Pixel 9 — with the momentum continuing until Pixel 10.

But those older phones were still released relatively recently, and memories of that battery life remain.

Battery life is more than just battery capacity

It's important to remember that, when it comes to battery life, the physical capacity is only part of the equation. The Pixel 7 Pro's 5,000 mAh battery and eight hours and three minutes of tested battery life is the perfect example of that in action.

A smartphone is effectively a jigsaw of various components working together, all drawing power from the same source. It only takes one or two of those components to get greedy before the battery life significantly worsens. Take the iPhone 12, the first 5G phone Apple released, which recorded a battery life of eight hours and 25 minutes.

That's pretty poor, even for 2020, and it's a considerable decline compared to the iPhone 11's 11 hours and 16 minutes. But, as we discovered in our testing, forcing the iPhone 12 to stick to a 4G connection saw that battery life increased to 10 hours and 23 minutes. It's still lower than the iPhone 11, but it proved that the 5G modem was using considerably more power than it should.

Pixel phones do not have a reputation for using the most energy-efficient components, and the modem has come under fire more than once. But things might be changing for the better, with Mystic Leaks claiming that Google will replace the power-hungry Exynos modems with a more efficient MediaTek M90. This was actually one of the first Pixel 11 rumors to surface, and they've stuck with that claim with the latest leak.

The leak also claims that Google will be building the Tensor G6 chipset on a TSMC 2nm node. That matters because the Tensor G5 was built on a TSMC 3nm node, and the G4 was built on a Samsung 4nm node. Smaller chips have greater transistor density, and this usually manifests in greater performance, power and energy efficiency.

So, regardless of the situation with the modem, the Tensor G6 might also offer some extra efficiency on its own. By how much isn't clear, but as we've seen with the likes of Apple's A-series chips, recent Snapdragon flagships and the M-series chips on MacBooks, the relative efficiency of the main chipset can make a huge amount of difference.

This means more efficient components could have a much greater positive impact on battery life than simply throwing extra capacity at the battery — assuming that Google doesn't mess it up somehow.

Bottom line

While I hope Google knows what it’s doing and won’t slip back into a laissez-faire attitude toward battery life, I can't help but worry that cutting capacity is the wrong move. That said, rumors of more efficient components offer some hope that Google is focusing on optimization elsewhere.

At the very least, Google needs to recognize that it's still lagging behind its biggest rivals. Energy efficiency is a huge part of that equation, but so is raw capacity. If nothing else, throwing a few extra milliamp-hours at the hardware certainly wouldn’t hurt.

However, we have to remember that this is all elementary until we can actually get ahold of the Pixel 11 series and test the battery for ourselves. That's the only way we'll find out whether Google has succeeded in maintaining its pro-battery trajectory, or if it's messed up so badly we have another Pixel 7 situation on our hands.

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I developed a bad habit of doomscrolling in bed once the lights were out, and it's been ruining my sleep and energy levels the next day. And I'm not alone in this: over one-third of US adults doomscroll in bed, according to a recent survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Hunting for a solution to kick my bedtime doomscrolling habit, I downloaded the Google Clock app to my Pixel phone. I wasn't expecting much at first, but since using five overlooked sleep features in the app, I've finally kicked my in-bed phone use habit. The pay-off? I'm now falling asleep faster and sleeping through the night.

Here are the Google Clock features that fixed my messy nighttime routine to sleep better than I have in months...

Key takeaways: At a glance

• The Google Clock app acts as a hub for key features that help me fall asleep faster and sleep through the night: Bedtime Mode, Sleep Sounds, Sunrise Alarm, Google Assistant Routine, and Bedtime Activity Audit.
• You can find these features by downloading the Google Clock app from the Google Play Store (your device needs to be running Android 4.4 or higher).
• Bedtime mode, in particular, can help you unwind faster at night. The more relaxed you are falling asleep, the more you'll boost your chances of sleeping through the night (because you won't have any cortisol-fuelled 3 a.m. wake-ups) and feel full of energy in the morning.
• While the Google Clock Sunrise Alarm brightens your phone's screen over a period of 15 minutes until your alarm goes off, it isn't as effective as a 10,000 lux sunrise alarm clock for waking you up gently in the morning.

5 Google Clock features that help me quit doomscrolling to fall asleep faster and sleep through the night

For the longest time, I ignored these bedtime Google Clock features and used the app to just set an alarm and sync it with Spotify so I could wake up to my favorite songs.

However, the following features have reduced the time it takes me to fall asleep (sleep latency), and they're helping me to get a good night's sleep by putting an end to my bedtime doomscrolling:

1. Bedtime Mode

• This feature silences notifications and turns your screen grayscale. While it technically uses Android’s Digital Wellbeing engine, you set it up and toggle it within the Google Clock app.

A 2025 medical report published in Frontiers of Psychology revealed that insomnia levels increase by 59% per hour of using screens in bed.

My mental note on stopping doomscrolling at a particular time worked for a few days, until it didn't. What actually made it an achievable goal was switching on the bedtime mode on the Clock app.

By setting the time you go to bed and wake up in the Clock app, you automatically pause all app notifications, calls and messages for the duration.

The best part? You can still allow selected contacts to interrupt your bedtime in case you're expecting emergency calls or messages.

2. Sleep Sounds

• You can choose to play sounds directly from the Bedtime tab. It integrates with Spotify, YouTube Music, or the Calm app, but the play/stop controls and sleep timer live inside the Google Clock app interface itself.

Falling asleep to soothing sleep sounds is more than a viral trend now. Generally, white, pink, green and brown are the popular sleep sound categories.

These basically include sounds at different frequencies which help set up a relaxing and calm environment, perfect to wind down and fall asleep faster.

If you're someone who finds relaxing sleep sounds to help you fall asleep faster, on the Clock app, you can choose from existing options like waves, deep spaces or contemplation, record your new sleep sound or sync it with your YouTube Music Premium or Spotify playlists.

3. Sunrise Alarm

• This feature is native to the Google Clock app. Over a period of 15 minutes, before your morning alarm sounds, it brightens the screen on your phone from black to yellow-orange.

This is perhaps the biggest feature for Google to introduce, considering how sunrise alarm clocks can help convert the dread of waking up into a much more relaxed process.

All you have to do is switch on the sunrise alarm feature while setting up your bedtime routine. This brightens up the screen gradually, 15 minutes before your alarm goes off, simulating a sunrise.

Pairing this up with my favorite morning song makes waking up less of a chore and more of something I actually look forward to.

However, don't expect the Google Clock Sunrise Alarm feature to compare with an actual sunrise alarm clock that emits 10,000 lux of light to wake you up.

4. Google Assistant Routine

• You'll find this within the Google Clock app’s alarm settings. When you tap it, it lets you 'attach' an action to your morning alarm (like having Google Assistant read out your calendar for the day ahead). Once you've set it up in the Google Assistant menu, you can manage it via the Clock app.

Is productivity something that keeps you up at night? For me, thinking about the next day, the list of tasks I need to finish or even the weather, often delays my bedtime.

Google Assistant comes to the rescue by helping you build a morning routine which works with you to have a great start to the day, sans worrying or rushing.

To activate it, click on the 'routines' feature when you set up your bedtime mode. This will give you several options like enabling the voice assistant to tell you about the weather, your daily calendar, tasks or straight open up media and play the news or music, once your alarm goes off.

5. Bedtime Activity Audit

• This is the graph in the Bedtime tab that shows you how much time you spent on your phone after you were supposed to be sleeping. It takes data from Digital Wellbeing, but you can view the graph and a Recent Bedtime Activity card inside the Google Clock app.

Tracking your sleep can be a good way of understanding your habits and tweaking them along the way to ensure you're getting enough hours of rest your body and mind deserve.

While it does not give data on the specific metrics like the best sleep trackers do, the Clock and Digital Wellbeing app together tell you which apps you use during your scheduled bedtime and provide a bar chart view of your estimated time spent in bed.

If you did not use your phone during bedtime mode, it will say "Didn't use phone."

You can also go the extra mile and activate the cough and snore feature. This will allow the Digital Wellbeing app to use your device's microphone to detect coughing and snoring during your scheduled bedtime.

To do this, click on the three dots next to 'recent bedtime activity', choose the manage data option and select cough and snore info.

How does Google Clock compare to a sunrise alarm clock?

The Google Clock sleep features have successfully helped me fix my bedtime routine, wind down faster and get enough hours of rest to tackle my tasks the next day.

However, there are certain limitations I've noticed.

While the Google Clock app sleep features have significantly reduced my doomscrolling and helped me reduce my phone use at night, I've still been reaching out for my phone as soon as my eyes open in the morning.

Experts say that the sudden overload of notifications can lead to mental exhaustion, brain rot and low energy levels even before you start the day.

On the other hand, using body clock with built-in alarms gives me time to gradually take in my day and move at my own pace, without being suddenly exposed to huge to-do lists.

The simulation is also much closer to a natural sunrise, unlike the one by the Clock App, which isn't bright enough to wake you up on its own.

In fact, I use the Lumie Bodyclock Glow 150, one of the best sunrise clocks we've tested in 2026, as a nightlight— something I can't achieve with my Pixel phone.

The Google Clock app definitely offers a good sleep package, which is convenient while travelling, but on days when you'd prefer a phone detox, relying on specialised sleep tech such as a sunrise alarm clock is the way to go.

3 sleep products I recommend for better sleep

One of the best parts of owning a Pixel phone is the speed at which Google adds new features and updates — the most substantial of which are the quarterly Feature Drops. The March Pixel Feature Drop has a bunch of new features, but one that may have slipped by you is the addition of AI-generated system icons.

Typically, users can't change the system icons on Pixel phones without a custom launcher and icon pack, but the new update finally gives you an alternative to this. In addition to the stock Pixel launcher's barebones icon options, Google has added the ability to "create" new icon packs using generative AI. Though this may not be quite as exciting as it sounds.

Normally, when you create something with AI, there are prompts involved. Whether you're asking AI to generate text, images, videos, or something else entirely, you typically retain some control over the process.

That's not really the case here, and you're effectively handcuffed to the styles and designs Google has provided.

How to use Pixel's AI-generated icons

The problem with Pixel's AI-generated icons

Google does offer several different stylistic options for those who want to use AI-generated icons, but it isn't really enough. Had these icon packs been developed by human artists, you can understand why there would be a firm physical limit on how many Google could actually include. But when AI is doing all of that for you, and only when prompted by the user, why not offer something a little more robust?

It's not as though Google's AI models aren't equipped to understand user prompts, since prompt-based functionality has been employed across Pixel and other Android phones in recent years. Considering how ugly some of these AI-generated icons actually are, having a prompt-based system would help offer something for almost everyone.

One thing I have noticed online is that a lot of the popular app icons have consistent default designs for everyone. Chrome, the camera, WhatsApp, and so on all look more or less the same. So these designs are not actually being generated by the user unless they explicitly ask for something else.

If I were to speculate, I would guess this was to "lighten the load," so to speak, and make sure Pixel phones aren't being asked to generate custom, unique icons for every single app on your phone. So the actual generation is only being done for apps that Google hasn't accounted for.

That way, your Pixel doesn't get stuck in a slow, performance-heavy process that could affect other phone functions. So it may just be that Google has only offered a limited number of styles to avoid overloading your phones.

Though if you think about it another way, rolling out the same AI-generated icons to everyone is no different from creating your own custom pack of app icons. The only difference is that you cut out the cost of having a human being make them from scratch. That seems like some outrageous penny-pinching from a company worth trillions of dollars.

Bottom line

The main problem with third-party icon packs is that they can't include icons for every possible app you may have installed. They may be able to offer alternatives for common app staples like Chrome, Gmail, Instagram, or other hugely popular platforms, but given the thousands of apps that are available on Android, there's no way any single developer can account for each one.

Still, Google could have tackled this feature in a very different way. One of the things I always liked about Android was that you had a lot more choice in how you customize your phone.

With Apple's advances in this area, that's not necessarily the case anymore, but the ability to create your own custom app icons with AI prompts could have helped Android and Pixel phones stand out. At the very least, it would mean you're not shoehorned into using the designs Google says you can use.

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The Google Pixel 10 Pro was first released just over six months ago to solid acclaim. While it's true that the phone isn't that much different from its predecessor, the Pixel 9 Pro, it doesn't change the fact that it is, by most accounts, a very good phone — one of the reasons it's on our list of the best phones. It's so good, in fact, that I've been using it as my main day-to-day phone for the past six months.

I've gotten to know the phone very well in that period of time, and that means I have more than a few thoughts on what it's actually like to own a Pixel 10 Pro. Some of my thoughts have been firm and resolute since day one, whether they be good or bad, but I've also changed my mind on a lot of things as well.

Here are my pros and cons for the Pixel 10 Pro, after six months of daily use.

Google Pixel 10 Pro: What I like

The weak performance doesn't matter

A lot of people are quick to criticize Pixel phones for poor performance, on account of Tensor chips' consistently low scores in benchmarking tests. I've been guilty of that, as have some of my colleagues here at Tom's Guide, but in the six months I've been using the Pixel 10 Pro, I've noticed that benchmarking scores don't matter all that much. Or, at least, they don't matter to me.

What matters to me is that the phone runs smoothly and without noticeable issues or lag. As someone who doesn't use their phone for resource-heavy tasks, like editing or gaming, I have yet to have any issues with the Pixel 10 Pro. I have other devices to do those things, and all my phone needs to be able to handle is basic everyday tasks. Browsing, music, messaging, some streaming, and so on.

The 10 Pro does all those things very well, to the point where it actually plays Netflix better than the Roku plugged into my TV. The fact that the basics work the way they're supposed to means the lack of iPhone and Galaxy S26-tier performance highs doesn't actually matter.

Qi2 magnets are fantastic

While Samsung seems content with leaving embedded magnets out of the Galaxy S26 series, Google had no such qualms about following Apple MagSafe's example. While Qi2 wireless charging does have a bunch of practical charging benefits, the magnets are certainly a highlight for me.

The ability to magnetically clip your phone onto stands has been an absolute dream, especially in my car. The best car phone mounts are so much more convenient when you bring magnets into the equation. The same is true for wireless charging. In both cases, I can just slap my phone onto the charger without worrying about whether it's positioned correctly or held securely enough.

Pixel cameras always impress

I won't lie, I've taken plenty of bad photos with the Google Pixel 10 Pro. Stuff that's blurry, poorly lit, badly framed, and so on. I should take more advantage of the Camera Coach feature, but I've never really felt the need. The vast majority of the photos I take are pretty good, or at the very least good enough for my purposes.

The Pixel 10 Pro may not be the best camera phone you can buy, but it's certainly close to it. It's got solid hardware to take the photos, backed up by powerful AI and machine learning to help enhance the things that go wrong.

Sure, some people may not like the idea of AI-assisted computational photography and post-shot processing, but I shudder to think what my photos might look like without it.

The display brightness is blindingly good

With a peak brightness of 2,518 nits per our testing, there can be a lot of lumens pumping out of the Pixel 10 Pro's screen. I'll be the first one to admit that you need adaptive brightness switched on, because turning it off and attempting to use your phone at night is a one-way ticket to temporarily blinding yourself. Though it does mean I have yet to find a situation where I can't see what's happening on screen.

Admittedly, the weather has been pretty gloomy over the past six months, so I haven't been able to spend a lot of time using the phone in super-bright sunshine. So in another six months, I may have a completely different opinion of how good this screen brightness really is. But considering this is one of the brightest phone screens you can buy, as confirmed in the Tom's Guide lab, I can't imagine I'm going to find something better anytime soon. Apart from the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

There's no faulting Google's update schedule

Back before I started using more mainstream Android phones (namely Pixel, OnePlus and Samsung Galaxy devices), I would jump around between various phone brands that weren't quite up to speed on the whole software side of things. What few updates you actually got came out at a painfully slow pace, and often that means waiting months following major Android updates.

The bigger brands are a lot faster, and nobody is as fast as Google at rolling out new Android updates. Often, I can read about an impending update that will bring a bunch of features or fixes, and check my phone to find it has already been installed overnight. Sure, it's because Google controls Android and gives its own phones priority, but even then, I'm pretty amazed at the speed at which the new software rolls out.

Moreso when you consider that it'll be getting pumped out this way for at least 6 and a half more years.

Google Pixel 10 Pro: What I Hate

Battery life is not good enough

Pixel phones and battery life have a turbulent history, though in recent years things have been changing for the better. That said, I often struggle to get through the entire day while keeping the Pixel 10 Pro alive, and often find myself hitting 10% battery and still having a few hours before I head to bed. Considering I once lauded the Pixel 9 Pro for having such good battery life, this has been quite a disappointing experience.

It seems that, as much as Google improves its battery performance, it still lags quite far behind flagships from Apple, Samsung and OnePlus. There's a reason it doesn't appear on our best phone battery life page.

Heck, the OnePlus 15 managed to last over 25 hours in our battery test, compared to the Pixel 10 Pro, which doesn't even scrape 13 hours and 45 minutes. With batteries this size, Google really needs to do better on Pixel 11 and beyond.

The Pixel 10 Pro does have a slightly larger battery than the Pixel 9 Pro, which should, in theory, translate to more battery life. Anecdotally, I've found that the battery does last a lot longer than the Pixel 9 Pro seems to.

But I will caveat with the note that the Pixel 9 Pro battery seems to have worsened ever since I installed Android 16. So we'll have to rely on the data from the Tom's Guide labs to see what's going on.

128GB of starting storage isn't enough

The 128GB storage era is ending, and soon. There isn't a single new iPhone with 128GB of storage, and Samsung recently implemented 256GB as standard as well. Google has started down this path, ditching the 128GB storage option for Pixel 10 Pro XL, but left the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 with the smaller storage option.

I'll admit that this is a good start, considering both Apple and Samsung made the change on their most expensive phones first before moving on to other devices in their lineup. But as someone who has currently used around 95% of my 128GB phone, and has always struggled to keep space free on the cheapest storage options, Google really should have taken things a step further.

Even if it meant charging an extra $100 for the privilege.

I keep forgetting it doubles as a thermometer

I've said it before, and I will say it again. I do not understand why Google still has a temperature sensor on the Pixel 10 Pro. It's the kind of feature that would have been incredible had it been released during the pandemic, but it arrived long after fear of COVID-19 had wound down and demand for a mobile thermometer was at its lowest.

Frankly, I forgot that this feature even exists. Not in a "I refuse to use it" kind of way, but from time to time, I will suddenly remember that my phone has a temperature sensor on the back. I've never remembered anytime it would have been useful, either, such as when I was just double-checking whether my son had a fever or not. He's fine, but by the time I realized that my phone could have been helpful, I was already midway through using a standard baby thermometer.

What good is a feature that nobody remembers is even there? It's about time Google just ditched it and put its efforts into something more practical.

I don't really use most AI features

Google has invested a lot in AI in recent years, and Google Pixel phones have been the way for it to showcase them in a true Google-y environment. But I don't actually use the majority of them, with Circle to Search being the key exception. Circle to Search is just so darn convenient and easy to use that you can't not take advantage of it.

But the rest — barring the occasional use of an AI photo editing feature — typically remain unused. I've long maintained that I don't really care about AI features on my phone, and the main reason is that I never feel the need to actually use any of them. Gemini often seems to be so slow to respond that I often find it's a lot easier to complete tasks the normal way.

And it's rather a shame that so much emphasis is now on adding all kinds of AI features to phones, when I really couldn't care less about having them. Now I know how old-school car lovers feel when they have to use a touchscreen.

Bottom line

Back in October I said that I regretted upgrading to the Pixel 10 Pro, on account of how similar it was to the Pixel 9 Pro. I'm still firmly in that camp, but not because the Pixel 10 Pro is a bad phone. It is a capable device that has a lot to offer, more than I am apparently willing to use. But I certainly wouldn't be unhappy if I'd stuck with the Pixel 9 Pro for another year.

But I can certainly appreciate the small things that Google changed with the current generation. However, some of the things that haven't changed are really starting to grind my gears, like the weak battery life, and the constant stream of features that I don't actually want to use. Here's just hoping that Google makes some more significant changes to the Pixel 11 Pro, and we don't end up with another Pixel 10a situation.

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While Android handsets are made by a huge range of manufacturers, for some, there are only two players in town: Google and Samsung. The former because it’s also the company behind the OS, making it a great showcase of the platform’s abilities, and the latter because it consistently produces some of the best phones around and leads in terms of market share.

Both the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10 have already continued this tradition, with the former landing at the start of this year. But which of these Android flagships is the right one for you? Here, we’ll try to establish which is the best Android phone for your needs based on what we've experienced from both phones.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Specifications

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Price

The Google Pixel 10 was released on 28 August, starting at $799 for the 128GB version, but you can have double the storage for $100 more at $899. Higher storage options are not available.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 went on sale on March 11, with prices starting at $899 for 256GB of storage. That's $100 more than the base Pixel 10, but the same price as the higher storage model. A 512GB storage option is also available for $1,099, a price increase of $200.

Winner: Pixel 10

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Design

Both the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10 are fairly similar, since their predecessors adopted the rounded-design that so many people associate with the iPhone. Each has a 6.3-inch display, and while their dimensions aren't identical, they are close enough that few people would tell the difference.

But the difference in camera design is enough to easily distinguish between them. The Google Pixel 10 features the full-length horizontal camera bar, while the Galaxy S26 has a vertically-aligned camera bump.

The Pixel 10 is noticeably heavier, though, weighing 7.2 ounces compared to the Galaxy S26's 5.89 ounces. It's not a lot of weight, but the difference is noticeable — especially if you have to carry them around all day.

Winner: Pixel 10

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Display

Both the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26 sport 6.3-inch displays, made from Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and sporting a similar resolution. That's 2340 x 1080 on the S26 and a slightly higher 2424 x 1080 on the Pixel 10. However, the two then branch off on different paths.

It's worth noting right out of the gate that the Galaxy S26 offers a true LTPO display with a 1-120Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the Pixel 10 is capped at 60-120Hz. While there's no difference in the upper limit, the fact that Samsung's refresh rate can drop even lower should be more beneficial to battery life.

On the flip side, the Pixel 10 offers a much brighter screen, thanks to Actua display technology. According to our testing, the screen hit a peak brightness of 2,333 nits, compared to the S26's 1,950. That means the Pixel 10 should offer better screen clarity in different lighting conditions, especially when you're in a bright environment.

Brightness aside, the Galaxy S26 does offer better color reproduction. The DCI-P3, sRGB and Delta-E scores all outpace the Pixel 10, meaning that the colors you see on the Galaxy S26 are going to be much better and more vivid.

Winner: Galaxy S26

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Performance

In terms of performance, things are much more clear-cut. The Tensor chipset that Google uses on its Pixel phones is good, but no match for the flagship Qualcomm chips that Samsung uses in its Galaxy S series.

The nearly year-old Galaxy S25 proved faster than the Pixel 10 in our tests, and Google's chip has been absolutely decimated by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite 5 for Galaxy chipset that powers North American versions of the Galaxy S26.

It's the same story with graphics testing, with the Snapdragon chip destroying the Tensor G5 in the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited test. In fact, both the score and frame rate are more than double that of what the Pixel 10 managed to achieve.

Benchmarking tests don't tell us everything about performance, but it's still clear that Google is being left behind compared to phones running on Qualcomm's chips.

It's worth noting that the Galaxy S26 runs on an Exynos 2600 chip outside North America. We haven't tested a phone with the Samsung-made chips, but we're pretty confident the results will be significantly better than what the Pixel 10 produced.

Winner: Galaxy S26

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Cameras

The Pixel 10 was a turning point for Google's phones, since the camera count jumped from two rear lenses to three. This means that, for the first time, both entry-level Pixel and Galaxy phones have fairly equal camera hardware.

The Galaxy features a 50MP main lens, 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, while the Pixel 10 has a 48MP main lens, 12MP ultrawide and 10.8MP telephoto with 5x zoom.

As you can see above, the quality of the photos is pretty comparable on both Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26, though the S26 on the left does come out a little bit brighter and more detailed than the Pixel.

It is very much the same when you compare two shots from the ultrawide-angle lens. The Samsung Galaxy S26 is a little brighter, but for the most part, these two shots are more or less the same.

The front-facing selfie camera also comes out much brighter on the Galaxy S26. That means the subject, Tom's Guide Phones editor John Velasco, comes out a little clearer and more defined, with the S26 offering a much sharper image overall.

However, the trade-off is that the S26's background is quite overexposed compared to the Pixel 10. Of course, the fact that the Pixel 10 has a much more defined and true-to-life background doesn't matter quite so much when the 10.5MP camera can't pick up the same level of subject detail in the process.

Testing out the optical zooming capabilities takes us back to much of the same quality differences as before. I would say that the Pixel 10 hasn't quite captured the lettering on the sign as well, but the Galaxy S26 hasn't done much better. All in all, this is a pretty even performance from both phones.

Bumping the magnification up to 30x zoom on the Samsung and 20x zoom on the Pixel, and you can start to see the difference a little better. The Pixel's photo is a lot noisier than Samsung's, with a general loss of quality that makes the photo look noticeably worse.

Low-light conditions feature mixed performance from both phones. The Galaxy S26 appears to be lighter, particularly showing off more of the tree. However, the background buildings are a little blurry, which is far from ideal

The Pixel 10 produces a much darker image, making the details a lot harder to see as a result. Some of the buildings and the fencing are a little sharper, but it doesn't really make up for the fact that there isn't enough lighting to see things.

The Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10's cameras are similar in a lot of ways, and under ideal conditions, you'd be hard-pressed to be able to tell their photos apart. However, Samsung clinches it with superior performance in low light.

Winner: Galaxy S26

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Battery life & charging

While battery life has rarely been one of Google's strengths, that's almost always when comparing to larger flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. The base model doesn't have quite as impressive a battery pack, with a 4,300 mAh battery compared to the Pixel 10's 4,970 mAh.

As a result, the Galaxy S26 has shorter battery life. Samsung's phone lasted an average of 11 hours 28 minutes, which is nearly 2 hours shorter endurance than the Pixel 10.

On the plus side, the Galaxy S26 phone recharges slightly faster, no doubt aided by that slightly smaller battery pack. Using a 45W charger, the Galaxy S26 regained 29% charge in 15 minutes and 57% in half an hour. The Pixel 10 managed a respective 26% and 52% in the same time.

It's worth noting that the Galaxy S26 officially supports up to 25W charging speeds while the Pixel 10 is rated for 30W. Both support 15W Qi2 wireless charging, though only the Pixel 10 has the magnets built into the phone. As a result of that, the Pixel 10 doesn't support reverse wireless charging anymore, while the Galaxy S26 does (at 4.5W speeds).

Winner: Pixel 10

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Software & AI

Google and Samsung are surprisingly close where AI is concerned, and the two companies regularly collaborate on new features. In fact, many new Google AI features, like Circle to Search, debut on Galaxy flagships before rolling out to other devices.

That said, there are always some unique features, such as Pixel 10's Magic Cue and Samsung's Now Nudge. But for the most part, if one phone offers one thing, you can be sure that an equivalent will be arriving on the other very soon — assuming it hasn't already. The addition of Call Screening on Galaxy S26 is an excellent example of this.

Still, if you want to get really pedantic about things, Samsung might just offer a little bit more. From Bixby's agentic abilities to Perplexity integration and early access to upgraded Google features like Circle to Search, it might just have the edge in the AI department. But with everything always changing, that probably won't be the case for long.

The same is true when discussing the rest of the software. Both phones run on Android 16, and despite the visual differences, there isn't a whole lot of difference in how they operate. Both Google and Samsung offer the same seven years of software updates, covering Android and security patches.

Which makes deciding between them incredibly difficult, with the flip side being that you're getting a solid software experience no matter what happens. Though I'll admit, it is nice for Pixel owners to always know they're getting the latest Android updates right away, and not having to contend with Samsung's inconsistent release schedule.

Winner: Draw

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Verdict

The decision of whether to buy the Google Pixel 10 or a Samsung Galaxy S26 is actually pretty tricky, once you break down the differences between the two phones. Despite looking quite different, their shared capabilities mean that whichever of these two options you pick, you're not making a bad decision.

If you want the best possible photos in all conditions, opt for the Galaxy S26. If you value battery life above all else, then the Pixel 10 is the phone for you. Performance? Definitely go for the Samsung, though the Pixel 10's speedy update schedule is always worth considering — especially with the speed at which Google adds new features to its phones.

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One of the best things about buying a Pixel phone is the sheer amount of AI Google has crammed into each device. The Pixel 10a is another device that puts heavy emphasis on AI, though maybe not quite as much as we would have hoped.

If you were expecting to see all the best Pixel 10 AI features in this phone, then you're going to be very disappointed. Features like Magic Cue are nowhere to be found, though smaller additions like Camera Coach and Auto Best Take are easily available.

So, what AI features does the Pixel 10a have to offer? Here's the full list:

Auto Best Take

It can be challenging to take group shots, and the bigger the group, the harder it is to make sure everyone actually looks presentable. Doubly so if there are any young kids in frame. Google's Auto Best Take feature takes all the hard work out of it, snapping multiple shots and stitching them together to form a single photo of everyone looking their best. A single tap of the shutter button is all it takes.

Camera Coach

If you're struggling to take the best photo, and you have a bit of time, then Camera Coach can help you out. Using Gemini, it's able to analyze the scene and offer tips on how to improve the final shot. Whether it needs to be framing, composition or something else entirely, Camera Coach can point you in the right direction.

Gemini Live

Easily one of the most powerful Gemini tools, Gemini Live lets you stay connected with the AI at all times. That way, you're able to have a "free-flowing" conversation with Gemini, without having to continually prompt the chatbot to start listening by saying "Hey Google" or tapping your phone.

Gemini Live can also utilize screensharing and your camera, letting you ask Gemini questions about what it can see. Whether that's on your phone screen or directly in front of you and in range of the camera.

Connected Apps in Gemini

If you want to really make use of Gemini, you can utilize the Connected Apps feature to get it to do different tasks across your phone. Simply ask Gemini to do something in one of the compatible apps, and it can save you the trouble of doing it yourself. That can include playing music on Spotify, calling one of your contacts, setting alarms or snapping photos with the camera app.

This is particularly useful for smart home devices, with Gemini capable of controlling anything linked to your Google Home account.

Circle to Search

No Android phone would be complete without Circle to Search. The simple press-and-hold gesture lets you access a whole host of useful tools, regardless of what your phone is currently doing. Features include Google Lens, the ability to select or translate text from images, song recognition and quick access to Google Gemini's voice controls without having to say "Hey Google" first.

Magic Compose

If you're looking for help with your writing, Google's Magic Compose is there to help. It's a great way to get yourself started with different suggestions on how to start writing your reply or continue a conversation, while also offering the ability to rewrite your existing words into different styles and tones of voice. So if writing isn't your strongest skill, this will be able to help out.

Pixel Weather's AI Summary

The new Pixel Weather app utilizes the on-device Gemini Nano model to analyze and summarize the day's weather. That way, you have a rundown on what to expect from the sky throughout the day.

Photo Editing Tools

It wouldn't be a Pixel phone without the suite of photo editing tools that take advantage of AI. Features include Add Me, which lets you take a photo of a group and then "join" the group later through the magic of generative AI.

Audio Magic Eraser filters out unwanted noise in the background of videos, while Reimagine also uses AI to change various aspects of your photo, like the background or general surroundings. You can even use voice and text prompts to edit your photos, so long as you do it in the Google Photos app.

Call Assist

Like any good Pixel, the Pixel 10a also comes with various call assistance tools that utilize AI to make your life easier. Hold for Me lets you avoid the irritating hold music by leaving your phone in line for you, while Direct My Call will get you to the right person or department faster and skip all those pesky automated menus. U.S. users can also use the Wait time feature to find out how long they're likely to be on hold before they actually make the call.

Then there's Clear Calling, which isolates any distracting sounds in the background and makes sure your voice comes through nice and clear. Finally, Call Screen filters out spam calls and lets you know who's calling before you even pick up the phone. All thanks to the AI assistant conversing with the caller beforehand.

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The Google Pixel 10a is expected to be unveiled later today, February 18, but that's not stopping the leaks from coming out hard and fast. So if you want to know all about Google's next cheap phone, you can thank two separate retailers for jumping the gun: U.S. carrier Tracfone and Belgian retailer Vanden Borre (via Android Authority).

Both released landing pages for the phone, along with a bunch of official images, specs and pricing details. Both pages have since been deleted, but that didn't stop people from noticing and documenting all the beans these retailers have spilled.

First up is TracFone, which confirmed that the Pixel 10a will come with an FHD+ display, a 5,100 mAh battery, a 13MP front camera, dual rear cameras of 48MP and 13MP, 128GB of storage, IP68 water and dust resistance, plus a bunch of general specs that are to be expected.

I would be shocked if many phones weren't released without a color touchscreen in 2026, so I'm not sure that's still worth mentioning.

Dimensions are 6.06 x 2.87 x 0.35 inches, with a weight of 6.52 ounces. That makes it marginally smaller, thinner and lighter than the Pixel 9a — which came in at 6.1 x 2.9 x 0.4 inches and 6.5 ounces. Everything else is essentially the same, according to this short list.

Meanwhile, the Vanden Borre listing confirmed the presence of the Tensor G4 chipset. That's the same chip as the Pixel 9a, rather than the Pixel 10's Tensor G5. Belgian pricing for the 10a is listed as €549 for the 128GB model and €649 for the 256GB option. That's the same price as the Pixel 9a was at launch, suggesting the 10a should start at the same $499 price tag in the U.S. market.

The listing also describes the phone as "perfectly flat." That suggests that Google's initial teasers are accurate and that the company managed to shave off the final piece of camera bump that remained on the Pixel 9a. So that 0.35-inch thickness really is 0.35 inches, not 0.35 inches plus a protruding camera mound. That is something I'm still quite pleased about.

Other notable mentions include a Gorilla Glass front, a plastic back and an aluminum frame. All of which are to be expected, though the retailer didn't specify what kind of Gorilla Glass the phone may be getting. AI features listed include Camera Coach, Gemini Live, the Nano Banana image generation model and Circle to Search.

Images show the phone in a lavender color, and rumors suggest that we'll also see Obsidian, Fog and Berry.

Overall, it certainly seems as though the Pixel 10a is going to be, as rumored, almost identical to the Pixel 9a. Certainly not different enough to warrant the upgrade, if you ask me. But we'll find out for sure later today, when the phone officially launches and pre-orders open.

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While Android handsets are made by a huge range of manufacturers, for some, there are only two players in town: Google and Samsung. The former because it’s also the company behind the OS, making it a great showcase of the platform’s abilities, and the latter because it consistently produces some of the best phones around.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 is likely to continue this form when it arrives next year, but you can already buy the Pixel 10 today. Here, we’ll try to establish which is the best Android phone for you based on what we know and what we’ve heard.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Specifications

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Release date and price

You can buy the Google Pixel 10 right now. Released on 28 August, starting at $799 for the 128GB version, but you can have double the storage for $100 more.

The Samsung Galaxy S26’s release date is still TBC, but expected in the first quarter of 2026. One report suggested it would go a little later than last year, with an Unpacked event scheduled for February 25, but a more recent tip suggests a January announcement after all.

We’re hoping Samsung maintains the $799 starting price to remain competitive with both the aforementioned Pixel 10 and the iPhone 17, but there are reasons to think Samsung may bump up the price this time around.

Firstly, as you’ll read later, Samsung is reportedly set to bump up the base storage from 128GB to 256GB this year. Secondly, a report from Korea suggests that Samsung is struggling to keep costs down with the spiraling cost of RAM.

That alone might be a reason to play it safe and buy now while prices are competitive, but it may, of course, come to nothing.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Design and screen

The Pixel 10 is one of the most distinctive phones on the market. Unlike the cheaper Pixel 9a, it maintains the distinctive camera bar that makes it clear you’re using a Google handset.

The display is an FHD+ OLED measuring 6.3 inches across. It features a 120Hz refresh rate and promises to reach a peak brightness of a searing 3,000 nits, making it a good choice for use in bright sunlight.

In trut,h though, it’s not that far removed from the Samsung Galaxy S25 and — because we’re not expecting any dramatic design changes between that and the next generation — the upcoming S26.

Expect a slightly smaller 6.27-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with the same 120Hz refresh rate. We’re expecting brightness to hit 2,600 nits — slightly lower, but not really a big deal in most use cases.

Between these two handsets, it largely comes down to personal preference. Do you like the distinctive Google camera bar, or the stylish Samsung traffic light layout? With design and screen specs otherwise pretty similar that, and color choices, are all it really comes down to.

On that note, Samsung is reportedly planning a bright orange version of the Samsung Galaxy S26, which will certainly stand out.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Performance

In terms of performance, however, things will be much more clear-cut. The Tensor chipset that Google uses on its Pixel phones is good, but no match for the flagship Qualcomm chips that Samsung uses in its Galaxy ‘S’ range.

The nearly year-old Galaxy S25 is faster than the Pixel 10 in our tests, and it seems extremely likely that the Galaxy S26 — with its Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite Gen 5 — will make that gap even wider.

The above chart uses benchmarks gleaned from a Qualcomm reference device using the chip that’s expected for the Galaxy S26 in most regions (albeit with 24GB RAM — twice what is expected in Samsung’s upcoming phone) and you can see the difference is significant. It may be even more stark if Qualcomm provides a slightly higher clocked “for Galaxy” version as it has done for the last couple of Samsung flagships.

Some regions are tipped to get the Exynos 2600 chipset instead of Qualcomm’s latest. That would usually be cause for concern, but it seems that it may be no bad thing this generation with some very impressive early benchmarks.

There’s one more reason to wait for Samsung. While the Google Pixel 10 is available in 128GB or 256GB configurations, rumor has it that Samsung will be abandoning the 128GB tier this time and only offering 256GB or 512GB handsets. Assuming that doesn’t see a price rise of over $100 — the price difference between Google’s storage tiers — that’s another point for Samsung.

Still, there are two reasons why you might want to opt for the Pixel 10, even without considering the possibly higher price.

The first is battery life. While Samsung is reportedly set to boost the Galaxy S26’s capacity by 300mAh to 4,300mAh, that’s still significantly lower than the 4,970mAh cell Google packs into the Pixel 10.

Secondly, while both phones run Android, as the hardware is made by Google, the Pixel 10 will get new features and versions of the software earlier for its entire supported life. That’s quite a nice perk for tech enthusiasts.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Cameras

Google phones have always punched above their weight camera wise, and the Pixel 10 is a huge leap forward for the cheapest of the flagship models. While the ultrawide resolution drops from 48MP on the Pixel 9 to 13MP with the latest version, that’s more than made up for with the addition of a new 5x optical zoom lens.

True, at 10.8MP, this can’t match the Pixel 10 Pro, but it’s a big improvement and adds more flexibility to one of the best camera phones you can buy with performance that belies its relatively low price tag.

Will the Samsung Galaxy S26 outdo it? The jury’s out on that one, as camera leaks have been confused and contradictory.

Everyone seems to agree that the main camera will remain at 50MP, but it’s rumored to use the newer ISOCELL GN sensor. It’s tipped to be larger, letting in more light and thus improving low-light photography.

As for the ultra-wide lens, one rumor suggests it’ll get a substantial boost to 50MP, but others are convinced it’s staying at 12MP. Given Samsung’s past iterative approach with the regular Galaxy S line, the latter seems like a safer bet.

Finally, that last report also indicates that the optical zoom will increase its megapixel count from 10 to 12MP. Ice Universe, however, disagrees, saying “with certainty” that it’s staying at 10MP.

It’s pretty clear you’ll be getting good camera performance from either phone, even if there are limited advances from the S25. But if you like a gamble, then it probably pays to wait and see how many of these rumored upgrades actually materialize.

Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10: Outlook

The decision of whether to buy the Google Pixel 10 today or hold out for the Samsung Galaxy S26 comes down to two main factors: performance and price.

For the former, it’s no contest. The Samsung Galaxy S25 is already faster than the Pixel 10, and the next generation is going to be faster still.

Price, however, is an unknown quantity. While the S26 might maintain the same $799 price, there’s every chance it will go up. Even if it doesn’t, the Pixel 10 is likely to have come down by the time the S26 arrives, meaning buyers will still have a tricky decision to make.

There’s something of a social media trend where people record the reactions of their friends and family after they shaved off their hair or beard. Well, as it turns out, your phone can freak out when you make drastic changes, too, as I've recently found out first hand.

Every November, I make sure to grow a mustache as part of the Movember charity drive — and that entails shaving off the beard I sport for the other 11 months of the year. But this around, my iPhone 15 Pro Max has a hard time recognizing me when I try to use the phone's Face ID feature.

And that's a problem, since I started using Apple Wallet as my bank card, which includes using Face ID to confirm purchases. With my phone seemingly forgetting what I look like, I've had to start entering my passcode to pay for items.

It may not be a show-stopping dilemma — the passcode does provide me a workaround — but does make Apple Pay and other Face ID-powered features less convenient. And it got me wondering about why this happens. With that in mind, I decided to ask around the office to see if others have experienced similar issues.

One of the constant complaints was that certain pairs of sunglasses, even some of the best smart glasses, led to phones failing to recognize their owners. The reason for this has to do with one of the features that make up Apple's TrueDepth camera system.

Apple's iPhone has an option in its settings called “Attention Awareness,” which requires you to be looking directly at the phone or camera for it to unlock. This can cause issue when wearing polarized lenses, as the camera can't pick up where you're looking, meaning the phone can't confirm your attention.

While it might be tempting to turn Face ID off, I wouldn't recommend it. The feature is designed to make your phone more secure, but it also serves a dual purpose of making sure that your phone's screen doesn't dim when you are looking at it.

What about haircuts and beards?

Another issue that a lot of people were having had to do with changing their hair, whether it's a haircut or, as in my case, shaving their face. This can lead to the phone struggling to recognize you when you try to use Face ID.

It all comes down to how your iPhone maps your face, namely, the difference between stable and holistic mapping. Apple uses a 3D mapping system, which creates an image of your face by using stable features like the distance between your eyes and your cheekbones.

However, to create a complete map, the phone will use a holistic processing method that leans on certain features — in this case, a beard or hairline — to help create a more detailed map. Drastic changes (like shaving) can create a variable that goes beyond the usual margin of error that the software can handle.

In response to this, your iPhone will ask you to enter your passcode, which informs the phone that the person the Face ID sensors are detecting is indeed you. In concept, this allows your iPhone to add this change to the face mapping, meaning it won't happen again. However, it can take a fair few tries for that adaptation to work as intended.

And fortunately, if you continue to run into Face ID issues after changing your look, you have some options to make things run mor smoothly.

What about on an Android phone?

If you have one of the best Android phones, then I have some bad news when it comes to adding an alternative Face ID. Many devices, like the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, do not have the option to add alternatives.

This is partially because many Android devices utilize 2D face mapping instead of 3D. The 2D approach is considered more convenient, but it lacks the depth offered by 3D technology. This, in turn, can limit the options available to face unlocking technology. It can also mean that setup is less secure.

With that said, the best Samsung phones offer the option to add an alternative Face ID.

Doing this won't always solve the problem, but it is one of the best means to help. On the plus side, I can grow my beard back after November ends, but that will mean another few weeks of struggling to get my phone to notice me.

Let me know if you’ve found your phone struggling to recognize you, and what it was that changed. Alternatively, let us know your favorite Mustache style in recognition of Movember!

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Back when I wrote my Google Pixel 10 Pro review, I said that, as good as the phone is, it doesn't actually feel like much of an upgrade over the Pixel 9 Pro. I've now been using the phone almost every day for the past two months, and now I can safely say that my assessment hit the nail on the head.

There's nothing particularly wrong with the Pixel 10 Pro. It's a fantastic phone with a lot of great features and software touches — but it is a textbook example of an iterative upgrade. No matter how good or impressive this phone seems to be, I can't help but think that there was nothing on offer that I couldn't do with the Pixel 9 Pro.

To the point where, if I had to make that choice, I'd probably just buy a Pixel 9 Pro and save myself a couple of hundred dollars. Here are my pros and cons of the new phone.

Google Pixel 10 Pro: The pros

Qi2 wireless charging

The one piece of hardware that has definitely changed is the wireless charging system. Google added Qi2 wireless charging this year, and not in the half-hearted way Samsung added it to the Galaxy S25 series. This has the new charging protocol and the magnetic ring, with no need for any kind of special case. Which I had done with Pixel 9 Pro, with mixed results.

While the wireless charging speed has been reduced on the 10 Pro (the 10 Pro XL is a different story), having Qi2 comes with extra benefits. The magnets, of course, offer improved alignment for magnetic chargers and the ability to snap on various accessories.

Not to mention the fact that the Qi2 standard is faster than Qi1 (15W vs 7.5W) and has adaptive charging, which ensures your phone is only taking as much power as it needs. All of which works together for a better and more efficient wireless charging experience.

Better AI features

AI is Google's main focus right now, and the Pixel phones often come with the latest and best AI features — some of which are exclusive to Google-made phones. The Pixel 10 Pro is no exception, and offers a bunch of AI features that haven't made their way to older devices just yet.

One of my favorites is Camera Coach. It may be simple, but it's an easy way to make sure your photo comes out looking better than it might have done otherwise. Likewise, the Magic Cue assistant, while subtle, can pop up at some useful points to help you figure out what's going on. Then of course there's conversational editing, which lets you tell Photos what kind of AI edits you need to make — rather than having to do it all yourself

I know that some of these features might come to other Pixels, including the Pixel 9 Pro, but for now, they're useful, albeit small, upgrades to the Pixel 10 series.

100x SuperRes Zoom

While also technically an AI feature, the Pixel 9 Pro's 40x zoom can't compete with the 100x magnification offered on the Pixel 10 Pro. While the in-camera preview isn't anything to celebrate, once the generative AI processing gets involved, you end up with some extremely impressive photos of stuff your camera normally wouldn't be able to capture.

Is using generative AI cheating? Maybe. But as long as it's not hallucinating stuff that isn't there, it's one of my favorite new additions to the Pixel 10 Pro.

Google Pixel 10 Pro: The Cons

The cameras are the same

Google is all about the camera quality, especially with post-shot processing, but there comes a point where you can't make any meaningful improvements to photo quality without upgraded hardware. In my testing with the Pixel 10 Pro, I found that the photos it produced were more or less identical to shots taken with the Pixel 9 Pro.

They're good photos, don't get me wrong, but the fact is that you expect some kind of significant improvement between generations. Especially since Google has pushed the Tensor chips and made excuses for the weak performance, with the promise that they help improve camera quality (among other things).

Battery life is barely improved

Google phones have always struggled with battery life, especially in the years since the launch of the very first Tensor chip. Things have improved over the last few years, but the Pixel 10 series didn't get nearly as many gains as the Pixel 9s did last year. In fact, according to our testing, the Pixel 10 Pro only managed to get an extra six minutes of battery life compared to the Pixel 9 Pro, which is far from ideal.

The battery life isn't exactly terrible, but it's a long way off earning a place on our best phone battery life page. There are even days when I struggle to keep the phone alive, and have to do some recharging before I go to bed. A minor increase may be better than a loss of battery life, but it would still be nice for Google to keep making gains the same way Apple seems to be able to.

Performance is still weak

The big problem with the Tensor chips is that they suck at offering raw performance. The Tensor G5 may be more powerful than the G4, but the gains aren't particularly big — and it's still miles behind the likes of Apple's A-series and Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Google will tell you that it doesn't matter, and that the point of the Tensor series is to improve AI processing, photography and security. But, to be completely honest, Qualcomm and Apple can offer that too. And we're getting to the stage where I'm not sure if Tensor is going to be able to compete for much longer.

Bottom line

The Pixel 10 Pro is one of the best phones Google has ever made, but is it actually the phone you should be buying? It has a few extra things to offer, but it's certainly not a very exciting upgrade. When you consider how dull and iterative a lot of new phones seem to be, that is saying something.

If you still have a Pixel 9 Pro, then I recommend that you keep hold of it for a little longer. It's a great phone, has another 6 years of software support left in it, and isn't missing out on much so far. If you're looking to buy a Pixel, then the decision is a little trickier to make. But, considering the Pixel 9 Pro is still easily available, you might be able to pick up a brand new model that's on sale — getting you a similar Pixel 10 Pro experience without spending a grand.

Just make sure that your magnetic MagSafe/Qi2 case is good quality, or else you won't be able to use magnetic chargers. I made that mistake, so trust me on that.

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One of the higher entries on my Pixel 10 wishlist was a brand new Pixel Stand wireless charger — ideally one that was Qi2 compliant. What we got was the Pixelsnap Stand, which is not quite what I was expecting.

As happy as I am that Google has finally brought magnetic accessory support to Pixel phones, via the Pixelsnap feature, the new charger itself is a major disappointment.

It's more like a removable case for Google's Pixelsnap wireless charger, and not a standalone charging stand the way the Pixel Stands were. While that adds a little versatility — letting you remove the wireless charging pad if the need arises — it lacks two of the things I liked most about having the Pixel Stand 2.

What is the Pixelsnap Stand?

The Pixelsnap stand comes in two parts. The first is Google's Pixelsnap charger, a Qi 2.2-certified wireless charging puck capable of offering speeds up to 25W — but only on Pixel 10 Pro XL. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 are both limited to standard Qi2 charging, which tops out at 15W.

The stand is, well, a stand. The charging puck slots inside it, with the cable trailing off to whatever power source you choose — something you have to supply yourself. The puck is where all the actual technology is, including the magnets, and without it the stand part is basically a glorified paperweight.

The stand weighs around 12 ounces without the Pixelsnap plug and around 14 ounces in total. As a paperweight, it would probably do a good job too. Not that people actually use paperweights anymore.

Really it just had me wondering why it was so heavy. I get it needs to have some weight to avoid tipping over under the weight of the phone. But considering the Pixel Stand 2 weighed just over 9 ounces, and was considerably bulkier, I'm curious as to what Google's thought process was.

As you'd expect from a magnetic charging stand, all you need to do is slap the back of your Pixel 10 (or Qi2-compliant iPhone) to the stand to get the charging going. Plus it will work with certain cases, like Google's official Pixelsnap cases.

The heat is an issue

While it works very well, the Pixelsnap stand has one fatal flaw that I can't really accept: It produces a lot of heat. And I mean a lot, regardless of which phone you're actually using. I've tested it with the Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10, Pixel 9 Pro (with a case) and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. All of them started getting pretty hot pretty quickly.

Obviously heat and wireless charging have a long, storied history. Even Apple's MagSafe has a reputation for running hot. Even though the magnets are supposed to offer perfect alignment of the charging coils, and ensure less energy is wasted as heat, it can't stop that heat from being produced.

After 10 minutes of wireless charging I found the Pixel 10 Pro came out with a temperature of around 95 degrees Fahrenheit (measured from the back with the Pixel 9 Pro's temperature sensor). That's pretty warm for the outside of a phone, when the ambient room temperature was 30 degrees cooler. The iPhone 15 Pro Max came out at around 90 degrees after a similar amount of time charging.

I should also point out that the Pixel 10 Pro felt an awful lot hotter, but I didn't have the foresight to check the temperature at the time. We're not talking skin burning temperatures, but it was still hot enough to make it uncomfortable to hold.

One of the reasons I was never a fan of wireless charging was the excess heat build-up, and a big reason why I liked the Pixel Stand 2 so much was that it actively aimed to deal with that problem. It's not something you typically see on wireless chargers, even the first generation Pixel Stand was fan free, but it really helped change my mind about what wireless charging could do.

Sadly the Pixelsnap Stand so far hasn't really carried on that momentum — and is instead sending me back to square one.

Android's screensaver feature is good, but lacks one key thing

Since the Pixelsnap stand support Qi2, rather than a proprietary charger for Pixel phones, it has to be suitable for just about every phone that comes its way. That means there's no extra hardware that triggers special modes on the phone, as was the case with a Pixel Stand and "Stand Mode." But Android 16 does have a "screen saver" feature that does functionally the same thing — with a little bit more user control.

The feature is good since it makes it a heck of a lot easier to control than Stand Mode used to be. It was very finicky, and you had to tap specific areas of the screen to get anywhere, and could be a hassle if you forgot what to do. Screen saver is all in the settings, and laid out in a way that anyone can use.

Crucially, it's not limited to wireless charging, or even Qi2. Like Apple's Stand Mode, it can be configured to turn on whenever you start charging — and regardless of your phone's orientation. You don't even need a stand, your phone can be lying on the counter and the screensaver will show up anyway.

The one thing it lacks is the ability to control charging speed. The Pixel Stand 2 offered the option to charge slowly or at the maximum possible speed — a setting that also controlled the fans in the back of the charger. In the past this also included a "normal" setting, which was a balance between speed and temperature.

The Pixel 10 can't seem to do this, even with the Pixel Stand 2 supplying power. Considering one of the lauded benefits of Qi2 is adaptive power, which intelligently adjusts charging rate rather than supplying a constant wattage, it's surprising that this isn't hidden somewhere in the settings.

Sure, the Pixelsnap charger may not have cooling fans, but it would still be nice to have a little more control over how fast it charges. At the very least it would help to reduce all that heat, even if there aren't any fans to help pick up the slack.

Bottom line: It's all rather underwhelming (and expensive)

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The Pixel 10 lineup was only announced two weeks ago, but the rumor mill churns ever on as new Pixel 10a leaks have already started to filter out. But these early leaks aren't painting a compelling picture of Google's next budget-friendly phone..

Google's Pixel A series phones usually come out in the first half of the year, bringing many of the Pixel flagship features to a more affordable device. However, the latest Pixel 10a rumors sound like that upcoming model will have more in common with the Pixel 9 than the Pixel 10.

According to the tipster Mystic Leaks (via Android Police) the Pixel 10 will feature UFS 3.1 storage. This is slower and older than the UFS 4.0 NAND now in the Pixel 10 Pro models. The newer storage is significantly faster and more power-efficient than the 3.1 version.

Additionally, Mystic Leaks claims the Pixel 10a will not have a telephoto lens. Google just added one to the standard Pixel 10 this year, though perhaps it's not surprising that Google would not extend that feature to the midrange Pixel 10a.

Weaker chip

It's rumored that Google will use the older Tensor G4 chip in the 10a, rather than the G5 processor in the Pixel 10 series. That does mean that new AI features might not be available on the Pixel 10a.

One casualty could be the genius AI feature Magic Cue that uses on-device AI to "understand" you via contextual information from your apps and services like a proactive sidekick.

As an example, in text messages a friend asks for your flight details. Magic Cue will read the conversation and will show your itinerary which it pulled from Gmail — no searching and copy-pasting needed.

The Tensor G4 chip may not be powerful enough for this feature, but we'll see if it filters down to the Pixel 9 series over the coming months. Google could change its mind between now and then.

It's not unprecedented for the Pixel A phone to miss out on AI features introduced in the flagships. This year's Pixel 9a doesn't offer the Pixel Screenshots app or Call Notes feature found on the Pixel 9, as the 9a relies on a scaled-back version of Gemini Nano.

Outlook

Additionally, Android Police reports that the Pixel 10a display will got a slight brightness boost to 2,000 nits, a bit bigger than the 1,800 nits on the Pixel 9a.

We'll see if Google makes other improvements over the Pixel 9a to make the Pixel 10a a more compelling upgrade once it arrives in 2026.

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Nearly every night I’m outside setting up for some kind of astrophotography shoot, and since I’ve been testing the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro XL for the past week, I thought I’d put them to the test.

Given how I was impressed with the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s astrophotography performance when I tested it out last year, my expectations are naturally high for the new model. The Pixel 10 Pro XL has a dedicated astrophotography mode, so long as the phone is placed on a tripod or remaining very still.

While I was imaging patches of the night sky in my backyard with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, I got an alert that NASA’s rocket launch from its Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia was greenlit to move forward.

I had less than 10 minutes to get to a prime spot, so I quickly picked up my gear along with my Pixel 10 Pro XL to get down to the beach to get the best, unobstructed view of the launch. As soon as I got myself situated, that’s when this phenomena appeared in the sky — and it was truly special.

NASA Wallops rocket launch with Pixel 10 Pro XL

Just a little over a minute after the launch, a phenomenon manifested in the sky. With my Pixel 10 Pro XL strapped into a tripod, I switched over to Night Sight Mode and proceeded to shoot photos and videos. The vapor trails from the rockets were immediately visible in the photo above, but that was just the beginning.

When the rocket plunged from the atmosphere, the most impressive spectacle of this launch happened. It almost looked like there was a rip in space-time from the iridescence of the vapor trails expanding, resulting in a giant lightning bolt appearing stuck in place.

I even managed to catch a telephoto shot of this moment with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, which exposed a lot more of the vapor trail.

Eventually the vapor trails began to dissipate in the night sky, producing this ghostly halo-esque fixture. The Pixel 10 Pro XL did an amazing job of capturing this rare event, including the Night Sight Video I recorded, but my night wasn’t done just yet.

Pixel 10 Pro XL astrophotography results

This time of the year, there aren’t many notable deep space objects to image in the night sky where I live. Or at least, ones that are large enough targets for the Pixel 10 Pro XL to capture. Nevertheless, I pointed the phone to different parts of the sky and snapped the images above.

To get the best astrophotography results with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, you'll want to put it on a tripod, and then wait for the Night Sight shutter button in the camera app to change to one that looks like stars. That’s when you know it’s in astrophotography mode, which can take upwards of 4 minutes to capture a single shot.

It’s worth waiting that long because the phone is able to absorb as much light as possible, while minimizing the noise that typically crops up in the shadows.

I also like how there’s not as much of that banding effect that some other phones produce with long exposure photography. And while there’s Pro Controls to let me adjust the shutter speed, ISO, and other settings, you really don’t need to bother with them because astrophotography mode works so well.

At the same time, the Pixel 10 Pro XL also creates a short timelapse clip that shows the movement of the stars, which you can see above in the gallery.

Unfortunately, the moon wasn’t visible at all, nor were there large enough galaxies and nebulas for me to try out its zoom performance. At one point I tried a zoom shot of Jupiter, but it only produced a twinkling shot of the planet.

I do intend to capture more astrophotography with the Pixel 10 Pro XL closer to the fall, when there are better targets to image: the Seven Sisters cluster, Great Orion Nebula, and the Andromeda Galaxy. I’m definitely curious to see what the phone's 100x Pro Res Zoom does to enhance them.

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The Google Pixel 10's focus on on-device AI may end up holding back its performance long-term, based on discoveries made by Android Authority.

AA discovered that, while the base Pixel 10 comes with 12GB RAM, about 3.4GB of it is permanently locked off to run the AICore background service and to assist the Tensor G5's TPU (the AI-focused part of the chipset). Therefore users only have free access to 8.6GB of RAM capacity.

Something similar happened with the Pixel 9 Pro models last year, but notably not the basic Pixel 9. But a key difference is that these phones had a smaller 2.6GB reservation, and all the Pro models had 16GB RAM total to play with as they do this year.

The reserved RAM is there to prevent the need to load the AI back-end into memory each time the user wants to access it. It means that features like Magic Cue, Voice Translate and Pixel Studio are always ready to go, rather than leaving you to stare at a loading screen before doing anything productive.

Locking off three-and-a-half gigs of RAM is less of an issue on the Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and the yet unreleased Pixel 10 Pro Fold, as these all use 16GB RAM. But this is over a quarter of the base Pixel 10's RAM that users will never be able to take advantage of on their own terms, unless Google changes things with an update.

Is this worth it?

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The Pixel 10 Pro may seem like the epitome of "we get the same phone every year," that doesn't necessarily mean that it's a bad phone. While the upgrades may seem pretty minimal compared to the Pixel 9 Pro, there's still a lot to love about the new Google Pixel 10 Pro — especially since it can do things that older Pixels can't.

But it's rare to find a good reason to upgrade every year, so those of you rocking older phones may be in the mood for a brand new model. With the Pixel 10 Pro now on sale, it's time to decide whether it's the right device for you or not.

In our Pixel 10 Pro review, we found there is a lot to like about Google's new phone. But there are a few reasons why you might want to consider picking up a totally different phone. To help you make up your mind, here are the reasons why you'd want to buy the Pixel 10 Pro, and a few reasons why you may want to skip over this particular device.

Google Pixel 10 Pro: Reasons to buy

It's got full Qi2 support

While it's not the first Android phone to offer Qi2 support, it is the first premium phone to offer the full package. That means the Pixel 10 Pro offers a full ring of MagSafe-compatible magnets, 15W wireless charging speeds and the adaptive power capabilities that will help preserve battery health in the long term. Not to mention the instant coil alignment that keeps wireless charging running at maximum efficiency.

Crucially, this opens up a whole new range of accessories and chargers for the Pixel 10 Pro. Neater-looking magnetic stands and tripods, faster non-Google charging stands, plus the ability to use (and swap) various magnetic grips, wallets and other accessories without relying on adhesives.

The battery life is still great

Battery life has never been particularly strong on Pixel phones, but the Pixel 9 series made a huge leap forward. The Pixel 10 Pro hasn't improved by quite a significant amount, but in our battery testing it did last 13 hours and 43 minutes — 6 minutes longer than the Pixel 9 Pro. It may only be a few minutes longer, but the numbers are definitely going in the right direction.

Sure we'd like the Pixel to have some of the best phone battery life around, rivalling the likes of Samsung and OnePlus, but I found that the 10 Pro's battery was more than enough to last a typical day. I think most people can live with that.

It's got a bunch of cool new AI tools

It wouldn't be a new Pixel launch if we didn't have any extra AI tools to help bolster the phone's capabilities. The most impressive of these is Ask Photos, a generative AI editing tool that lets you make changes to photos with verbal or written commands. No more having to fiddle with the various editing tools to get the effect you like.

On top of that we have Camera Coach, which gives you tips on how to improve the composition of your shots, by scanning what the camera can see. There's also a new automatic version of Best Take, that fixes your group shots without your input, and improvements to Add Me that supports larger groups and pets.

And we can't forget Magic Cue, the assistant that helps surface key information in Google apps when it thinks you need it most. That includes things like 2FA codes, travel plans, delivery tracking and more.

The screen is even brighter

The Super Actua screen just got even more super, with Google saying that it's pushing the maximum brightness up from 3,000 nits to 3,300. I can attest to the fact that this screen is absolutely blinding in the right circumstances. Naturally that extra brightness means a much better viewing experience in all kinds of environments, especially ones with particularly bright lighting.

So if you actually want to be able to see what your phone is doing during extremely sunny weather, then the Pixel 10 Pro is one to consider.

The cameras are great, and enhanced by 100x zoom

The Pixel 10 Pro's camera hardware hasn't changed all that much since last year, that doesn't matter a whole lot. Not only does it still produce excellent photos, it also comes with a bunch of cool new features that may be worth the upgrade anyway — notably the 100X Super Pro Res Zoom.

This features optical and digital zoom to focus on objects far away, and combines it with generative AI to essentially "unblur" the final product. It's incredible how much detail it's able to reproduce after post-shot processing, and it means you can shoot photos of things much further away than the old 30x Pro Res Zoom feature.

Google Pixel 10 Pro: Reasons to skip

It's not that much better than 9 Pro

It may be cliche to say that phones barely change each year, but there's an air of truth to it when Pixel 10 Pro is concerned. While it's not identical to the Pixel 9 Pro, the hardware differences between the two are pretty minimal. A brighter display, slightly bigger battery and the addition of Qi2 wireless charging. These are all important upgrades, but it feels like the phone has been left out compared to the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro XL.

As I wrote in my Pixel 10 Pro review, it's quite hard to recommend this phone to anyone that has a Pixel 9 Pro already — that's how similar they are. The screen is essentially the same (brightness aside), while our testing shows there's little discernible difference in both battery life and photo quality. The 10 Pro doesn't do any of these things badly, but it's not exactly an improvement either.

Tensor G5 still lags in the performance department

In a revelation that should surprise absolutely nobody, the Pixel 10 Pro's Tensor G5 chipset is not exactly a performance powerhouse — not on the same level as the Snapdragon 8 Elite or the Apple A18 Pro. There has been a noticeable improvement in benchmark scores, but the chip still lags pretty far behind its competition.

While this may not matter for your everyday browsing habits, especially if you want the benefit of Tensor-exclusive AI features, it does mean the phone will struggle with more resource-heavy functions. Gaming at high settings, video transcoding, and other things that require a fair bit of computing power to pull off.

Starting storage is still 128GB

While the Pixel 10 Pro XL has scrapped the 128GB storage option in favor of 256GB, the Pixel 10 Pro has not. While this means the cost of entry hasn't changed, it does mean that picking the cheapest option is going to limit how much you can physically keep on your phone at any given time. And as time goes on, that much storage is going to feel like it's holding less and less.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Bottom Line

There's a lot to like about the Pixel 10 Pro, especially since the physical price of the phone hasn't changed this year. Solid cameras, a bunch of useful new AI features, and a battery life should at you through a typical day.

Though none of this changes the fact that the phone is remarkably similar to last year's model, and the other repeated issues Pixel phones have endured over the years. Particularly the weak performance power of the Tensor series chips. Which may be enough to put you off this particular upgrade.

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Google's latest Pixel 10 lineup of phones comes with a number of enticing upgrades, but they're also missing Battery Share, a notable absence compared to previous Pixel handsets. However, there may be a good reason for the removal.

If you're unaware, Battery Share is Google's take on reverse wireless charging, meaning your Pixel phone could wirelessly charge other devices. It's a common feature in some of the best Android phones, and one that Apple may steal for the iPhone 17 Pro, but it's missing on the Pixel 10.

Google has a reason as the company told the Portuguese site DroidReader (via TechRadar) that the magnets used to enable Qi2 magnetic wireless charging "creates a strong connection with the charger but presents a physical limitation for reverse wireless charging.”

Simply, adding Qi2 magnetic wireless charging meant there wasn't room for Battery Share components. This might be a good thing.

PixelSnap

Qi2 charging helped Google introduced Pixesnap, the one Pixel 10 upgrade everyone should be excited about. Essentially, Pixelsnap finally gives Android devices a version of MagSage charging.

It creates an ecosystem of chargers and accessories, including stands and grips, that will attach to your Pixel 10 phones with magnets. It's the true Qi2 experience that Android devices have been waiting years for.

As one Reddit thread shows the decision is a mixed bag. "Battery share I found to be such a useful feature. I think it's a shame if we can't have both," wrote one commenter.

Others claimed to have used Battery Share but found it inefficient. While many said they weren't even aware the feature was available on their phones.

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I don't really spend much time mulling over the contents of our best password manager page, and the various options that are recommended. However it does not surprise me in the slightest that Google's password manager is not on that list.

It's not that it's particularly bad at its job, but it is an absolute pain to deal with most of the time. Thankfully it seems that the launch of the Pixel 10, and various Android 16 upgrades that coincide with it, may have fixed one of the most glaring issues.

Unfortunately I don't think it goes far enough, and Google should steal some of Apple Passwords' ideas instead.

The problem with Google password manager

The big issue with Google's password manager over the years is that it was buried in a maze of menus across various Google platforms. Especially on Android where you had to delve into various Google account settings to see what's there and to access the information on offer.

Admittedly, I can kind of understand what Google was going for with this system. The goal seems to be that Google wanted a password system that worked autonomously, using autofill to enter passwords for you whenever they're needed.

This later changed when Google let you add a password shortcut to your Android home screen. Though, this too required you to dive further into the settings to find that particular option. By this point I had more or less given up on the idea of Google Passwords by that point anyway. It may have been free, but it always felt like such a chore to actually use that I ended up paying for a competitor.

While I'm only paying somewhere around $1.50 a month for my current password manager (NordPass), the fact I'm paying for a premium password manager when a free one was available is, admittedly, pretty dumb. But that's the state of what Google's password manager was at the time.

Now, though, Google seems to have fixed this issue by turning the password manager into its own app (of sorts).

The fix so far

As spotted by 9to5Google, Google Password Manager now exists as its own thing on the Play Store, letting you download it to a bunch of Android phones — if not all of them. You literally just need to head over there on your phone and tap install, and Google Password Manager will exist in app form on your phone.

Of course, the only difference between this "app" and the old shortcut option is the process of acquiring them. They go to exactly the same place, and offer the same access to your Google-stored passwords. It's just that one comes from Google Play and the other one involves some serious menu navigation.

The added benefit of it being a Play app also means that Google could enforce a rule that requires Android phone makers to include the password manager out of the box. Much like it does with apps like Google Docs and Maps. That should make password managers a little more accessible on Android, since there's no actual effort required to get them. So long as users actually set up and save complex passwords instead of using the same password for every single account they own.

Of course the fact the Google Password Manager hasn't changed, despite now being an official Play Store app, is problematic in itself. Because we've already seen that other free password managers can offer a whole lot more than simply securing your login details.

Google needs to follow Apple's lead

I have been extremely impressed by the Apple Password Manager, which launched last year alongside iOS 18. Not because it solved the outstanding issue of accessing the iCloud Password Keychain more easily, or that it was freely available to all Apple device users. It was the fact that Apple turned it into more than just an ordinary password manager.

It's not just a place to store login details or passkeys. It's also home to ever-changing authenticator codes and Wi-Fi passwords, while also altering you if any of your details have been detected in data breaches. It is your single go-to place for all things security.

Google offers these things too. The latter is part of the existing Password Manager, and the Authenticator app has been a staple part of my phone for well over a decade. But the fact that Apple has merged all these things so they're available in a single location, and locked it behind biometric security by default, means it's a heck of a lot more convenient — and has that extra feeling of security.

Is putting everything together in a single spot a good idea? I have no idea, to be honest. There's also the fact Apple Passwords lacks the ability to store secure notes, documents and contacts — something all good password managers offer. But the fact that everything can be accessed in a single spot is very helpful, and it makes it all the more likely people will take advantage of that. Especially since it's free, and works across all your devices.

Matching what Apple does with Apple Passwords should be next on Google's list of priorities. Then it can focus on surpassing that, and gunning for the dedicated password managers. Because the sooner I can downgrade my Nord subscription to just the VPN, the happier I will be.

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With the release of the Google Pixel 10 series, I’ve been thinking a lot about Apple, mainly the fact that I’ve been an iPhone user for as long as I’ve had a smartphone. I've been using the iPhone 15 Pro Max for a while now, and it's slowly getting to the point where I need to consider my next move.

However, as I recently wrote, I'm not that invested in buying another iPhone or Samsung device due to a lack of any real changes between the generations. At the time, I wasn’t certain what brand I wanted to move to, but the recent Made By Google event has made a solid case.

Here’s the thing, Google phones have always been devices that I was aware of, but had no real interest in. However, that's been changing over the last few months, especially as Pixel phones usually manage to find a place in our lists for the best phones you can buy.

Luckily, I was able to grab the Google Pixel 9a for the week to get an idea of what using a Google Pixel phone. With that in mind, let's break down what it was like using the phone and what I thought its strengths and weaknesses were in comparison.

The Pixel design is a bit off-putting, but there are some benefits

Now, I want to first clear up that I will not be referring to the size difference between the two phones. There is no getting past the fact that the iPhone 15 Pro Max is bigger than the Pixel 9a. However, the points I am looking at aren't really focused on the size of the device. Plus, in my time using the phone, it wasn't the size of the display on the Pixel 9a that was the cause of my design issues.

For some reason, and it’s one that I really can’t comprehend, Google has decided to put the volume and sleep button on the same side of the phone. Meanwhile, on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the two sets of buttons are split. I ended up constantly turning off the display when I wanted to increase the volume or vice versa.

If I am honest, this isn’t an issue that would likely plague me for long; instead, I’d probably adjust over time. However, one aspect that continued to be an annoyance was the size of the bezels alongside the screen, and the size of the camera cutout. While I know the Pixel 9a is smaller, it still offers less screen space than it really should due to this.

It’s not all bad, though, as I really like the camera area on the Pixel 9a. The bar where the two cameras rest isn't too big, nor is it too pronounced. When I hold the phone, it feels much more comfortable than a similarly sized iPhone would.

Google makes up for some of Apple's software failings

One of the biggest complaints you tend to hear about Pixel phones is the relative lack of power, and it’s an understandable issue. The fact is that the Tensor series chips have never been all that stellar in raw output. However, in the interest of fairness, that’s because the Tensor series chips are designed to focus more on getting the most out of AI (an area Apple struggles with.)

When it comes to daily use, you’ll likely not notice that much of a difference between an iPhone and a Pixel. The only time that you’ll notice it is when it comes to performing more intensive tasks, like gaming or editing videos. I don’t really do much of the latter, so that’s not really an issue. Gaming is a bit more complicated to answer, but in truth, most games I play on phones are usually the simpler games you'd find on Apple Arcade, rather than something like the latest Gears of War.

One other main area that many people will be looking at is AI, and there’s no doubt that Pixel has the advantage here. Let’s be real, Apple has fumbled when it comes to Apple Intelligence, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be getting its act together any time soon. The Google Pixel series, meanwhile, has a host of features that are either here or on their way.

Speaking of AI, the one I most often use is my phone's Assistant, which on Apple is Siri. Now, Siri works fine for the most part, or at least it does as much as it can. However, it’s a bit limited and I don’t tend to use it beyond asking it to call people while I’m driving.

The Google Pixel 9a, on the other hand, makes use of Google Gemini as its AI assistant, and it’s clearly a hundred times better. The functionality and what it can do offer a vastly improved experience, one that I would happily recommend to my friends and family.

what about cameras?

I will be the first to admit that I really don't use the cameras on my phone all that much. For instance, I don't recall a time when I used the wide-angle camera on a phone beyond using it for work. Instead, I only ever really use the main camera and the selfie cameras in my day-to-day life. With that in mind, let's compare the two on both phones.

If we look at the above slide, you'll see a comparison between the 48MP main camera on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the 48MP main camera on the Pixel 9a. Overall, both images are solid enough that I wouldn't mind having either. However, I will say that the Google Pixel 9a has slightly more definition, at least to me.

I also wanted to see how the 12MP selfie camera on the iPhone 15 Pro Max compared to the 13MP camera on the Pixel 9a. Again, not really any major difference at a glance (although I'm now worried about that statue getting closer.) Honestly, I'm surprised how similar the two are, especially considering the Pixel 9a only costed $499 at release compared to the $1,199 iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Was it a decent trade off?

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The Pixel 10 goes against the notion that phones these days don't change all that much from year to year. Yes, the latest flagship from Google shares a lot of elements with its predecessor, but a Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 comparison reveals some pretty significant upgrades, too.

In fact, the Pixel 10 offers enough new features to tempt would-be upgraders, particularly if your current phone is a few years old. And with Pixel 10 preorders now underway ahead of the phone's August 28 release, deciding whether or not to get a Pixel 10 should be at the top of your to-do list.

Our initial hands-on with the Pixel 10 found a lot to like about Google's new phone. But there's a couple reasons why you may want to look elsewhere for your next handset. While we put together a full Pixel 10 review, here are the reasons to buy the Pixel 10 as well as a few counterarguments on why you should consider taking a pass on this particular model.

Google Pixel 10: Reasons to buy

There's now a telephoto camera

In recent years, if you wanted a dedicated zoom lens on your phone, the only option with the Pixel was to upgrade to the pricier Pro models. The Pixel 10 lineup no longer forces your hand, though, as Google has included a 10.8MP telephoto lens on the entry-level model. Even better, the Pixel 10 can support the same 5x optical zoom found on the Pixel 10 Pro models.

The arrival of that dedicated zoom lens puts the Pixel 10 in select company. Right now, the only other $799 flagship to come with a zoom lens is the Galaxy S25. And Samsung's phone is limited to a 3x optical zoom, so the Pixel tops it there.

Yes, Google's Super Res Zoom has done a pretty job of mimicking a zoom lens, and phones like the iPhone 16 use a high-resolution main camera to approximate a 2x optical zoom. But there's no beating a dedicated lens for crisper, more detailed zoom shots. And adding one to the Pixel 10 makes it a more versatile camera phone.

Better AI photo editing tools

You're likely considering a Pixel purchase because of Google's track record producing some of the best camera phones. And new AI-powered capabilities on board the Pixel 10 should go a long way toward making your photos look even better.

One of the more impressive capabilities is a new Ask Photos feature where you can tell the Gemini assistant exactly what kind of changes you want to make, and those edits will be made for you. You can use Ask Photos to do everything from removing reflections from shots to changing the outfit you're wearing. It makes sophisticated photo edits as simple as typing out or speaking instructions.

But that's not the extent of the photo editing features at your disposal on the Pixel 10. Camera Coach shows you real-time options for improving your photos or taking very specific types of shots when you're trying to capture an image. And Auto Best Take taps into AI to make sure everyone in a photo is looking their best, without requiring you to take multiple shots that can be combined into one.

Magic Cue

The AI features powered by the Pixel 10's Tensor G5 chipset go beyond photo editing to tackle other tasks. And one of the most impressive we've seen demoed thus far is Magic Cue.

Magic Cue automatically surfaces information you need when you're on a phone call, replying to an email or texting someone. Let's say a friend asks you via text when they need to pick you up at the airport; Magic Cue will automatically search through your phone to find your flight itinerary from an email and bring up that info in a bubble that you can then use to formulate a reply.

If it works as advertised, all this data retrieval happens without any intervention on your part. Essentially, your Pixel will be able to anticipate exactly what you need and bring it to your attention when you need it. That's truly useful AI that makes your phone a much more valuable tool at helping you handle your day-to-day business.

A brighter screen

Get the Pixel 10, and you'll still have the same 6.3-inch display that the Pixel 9 featured. But for this version, Google is boosting the peak brightness.

Specifically, the Pixel 10 promises a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, an uptick from the 2,700-nit peak the Pixel 9 promised. In our testing, the Pixel 9 got up to 1,769 nits, and that's bright enough to see in direct sunlight. The Pixel 10 screen should be even more visible, assuming it can top that mark.

Potentially better battery life

Pixel phones have been making progress when it comes to lasting longer on a charge, but there's still more work to be done. From the Pixel 10 specs, though, it sounds like Google's latest phone stands a good chance of continuing that momentum.

First of all, the 4,970 mAh battery in the Pixel 10 is larger than the 4,700 mAh power pack that the Pixel 9 relied on. The Tensor G5 chipset powering the new phone is also built on a 3nm process, as opposed to the 4nm Tensor G4. That means the transistors are packed closer together, which helps make the chip manage power more efficiently.

Those changes figure to help the Pixel 10 improve upon the Pixel 9's average time of 12.5 hours in our battery test, where phones surf the web until they run out of juice. That's about 2 hours better than the average smartphone, so any improvement from the Pixel 10 would be a welcome one.

Google Pixel 10: Reasons to skip

The Pro models have more powerful features

The new telephoto camera puts the Pixel 10 on more level terms with Google's Pro models, but make no mistake — you still get more by going Pro.

Both the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL support a Pro Res Zoom feature that supports 100x zooms; the Pixel 10 and its Super Res Zoom top out at 20x. You also get more sophisticated video features with the Pixel 10 Pro, including 8K video capture, Night Sight video and Video Boost for elevating colors, lighting and details in your footage. Pixel 10 Pro models also come with a year of Google AI Pro.

If any of those features matter to you, the Pixel 10 will fall short of what you need.

Tensor G5 likely to lag behind other silicon

Let's be clear about a few things up front: The Tensor G5 should deliver improved performance over the Tensor G4. In fact, Google's promising a 34% boost to the CPU.

Even so — and with the caveat that we'll need to test the Pixel 10 to confirm this — the Tensor G5 isn't likely to match the performance provided by the Snapdragon 8 Elite silicon that powers many of the best Android phones. It's likely to lag behind Apple's A18 chipsets as well, to say nothing of the A19 silicon set to debut with the iPhone 17 lineup this fall.

That may not matter to some people, as past Pixels have lagged behind flagship phones from Samsung, Apple and OnePlus in CPU and graphics testing, even while Google's phones can handle most everyday tasks, including graphically-demanding games. In terms of real world performance, you may not notice a Tensor chip's relative pokiness when put up against other chips. But if you want the absolute fastest performance from a smartphone, the Pixel is still unlikely to unseat the champs.

Google Pixel 10 outlook

There's plenty to like about the Pixel 10, including the fact that Google has kept the starting price the same as the $799 it charged for the Pixel 9. Throw in the improved cameras, bigger battery, brighter display and new AI capabilities, and it's quite a compelling option — assuming you don't need the features found in a more premium device.

More from Tom's Guide

• Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL hands-on review: A leap forward for AI
• This is the one Pixel 10 feature that proves Google is light years ahead of Apple on AI
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Google’s been at the forefront of AI-assisted photo editing with tools like Magic Eraser, Magic Editor, and Reimage, but the company has saved its best photo editing tool for its new Pixel 10 lineup. It’s called Ask Photos and lets you make quick and complex photo edits without any experience, all by just describing what you want.

It’s a game-changing feature that will save everyone time and can make anyone look like they’ve racked up hundreds of hours using professional grade photo editing software like Photoshop. I got to try it out on the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, and let me tell you it’s the tool I’ve always wanted.

Ask Photos is important in a number of ways because it shows the processing power of the Tensor G5 chip, the accuracy of its generative AI models, and most importantly, how easy it is to use for everyone. Let me explain.

What impresses me about Ask Photos is that it streamlines photo edits — no more menus to go through or tools to scroll through to find what you need. Ask Photos works within the Google Photo app and relies only on a text box to perform all sorts of edits.

I still use photo-editing apps and know how tedious it could be just to crop someone out of a photo, but Ask Photos gets straight to the point by just typing what you want to change. I snapped a selfie using the 42MP selfie camera of the Pixel 10 Pro XL and used Ask Photos to change my button down shirt into a blazer.

While it’s not as instant as I’d like, the end result is amazing. Not only did Ask Photos change my shirt to a blazer, but it also gave me a few other options to choose from. But I wasn’t satisfied with this yet, so I went after a more complex photo edit.

For my second request, I used Ask Photos on the Pixel 10 Pro XL to change the blazer into a plaid one, which you can see above. I don’t normally wear blazers, but I think Ask Photos did an amazing job convincing me that I should. However, I wasn’t done testing the feature out.

I proceeded to use Ask Photos to change the style of my glasses, add a top hat, and even include a chill looking cat on my shoulder. To my surprise, it did all of that and the result is just unbelievable.

Apple and Samsung better be worried. That’s because Google makes this feature so intuitive to use. Really, it just works, with no photo editing experience necessary.

Most of the requests I made revolve around transforming one element of a photo, but there’s more to Ask Photos than you think. You can ask it to restore an old photo you might have lying around, or perhaps remove a reflection or lens flare. However, the one thing I couldn’t do in my time using it was to make me look skinny.

Although Ask Photos is an exclusive feature to Google's new phones — the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro — it’s actually going to be rolling out as a feature within the Google Photos app. In other words, you’ll be able to tap into this with the iOS and Android versions of the app. If you prefer a more casual way of making these edits, you can also do them with voice commands.

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Google is trying to outdo itself with the Pixel 10 Pro that appeared at the Made by Google event in August ahead of its arrival in stores on August 28. The latest model features some significant new software features along with a handful of hardware improvements to really draw out the Google Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro differences.

The year-over-year changes may not be as substantial as the ones we found in our Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 face-off, but there's enough changes here aimed at convincing you to upgrade an older phone..

We're going to focus on the 6.3-inch Pro models in this face-off, though that device shares plenty in common with the 6.8-inch Pixel 10 Pro XL (save for the latter's larger screen and battery). Here's what you need to know if you're looking at what's changed with Google's latest Pro phone based on our Pixel 10 Pro hands-on.

Pixel 10 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro: Specs

Pixel 10 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro: Price

The Pixel 9 Pro cost $999 when it arrived last year, which matched the price of the Pixel 8 Pro before it. However, with Google shrinking the screen size on its Pro model to 6.3 inches — if you wanted a bigger screen, you had to pay $1,099 for the 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL — you could be excused if you thought you were getting more for less.

Now the good news: the Pixel 10 Pro price starts at the same $999 as its predecessor. You can currently preorder any Pixel 10 model including the Pro, with the phone arriving in stores August 28.

There is a Pro model that costs more this time around. The Pixel 10 Pro XL now starts at $1,199. which is $100 more than the Pixel 9 Pro XL. However, that older model featured 128GB in its base model, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL features 256GB. In essence, you're paying what you would for a 256GB Pixel 9 Pro XL; you just don't have the option of a cheaper configuration any more.

Pixel 10 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro: Design and display

At first glance, there's not a lot of difference between the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro in terms of design. Google recycled the same look for its Pro phones, though this year's model is fractionally thicker and heavier. That's to accommodate magnets on the back of the phone that provide full Qi2 wireless charging support while also attaching to Google's newly introduced lineup of Pixelsnap cases and charging stands.

Display sizes are the same as last year's, too — 6.3 inches on the Pro model and 6.8 inches on the Pro XL — though Google is going with a brighter panel for its Pixel 10 series. The screens are now rated for a peak brightness of 3,300 nits, up from 3,000 nits on the Pixel 9 Pro.

You get a choice of Porcelain, Obsidian, Moonstone, and Jade for the Pixel 10 Pro colors. Those last two options replace the Hazel and Rose Quartz hues Google offered with the Pixel 9 Pro.

Pixel 10 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro: Cameras

Take a good look at the Pixel 9 Pro camera up above, because nothing's really changed with the camera specs for the Pixel 10 Pro. You get the same 50MP wide-angle camera, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP 5x telephoto lens found on last year's model. The 42MP selfie is unchanged, too.

It may be disappointing that there's no upgrade like there is on the Pixel 10. (That more affordable flagship now offers a telephoto lens.) But the Pixel 9 Pro already ranked among the best camera phones and fared well in our Pixel 9 Pro vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra camera comparison. Still, it more or less means that anyone with a Pixel 9 Pro needn't bother upgrading.

But Google hasn't totally ignored the cameras on the Pixel 10 Pro, adding a number of AI-powered features including one specific to the Pro models. That would be Pro Res Zoom, which allows you to zoom up to 100x and still come away with a pretty clean shot, thanks to AI removing the noise that can result from extreme close-ups.

Other Pixel 10 Pro AI features focus on photo editing, like Camera Coach, which uses AI to help you find the best possible way to frame your shot or get a particular type of photo.

Ask Photos lets you give photo-editing commands to the Gemini assistant like remove glare from a photo and having the AI do all the heavy lifting for you.

And Auto Take cuts down on your need to take extra shots so that the best faces in each one can be merged into the perfect photo — now AI fine-tunes everyone's face.

Pixel 10 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro: Performance and AI features

Pixel phones aren't known for being the most powerful devices on the block, with Google-designed Tensor silicon trailing chipsets from Qualcomm and Apple in benchmark tests. Then again, Google typically puts a focus on the neural capabilities of its Tensor system-on-chip, which has helped the company win many an AI phone face-off.

The Tensor G5 chipset in the Pixel 10 Pro figures to change that, as it's built on a 3nm process, compared to the 4nm Tensor G4 in the Pixel 9 Pro. That's supposed to translate to 60% better TPU performance and 34% faster CPU performance according to Google's calculations.

But Tensor chips are still all about AI features, and there are plenty of new ones on board the Pixel 10 Pro in addition to the photo-editing features I detailed above. The highlight is Magic Cue which surfaces information stores on your phone as you need it — think getting the reservation details to appear on your screen before you reply to a friend who texted about where you're meeting for lunch.

Other AI features unique to the Pixel 10 series include an upgraded translation feature where AI mimics your voice to translate what you say on phone calls. Take a Message creates suggestions based on the context of whatever message is left when you miss a call.

Pixel 9 Pro owners got a year-long subscription to Gemini Advanced. With the Pixel 10 Pro, your 1-year subscription covers Google AI Pro.

Pixel 10 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro: Battery life and charging

Besides the improved power efficiency of a 3nm system-on-chip, the Pixel 10 Pro should benefit from a larger battery than its predecessor. Google is equipping its new phone with a 4,870 mAh power pack compared to 4,700 mAh in the Pixel 9 Pro.

The battery increase is even larger for the Pixel 10 Pro XL, as that phone uses a 5,200 mAh cell. The Pixel 9 Pro XL had a 5,060 mAh battery.

The Pixel 9 Pro reached 13.5 hours on our battery test, which involves surfing the web until a phone runs out of power. That's the best score we've seen from a Google phone since the switch to Tensor processors. We're hoping that the bigger batteries in the Pixel 10 Pro series top that result.

The Pixel 10 Pro offers 30W wired charging, a slight uptick from the 27W charging of the Pixel 9 Pro. The Pixel 10 Pro XL gets a more impressive 45W wired charging support. Qi2 wireless charging helps the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL charge at 15W and 25W, respectively.

Pixel 10 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro: Outlook

We're working on a full review of both new Pixel 10 Pro models, which will help us see just where they rank among the best phones overall. The hardware changes from the Pixel 9 Pro series may be modest, but it's the new AI capabilities where the latest phones will really stand out.

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The Google Pixel 10 may have just been unveiled, ahead of its August 28 launch, but is it the only option for potential Pixel hopefuls? After all, the Google Pixel 9 is only a year old, and typically older models enjoy some generous discounts once they hit that milestone.

Then again some phones simply disappear from store shelves, as focus is shifted to the new model. So which fate has befallen the Google Pixel 9? Can you still buy last year's Google phone, and how much is it going to cost you compared to the Pixel 10?

The good news is that the Pixel 9 is still available to purchase, as are the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. The bad news is that the prices haven't actually changed — they essentially cost the same as their Pixel 10 counterparts.

Pixel 9 at Google Store

If anyone was going to discount the Pixel 9 series, you'd think Google would be it. But checking the Google Store and there don't seem to be any discounts on Pixel 9 series devices as of this writing. That means the Pixel 9 is going to set you back at least $799, which is the exact same price as the Pixel 10.

Admittedly, the Pixel 9 is available right away and there seems to be plenty of stock available in all colors and storage options. The Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL aren't quite as readily available, but as long as you're not picky about the color you get then all the different storage options are available.

The Pixel 9 Pro still costs $999, the same as the Pixel 10 Pro, though the Pixel 9 Pro XL is $100 cheaper than its successor at $1,099. That lower price is due to the fact Google still sells the 9 Pro XL with 128GB of storage, which isn't the case for the Pixel 10 Pro XL and its 256GB base storage.

Pixel 9 at Amazon

Being the retail behemoth that it is, Amazon has a lot of different Pixel 9 options from a variety of sellers in various levels of condition — and it's not always obvious from the search menu whether you're looking at a new or refurbished model. For the sake of simplicity, I'm going to focus on devices that are brand new and unlocked.

Anyone hoping to pick up a Pixel 9 can get a $50 discount on the original $799 price tag — but only if they buy that phone in wintergreen. The black model has had no discount, and white is more expensive for some reason. Considering we've seen this phone drop as low as $499 in the past few weeks, I wouldn't recommend this deal at all.

The Pixel 9 Pro is a little bit better off, with a $909 price tag for the black model — the other options are apparently sold out. Again, though, that's not an amazing deal. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is much better value, with the black model dropping to $929, but that's still almost $150 more than the lowest ever price.

Google Pixel 9 at Best Buy

The good news is that the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro are both available to purchase at Best Buy. The bad news is that they're both listed at full price, and you can only get the Pro in black. Pixel 9 buyers have a little more choice, since the wintergreen option is also available.

Fortunately the Pixel 9 Pro XL is both in stock and discounted to $989 — which actually makes it slightly cheaper than the smaller Pixel 9 Pro. But it's still a lot higher than this phone's all-time low.

Pixel 9 at Walmart

Walmart is very much like Amazon, in that you're potentially buying from multiple sellers rather than Walmart itself. So there are a lot of used or refurbished Pixel 9 models listed for sale, which muddies things up slightly.

Sadly new and unlocked models appear to be out of stock across the entire Pixel 9 lineup. That means no Pixel 9, no Pixel 9 Pro and no Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Pixel 9 at AT&T

The Pixel 9 Pro XL is available at AT&T, though it appears the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro are unavailable. The former is out of stock, while the latter is apparently just not visible on the carrier's website.

However those of you hunting for the XL have some caveats to contend with. The first being that AT&T is only stocking the 256GB model, and it costs the same amount as the Pixel 10 Pro XL. To make the Pixel 9 Pro XL even less appealing, the 10 Pro XL has a pre-order bonus that nets you the handset for free with any eligible trade-in.

That same deal isn't on offer for the 9 Pro XL — meaning you'll have to pay the full $1,249 price out of pocket.

Pixel 9 at T-Mobile

All 3 non-folding Pixel 9 devices appear to be out of stock at T-Mobile, not that it would have mattered. The three phones are all listed with the same price tags as their Pixel 10 counterparts — which is full retail.

Pixel 9 at Verizon

The only Pixel 9 option available at Verizon is a 128GB Pixel 9 Pro for $999 — and like the Ford Model T, it's only available in black.

Both the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL are listed as out of stock, with no colors or storage options available to order.

Should you buy the Pixel 9 right now?

The question you may have right now is whether it's actually worth buying a Pixel 9, or Pixel 9 Pro, right now. Honestly, I would recommend against it for the time being. While stock levels do seem to be declining, being patient is far more likely to pay off.

Pixel 9s have been on sale a lot over the past 12 months, and those discounts were pushed to their extreme in the run-up to the Pixel 10 launch event. The Pixel 9 dropped below the cost of a full-price Pixel 9a, and in comparison the full $799 retail price seems like a complete rip-off. The same goes for the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL, which have dropped their prices by several hundred dollars in the recent past.

My gut would tell me that, faced with the prospect of paying the same price for a Pixel 9 and Pixel 10, you're better off picking the newer phone. But we are at that weird point between the Pixel 10 announcement and its actual release, which means we don't really have a complete picture of how the new phone will perform until we do a full review.

Plus, odds are we'll see retailers slashing prices to try and clear stock once the Pixel 10 is actually released on August 28. At which point you can better decide whether you want to pay out for the latest model, or save some money with last year's (admittedly very good) tech.

More from Tom's Guide

• Pixelsnap is the Pixel 10 upgrade everyone should be the most excited about — here's why
• Google Pixel 10 Pro has a hidden display upgrade that could save you a headache
• The Google Pixel 10 will let you share your location through satellite — here’s what we know

Google has been rumored to be planning new satellite features for its Find Hub, and we finally got an idea of what this could mean during the recent Made by Google event.

In a recent statement, via Android Authority, Skylo Technologies revealed just what new features would be coming for the Pixel 10 series as part of an expansion of the satellite connectivity. One of these additions is allowing users with the new phones to share their location through a satellite connection on both the Find Hub and Google Maps.

This means that the Google Pixel 10 series will be the first Android 16 devices to allow users to share their location without requiring a cellular connection. When one of your contacts receives the location pin, it will feature a satellite icon indicating an off-grid status.

It isn't just the phones seeing new features, as it is also stated that the Google Pixel Watch 4 will be the first smartwatch to offer two-way satellite emergency messaging. This means that users will be able to contact emergency services from their watch without needing a cellular plan or even a phone.

It’s not just Skylo that can use the feature, as T-Mobile has stated that Google Maps, Find Hub and Messages are available to connect through its T-satellite service on the Pixel 10. There are plans to expand to more devices as soon as T-satellite becomes data-ready on October 1.

What else was announced at Made by Google

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The Google Pixel 10 Pro has a number of exciting upgrades, but one that may be more important than most is a display change that could literally improve your health.

That upgrade is higher pulse width modulation (PWM) dimming, the rapid flickering that OLED screens use to control their brightness. While the human eye can't pick it up, low PWM rates can cause headaches and eye strain, but Google's implemented a solution with the Pixel 10 Pro, as spotted by Android Central and teased by leaks prior to the phone's launch.

A new "Adjust brightness for sensitive eyes" option can now be found in the Settings menu. Enabling this setting increases the PWM rate from 240Hz to 480Hz, according to AC's testing.

Rival Android brands like OnePlus and Honor have high PWM dimming on by default, with the OnePlus 13 reaching a much higher 2,160Hz. Meanwhile, Samsung and Apple already operate at around 480Hz, leaving Google playing catch-up.

Sadly, this setting is apparently not available on the Pixel 10, nor to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's outer display. But at least the foldable does offer the enhanced PWM frequency on its inner display.

There's still work to be done

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Yesterday turned out to be a pretty big day for Android phones. Google announced the entire Pixel 10 lineup on August 20, and confirmed that all four new phones will come with Qi2 wireless charging. Like the best iPhones — and unlike Galaxy S25 lineup — this is full Qi2 wireless charging with magnets inside the phone — no cases required.

Officially Qi2 on the Pixel 10 is called "Pixelsnap," but unlike Apple's MagSafe the actual charging doesn't really seem to offer anything different to the Qi2 standard. Instead, Pixelsnap seems to be more focussed on accessories, a bunch of which have been announced alongside the Pixel 10 series.

And it's arguably the most important thing Google has announced for the Pixel 10 series. Here's why.

Qi2 finally has the Android champion it needs

Google isn't the first Android phonemaker to offer the true Qi2 experience, since HMD was pretty quick to adopt the standard on some of its own phones. And while I mean no disrespect to HMD, they don't really have a high enough profile to kickstart any major trends. Qi2 needed one of the Android bigwigs on-side if it was going to succeed, and it might have just found it with Google.

It baffles me that Qi2 has basically struggled to get any kind of acceptance on Android — especially since MagSafe has been a thing for so long. The magnets help you add extra accessories to your phone without glue or other adhesives, and the charging experience is better. It's faster, with adaptive charging to help control the flow of electricity into your phone

I had previously hoped that Qi2 would debut on the Pixel 9 series last year, but at the time Google seemed to have zero interest in making it happen. In fact a spokesperson claimed that there were "no tangible benefits" to the technology. Funny how attitudes change over the course of 12 months.

Later, I got my hopes up that Samsung would jump in and right Google's wrongs — only for the company to offer a half-baked take on Qi2 instead. While the Galaxy S25 offered all the charging benefits of Qi2 —specifically the 15W charging speeds — the phones lacked the internal magnets. This led to a new, not-at-all confusing version of Qi2 dubbed "Qi2 ready."

It was claimed that the magnets affected the display and S Pen performance, with later reports that the digitizer layer was particularly at risk of magnetic interference. No digitizer means no S Pen, and that meant the magnets weren't welcome. If you wanted that particular Qi2 benefit for your Galaxy S25, you'd need to buy an approved magnetic case instead.

I suppose it's better later than never, and now Google has got on board with Qi2. The true, magnetic version that offers capabilities iPhones have offered for so long that MagSafe has become just another feature.

And having that high-profile phone maker on board should prompt other Android phone makers to follow suit. Because phone companies always seem to love nothing more than copying each other's ideas.

How does Pixelsnap differ from Qi2?

Honestly, based on what we've heard, the difference between Qi2 and Pixelsnap is all in the name. It's not like Apple MagSafe, which is technically a different product that only works with Apple phones — even if it is essentially Qi2's elder sibling.

Google still refers to Pixel 10's charging as Qi2 (or Qi2.2 for the XL model), while Pixelsnap is more a brand name for its magnetic products.

So far Google has announced Pixel 10 series cases, a magnetic ring stand, a wireless charger and a stand for said wireless charger. All of them are official "Pixelsnap" products, and the point is that they're going to play nice with the Qi2 magnets in the back of the Pixel 10.

And because of Qi2's universal compatibility, even with iPhones, it means all of these products will work with other Qi2 devices. Apart from the cases, naturally, since they're tailored to the specific sizes of each Pixel model.

It works in reverse too, meaning you can use Qi2-certified products with a Pixel 10 as well. Google even made a point of saying you can use MagSafe accessories with its Pixel 10 models, which is great for all the stands or grips that you may come across. Just remember that MagSafe chargers only offer faster speeds if they're charging iPhones.

Pixelsnap branding should, in theory, ensure that those products are guaranteed to work with Pixel 10 phones. As someone that has used unofficial Qi2-style cases on Android phones in the past, there had been cases when the magnets didn't align with the wireless charging coils — making the process significantly worse.

An official Pixelsnap case shouldn't have that problem, and they should set the standard for third party options going forward. Which is a good thing, because the prospect of paying $50 for an official Pixelsnap case does not appeal to me.

Outlook

I feel like I've been going on about this topic for years, but the time has finally come that Qi2 has a mainstream presence on Android phones. That's good for Pixel owners like me, and it's good for everyone else with a premium Android phone — because I know for a fact rival phone makers will already be taking notes.

I'm not so keen on the price of Pixelsnap accessories, especially since the Pixelsnap charging stand is not a proper 3rd generation Pixel Stand. But we can't have everything, and for now I'm just thrilled that Qi2 is finally getting the spotlight it deserves.

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Sometimes specs can be deceiving. When I got my hands on the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, disappointment settled in as I realized the cameras on both phones are identical to last year’s models.

This seemed like a bummer, especially given how the Pixel 10 now has a triple camera system of its own — complete with a dedicated telephoto camera that delivers a 5x optical zoom. You’d think that its zoom capabilities are similar to the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL, but they’re actually not.

That’s because these new Pro models from Google have a secret weapon called Pro Res Zoom, which gets some AI-assistance to enhance zoom photos all the way up to 100x. I got to briefly test it out, and it might convince you that these new Pixel Pro offerings are the new king of zoom.

First of all, you should know that Pro Res Zoom, which can get up to a 100x zoom, is exclusive to the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL. Although the Pixel 10 now has that dedicated telephoto camera, it has a different version called Super Res Zoom that tops out at 20x zoom — and it doesn’t use the same generative AI models that Pro Res Zoom is benefitting from. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold 10 won’t have this feature either when it ships in October.

I tested out Pro Res Zoom on a few different things, with the first being an Android figurine that was placed on the other side of the room. I switched over to 5x zoom in the Pixel 10 Pro camera app and proceeded to move it up until I maxed out at 100x zoom. Usually there’s a lot of shakiness at this zoom, but the Pixel 10 Pro’s stabilization kicks in well to mitigate them.

After pressing on the shutter button, it took a little more than 10 seconds for the Pixel 10 Pro to deliver the enhanced Pro Res Zoom shot. The wait was worth it because it transformed the fuzzy and indistinct Android figurine and added detail and definition that made it look like I was taking the shot in front of it with the main camera — but I was on the other side of the room, about 30 feet in my estimation.

I tried out a different target to see what Pro Res Zoom would do, so I pointed the camera at this blue flower that was again on the other side. Using the same exact process as before, the generative AI imaging models running on-device gave the picture clarity. There’s a button to preview the before and after images, so needless to say I was impressed with the results.

For my final test, I used the Pixel 10 Pro XL to capture a sign outside through a glass window in front of me. While I could still read out what was on the sign at 100x zoom without any enhancements, Pro Res Zoom simply cleaned it up by removing the artifacts in the original shot and defining the words on the sign.

I’m really eager to put Pro Res Zoom through more testing to see how much of a difference it makes, seeing that I only got to preview the photos on the phone itself and not on a computer when I can look at the images in full resolution to better spot any flaws.

Samsung established itself as the zoom king with the 100x space zoom in its Galaxy Ultra phones, but those days at the top could be numbered with this new Pixel 10 Pro feature. What I’m really interested in uncovering is how accurate it is, whether it’s the fine details of a person’s face or those fine print words on documents.

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Google has had a lot to say about the Pixel 10 at Made by Google, but without a doubt its major focus is, once again, AI features.

Google is upgrading and introducing several with the new generation of its phones, which work whether you have a Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro XL, or the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. But we've picked a lucky seven that we like the sound of the best.

You can read our hands-on impressions of these phones in the links above, but if you're more focused on what intelligent features unite all of the Pixel 10s, here are the top features you'll want to pay attention to.

Magic Cue

Google wants Magic Cue to be your phone's live-in butler — always there with what you need, and out of the way the rest of the time.

This manifests as a new Daily Hub briefing screen, and as suggestions and details from bookings, messages, screenshots and more when Magic Cue detects you're referring to one. It looks an awful lot like autocomplete, but with extra Gemini-powered smarts.

You can control which apps Magic Cue can draw data from, or turn it off entirely if you wish, if you decide you'd rather take matters into your own hands.

Visual Overlay in Gemini Live

Using your camera in Gemini Live lets you share live images with the Google chatbot so you can show exactly what you're referring to. And Gemini can do the same, using a new highlighting tool to draw your attention to a specific object.

The example Google shows is trying to find the right pair of sunglasses from a selection on a shelf, with Gemini Live putting a box around the one the user's looking for. This looks like a wonderful tool for people who tend to lose things they know they put right in front of them, but we look forward to finding out what else this tool can do.

Voice Translate

This one may be more uncanny than fun to use, but it's still quite a technical achievement. When talking to someone speaking a foreign language, Voice Translate uses on-device AI to translate your speech and then play the translation in an approximation of your voice.

There are only 11 languages supported currently, and English has to be one of them. This will increase over time, as will hopefully people's tolerance for strange robotic versions of people's voices.

Camera Coach

With the help of Gemini, the Pixel 10 will nudge you towards more artistic shots. That includes improving the composition of something you're already trying to frame-up, or the suggestion of a brand-new angle if you'd rather use the Inspire Me feature.

This is only a preview feature at the time of launch, so it could change by the time you get your hands on it. But it's something we can't wait to try out.

Ask Photos

Once you have your photo, you can make generative edits. But if you'd rather leave the hard work to Gemini, you can give it text prompts to make the changes for you.

This sounds great for inexperienced editors who know what they want to change but don't know what to do. Equally, it can make the kind of wild changes that you associate with AI editing, like turning your pets into deep sea divers or giving yourself a big glittery stetson, with only the power of words.

Auto Best Take

You may remember Best Take from previous Pixels — this combines multiple frames together so everyone in the shot looks their best. But what's new this year is that it now happens automatically rather than on request.

Google says Auto Best Take can combine up to 150 frames to help get the best out of your photography. It also works with either regular JPEG images or RAW files, so if you're trying to take pro-grade shots, you can still benefit from this feature.

Free Gemini AI Pro for a year

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The Made by Google event happening today (August 20) gives us a new generation of Pixel phones, including a highly anticipated Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The latest generation of Google's foldable phone not only introduces improvements over last year's model, it's bucking to be the most durable foldable phone that Google has ever made.

There was a lot to love about the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, so much so that it found a place among the best foldable phones we’ve tested. At a glance, the differences between this new model and its predecessor may not seem substantial, but Google worked to improve durability while also getting the most use out of the hardware on offer.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is available to preorder right now, with the release date set for October 9. We've got a Pixel 10 Pro Fold hands-on with first impressions about the phone, but here's a rundown of the new features so you know what to expect from Google's latest foldable phone.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold specs

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is more durable than before

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold looks to be one of the most durable foldable phones we've ever seen. This is due to the aerospace-grade aluminium used in the phone's construction, alongside a gearless hinge. This allows the phone to survive a drop while also avoiding damage from dust in the folding mechanism.

On that note, the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold also features an IP68 water and dust resistance, which Google claims is a first for foldable phones. Certainly, it tops the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and that phone's IP48 rating, which means the Samsung phone can survive a dunk in water, but can't keep out finer dust particles.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold doesn't just have a more durable body, as Google has also made the Super Actua Flex Display more durable. This includes building it with ultra-thin glass and two layers of anti-impact film to help improve drop protection.

Google states that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold can handle up to ten years of folding. While that isn’t the same set number that Samsung went with for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, it’s arguably a better choice as a description.

Google is taking advantage of the inner display

Google has also improved the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's display. The inner screen measures 8 inches as before, while the 6.4-inch outer display is slightly larger thanks to smaller bezels.

Google says both displays are capable of reaching 3,000 nits at peak brightness, meaning you’ll always have some quality visuals visible to you.

The screens are more than just brighter, as Google is also working with app developers to get the most out of the larger display. For instance, Google is introducing a new game controller functionality to the outer display, meaning you can have a more immersive experience when it comes to playing games like Disney Speedstorm. Not only that, Google has stated that it is working with streaming apps like Disney Plus and Netflix to help offer immersive streaming on the go.

On top of new experiences, Google offers a split-screen feature that allows you to easily use two apps at once, while also allowing you to adjust each one to your preference. Not only that, you should be able to easily drag and drop media and files to different apps, without needing to constantly open and close programs

The battery is a world first, while the Tensor G5 promises solid features

One of the biggest additions to the Google Pixel 10 is the 5,015 mAh battery, making it the first foldable phone to feature such a large battery. Google claims that this will allow the phone to manage 30-plus hours, and the 30W wired charging will help you get back to full power in no time.

Not only that, the phone also features 15W Qi2 wireless charging that is built right into the phone to help connect with the new Pixel Snap accessories. That's another contrast to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which lacks the built-in magnets found on Google's phone.

On top of the new battery, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is also coming with the same Tensor G5 chip that features in all the Pixel 10 range. With that comes exceptional performance, advanced camera intelligence and leading-edge AI. Not only that, the Tensor G5 is also more secure thanks to new security hardware that helps to keep your phone safer from the moment you have it.

Speaking of AI, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will also come with a host of AI features for Pixel phones, including Camera Coach, Gemini Live and Magic Cue. Not only that, but with the Google Pixel 10 series, you can have one of the best travelling experiences thanks to the improved Voice Translate feature. Not only that, there's also the Pixel Journal, which makes use of on-device AI to offer you writing prompts to help you better process your thoughts.

Pixel 10 Pro Fold outlook

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Google just revealed a bunch of new products for the Made by Google launch event, including the Google Pixel 10 Pro and its super-sized counterpart, the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The Pixel 10 is a mighty fine-looking phone, but if you want some extra features (or a bigger screen), then the Pro model might just be for you.

The Pixel 10 Pro includes a bunch of upgrades this year — a more powerful Tensor G5 chipset, Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, a brighter display and a bunch of new AI features. The highlights of Google's latest AI tools include one that can mimic your voice and another that teaches you to improve your photos.

Here's what you need to know about the Google Pixel 10 Pro and the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL: Specs

Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL: Price & Availability

Prices for the Pixel 10 Pro start at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699, which gets you a model with 128GB of storage — the same price capacity as last year. Meanwhile the Pixel 10 Pro XL starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$1,999, which gets you 256GB of storage. While that's effectively a relative price hike of $100 over the Pixel 9 Pro XL price, you do get double the storage of the 128GB model Google used to offer. (There's no 128GB Pixel 10 Pro XL.)

The Pixel 10 Pro can be bought with additional storage. 256GB will cost $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849, while 512GB increases that price to $1,219 / £1,219 / AU$2,049. 1TB is also available for $1,449 / £1,149 / AU$2,399. A 512GB Pixel 10 Pro costs $1,319 / £1,319 / AU$2,199, and the 1TB option raises that price to $1,549 / £1,549 / AU$2,549.

Both phones are available to pre-order today (August 20), ahead of an August 28 release date. Both will also come with a full year of Google AI. Color options include Moonstone (blue/gray), Jade (green), Porcelain (white) and Obsidian (black).

Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL: Design & display

The Pixel 10 Pro comes with a 6.3-inch Super Actua display, while the XL model features a 6.8-inch panel. Both phones offer 3,300 nits of peak brightness, a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate, and utilize Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass. That's not quite as new or strong as Gorilla Glass Armor or the Galaxy S25 Ultra's Armor 2, but it's still pretty strong stuff.

From a design perspective, very little has changed since last year. The Pixel 10 Pro maintains the rounded corners of the Pixel 9, alongside the expressed central camera bar. However Google claims that new features include symmetric speaker mesh and a metallic "Google" Logo" in the center of the back plate.

U.S. buyers will also be stuck using an eSIM, which means the physical SIM tray has been removed. As far as we know, this won't affect Pixel phones purchased elsewhere.

Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL: Cameras

Camera hardware hasn't changed much on paper. Both phones come with the same triple-lens camera array consisting of a 50MP main lens, 48MP ultrawide and 48MP telephoto lens. Plus a 42mp selfie camera on the front.

However the Pro Res Zoom has now been increased to 100x, matching the Galaxy S25 Ultra's ultra-high zooming capabilities. Google also promises that the stabilization on the main lens has been improved, but hasn't gone into details on how this has been done. Presumably some physical image stabilizing hardware has been included, considering it only applies to the one camera.

Special camera features included this year include Camera Coach, which uses Gemini to help you take even better photos. Similar to this, the Guided Frame feature has been updated to work regardless of the scene in view, using Gemini to describe what the camera can see to those with visual impairments.

Google has also promised that new algorithms make Portrait mode even better than before, with the option to now take those shots in full 50MP resolution. Add Me will also work with pets, making it easier for you to get your furry friends to pose, knowing you can stitch them into a group photo later on.

Finally Google has added C2PA content credentials, which shows you exactly how a particular image was made. This reveals what camera took the image, any edits that may have been made in the past, and whether AI was involved or not.

Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL: Performance

As expected the Pixel 10 Pro and XL both come with the Tensor G5 chipset, plus 16GB of RAM. Google hasn't gone into much detail about the capabilities of the new chipset just yet. But we certainly shouldn't expect this phone to be a performance powerhouse on par with Samsung and Apple devices — that isn't Google's style.

Instead Google says that Tensor, combined with the 16GB of RAM, will offer "the best performance" and its "fastest web browsing and app launching." We expect that the chip will also play a key role in powering the phone's newest AI features as well.

To top it off Google has confirmed that models with 256GB of storage will get UFS 4.0 storage — which offers faster read/.write speeds and better efficiency. U.S. models with at least 512GB of storage will also get Zoned UFS storage which offers even more bandwidth, lower latency and better read/write capabilities.

Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL: AI & software

The big software changes here are that both Pixel 10 Pro and 10 pro Xl have the new Material Expressive redesign, bundled as part of Android 16. The goal of this new design is to make Android more personalized, fluid and responsive than it was before — while also adding a bunch of new features.

Those features include adding live effects to the lock screen, full-screen wallpapers to the Always-on Display, and a revamped look across all your apps.

Of course the big focus with this Pixel release is on AI, and all the extra intelligent features Google is offering on the Pixel 10 lineup.

First up is Magic Cue, an assistant of sorts that is designed to proactively offer relevant information when it thinks you need it. But if it looks across all the supported apps (currently Google's own), then it's not going to interrupt whatever it is you're doing.

Examples Google has announced so far include when you're chatting in Google Messages, when you're talking on the phone, searching in Google Maps, or as part of the new "Daily Hub" menu in the weather app.

Other AI features on offer include voice translation during phone calls, the ability to create music in the Pixel Recorder app and the "Take a Message" feature. This is essentially just a revamped voicemail feature — albeit one that allows Google to filter out spam messages.

Following in Apple's footsteps, Google has added a new "Pixel Journal" that uses AI to guide you through the journaling process and help you organize your thoughts

Finally, Gemini Live has had some updates, with the ability to identify what your camera sees and help highlight potential solutions when you're sharing your camera with the AI.

As with the past few generations of Pixel phones, Google will offer seven years of software support to all buyers. This includes Android, security and Pixel Drop updates. Plus, all buyers will get one free year of Google AI regardless of whether they buy a Pro or Pro XL.

Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL: Battery & charging

The Pixel 10 Pro XL is going to have more than just a bigger battery than the Pixel 10 Pro. While the larger screen also comes with a larger 5,200 mAh battery, it also supports much faster charging speeds. Specifically 45W wired charging ans 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging.

Meanwhile the Pixel 10 Pro comes with a 4,870 mAh battery, with support for 30W wired charging and 15W Qi2 wireless charging. That's actually a bit of a downgrade, compared to the Pixel 9 Pro's 21W wireless charging, but at least we have magnets this time.

Magnets built into the latest Pixels offer a perfect snap-on wireless charging experience, with perfect coil alignment and optimal wireless charging efficiency.

Google is using the opportunity to launch a new range of "Pixelsnap" accessories which support Qi2 wireless charging. These include magnet-friendly cases, a snap-on ring stand and, of course, a Pixelsnap wireless charger.

The charger itself looks a lot like one of Apple's MagSafe chargers, though it can also be bought alongside a specialized stand. Simply slot the charging puck into the Pixelsnap stand and you'll effectively have a Pixel Stand 3.

As for overall battery life, Google promises both the 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL will have over 30 hours of life in a single charge. Though we will have to see what the test results in the Tom's Guide Lab say about that.

Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL: Outlook

More from Tom's Guide

• Made by Google 2025 LIVE — Follow Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Pixel Watch 4 launch
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With the launch of the Pixel 10 series, Google is introducing an AI-powered tool to make editing your images easier — just ask Photos to do it. Seriously, the new feature lets you describe edits you want to make using your voice or text in the Photos app editor.

Google redesigned the Photos app earlier this year as part of celebrating a decade of photography. That redesign added more controls and options for editing photos while making it easier to edit with AI suggestions and new tools.

Today’s new tool introduces conversational capabilities to make editing even faster with “simple gestures, one-tap suggestions, and now, natural language,” which Google attributes to “advanced Gemini capabilities.”

In a blog post discussing the update, Google says you don’t need to even have a specific editing tool in mind. For example, you could ask the editor to “remove the cars in the background” and Photos is supposed to understand your prompt.

You can also make multiple requests in one prompt. For example, you could say “remove the reflections and fix the washed-out colors.”

On the simplest end of editing, you could just say “make it better” or use one of the AI suggestions. From there, you can fine-tune it with more prompts or take over editing yourself.

Beyond lighting and erasing, Google says you can also use the text or vocal prompts to do tricks like change the background or add things like sunglasses to someone’s face.

AI Transparency

Google adds that the Pixel 10 series “will be the first to implement industry-standard C2PA Content Credentials” in the camera app.

This means that images taken and edited on your Pixel 10 phone will be able to see metadata in Google Photos showing how an image was captured or edited, including if AI was used.

As you can see in the image above, the data will show if the photo was captured with a camera or generated. And then it will note if it was edited with AI and non-AI tools according to C2PA standards. This is coupled with IPTC metadata for AI-edited images and SynthID for any photos edited with the Reimagine tool.

Google says this information is being made available in the name of transparency when it comes to AI in images.

Availability

The new conversational editing tool will be available for Pixel 10 devices first and coming to Android and iOS devices “in the coming weeks.”

Keep Tom’s Guide in your tabs as we cover everything announced during Made by Google 2025 with the release of the Pixel 10 series, Pixel Watch 4 and more.

• Made by Google 2025 — Follow Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Pixel Watch 4 launch live
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It may not have Pro or Fold in its name, but the Google Pixel 10, just announced at Made by Google, may be the pick of Google’s latest smartphone announcements. And that’s all thanks to a generous slate of upgrades over previous Pixels without a price hike.

You’ll pay £799 or $799 for a Pixel 10, exactly what you'd pay for last year’s Pixel 9 when it launched. And if you’re already sold on it, Pixel 10 pre-orders are available from now until the retail launch on August 28th.

The design remains familiar, with a satin finish on the aluminum side rails, a horizontal camera bar across the top third of the phone, and a choice of Obsidian, Frost, Lemongrass and Indigo colorways. That last one is a throwback to the first-gen Pixel that launched a decade ago, which itself came in blue.

When lit up, the 3,000-nit Actua display promises to be one of the brightest available on any phone (although we'll wait for our lab testing to confirm that). Upon that screen you'll be able to check out Google's new Material 3 "Expressive" design in action, which promises to make moving around apps and menus feel more lively and enjoyable to use.

The cameras on the back include a 48MP main sensor and a 13MP ultrawide one. But the big news is that Google's added a 10.8MP 5x telephoto camera, the first on a base Pixel model. This is a generous upgrade considering the phone's no more expensive than before, but puts the Pixel 10 on par with the Galaxy S25 in terms of size and features.

A new chip, the Tensor G5, drives the Pixel 10. This is Google's first 3nm chip, a technology bump that should improve both performance and battery efficiency, areas where the Pixels have lagged behind rival Android phones. Fortunately, the 12GB RAM should mean the Pixel 10 has no issue at all with app multitasking or AI features.

Google promises over 30 hours of battery life from the Pixel 10, and a refuel from 0-55% in half an hour with 30W wired charging. If wireless charging is more your thing, you can use Qi2 magnetic charging via Google's new PixelSnap accessories. On top of the Pixelsnap charger, the new peripherals line includes a ring stand and magnetic cases to help pair those accessories with protection.

You aren't short of AI features with the Pixel 10 series. New additions this time include live call translation using an AI version of the speaker's voice, a new Pixel Journal app with suggestions for entries, integration with Google's NotebookLM tool and updates to Writing Tools and Pixel Studio.

To help you ask questions about the world around you, Google introduces an improved Visual Overlay with Gemini Live that lets you share your camera viewfinder with the chatbot. A new audio model promises to help Gemini respond to your questions in an appropriate tone too.

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There are only hours to go until the Google Pixel 10 is fully revealed, but Evan "Evleaks" Blass has provided the alleged U.S. pricing for everything we should see at Made by Google today.

Let's start with the phones. Below are the four Pixel 10 models that Google has confirmed are coming, along with their alleged pricing and storage configurations.

The leaked info shows no price changes compared to the Pixel 9 series, other than the Pixel 10 Pro XL not having a cheaper 128GB storage option, like the Pixel 9 Pro XL offers. While that's unfortunate for users who want a big Pro Pixel for the least money possible, we're glad to see that Google should be holding off on a full-on price hike.

Next, we have the Pixel Watch 4. This comes in two sizes and either Wi-Fi or LTE connectivity options.

Again, we see no price changes compared ot the Pixel Watch 3. Good news for anyone wanting to pick up one of these smartwatches to accompany their shiny new Pixel 10.

Lastly, we have the new Pixel Buds 2a wireless earbuds, and the Pixelsnap accessories that Google is offering alongside the new Pixels.

Unfortunately, the Pixel Buds 2a look to be $30 more expensive than the Pixel Buds A-Series. Not a huge amount, but any price hike for a budget product like this is not something we like seeing.

All the Pixelsnap accessories are new, so we don't have previous prices to compare against. However, the costs seem in line with similar MagSafe accessories offered by Apple for recent iPhones, and previous Pixel accessories like the now discontinued Pixel Stand 2.

Pixel 10s going eSIM only?

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We’re only hours away from the next Made by Google event, where we’ll presumably get our first real glimpse at the rumored Pixel 10 devices. As with any major phone launch, I’m stoked for all the hardware upgrades that usually accompanies a new release — but I’m most excited about the software rumored for the Pixels.

Android 16 offers some new features, but I’ve got my eyes locked in on AI capabilities that could be exclusive to the Pixel 10. For the last couple of years now, I’ve argued how Google has the best phones around when it comes to AI because of how practical and intuitive they are, like how the Pixel’s version of Call Screen is vastly superior to the iOS 26 version.

There’s been a lot of rumors and leaks circling around these Pixel 10 AI features, so I’ll break them down and tell you what I’m most excited to see come to fruition. For the latest on the Pixels and other Google product announcements, follow along with our Made by Google live blog.

Help me edit

Just a couple weeks back, I reported on a story about a Google Photos feature uncovered in code that would allow users to describe what photo edits they want on a photo. It’s called “Help Me Edit” and works similarly to the Reimagine feature that Google debuted with the Pixel 9 series last year. That feature used generative AI to do such things like change the background of your photos.

Help Me Edit goes much deeper by offering more precise edits by simply typing in what you want. One example in the report described how you could change the color of a car, which would normally take a few steps to complete; now it could be done in a few seconds with this AI feature.

While the report hints at this being a Google Photos feature, I wouldn’t be surprised if Google waits until its event to formally introduce Help Me Edit.

Camera Coach

I’m not surprised that Google intends to focus a lot of its AI efforts around the camera, but it makes perfect sense since it’s what a lot of people look for in a phone. Another exciting Pixel 10 AI feature that’s reportedly coming is called Camera Coach, which could transform any novice photographer to a pro.

This AI feature is reportedly coming to the Pixel 10 and would provide guided instructions on how best to capture a scene. What I’m intrigued about is that this Gemini-powered feature supposedly works in real time, but the report doesn’t explicitly say if this would be audio instructions or other in-app guidance.

Think of it like having a professional photographer there with you looking at the scene, then providing you advice on how to adjust the frame or lighting to get the best result.

Pixel Sense

I’ve always dreamed of my phone being my personal assistant. AI has transformed how they behave, but it’s lacking one thing — the ability to take action. Pixel Sense could finally be the AI feature that does this, which would use AI to learn what you do on your phone and make predictive suggestions.

This rumored AI feature has drawn comparisons to Samsung’s Personal Data Engine that was introduced with the Galaxy S25 earlier this year. Google’s version is tipped to be much more proactive, in the sense that it would evolve the more you use the phone.

Based on the report, Pixel Sense would use data gathered from native apps, like Gmail and Calendar, but what could make it more powerful is expanding to third party apps.

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Google’s Tensor G5 has a lot of pressure on its shoulders as the first chip to be produced by TSMC, the same company that produces Apple's A series chips. However, a leaked series of images might have some bad news for expectant Google fans.

The images were shared on Reddit by user HustlersPassion, and show what appears to be a Pixel 9 Pro XL and what is claimed to be a Google Pixel 10 Pro XL with the benchmark scores on the screen. According to the poster, who claims to be a retail store employee, the Pixel 10 Pro XL was a demo unit that was shortly reset after the image was taken.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL in the image certainly does an improvement over the prior model, with both a higher Single and multi-core score. However, as is pointed out by many users in the thread, it is still noticeably behind the competition in both scores.

One user mentioned that the Pixel 10 Pro XL also appeared to fall behind the Galaxy S24 Ultra. When we reviewed the Galaxy, we saw a score of 2,300 in the single-core and 7,249 in the multi-core score. If the image is accurate, then the latest Pixel phone appears to only just match last year's Galaxy in terms of single-core performance, while falling behind in multi-core.

Meanwhile, the Antutu scores shown have the Pixel 10 Pro XL fall behind the Pixel 9 Pro XL. However, as is pointed out by Android Authority, these lower GPU scores could be down to several different factors, including Antutu not being optimized for the GPU, older drivers or a combination of reasons.

Are bad benchmarks indicative of a bad phone?

At a glance, these scores give the impression that the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and by extension the Pixel 10 series as a whole, will offer the worst overall experience compared to the other mainline phones. However, as was pointed out by several users, benchmark scores aren’t always the best metric to rate a phone as a whole

Most phones, including mid-range devices, are capable of handling everyday tasks just fine. As such, the average user won't notice all that much difference between an iPhone and a Pixel most of the time. Instead, many users will usually only notice a difference when performing more intensive tasks like gaming or rendering high-quality video clips.

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Google hosted a star-studded launch event today (August 20), but it's hoping the real star power is in the new phones and smartwatches that it showed off at Made by Google. In addition to the usual round of hardware improvements, Google touted new AI features for its devices that look to bolster the company's place as the leader in smart mobile devices.

Google's new phone lineup is led off by the Pixel 10: it's a $799 flagship phone that now features a telephoto lens. It also has a Tensor G5 chipset, the same as the silicon powering the new Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Meanwhile, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the latest foldable phone from Google. It's the first foldable to offer IP68 dust and water resistance, and it's got a bigger battery, too.

All the Pixel phones support a host of new AI-powered features, including one that puts Gemini to work editing your photos. Other AI highlights include Magic Cue, which instantly surfaces relevant information when you need to reply to an email or make a call, and a real-time translation tool that tries to mimic your real voice so that it's speaking in another language.

Besides its phones, Google showed off the Pixel Watch 4, which boasts several hardware improvements largely focused on the screen and battery. New Pixel Buds 2a wireless headphones are coming, too.

In other words, there's a lot of products to sort through, and that's what we'll be doing here today, as we bring you all the details about the latest Pixel phones and watches.

Made by Google 2025: Here's what's new

• Google Pixel 10 hands-on review: It’ll make you forget that the Pros exist
• Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL hands-on review: A leap forward for AI
• Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold Hands-on Review: The Smartest (and Toughest) Foldable Yet
• Pixel Watch 4 hands on: It could be my new favorite smartwatch for Android
• Google Pixel Buds 2a announced: They could be the best budget earbuds of the year

Watch a Made by Google 2025

If you missed the Jimmy Fallon-hosted Made by Google event, you can watch the replay above. Or you can read our minute-by-minute account of the event along with our ongoing Pixel 10 and Pixel Watch 4 coverage.

Pixel 10: Rumored specs

We'll dive deeper into the rumored features for each likely Pixel model leading up to Made by Google, but for now, here's an overview of the Pixel 10 lineup and the rumored specs for each phone.

What I'm looking for

Even with all the things we know ahead of a product launch — or what we think we know courtesy of all those rumors — there are still some questions heading into any event like Made by Google. And in the case of Wednesday's show, these are the things I'm looking for answers to.

The TLDR version: I expect the two biggest stories to be the Pixel 10 gaining a telephoto lens — assuming that rumor is true — and the possibility of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold picking up IP68 water and dust resistance. The other big issues: what Google AI features will debut thanks to the Tensor G5 chip, how long the new Pixels will last on a charge and what Google's going to charge for its new phones.

Is Google planning a price hike?

We'll be holding our breath until the end of the Made by Google event to find out what Google plans to charge for its phones. The good news — most models should cost the same as their Pixel 9 counterparts, with the Pixel 10 expected to have a $799 starting price. But there is one exception.

That's the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the larger of the two Pro models. It's tipped to start at $1,199, which would be a $100 price hike over the cost of the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

But is that really a price hike? We hear that Google is planning on including base storage of 256GB with the new XL instead of the 128GB found in the Pixel 9 Pro XL. And the 256GB version of the current phone costs $1,199.

So yes, if that rumored price is true, you'll be paying the same for the 256GB Pixel 10 Pro XL as you did for the 256GB Pixel 9 Pro XL. You just won't have the option of paying less for an 128GB model.

A more competitive foldable phone price

Despite the arrival of a cheaper Galaxy Z Flip last month in the form of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, foldable phone prices are not really coming down, at least when we're talking about the models that open up like a book to reveal a larger screen. After all, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 saw its price go up $100 to $1,999.

Can the Pixel 10 Pro Fold buck that trend? Some people seem to think so. A rumor from back in the spring put the price of Google's upcoming foldable at "around $1,600," which sounds like a price drop for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's $1,799 starting price. More recently, a report had the Pixel 10 Pro Fold retaining that $1,799 cost.

Of course, if that latter move is the cast, that means the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will cost even less than Samsung's comparable foldable phone just by standing still.

Hey, Siri... in your face

Google loves putting out teasers for its upcoming phones ahead of launch events. It also likes tweaking Apple. So when it can put out a video that does both, you know the company is going to shoot its shot.

"If you buy a new phone because of a feature that's coming soon," the video intones, "but it's been coming soon for a full year, you could change your definition of 'soon.' Or you could just... change your phone."

This isn't too subtle a dig. Apple previewed Apple Intelligence at the 2024 Worldwide Developer Conference, and that included a promise of a more personalized digital assistant that made better use of AI. That hasn't happened yet — and won't until 2026.

Meanwhile, Google's expected to roll out new AI features powered by the Tensor G5 chip as part of the Pixel 10 launch. And one of those features could be a more context-aware personal assistant. The above ad seems to hint at that.

Your watch could gain more accurate tracking

Google could have a lot of changes in store for its latest smartwatches. But my colleague Nick Harris-Fry is excited about one rumored improvement in particular — dual-frequency GPS.

Current Pixel watches already feature GPS tracking for keeping tabs on your workouts, including stats like distance run and your pace. But if you find yourself in a city with a lot of tall buildings or a particularly dense grove of trees, that data isn't always accurate. Dual-frequency GPS addresses this shortcoming by boosting accuracy — that's why you'll find it on a lot of rugged watches like the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

If rumors are accurate, the Pixel Watch 4 could offer it as well — and maybe in a watch that costs a little bit less than those wearables.

Celebrity roll call

Google is no stranger to celebrity cameos. Last year's Pixel 9 launch saw actress Keke Palmer and basketball star Jimmy Butler, while fellow hoopster Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped by Google I/O in the spring. Expect more celebrity drop-ins for the Made by Google event this week, with the event placeholder video touting some of the expected appearances.

• Talk show host Jimmy Fallon
• Basketball star Stephen Curry
• F1 driver Lando Norris
• some combination of the Jonas Brothers

New earbuds rumored

It's been a minute since the Pixel Buds A series debuted — well, four years to be precise. So rumors of an updated version appearing at Made by Google aren't exactly emerging out of thin air. And the fact that images of the Pixel Buds 2a have surfaced suggest that there may be some fire to this particular smoke.

I'm not sure how much the images tell us about these wireless earbuds, other than they bear a striking similarity to the Pixel Buds Pro 2. But indications are that they'll potentially match some of the colors that the new Pixel 10 phones will feature — such as the Iris image pictured above.

As for features, we hope the new earbuds will deliver improved sound quality and better battery life, which could be in the cards given what the Pro versions are capable of.

Top Pixel 10 rumors

By now, a lot of Pixel 10 rumors have trickled out — so many in fact that it may be hard to keep up with everything. No matter: my colleague Scott Younker lists the five potential Pixel 10 revelations he's most excited about, staring with the camera upgrade on the base model and working his way up to the Tensor G5 chip.

A new way to power your Pixel Watch

If you're sick of the Pixel Watch 3's magnetic pin charger, which drives one Tom's guide staff member up the wall, then you may be happy to hear things could change with Pixel Watch 4.

Rumors say that we could get a brand new charging system which tops up the Pixel Watch 4's battery from the side, rather than underneath. While that's not a return to the magnetic charging system of the original Pixel Watch, it might be progress. We're curious to see how the charging experience changes, at the very least.

Here's hoping it's easier to pull off a charging session, and without the overheating experienced by the first Google watch.

Extra durable foldable

When it comes to durability, foldable phones don't enjoy quite the same natural protection as non-folding phones. Things have improved a lot over the years, but that disconnect is still there. But the Pixel 10 Pro Fold could help close the gap.

Rumors indicate that the new Google foldable will have an IP68 water and dust resistance rating — something no other foldable has offered before. In the past the most we've seen is the likes of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which has a rating of IP48. Same water resistance, but significantly less protection from dust.

And as we saw with the original Galaxy Fold, too much dust and other foreign particles can cause a lot of problems inside a foldable phone. Here's just hoping the Pixel 10 Pro Fold isn't the last phone to reach that benchmark.

Magnetic charging for the masses

After Samsung gave us the half-baked version of Qi2 wireless charging back in January, without magnets built-in to the phone, a lot of people were left disappointed. It means that magnetic charging on Android was still reliant on special cases, or buying a mid-range phone from HMD.

But that might be about to change, with rumors claiming the Pixel 10 line-up will come with a feature called "PixelSnap." Which is apparently just a fancy name for Qi2 charging on Pixel phones — with all the magnets and upgrades you'd expect from the standard.

There's still a bit we don't know, like if Google will offer basic Qi2 or the newer Qi2.2 standard — which offers up to 25W wireless charging speeds. But for now we can be happy that magnets are apparently going mainstream on something that isn't an iPhone.

Storage switch around

Pricing leaks for the Pixel 10 lineup have teased the possibility that Google may scrap the 125GB storage option — but only on the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Google may be scrapping the smaller storage option in favor of 256GB.

Sadly this may not be the case with the Pixel 10 or the Pixel 10 Pro — with leaks pointing towards both starting at 128GB. That means prices don't appear to be rising, but you also end up with far less space if you opt for the cheapest option.

Telephoto camera without the Pro price tag

For years the telephoto lens has been reserved for the Pro Pixel, and standard models haven't been able to enjoy that sweet optical zoom. But that may be about to change with Pixel 10, which could come packing an 11MP telephoto lens complete with 5x optical magnification.

Sadly this may come at the expense of other camera hardware. The Pixel 10 is supposedly coming with a 48MP main camera, which is down from 50MP and honestly isn't the worst downgrade in the world. However the ultrawide lens may be dropping from 48MP to just 12MP. Which is pretty significant, and the price you pay for that third lens.

Say goodbye to shaky videos

Of course zooming isn't the only upgrade rumored to be coming to the Pixel 10. Word is that the phone may also include improved video stabilization, to the point where it's comparable with the best smartphone gimbals.

If this rumor is true it would be quite the upgrade, and one that will be welcomed. Nobody likes their videos getting jerky and blurred because of stray movement, and any upgrades Google can offer to stop that happening can only be a good thing for budding videographers.

The only question is, will it be based on hardware, AI software or both?

Another Pixel AI?

Pixel phones are filled to the brim with AI features, including the Gemini Assistant, but Google could be throwing in one more for good measure. "Pixel Sense" as it's reportedly called, has been rumored for a long time now and could finally make its debut on Pixel 10.

Apparently the assistant will learn more about you, the phone owners, by taking data from various Google services. The idea being that it can offer more personalized assistance on your phone, similar to what Samsung does with the Personal Data Engine and Now Brief.

To the point where we may see the AI predict what you need before you even have to ask for it.

Unsurprisingly, leaked benchmarks are poor

At this point, it's no huge surprise that Pixel phones perform pretty poorly in performance benchmarking. In fact, it's practically tradition and it seems like the Pixel 10 Pro XL won't be breaking ranks.

Leaked benchmarks, allegedly from a retail store employee, show off some pretty poor Geekbench scores. While the 2,296 figure is noticeably higher than the Pixel 9 Pro XL (which scored 1,929 in single-core testing) it's leagues behind the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (3,031) and iPhone 16 Pro Max (3,386).

But while we're not seeing the performance leaps many had hoped for, this doesn't mean doom for the Pixel 10 series. Google has always maintained that the Tensor's unique capabilities, especially AI processing, trump raw performance.

Is it disappointing? Yes. But are we surprised? Not in the slightest.

Thicker watch design, bigger battery?

The Pixel Watch 4 is sure to bring some big performance updates, but it could also benefit from a boost in longevity. That will bring with it a slightly chunkier design, although Google will retain the 41mm and 45mm sizings that debuted with the Pixel Watch 3.

According to rumors, the Pixel Watch 4 will measure 14.3mm thick instead of the 12.3mm of the Watch 3 to account for that bigger battery. The good news is the bezels around both those screen sizes are believed to have been slimmed down, too.

Under normal usage conditions, Google sets the Pixel Watch 3 battery life at 24 hours per charge, which is consistent with our own testing. We'd like to see Google shoot for 36 hours on a single charge.

AI-assisted photography

Some of Google's best implementations of AI have been around improving photos and there's likely to be a lot of talk about this during the keynote. Specifically, we could see the announcement of a new feature called Camera Coach designed to — you guessed it — coach you into taking better pictures.

Reports earlier this month (h/t Android Headlines) suggested the Pixel 10's Camera Coach feature will use Gemini to provide users with real-time instructions on how to get better shots at the point of capture. Things like adjusting your angle or trying to change the lighting come to mind as obvious suggestions.

A feature like this would seem like a slam dunk for Google to unveil, blending the Pixel's twin strengths of photography and AI. The only question is whether or not this would be a Pro-only feature or if the regular Pixel 10 (and possibly older Pixel models) could benefit too.

Fixing the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's biggest problem

One of the biggest problems affecting older Google foldables is that their wireless charging is painfully slow. Just 7.5W on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which is basically nothing. Thankfully things look like they're going to change with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

According to leaker Evan Blass, the phone is fully certified for Qi2 wireless charging. While this does mean magnets are involved, it also means that the phone should offer at least 15W wireless charging speed — double that of last year's model.

Possibly higher, depending on whether any of the new phones support the Qi2.2 standard, which offers up to 25W wireless charging. But since Qi2.2 is still very new, I wouldn't get too excited about that prospect.

How much can we expect to pay?

Google has a reputation for offering slightly cheaper phones than the competition, though a few years of price hikes have pushed the cost up quite a bit. Thankfully leaks suggest that may not be the case this year.

According to Android Headlines the Pixel 10 will start at $799 for a 128GB model, with the price rising to $899 for a 1256GB variant. Meanwhile the Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999 for 128GB, with prices rising to $1,099 for 256GB, $1,219 for 512GB and $1,449 for 1TB. Those are unchanged from last year.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL may seem more expensive on paper, but that's because Google is reportedly scrapping the 128GB storage option. So prices start at $1,199 for 256GB, then rising to $1,319 for 512GB and $1,549 for 1TB. That's the same as equivalent Pixel 9 Pro XL models, albeit with a slightly higher cost of entry.

The temperature sensor is probably sticking around

If you're a fan of Google's temperature sensor, then I may have some good news for you. Teaser images for the Pixel 10 Pro seem to include the same rear-mounted temperature sensor we saw on Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro. It's right there, underneath the flash on the camera bar.

We haven't heard any details about the sensor leak, so we have to assume it'll function the same way as previous models. That means you can take temperatures of humans, food and liquids using the back of your phone. Assuming that is something you ever felt the need to do.

Could we get a new Pixel Stand?

With Qi2 wireless charging supposedly coming to the Pixel 10 series, this could be the perfect time for Google to release a new Pixel Stand wireless charger. Or at least that's what Tom Pritchard, Tom's Guide's UK Phones Editor, is hoping for.

Considering how much Tom loved the second generation Pixel Stand, he's been waiting a long time for something better — and faster. The addition of magnetic wireless charging means that now is the perfect time for a new model, ideally with support for magnets and Qi2's faster speeds.

But we haven't heard any leaks, so it's a little unclear whether that will actually happen

The AI champ gets ready to reload

We all know that Google sets the pace when it comes to AI on mobile devices. But how much better is the Pixel than other top phones from Apple and Samsung?

This summer, we decided to find out. We conducted an AI phone face-off, testing the top devices from each phone maker in six different areas — writing, translation, transcription, photo editing, image generation and AI assistant performance. Google’s current Pixels took four of the six contests, with only Samsung topping it in image generation and the digital assistant categories.

We’ll see if any of the new Gemini AI capabilities coming from Google this week help the new Pixels surpass Google in those areas.

Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 — what we think will change

It’s always useful comparing a current phone to the rumored changes for something that’s about to come out. That can give you a sense of just how big a change we’re looking at with an upcoming release.

So when it comes to a Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 comparison, the biggest changes based on rumors appear to be the addition of a telephoto lens to the Pixel 10 — the Pixel 9 has just a main camera and an ultrawide shooter — Qi2 wireless charging and a bigger battery. And of course, we’d expect this year’s phone to get a new Tensor chip.

Pixel Watch 4: A closer look

Here's some Pixel Watch 4 details that have leaked out ahead of Made by Google, specifically involving the colors. Earlier this month, leaker Bedros Pamboukian found some photos reportedly showing the Pixel Watch 4. And the colors found include Black, Silver, Gold and Moonstone.

Meanwhile, there are also Active Sports bands in Iris, Lemongrass, Moonstone, Obsidian and Porcelain, according to that same leak.

All the colors of the rainbow

People always want to know what colors new phones come in — particularly Google’s Pixels, since they usually feature some pretty eye-catching hues. We may not have to wait until Wednesday’s keynote to find out what colors Google has picked this year, at least when it comes to the Pixel 10.

Leaked renders for the standard model from Android Headlines showed off four options — Obsidian, Indigo, Frost, and Limoncello. That’s black, blue, white and lemon-lime in non-marketing speak. It also means that the pinkish Peony and minty Winter Green from the Pixel 9 won’t make the new version of Google’s phone.

As for the Pro models, we’ve only seen leaked Pixel 10 Pro cases that suggest colors of Moonstone (light grey), Jade (light green) and Porcelain (off white.) Leaked Pixel 10 Pro Fold renders indicate Moonstone and Jade colors for the foldable option.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 7

One of the more intriguing face-offs after Google shows off its new phones will be a Pixel 10 Pro Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 7 comparison. That's in part because the Galaxy Z Fold 7 just arrived a month ago, and it immediately impressed me and my colleagues for its thin design and AI-focused features, as you can read in Mark Spoonauer's Galaxy Z Fold 7 review.

The question is how Google's foldable will stack up to the new model from Samsung. Certainly, AI features figure to be a key given the Tensor G5 processor likely to power the Fold. And the durability and design of the phones could be another big factor.

Pixel Watch charging predicament

My colleague Tom Pritchard has a beef with the Pixel Watch 3. Specifically, he doesn't like the way the current Pixel Watch charges, and he's hoping the Pixel Watch 4 fixes that.

The issue: Tom thinks the 4-pin connector on the Pixel Watch 3 doesn't connect that securely, making charging the watch an inconsistent process. The hope is that the Pixel Watch 4 brings back wireless charging, something Google's original smartwatch offered.

We'll see soon enough if he gets his wish.

Expected Pixel Pro changes

How is the Pixel 10 Pro going to evolve year over year? Nobody knows for sure until Google reveals the new phone a little less than 24 hours from now. But there are enough rumors out there to let us do some preliminary Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro comparisons, and the answer appears to be new chipsets, bigger batteries and better (though not necessarily bigger) displays.

Android's new look

Back in May, Google showed off Material 3 Expressive, the updated design language for both Android 16 and Wear OS 6. It promises more personalization and expressiveness in the software elements on your phone and watch.

Even though Android 16 has started rolling out, Google has yet to release Material 3 Expressive, though it's starting to appear in some elements. At the time of the announcement, Google said the launch would come later this year... so that's something to keep an eye on during Made by Google just in case "later this year" is now.

Could the Android 16 desktop mode finally be a reality?

During Google I/O 2025, Google showed off a project it's been working in conjunction with Samsung. The Android 16 desktop mode was quietly revealed at the developers conference, which Google has reportedly been building on the foundation of Samsung DeX.

It would certainly be a special treat if Google were to announce this feature alongside the Pixel 10 lineup, which would gives its phones yet another weapon in its arsenal against future phones like the iPhone 17 and Galaxy S26. With a desktop mode, it would essentially give the Pixel 10 access to a desktop PC-like interface that Samsung users have been enjoying with Samsung DeX for years on select devices.

Editing photos could be as easy as typing your requests

With the introduction of AI, it has transformed the way people edit photos and videos. No longer do they have to spend a lot of time to tediously make the edits they want. Google could be prepping a big reveal with its Pixel 10 lineup.

Just a few weeks back, a report indicated that Google is working on a feature called "help me edit," which was uncovered in code with Google Photos v7.38. Basically, you'll be able to edit photos by typing your requests in a text box. One example that was in the report involved changing the color of a car from red to blue.

Rather than going through menus getting the exact edits you want, you could potentially tap into this feature and write down what you want — and that should save you a lot of time.

Pixel 10 Pro cameras could be bad news

I've been following all the Pixel 10 Pro camera rumors. Just with last year's models, the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL are tipped to have the same camera system. However, it doesn't appear as though the rear cameras are getting any hardware upgrades based on all the rumors — and that could be bad news.

Our many shootouts have already shown how the latest Pixels have come up short, like in our 200 photo shootout with the iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL. And if the rumors turn out to be true that the Pixel 10 Pro cameras won't be getting upgrades, it's going to lean on AI and new image processing algorithms to boost their performance.

Pixel 10 should put pressure on the iPhone 17 —  here's why

Even though neither phone has been officially announced, a Pixel 10 vs. iPhone 17 face-off preview should give you some idea of how these two flagship phones stack up against one another. We certainly know a lot more about the Pixel 10 due to the substantial amount of leaks and rumors around it the last couple of weeks, but Apple's tipped to reveal the iPhone 17 next month at a rumored September 9th event.

While these two match up nicely when it comes to price, based on how their predecessors both sold at $799, there might actually be more pressure on the iPhone 17. Not only is the Pixel 10 set to debut a third camera into its arsenal, but it appears to be backed by more AI features that could widen the gap against the iPhone 17.

Here's what Google's Pixel 10 phones might be packing

We're still waiting for more concrete details on the new phones we expect to see at the Made by Google event tomorrow, but we've already heard some pretty compelling reports and rumors about the hardware going into the Pixel 10 series.

We've compiled the best reports we've heard together into the chart below to give you a sense of what we're expecting to see from the future of Pixel.

Will this prove true? There's only one way to find out, and unfortunately it means waiting until tomorrow for the official reveal.

Gemini might help you take better photos with the Pixel 10

We still don't know what new features to expect from a new Pixel 10 smartphone, but the folks over at Android Headlines have an idea.

They're claiming to have heard reports that Google will debut a new feature for the Pixel tomorrow called "Camera Coach" that taps into Gemini to give you tips on shooting better photos in real time. This might include tips like how to move the phone or adjust the lighting, but we'll have to wait and see to be sure!

The Pixel 10 may eliminate blurry video for good

Another rumor we've heard about what will be revealed at tomorrow's Made by Google event is that the Pixel 10 series may gain improved video stabilization.

If that proves true it may be a huge boon for folks like me with shaky wrists and little inclination to plan before whipping out the phone and capturing a video. It's yet unclear whether this rumor will come true and how it might be achieved, but my money's on some form of advanced AI image processing tech.

Are we going to see the next evolution of Google AI with the Pixel 10?

While we still don't know what to expect from tomorrow's Made by Google event, it's fun to see what everyone is reporting might be unveiled at the big show.

Case in point: Android Authority reports that Google will talk up a new feature for the Pixel 10 that can access your on-device media and even other apps to do things like provide contextual suggestions, automate tasks for you (like organizing your photos) and more, all on device without dialing out to a remote server.

It's a promising report, but we'll have to wait and see if it's true!

Don't expect a speed demon

While we won't know for sure how powerful Google's new phones are until we get some in for testing, I'm not expecting the Pixel 10 to be a speed demon—and early reports back that up.

If you missed it, earlier today we caught wind of some leaked benchmarks (allegedly from a retail store employee) which suggest middling performance. While the leaked scores suggest the new Pixel phones have good single-core performance, the numbers simply don't match what we see from the latest Apple and Samsung phones.

But of course, raw speed is just one aspect of a phone's appeal and many of us don't even care that much about it—I for one care a lot more about stability and useful features than I care about raw speed. We'll just have to wait and see what Google delivers this week!

Pixel 9 Pro XL has the brightest screen we've tested, Pixel 10 Pro XL could beat it

There hasn't been a whole lot of leaks surrounding the displays on the Pixel 10 Pro, apart from how it's tipped that Google is going with a 480Hz Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) dimming — to help out with eye strain and fatigue. Still, we bet that Google will want to up the ante after the Pixel 9 Pro XL produced a record breaking mark.

That's because its Super Actua display recorded a peak brightness of 2,649 nits, which you can see from the chart above exceeds its closest rivals in the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra. It doesn't beat them, it blew them out of the water.

With the Pixel 10 Pro XL, we suspect that it will deliver an even better result. Naturally, a brighter screen helps out ibn a number of ways, especially with outdoor visibility.

Don't forget the Pixel 9a

There's going to be a lot of focus on the Pixel 10 models on Wednesday and beyond — understandable since they're the new phones on the block. But Google has already released a phone this year, and it's a pretty good one, especially if you don't like paying up for your mobile devices.

The Pixel 9a kept the $499 starting price of its predecessor, while adding a Tensor G4 chipset that handles most — though not all — of the same AI features on board the standard Pixel 9 flagships. And it also happens to be the best camera phone for less than $500, if you value high-quality images.

In fact, you may go so far as to wonder if the new Pixel 10 or the Pixel 9a will be the better buy. We asked the same Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 10 question back when the 9a first came out and the Pixel 10 was but a rumor instead of a soon-to-launch device. Our conclusion at the time: the Pixel 10 is likely to have more up-to-date features and impressive hardware, but the Pixel 9a has plenty to offer would-be bargain hunters.

Farewell to the SIM card

If you have an attachment to physical SIM cards, you may find the Pixel 10 series not to your liking, at least if a last-minute Evan Blass post is anything to go by.

"Tipster reports that the P10, P10P, and P10PXL will all ditch the physical SIM tray in favor of two active eSIM slots," the leaker's post reads. "Only the P10PF will support hardware SIMs."

For what it's worth, Apple has included eSIM support on iPhones since 2018, but it was the iPhone 14 series released three years ago that dropped phyiscal SIM card support entirely (at least in the U.S.)

Google's countdown

Meanwhile, Google is counting down the hours to Wednesday's event with a few teaser tweets of its own.

"Ask more of your phone" seems to be the theme of this year's Pixel launch, which would suggest a big focus on software features — particularly those powered by AI.

But then again, you probably figured that out on your own.

Battle of the Android phones

Once the Pixel 10 is shown off tomorrow, two major Android phone makers — Google and Samsung — will have completely updated phone lineups. And that's going to mean a showdown to see who makes the best Android phone.

Why wait for a full product launch, though, when rumors already give us some clue as to how a Pixel 10 vs. Galaxy S25 face-off could shake down? Depending on what Google winds up unveiling, we could be in for a real phone fight.

The biggest AI rumors

Stop us if you heard this before, but AI is going to be a big part of the Pixel 10 launch. So big, in fact, that my colleague John Velasco has rounded up the three rumored Pixel additions that could revolutionize AI on your phone.

A blast from the past

This latest Made by Google event will be the second one held in August — previously Google showed off its hardware in October, long after other tech companies had launched their latest phones in advance of holiday shopping.

History may not repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme. So here's a look back at what Google announced at the same event last year, just in case it offers any clues about the 2025 edition.

• New Pixel 9 phones, including three Pro models (the Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold)
• Pixel Watch 3
• Pixel Buds Pro 2
• Lots of Google AI and Google Gemini capabilities

Sound familiar? It could be very familiar around 1 p.m. ET today.

What to look for with the new Pixel buds

It's widely assumed that Google will have a new pair of lower-cost wireless earbuds to show off today in the form of the Pixel Buds 2a. But what exactly will this rumored audio add-on bring to the mix?

Our audio editor Tammy Rogers has some ideas with four things to look for with Google's Pixel Buds 2a announcement.

Premium Android phones compared

When it comes to the best phones, there's few better options than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Will the Pixel 10 Pro XL that's debuting today be able to match it? Our Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra comparison looks at what the rumors say about this match-up of premium Android options.

Putting on the pounds

2025 may be the year the likes of Samsung and Apple released new super-thin and lightweight phones, but don't expect that from Google. In fact, leaked specs suggest that the Pixel 10 series might actually be heavier than their predecessors.

Why? It may all be down to the inclusion of Qi2, and the magnetic wireless charging system that's rumored to have been added to the phones. As useful as the upgrade is, that extra hardware doesn't weigh nothing. Plus we have to account for other potential upgrades, like larger batteries, the Pixel 10's telephoto lens and so on.

More accurate outdoor workouts

One rumor that Tom's Guide's Nick Harris-Fry is excited about on the Pixel Watch 4 is the inclusion of dual-band GPS. It's a feature found on more of the best smartwatches, and it's a welcome addition for anyone who loves outdoor workouts.

Dual-band boosts the accuracy of GPS on your wrist, which will help keep track of you among tall buildings, dense trees and any other obstacles you may come across in the great outdoors. That way you stay connected, and gey a more accurate picture of where you've been.

A new wearable design?

Speaking of the Pixel Watch 4, rumor has it that Google will implement a tweaked design on this year's smartwatch. It'll apparently maintain the same circular design, but it looks slightly thicker than before -- likely due to the larger battery that's been rumored.

It's also been claimed that we'll get a thinner bezel and a slightly larger screen as a result. Other leaks suggest we may also see significantly higher brightness, potentially as high as 3,000 nits.

Not to mention the fact there there may be a new charging system, which supplies power to the side of the watch rather than the bottom.

Time for a new Pixel Stand?

With Qi2 all but certain to be landing on the Pixel 10 series, my colleague Tom Pritchard is insistent that now is the time for a new Pixel Stand charger. One that can take advantage of the faster Qi2 speeds, and take advantage of those magnets rumored to be in the phone.

Plus, when you remember that the Pixel Stand 2 was discontinued last year, Google has a big hole in its accessory lineup. And a brand new, magnetic, Pixel Stand could be the perfect shape to fill it.

Don't expect record-beating performance

Tensor chips have never offered industry-leading performance power, and it sounds like the Tensor G5 won't be any different. According to leaked benchmarking specs we can expect a marginal increase compared to Tensor G4, but that doesn't mean it's anywhere close to the likes of Samsung and Apple.

Whether that matters or not is a different story. Tensor has always been more about AI and security than performance — with some photography prowess thrown in for good measure. Which in a world of growing AI competition, may be exactly what Google needs to be focussing on.

Gemini could have some company

Google could be adding a second Ai to the Pixel 10 series, currently rumored to be named "Pixel Sense". This software has been rumored for some years, and according to the latest news it's supposed to be a more personalized assistant than Gemini.

In other words, it's an on-device AI that learns from you and your Google data, predicting what you might need and when. A bit like Samsung's Now Brief, but with a Google flair to it.

Extra foldable durability

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold could be a landmark foldable phone. Not because it dropped some thickness or weight, like the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but because it's expected to be the very first foldable with an official IP68 rating.

Recently we've only see phones arrive with an IP48 rating, which doesn't offer nearly as much protection from dust and other stray particles. That means the 10 Pro Fold may have been rated for the highest level of dust resistance, alongside some of the best water resistance available.

Considering how much havoc dust can cause if it gets in your phone, and the number of moving parts in a foldable screen, that's a very impressive feat by Google.

AI-guided camera lessons

If you're bad at taking photos, or simply want to get better, then the Pixel 10 might have the feature for you. We've heard about something called "Camera Coach," which uses Gemini AI to show you how to improve your photography skills.

The features supposedly work in real time, and it sounds like a pretty great idea for us. After all, it doesn't matter whether you're a total newbie or a seasoned pro, there's always something you can do to improve your picture.

How much can we expect to pay?

The last few years have seen a bunch of price hikes levelled at us from Pixel HQ. but according to a last-minute leak from Evan Blass that may not be the case this year. Both the Pixel 10 series and the Pixel Watch 4 should be staying at the same price as last year.

This means the Pixel 10 starts at $799, while the Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999. The only exception to this is the Pixel 10 Pro XL which starts at $1,199 compared to last year's $1.099.

Because Google has apparently scrapped the cheaper 128GB model, the starting price is now $100 higher than the cheapest Pixel 9 Pro XL. However the price does match last year's 256GB XL variant.

Blass also revealed what Pixel 10 accessories may cost, including the new $129 Pixel Buds 2a and the $39 magnetic Pixelsnap charger.

A celebrity host

I can't say I ever remember a time where someone noteworthy hosted a Made by Google event, other than various important Google people. But this year that's changed, with Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon taking on those responsibilities

Fallon himself confirmed the news on the Made by Google social media pages, while also attempting to namedrop some of the announcements we'll be seeing at the show. But unless Google has decided to scrap all its usual branding to name all its products [BLEEP], we're not actually getting any extra hints on what's to come.

Fixing a Foldable charging mistake

While non-folding Pixels have had fairly reasonable wireless charging speeds the past few years, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold was sorely lacking in that department. In fact it was limited to just 7.5W speeds, which is outrageously slow compared to other phones.

Thankfully that could be changing, with Evan Blass claiming that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will be fully Qi2 compliant. That means it should offer wireless charging speeds of at least 15W — or double that of last year's model.

Opening and re-opening

On the topic of the new foldable Pixel, Google published a teaser trailer for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold too.

This one isn't as snarky as the one Google made for the regular Pixel 10, which subtly criticizes Apple's slow rollout of AI features. This one just focuses on the signature feature of any folding phone — the fun of opening it up to use the big inner display.

A loose Pixel

There's apparently a Pixel 10 lurking somewhere out in the wild already, as a prototype was offered up on a Chinese auction site last month.

It looks a little different than the regular Pixel 10, presumably since it's not meant to be a final production model. But overall, it was an early sign of the phones we're going to see officially for the first time today.

Going all in on the eSIM?

If you've bought an American iPhone anytime in the last 4 years, you'll know that you're not allowed physical SIM cards anymore. Now it sounds like Google may be following that example.

According to Evan Blass, leaked images of the Pixel 10's packaging suggests that users will need to an eSIM if they want to use the phone, which means no more SIM card or SIM trays. However it is unclear whether this change will only apply in the U.S., lime iPhones, or if Google will be pushing international users onto eSIMs too.

Avoid shaky camera footage

One persistent rumor claims that the Pixel 10 series will have a brand new form of camera stabilization, which leakers have likened to the DJI Osmo Mobile 6. Sadly it's not clear whether this upgrade will rely on a brand new physical camera stabilization rig, specialist (like AI) software, or a mixture of the two.

Whatever happens, we can all agree that this is a good upgrade. Nobody like blurry shaky video, especially if you're trying hard to keep everything steady.

A Pixel Buds price hike

It may have gotten lost in the natural focus on Pixel phone pricing, but Google's low-cost earbuds may be due for a price hike.

Those prices leaked by Evan Blass ahead of Made by Google note that the Pixel Buds 2a will cost $129. When the original Pixel Buds A-Series debuted, they were just $99. So that's a $30 price hike.

On the one hand, it has been four years since Google came out with a pair of low-cost earbuds. On the other, at a time of rising prices, will people really want to pay more than $100 for what are supposed to be low-cost earbud alternatives? It all depends on the features the Pixel Buds 2a bring to the table.

A matter of storage

It's widely assumed that Google is going to up the storage on the Pixel 10 Pro XL to 256GB, a way of increasing the starting price on its XL model without hiking up the price on that specific model. (The Pixel 9 Pro XL may have started at $1,099, but that got you a 128GB version of the phone.) If the Pixel 10 Pro Fold offers the same capacity as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in its base model, that device will also start with 256GB of storage.

That would apparently leave the Pixel 10 Pro as the odd Pro model out.

So far, all the Pixel 10 Pro leaks have that model featuring 128GB in its base offering. And as my colleague Tom Pritchard wrote, 128GB feels kind of skimpy for a phone with a Pro label — especially in this day and age where we pack photos, apps and more onto our devices.

Google's not exactly an outlier here. The iPhone 16 Pro — which has the same $999 starting price that the Pixel 10 Pro is expected to feature — also comes with 128GB of storage, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max ups things to 256GB in its base model. Still, Apple's not the phone maker to match when it comes to storage, as Cupertino has been notoriously stingy with capacity, only dropping the 64GB configuration of its iPhones with the iPhone 13.

Heavier phones?

There's a downside to those Qi2 magnets supposedly getting included with the latest Pixel 10 models — they'll make the phones heavier than their predecessors.

Specifically, leaked specs have the Pixel 10 weighing 204 grams, which would be a 6-gram increase from the Pixel 9. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL are tipped to see increases of 8 grams and 11 grams, respectively, from last year's models.

Will it matter to people? Probably not, especially with the added convenience of being able to better attach your phone to wireless charging devices and other accessories. Still, it's something to keep in mind when evaluating portability.

Pixel models compared

For a quick rundown of Google's three main Pixel models — in other words, not the folding one — we've got a look at the expected differences between the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Battery life: How Google can improve

Since Google made the switch to Tensor chipsets in its phones, it's lagged behind other top flagships when it comes to battery life. You won't find any Google phones in our best phone battery life list, for example.

We're hoping the Pixel 10 lineup changes that. The new phones are tipped to get bigger batteries, and the Tensor G5 is said to feature performance improvements that could translate to more efficient power management.

Nevertheless, Google has a big mountain to climb. Here's how the current Pixel 9 lineup fares on our battery test, in which phones surf the web until they run out of juice. For context, the average result is a little better than 10.5 hours.

So, good but not great. Let's see if the Pixel 10 lineup improves upon those numbers.

At the event

Mark Spoonauer has arrived at the Made by Google event being held in New York. Trust us, it's a fancier venue than it looks.

Inside at Made by Google

See, that's a lot fancier. Note the "Ask More of Your Phone" signage, since that's apparently the theme of this year's launch.

Pixel 10 officially announced

And it's official — Google has released the details about the Pixel 10 phones. Here's what we know so far:

• Pixel 10: New telephoto camera in Google's entry-level flagship
• Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro: All the specs and pricing information
• Pixel 10 Pro Fold: An IP68 rating for Google's updated foldable phone

Meet the Pixel 10

John Velasco has gone hands-on with the Pixel 10 and thinks it's a phone that should make Samsung and Apple a little nervous, thanks to new AI features and a pretty impressive telephoto lens.

Up close with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Mark Spoonauer has had a chance to spend some time with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold ahead of the big announcement. And it's a very durable phone with a lot of impressive AI features. But it's also a lot bulkier compared to the sleek Galaxy Z Fold 7. His Pixel 10 Pro Fold hands-on looks at the prospects for this foldable phone showdown.

New Pixels arrive

Google will have plenty to say about its new phones at 1 p.m. ET, but in the meantime, you can get a first look of your own in our Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold video hands-on.

Pixel Pro models revealed

The Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro Fold don't see the major changes that the Pixel 10 does — after all, those phones already had a telephoto lens. But there are some big changes, from the Tensor G5 chipset to the included Qi2 magnets that support a whole new lineup of accessories.

John Velasco has the Pixel 10 Pro hands-on that dives into what to expect from these $999 and $1,199 phones. (And yeah, that's a price hike on the XL.)

Pixel Watch 4 hands-on

The display is bigger and brighter. The battery lasts longer. There's Google Gemini integration. And if you've got an LTE model, you can send messages via satellite.

Yes, there's plenty to wrap your brain around with the new Pixel 4 Watch that Google unveiled today. Mike Prospero walks you through the changes — and the surprisingly minimal health and fitness tracking improvements — in his Pixel Watch 4 hands-on.

Pixel 10: A quick overview

For a quick tour of the Pixel 10, head over to our TikTok account for a Pixel 10 walk-through by John Velasco.

Inside man

Mark Spoonauer checks in from inside the Made by Google event, which gets underway in about 20 minutes.

AI and Google Photos

Among the many AI changes we'll hear about today is a new feature coming to Google Photos where you'll be able to ask AI to edit your photos for you. With natural language requests, you can make changes like removing objects from the background or taking out reflections. There's also a "make it better" command for simply improving a photo.

We've got all the details on the new AI editing features coming to Google Photos as part of the Pixel 10 launch.

Won't be long now

Event preparations are clearly underway at Made by Google, which feels more like a television program than your typical launch event. Tell Mr. Fallon he's on in 12.

Pixel 10 Pro Fold in brief

Another Google phone, another TikTok video. Here's the Pixel 10 Pro Fold overview.

Time for the Pixel Watch 4

Take a tour of the Pixel Watch 4 and find out what's new in the TikTok video below.

Camera Coach

Google's latest phones can walk you through the steps of taking better-looking photos. How does it work? Here's a sneak preview of this Pixel 10 camera capability ahead of the launch event.

Live from New York

A bunch of cameos kick us off — Steph Curry, Trinity Rodman, Alex Cooper and more. Clearly, this is going to be a star-studded affair.

Jimmy Fallon gets us started

"We're going to party as hard as we can on a Wednesday at 1 p.m.," says Jimmy Fallon, who calls this a Taylor Swift announcement for nerds.

Never had an opening monologue for a phone launch before.

Rick Osterloh is here

Rick Osterloh — senior vice president of devices and services at Google ("sounds like a job you made up," Jimmy Fallon observes — sits down for an interview. He's promising a game-changing phone with game-changing technolgoy.

"Why not have a game-changing launch event?" Osterloh wonders.

Agentic AI

The talk has turned to agentic AI features — basically, Gemini will be able to take actions on your behalf while also keeping your information secure.

"Gemini is the real deal," Osterloh says. "We've got the best models. We've got the best AI assistant." The idea is that the AI is so good, you can spend less time with your phone and leave it to Gemini to handle things.

Pixel community feedback

Fallon and Osterloh are going through some Redditor comments about Pixels, highlight crash detection technology and the Pixels' camera-taking skills. And Osterloh is also touting personal intelligence, where your phone knows all about you and takes action on your behalf. The example given is planning a group dinner. "This kind of thing is coming this year," Osterloh said.

Veo demo

Osterloh is showing off Veo on the Pixel and how it can turn a still photo into a video. They've taken a shot of Osterloh's dog and turned it into a clip where the dog demands tweets.

Pixel 10 Pro models come with a full year of Google AI Pro, Osterloh notes.

Gemini Live

Osterloh says he's excited about Gemini Live, where you can point your phone's camera at something and get help from the Gemini Assistant since it can see what your phone sees.

We've got a pretaped demo with Giannis Antetokoumnpo and Lando Norris where they are using Gemini to learn about each other's sports. (Basketball and F1 racing, respectively.)

I'm not sure this is the most effective way to show off Gemini's practical uses, but it's not my launch event.

Product run-through

Adrienne Lofton, who's a marketing exec at Google, joins Jimmy Fallon at a table loaded up with Google devices — presumably the devices Google has launched today.

There's talk of "walled gardens" — companies who build devices that lock you into their platforms — and Apple's ears must be burning right now.

Lofton asks what it will take Fallon to upgrade to a Pixel. "I just like new," he says. Well put.

Pixel 10

Pixel 10 is first up. Lofton calls the Pixel 10 colors — Obsidian, Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass — sexy, flustering Fallon. It's also confirmed that these phones will feature Android's Material 3 Expressive interface previewed back in May.

Pixel 10 Pro

Lofton is touting the Pixel 10 Pro and its display and cameras. The Super Res Zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro now supports 100x zoom, which matches the Galaxy S25 Ultra's capability.

Pixel 10 Pro Fold

Jimmy Fallon is very excited about the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Lofton calls it thin and flexible, though it's not nearly as thin as the Galaxy Z Fold 7. But the Google foldable has something Samsung doesn't — IP68 water and dust resistance.

"The Fold is durable, it's beautiful," Lofton says.

PixelSnap

The magnets in the back of the Pixel phones work with PixelSnap accessories, like a new stand. It's Google's version of Apple's MagSafe, a comparison that flummoxes Jimmy Fallon. "You said the A word," he gasps.

Pixel Watch 4

The new Pixel Watch gets its time in the sun. The features touted include better battery life — 15 hours after just 15 minutes charging — and satellite connectivity. Google beat other watch makers to the punch with that feature.

Pixel Buds 2a

Now it's time to talk Pixel Buds 2a, which have features like active noise cancellation at a lower price than the Pixel Buds Pro 2. There's improved sound and AI features, too.

Celebrity cameos

In case you missed the cameo-heavy kickoff to the Made by Google event, here it is in all its glory.

Magic Cue

We're now getting a deep dive into the Magic Cue feature debuting on the Pixel 10 models. Here's how it works with email.

If someone asks you about a dinner reservation, Magic Cue can find the dinner reservation email, pull up the name of the restaurant and offer to paste it into your reply. It also works with flight reservations, group chats and photos.

More on Magic Cue

Magic Cue can also bring up information when you're on a phone call to change a reservation. The idea is that your phone can now anticipate your needs.

Camera features for Pixel 10

Alex Cooper is out to demonstrate some of the AI camera features. We're seeing Camera Coach, which walks you through different camera settings to improve your images. There's also Ask Photos where you can describe the changes you want to make to an image and have Gemini handle all the editing work.

Pixel 10 Pro camera features

Photographer Andre D. Wagner is out to showcase what he was able to photograph with a Pixel 10 Pro. The focus of this segment is to demonstrate the photo processing improvements on this year's models.

More on Google AI

While Google is diving into these AI features, you can also take a look at our summary of the top AI improvements available on the Pixel 10 phones, which includes looks at Magic Cue and Ask Photos.

The Jonas Brothers make a video

To demonstrate the Pixel 10 Pro's video capabilities, the Jona Brothers are going to shoot a music video using Google's new Pro camera.

There's a lot of comedy bits, but the point seems to be showing off things like 8K video, slow-motion effects, adaptive audio via the Pixel Buds, night sight video and zooming.

Pixel 10 phone features

We're now demonstrating the real-time translation features that are on the Pixel 10, which uses AI to not only translate your voice but to make it sound like your own voice.

In the demo, there's a bit of delay and Spanish-language Jimmy Fallon doesn't sound completely like the original version. But it's still a pretty impressive feature that trumps the translation capabilities coming to iOS 26 on the iPhone.

Wireless headphones

The Subway Takes guy is here to rant about wired headphones. I had no idea those were still a thing.

Pixel Watch 4 demo

We're getting a closer look at the Pixel Watch 4, which includes a morning brief with a readiness score based on how well you slept and how ready you are to work out. There's also a cardio load feature and real-time guidance during workouts.

One of the big additions is dual frequency GPS, which promises better tracking in cities and parks with dense trees. They're also touting the satellite connectivity.

A raise-to-talk feature activates Gemini by just raising your watch — no button presses required.

Personal AI Health coach

In October, Fitbit Premium users can preview a new AI-built coach in the Fitbit app, but there's not a whole lot of detail on what that feature brings to the table.

Wrapping it up

Rick Osterloh is back in what seems like the wrap for this presentation. But wait... before that happens Steph Curry is going to stop by.

He's Google's new performance advisor, which sounds an awful lot like when Alicia Keys served as Blackberry's global creative director for a time.

The long goodbye

After a Step Curry comedy video, Nick Jonas comes out to remind us all about that music video shot on a Pixel 10 Pro earlier. And now we're getting the world premiere of that video.

It looks like a video shot on a phone.

Jimmy Fallon loves his Fold

While the Jonas Brothers play us out, let's remember that time Jimmy Fallon got very excited about the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Pricing and availability

Google waited until the very end to disclose pricing and availability for all of the products announced today, so here's the rundown. Everything Google talked about is available for preorder now, but different products are appearing on different dates.

Launching August 28

• Pixel 10: starts at $799
• Pixel 10 Pro: starts at $999
• Pixel 10 Pro XL: starts at $1,199

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 aren't new, but a moonstone color is, and that's coming on August 28 as well. Like the other Pixel Buds Pro 2 models, that version costs $229.

Launching October 9

• Pixel 10 Pro Fold: starts at $1,799
• Pixel Watch 4: starts at $349 (41mm) and $399 (45mm)
• Pixel Buds 2a: $129

Pixelsnap accessories

Google's Pixelsnap accessories also arrive on August 28, the same day as three of the four new Pixel 10 models. Here's what you can get.

• the $39 Pixelsnap charger
• the $69 Pixelsnap charger with stand
• a $29 Pixelsnap Ring Stand
• Pixelsnap cases that start at $49

And Google says the devices at MagSafe-compatible.

Ask Photos demo

Here's a look at the new Ask Photos feature, where you can tell Gemini what changes to make to your images.

Veo 3 in action

Since a picture is worth a thousand words — and a moving picture is worth a thousand more — here's the video of that demo showing how Google's Veo 3 uses AI to turn still images into short video clips.

Time for preorders

As Google noted at the end of today's event, preorders are already underway for all the devices announced at Made by Google — even the ones coming in October. But where can you find the best preorder deals?

When it comes to the new phones, deals editor Louis Ramirez has put together a round-up of the top Pixel 10 preorder deals, and he notes that in some cases, you can save $1,000 on your new phone.

Hidden Google Home news

It didn't get a mention by Jimmy Fallon or his celebrity pals during Made by Google today, but Google had another Gemini announcement, and it concerns Google Home. Specifically, Gemini is replacing the Google Assistant in Google Home devices later this year.

In October, Google plans to beginning rolling out Gemini to devices like the Google Nest Hub, adding more smarts to your smart devices. This isn't a complete surprise, as Google showed off Gemini for Google Home at CES earlier this year. But now we have a date as to when it's happening, with more details to come.

More on Google's AI Fitness coach

Toward the end of Made by Google, the company announced a new AI fitness coach feature coming in October to the Fitbit app, though details are few and far between.

My colleague Dan Bracaglia did a little more digging into what Google has planned. And while there's still a lot we don't know about the feature, he put together a pretty good guide as to what Google's AI fitness coach will offer.

Pro Res Zoom in action

One of the demos during today's Made by Google event showed off the 100x zoom made possible by the Pro Res Zoom feature on the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL. The demo started tight on a blue car, then pulled back to show the distance that the phone's camera had zoomed in — emphasizing the image quality of the original shot.

But don't take my wide for it: Google posted a clip of the Pro Res Zoom feature on X.

AI, AI everywhere

It wouldn't be a surprise if you've been dreaming of AI features overnight — Google certainly discussed it enough during the event.

If you want to drill down to the core of the Pixel 10's AI offering, here's a guide to the top 7 AI features that you'll want to keep an eye on.

Why the Pixel Watch 4 is (or isn't) for you

We have been testing the Pixel Watch 4, and there are already some clear highlights. But it would be remiss of us not to point out some reasons why you may still want to give it a miss.

To give you a balanced view, we have our five reasons to buy and two reasons to skip the Pixel Watch 4 for you to look at. While you wait for our full review, this will help explain a few pros and cons.

Google shows up Apple on the AI front

Google made some jabs at Apple's lack of progress with AI features during its presentation. But it could have gone in a lot harder, as TG's AI Writer Amanda Caswell argues.

Specifically, Google's new Magic Cue feature, which aims to pop up relevant information from key apps like Gmail and Google Calendar when you need it, is the sort of feature Apple wishes it could make. This predictive AI tool looks like it could be extremely useful if it works as Google claims, and we'll be putting it through thorough testing as we work towards full reviews of the new Pixel 10 models.

Pixelsnap gives Google's new phones an edge

We've been wondering when a major Android manufacturer would finally adopt Qi2 whole-heartedly, and Google was the first to answer the call with its Pixelsnap accessories.

Pixelsnap is a hardware upgrade worth talking about, as it unlocks not just only new Google-made accessories for the phones, but MagSafe ones made for iPhones. Wireless charger makers have been waiting for this moment for years, and Google may have just brought us to the turning point where Qi2 finally takes off.

The annual Made by Google hardware event takes place this coming week, giving Google an opportunity to show off its latest devices, including new Pixel phones. And this year's edition, which takes place on Wednesday (August 20), has a greater sense of anticipation than most.

For starters, based on the rumors surrounding the Pixel 10 lineup, the phones coming out this year could introduce some significant changes, with the entry-level and high-end devices in particular getting some noteworthy improvements.

Beyond that, though, there's no denying that the smartphone market is a two-horse race, at least here in the U.S. I don't anticipate anything that Google announces this week to knock either Apple or Samsung from their lofty perches. But a successful Pixel 10 rollout would strengthen Google's position as the phone maker to turn to when you want to look beyond the Big Two. It would also raise the standing of the Pixel among the best Android phones out there.

With that in mind, here's what I'm looking for headed into the Made by Google event when it comes to the upcoming Pixel announcements.

Biggest Made by Google announcement: Pixel 10 cameras

If you believe all the rumors circulating about the Pixel 10, it's pretty clear what the biggest addition to Google's entry-level flagship phone will be. Tipsters expect the Pixel 10 to add a telephoto lens to its rear camera array, eliminating a key distinction between the standard Pixel and the Pro model.

The zoom lens on the Pixel 10 is not expected to be as powerful as the ones on both the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL. According to rumors, Google is going with a 10.8MP telephoto lens for the Pixel 10. In contrast, the Pixel 10 Pro series should have a 48MP zoom lens. Google also might scale back on the Pixel 10's ultrawide camera, opting for a 12MP sensor instead of the 48MP shooter found on the Pixel 9.

It's the rumored zoom capabilities of the Pixel 10 that catch my attention. Supposedly, the new phone will support a 5x optical zoom, matching the Pixel 10 Pro. More importantly, it would top the 3x zoom that Samsung's Galaxy S25 offers.

That's significant because the Galaxy S25 is one of the few sub-$800 flagship phones to feature a telephoto lens. (The OnePlus 13 has one, too, but it starts at $899.) If this Pixel 10 camera rumor proves accurate, you'll have another option when it comes to more affordable flagships with a full complement of cameras. And given Google's track record at producing the best camera phones, the Pixel 10 could prove to be a very formidable competitor.

Keep an eye on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold

On the opposite end of Google's Pixel lineup is the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the expected update to the company's foldable phone. Following the Galaxy Z Fold 7 launch earlier this summer, the Pixel foldable would seem to be up against it — Samsung did a great job producing a thinner, lighter foldable phone with AI features that take advantage of that unique design.

Nevertheless, it sounds like a Galaxy Z Fold 7 vs. Pixel 10 Pro Fold face-off could be more of a donnybrook than you might think, with Google tipped to make in-roads on two fronts.

The first is durability. Rumors forecast that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will offer an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, making it the first foldable phone to do so. Most foldables do just fine with protection against water, but the very nature of phones with hinges is that they have a hard time protecting against finer particles of dust. To that end, the Galaxy Z Fold Z offers an IP48 rating — good for water protection, but against dust, you take your chances.

Assuming that rumored IP68 rating turns out to be genuine, Google has a great selling point for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, especially since durability continues to be an issue that prevents people from giving foldable devices a try.

The other thing that stops people from buying foldable phones is their prohibitively high prices, but again, Google might have an answer for that with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Some reports suggest a price cut from the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's $1,799 starting point to around $1,600 according to one source.

Yes, that's still a lot of money, but considering that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is bumping its head against the $2,000 ceiling, a $100 to $200 price cut would make the Pixel 10 Pro Fold a more compelling alternative.

Google's most likely focus: Gemini and AI

Hardware details about phones often leak out, but tips about upcoming software features are harder to come by. Still, it's not going out on a limb to expect Google to spend a lot of time talking about new AI capabilities enabled by the Tensor G5 chipset we expect to power the Pixel 10 series. After all, AI has been the Pixel's calling card for years.

Even though definitive reports about new AI features have proven hard to come by, we've heard about a few potential additions like Camera Coach, in which the Gemini assistant guides you through taking the best possible shot, and a variation on the Sketch-to-Image Galaxy AI feature designed for Pixels. We've also heard talk of a more personalized assistant on board the latest Pixels.

Whatever Google winds up announcing will draw inevitable comparisons to both Galaxy AI and Apple Intelligence features. (Based on a teaser video Google put out about delayed Siri improvements, that last comparison sounds like one Google would welcome.) I'll certainly be keeping an ear out for how Google plans to maintain the Pixel's lead as the best AI phone.

The looming question: Battery performance

Since Google switched to its own Tensor chips for the Pixel phones, battery performance has suffered. The Pixels don't last as long as their flagship counterparts from Apple and Samsung, and you won't find any Google devices troubling our best phone battery life list.

There have been signs of life on the battery front, though. The Pixel 9a released earlier this spring topped the 13-hour mark on our batter test, in which phones surf the web over cellular until they run out of power. That's 90 minutes better than the average phone and a marked improvement over recent Pixels.

There's talk that the Tensor G5 chip might put more of a focus on performance and power savings than past Tensor silicon, where the neural engine has gotten much of the attention. If the Pixel 10 models are able to outperform the battery life of their Pixel 9 counterparts, then that's another positive step forward for Google's phones.

The biggest unknown: Pixel 10 prices

More from Tom's Guide

• Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9: Biggest expected changes
• New leak could have spilled all the Pixel 10 Pro Fold specs — here's what to expect
• Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro: Biggest rumored changes

We’re not far off the Made By Google event, which means the official reveal of the next generation of Google Pixels is almost here. However, as the event draws closer, we’ve also seen the rumor mill go into overdrive, including a recent leak showcasing the full technical specifications for Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

This leak comes from the German site Winfuture, showcasing nearly everything about the phone. For the most part, the leaked sheet matches a lot of what we’ve seen in other rumors, as well as the recent trailer for the phone, but there are more than a few differences as well.

Pixel 10 Pro Fold Specs

What is different?

Overall, the specs in Winfuture's sheet appear relatively similar to other leaks we’ve seen, but there are a couple of differences to note. Firstly, the Winfuture specs appear to confirm that the outer screen will be 6.4 inches, while the inner display will be 8 inches. The report also reiterates that both displays will feature a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits, 10% brighter than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Interestingly, the report from Winfuture lists the wired charging speed for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold as 30W, rather than the 24W we’d seen in other leaks. However, it again supports the claim that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will feature 15W Qi2 charging, which is expected to connect with the rumored magnetic Pixel Snap accessories.

One odd thing in the report is that the spec sheet details the Pixel 10 Pro Fold featuring a 10.8MP 5x telephoto lens, the same as seen on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. In the same piece, Winfuture states that the phone is capable of supporting 10x optical, or lossless zoom. Other than that, the cameras mostly appear to match the ones seen on last year's model, with a 48MP main camera, a 10.5MP ultrawide and a 10MP selfie camera on both screens.

More from Tom's Guide

• iOS 26 public beta 3 has already arrived — here's what's new
• Right now is the worst time to buy a new iPhone — here’s why
• I’ve been using apps on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7's cover screen with this download — but I’m not totally in love with it

A new report has seemingly revealed the Google-made cases for the Google Pixel 10 series, and also perhaps confirms the inclusion of a new wireless charging option.

The images come from a recent report from Nieuwemobiel (via Android Authority) published what appear to be official-looking renders of the Google Pixel 10, Google Pixel 10 Pro and the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s first-party cases. According to the report, all three versions of the cases will feature a microfiber lining and come in a variety of colors.

The Google Pixel 10 cases are stated to come in either Indigo (blue), Obsidian (black), Limoncello (light green), or Frost (light blue). Meanwhile, the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL will offer three options called Moonstone (light grey), Jade (light green) and Porcelain (off white.)

What about wireless charging on the Pixel 10 series?

While seeing the case color options is nice, the ring that appears on the inside of the case is the bigger deal. This ring looks like the outline of a magnet in the case. This would allow the case to connect to Google’s planned range of magnetic accessories called Pixel Snap.

But wait! "Does the case including a magnetic ring indicate there are no magnets on the phone itself?", you may be asking. In short, not at all, and in fact, having magnets on both the phone and the case is beneficial. The two working in tandem, such as with Apple’s MagSafe system, allows for a stronger connection between the case, the phone and any accessories. A case without a magnet could cause connection issues between the phone and a magnetic attachment.

A dummy unit could have put an end to the SIM card debate

On top of the cases leak, a recent Reddit post (via Android Authority) revealed images of what appears to be a dummy version of the Google Pixel 10. While the post doesn’t specify that it is a dummy unit, we can’t see the phone turned on, nor can we see any pins in the charging port, which would indicate it is real.

One important thing to note is that the unit includes a SIM card tray. We had seen rumors from from known source Evan Blass (via TechRadar) that Google could remove the SIM trays from certain models, instead focusing entirely on e-SIMs. However, I would caution readers to take both rumors with a grain of salt for the time being. Currently, the only big phone maker releasing eSIM-only phones in the US is Apple, so it isn’t impossible but Google hasn’t made a statement either way.

We have seen both official reports and rumors about the Google Pixel 10 series, and there’s a lot to be excited about. For instance, we’ve seen leaks about the Tensor G5 chip that suggest the new Pixels will see some improvement thanks to the chip utilizing TSMC’s 3nm process. We’ve also heard that the Pixel 10 could include a telephoto with 5x optical zoom, although this could mean the ultrawide lens could drop from 48MP to 12MP.

We don’t have long to wait for the Made by Google event, which is taking place on the 20th of August. Keep an eye out for our live blog of the event, which we will aim to keep updated with the news and releases as they happen.

More from Tom's Guide

• Pixel 10 Pro Fold could fix one major foldable weakness — but not the one you might expect
• iOS 26 Image Playground vs Android 16 Pixel Studio: I found the best AI image generator, and it's not even close
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Foldable phones can offer a lot of great things, but considering their price point, there are plenty of things we wish phone companies could do better. According to one new rumor, The Pixel 10 Pro Fold could make some big improvements — and offer faster wireless charging speeds.

Leaker Evan Blass has claimed over on his X account that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will be Qi2-ready. Those familiar with the Qi2 standard will know that it supports 15W wireless charging, which is more than double the 7.5W speeds available on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

From what we've heard, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold may also be the first foldable to offer an IP68 rating, with maximum protection against dust. This should prove to be a major boon for durability.

However, it's unclear if Google will follow Samsung's example and reduce both the thickness and weight of the phone. Considering how chunky the last two Pixel foldables have been, it's something Google may want to think about sooner rather than later.

What kind of Qi2 will we be getting?

Blass didn't specify whether the phone would support regular Qi2 or the newer Qi2.2 standard. The main difference is that Qi2.2 increases the charging speed to 25W, but since it's still very new, there's no guarantee that Google will support it for the upcoming phones.

He also didn't mention whether this would be magnetic Qi2 either. My hope is yes, given the leaks we've heard about the alleged "PixelSnap" accessories. But after Samsung released the Galaxy S25 as "Qi2 ready," which meant it had all the benefits of Qi2 without the magnets, I'm always going to be a little skeptical.

More so when you remember that foldables often come with compromised hardware, and the folding design may not accommodate those kinds of extras. We're not going to find out until next week, when Google unveils everything at the Made By Google event on August 20.

Unfortunately, Blass also claims that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold won't be released until October 9 — a release date it'll apparently share with Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Buds 2a. Though the rest of the Pixel 10 lineup is expected to be available within weeks of the event.

Until then, be sure to check out our Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold hub for all the news and rumors surrounding the new foldable phone — and the kinds of things we should expect.

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As someone who has been complaining about the lack of Qi2 on Android for what feels like years, the Pixel 10 rumors have been absolutely thrilling. Not only is Qi2 reportedly coming to the Pixel 10 series, word is that it won't be the stripped-down magnet-free version employed by the Galaxy S25 series.

The best part of the rumor might just be the fact that Google could also launch its own range of "PixelSnap" magnetic accessories for the Pixel 10. Accessories that could include the one thing I desperately want — a magnetic charging stand.

Considering that the Pixel Stand 2 changed my opinion on wireless charging, the prospect of having a 3rd generation—complete with faster charging and magnetism—is one that I am very excited about.

It's about time we got a follow-up to Pixel Stand 2

The Pixel Stand 2 is a great wireless charger. Not only does it offer wireless charging speeds up to 23W for compatible phones, and cooling fans in the back to avoid heat build-up, it can also activate a special "Stand Mode."

This effectively turns your Pixel into a miniature Nest Hub as soon as you place your phone on the charger. This gives users the ability to control Google Home devices, control media playback without unlocking the phone and see an ever-changing slideshow of Google Photos albums.

The problem with Pixel Stand 2 is that it has been somewhat stagnant for the past four years since its release. Despite running with a 30W charger, wireless charging speeds have been capped at 23W, and the Stand itself was clearly only designed for Pixel phones in mind.

Other phones will wirelessly charge on the Pixel Stand 2, but others have trouble. The iPhone 15 Pro Max I keep on my desk is a great example, since the wireless charging coils are so out of alignment that the two will not work together without help. I have to raise the phone, usually with a pen, to actually get power into the phone — and it's often too fiddly and unstable to bother with.

Obviously, there's a limit to what you can do with a charging stand that turns your phone into a mini smart home hub. It's not like a pad where you can position your phone more freely, and it has been built specifically for Pixel phones. Other manufacturers' devices will obviously be a much lower priority. Because not everyone out there tests phones for a living, and it's rare to find someone with more handsets than fingers.

Still, considering Pixel Stand 2 was discontinued last year, and is much harder to buy, it's about time Google released something to replace it. Even if it's only to offer faster wireless charging for Pixel owners.

A PixelSnap Stand could be a gamechanger

Should we get a Qi2 Pixel Stand, whether it's called PixelSnap Stand or Pixel Stand 3, it could make a big change. Not just in terms of offering a better and faster wireless charging experience for Pixel phones, but also in how it works with other devices.

The whole point of Qi2 is to improve the standard of basic wireless charging, without needing a manufacturer-specific system to reach those higher speeds. With the release of Qi2.2 earlier this year, that speed has increased to 25W.

Considering that's already ahead of the current 23W cap on Pixel phones, that leaves room for Google to offer significantly faster speeds on its own devices. Because there needs to be a good selling point to keep people from simply buying third-party chargers.

The magnets also ensure you get perfect coil alignment. That improves efficiency, reduces heat build-up, and makes for an overall better and faster charging experience. Plus, if Qi2 magnets are as powerful as MagSafe, it will keep your phone locked firmly in place until you need to.

And since those magnets have that grip, there's a lot more freedom in how you position the phone. This is beneficial for non-Google phones and any future Pixel designs that may deviate from the current norm. Like some kind of unreleased foldable phone, or even larger devices.

Heck, if the Nest hub features are retained, you could incorporate it into a future version of the Pixel tablet. Who needs a Nest Hub now?

Bottom Line

A new Pixel Stand wireless charger is not going to change the world. But should Google end up adding Qi2 to the Pixel 10 lineup, it would be crazy not to release a third-generation model to take advantage of all those changes. Even if there aren't any other PixelSnap accessories, as rumored, the least Google can do is up the ante on wireless charging.

My only question is, how much will such a charger inevitably cost? The Pixel Stand 2 was $79 at full price, and that was always something that put me off buying one — especially given my previous misgivings about wireless charging. Here's hoping it's not too ridiculous a price, especially given rumors that the Pixel 10 Pro XL may up its starting price by scrapping the 128GB storage option.

Still, even if it is comparable to the second-generation charger, if I bought a Pixel 10, I'd probably be tempted to pick up a PixelSnap charger alongside it.

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It's not long now until the next Made by Google event, which should see the unveiling of the Pixel 10 lineup — one that includes the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. We already know a lot about the phone, thanks to the usual wave of leaks, and now Google has started officially teasing the new foldable.

The teaser is in a similar vein to last week's Pixel 10 teaser, which poked fun at Apple for its continual issues with upgrading Siri and Apple Intelligence. Only this time it's emphasizing the joy of "opening" your phone. Not just that first unboxing, but also every time you get to physically open and unfold the screen.

We then get a glimpse of the back of the phone. It won't be surprising to anyone who's seen the leaks to find out that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold looks shockingly like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Based on what we can see, both these phones are identical from this angle, which doesn't suggest there will be major design upgrades on the rest of the phone.

We do get to see another device in Google's new "Moonstone" color, which has leaked multiple times in recent weeks. So if you want your phone in a slightly different shade of gray, this might be the option for you.

This teaser isn't openly taking shots at other phones. Unless Google's taking aim at all the phones that don't offer a folding screen, including its own, which seems pretty unlikely. So this is more of a "please buy our super-expensive folding phone."

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: What to expect

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When it comes to the power of phone chips, there’s little doubt that Google’s Tensor series chips tend to fall behind somewhat, and while the same could be true of the Pixel 10’s Tensor G5 chip, it might not be the whole story.

The Google Pixel usually finds a place as one of the best phones you can buy, despite lacking the power of other phones. This is usually down to the phone's focus on AI features and the focus on machine learning. However, recent rumors suggest that Google is considering a change in how it designs its chips, while also utilizing the same manufacturer as Apple.

This doesn’t mean that we can expect Google phones to suddenly be comparable to the upcoming iPhone 17 or the recently released Galaxy S25. However, these changes will offer some noticeable advantages to Google’s future phones; the issue is whether they will do so fast enough to catch consumers' attention.

What is Google reportedly going to change with the Tensor G5?

The big change that could be coming is that the Tensor G5 could be manufactured in partnership with TSMC instead of Samsung. This will reportedly include building the chip using TSMC’s 3nm process instead of the 4nm process seen on the Tensor G4. That means that Google will be able to fit more transistors into the chip, which should boost the power efficiency of the chip. Considering Google phones have yet to appear on our longest-lasting phone list, that could be a major advantage.

Unfortunately, this same rumor has stated that the new chip will feature the same CPU as the Samsung-made chips. This could mean that, while the G5 will see a boost in power, it won’t be as much as some hope, with some rumors calling it a “TSMC-made version of the G4.”

However, the Tensor G5 has one advantage that could make up for this apparent weakness, as it is reportedly the first Google chip to be fully developed in-house. While this doesn’t mean much for the raw power of the phone, it could have a big impact on the future of the services and features available.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of Google’s rumored plans?

A high benchmark score looks great, but it's hard to quantify for the average phone user. In comparison, Google’s focus on AI features and machine learning is much easier to gauge. For instance, the computational photography seen on Pixel devices allows the phones to compete with the best camera phones, even with fewer megapixels or even fewer cameras in the case of the basic Pixel 9 or budget Pixel 9a.

There’s also the argument that, with Google utilizing more in-house production of its chips, it can better integrate with Pixel features. This would allow the company to be faster when it comes to updates and even possible feature drops. On top of that, Google potentially having more control over the manufacturing process would make it much easier for its hardware roadmap and feature development.

A good comparison for this would be Apple, who also use TSMC to manufacture its A-series chips. However, Apple designs its A-series chips and M-series chips in-house, which in turn allows Apple a lot more control over how the chip interacts with its software.

In a recent interview with The Indian Express, Tim Millet, the vice president of platform architecture, had this to say about the benefit of designing the M4 chip at Apple, “By creating chips custom-built for the devices they will go into, the company avoids compromises in overall performance. Boger added that "no other platform can touch our power performance per watt. That's the tangible benefit to users."

However, there are some downsides to this focus, mainly that it becomes harder to promote the Pixel range as a high-end device due to the lack of power. For instance, the Google Pixel 9 Pro falls short compared to other modern phones like the iPhone 16 Pro or the Galaxy S25 Ultra, while only being slightly better than the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

On the plus side, it appears that Google isn’t going to be increasing the price of the Pixel 10 series, which would mean that the base Pixel 10 could release with a $799 price tag. That’s the same as the iPhone 16 and the Galaxy S25, which is a bit of a problem if the phone can’t match those devices in terms of power.

This problem is likely to worsen, and depending on the final price of the iPhone 17, it could leave many consumers wondering why they’re paying premium phone prices for a mid-range phone’s power. We still don’t know for certain what the new chip is capable of, or what Google plans to do with it, so it’s possible that we could see a marked improvement when we test it.

Google has to deliver on features and sell the phone of the future

The biggest struggle that Google is going to have is that the power of the Tensor G5 and the advantages of in-house production are all based on the future. While this is great in the long run, it means that there likely won’t be any immediate benefits, which can be a turn-off when trying to sell a new phone.

With that said, we’ve not seen anything solid about the power of the newest Tensor chip, and the performance may exceed expectations. Personally, I’m excited to see what Google could do with the 3nm process and what it means for the future of Google phones. For now, we’ll have to wait until later this month for the Made by Google event, where it is expected to reveal the Pixel 10 series.

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At this point, if Google has any surprises in store for the Pixel 10 smartphone lineup, that would be shocking. The entire series has been revealed in leaked renders, photos, and marketing materials.

Based solely on leaks, the phones could be a big leap for Google, with the standard model being a Pixel 10 Pro in all but name. That includes a new telephoto lens and potentially a more powerful processor.

With that in mind, here are the five upgrades that excite me and could persuade me to upgrade.

Upgraded Pixel 10 camera

Similar to Apple’s vanilla iPhone model, the entry-level model has stuck with dual cameras since its inception. However, the various leakers have claimed Google may add a telephoto 5x optical zoom lens alongside the main and ultrawide lenses.

Unfortunately, adding the 11MP telephoto lens may come at the expense of the other two. The ultrawide has reportedly dropped from 48MP to 12MP.

The main lens is taking a smaller decrease from 50MP to 48MP. AI software solutions could resolve some of those issues, so image quality shouldn’t suffer too much.

Still, having the option should make taking photos better, especially for subjects that require even a little bit of zoom to capture.

Video stabilization

Sticking with the cameras, Google is apparently bringing significant improvements to the Pixel 10’s video stabilization system. At least one rumor compared the system to the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 — likely the best smartphone gimbal we’ve tried so far this year.

No one wants shaky video, even in chaotic filming situations.

It’s not clear from the rumors if this is a hardware solution or a software-based one. As the meme says, “¿Por qué no los dos?”

Again, AI could be involved in smoothing out any shaky footage, and I’m sure it will have a role even with hardware or software upgrades.

Pixel Sense

Despite consistently upgrading its Gemini AI assistant, the Pixel 10 is rumored to get a new onboard assistant dubbed Pixel Sense. This assistant would take data from various Google Services to learn more about the phone owner and provide more personalized assistance.

Pixel Sense was supposed to debut on the Pixel 9 series as “Pixie,” though it ultimately failed to arrive.

Samsung offers a similar feature on Galaxy S25 phones with its Personal Data Engine. That feature tracks your behavior so that it can offer personalized recommendations in features like Now Brief.

It’s interesting because it could make the notifications you get worth your time, including predictive suggestions, or aid in completing tasks or routines on your phone. It is reportedly designed to adapt and evolve with you as it learns about your interests and habits.

Tensor G5

Compared to Apple and Samsung, Google has lagged with its in-house Tensor chips. The Pixel series performs well enough, but nothing like the Apple A-series and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 processors.

For starters, the Tensor G5 could be the first system-on-chip entirely designed by Google, and not as a former Samsung Exynos chip. There’s also word that it will be manufactured by TSMC using its 3nm processor. That should make the SoC far more powerful and energy-efficient compared to previous Tensor chips.

Google having more control over the chips means that it should integrate better in the Pixel 10. Better optimization would also mean that the Tensor G5 makes the Android OS smoother as well.

No Price hike

Perhaps price isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but prices have been increasing, making it hard to recommend even the best phones without some kind of deal.

However, Google could be doing our wallets a favor.

In the run-up to the August 20 announcement, some price leaks have teased good news. According to one rumor, the Pixel 10 will start at $799 for the 128GB storage version. That is exactly the same as the Pixel 9 at launch. Reportedly, it will also come with 6 months of Google’s AI Pro plan.

The other models, like the Pixel 10 Pro, will reportedly retain similar pricing as well, with the 128GB version starting at $999. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is allegedly going to stay at $1,799 for the 256GB storage variant. And finally, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is getting a slight bump to $1,199 since Google is dropping the 128GB version in favor of the 256GB variant as the base model.

Outlook

Apple and Samsung are the big dogs in the US smartphone market, but Google has been slowly catching up since it launched the original Pixel phone.

With a more powerful chip, different cameras, and a nicer price point, 2025 could see the Pixel phones take a big leap compared to previous years.

We'll know more on August 20 during the next Made By Google event where the Pixel 10 series will officially be revealed.

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128GB has been the standard entry-level of smartphone storage for a long time now, at least on flagship phones. We have slowly, but surely, been seeing that shift as the ultra-premium phones instead opt for 256GB as their cheapest option.

Rumor has it that the Pixel 10 Pro XL could be the next phone to make that switch. But, if what the rumor mill claim is true, the same won't be true for the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro. Apparently both of the remaining non-folding phones will stick with that same 128GB entry point. Which feels like a missed opportunity to me for the Pro.

Even if Google wanted to keep the price for the standard Pixel 10 down, it still should be ditching the 128GB option on the Pixel 10 Pro as well.

128GB storage isn't very 'Pro' at all

For the last several years, I've struggled to use phones with 128GB of storage. We're firmly at the point where it just isn't enough storage space to account for all the requirements of a modern smartphone and its apps.

System settings regularly take up a large chunk of space, while both photos and videos seem to have larger file sizes with each passing year. The constant push for better camera features, higher resolution and faster framerates clearly isn't helping matters, and AI is only going to make that problem worse.

My own Pixel 9 Pro needs 5.25GB for its AI Core app, which can't be uninstalled — which doesn't include the extra few hundred megabytes Google Gemini currently uses. Meanwhile, Apple made headlines earlier this year by doubling the amount of storage space needed for Apple Intelligence. That was reportedly 7GB, though my iPhone 15 Pro Max lists it as 6.61GB.

Given the emphasis phone companies are placing on AI, that number is only going to get larger as time goes on. This is especially true if you're talking about on-device AI, something Apple has been keen on for privacy reasons.

There are ways you can keep your phone storage a little skimpier, but in my experience it's been a constant battle of offloading files and staying on top of storage-hungry apps. This is something that never used to be a problem, even before I starting paying for cloud storage.

I'm fully aware that the titles phone makers stick on their phones, like "Pro," are actually pretty meaningless. But the constant battle to keep a few GB free on your handset isn't a particularly Pro experience. If a company wants to offer a premium phone, they should apply that to the storage options as well.

256GB does mean a price hike — but it could be worth it

It's pretty clear why the 128GB storage option has stuck around for so long, especially on the entry-level phone models. Having that lower level of storage allows phone companies top keep the starting price lower, which is useful for marketing and advertising purposes.

It also means that having a cheaper option, even if the storage requirements aren't adequate, could potentially net them more sales. Because phones are expensive, and we've already seen that ditching the 128GB option doesn't actually lower the cost of buying more storage — it just makes the phones seem more expensive. Because heaven forbid that a phone maker lowers the relative cost of their phones.

It's for that reason I'm not expecting devices like the Pixel 10 or the eventual Pixel 10a to scrap the 128GB option anytime soon. Especially since the Pixel 10 is expected to come with a bunch of extra upgrades, notably a telephoto lens, without any rumored jump in price.

That said, if you're already paying the extra money for a Pro model, what's a little extra money for the convenience of having more storage?

Sure, you can already do that if you feel strongly enough, but there comes a point where phone companies should start pushing more people towards the higher storage options. And if you're already doing that for the Pixel 10 Pro XL, you might as well do it for the smaller Pixel 10 Pro as well.

After all, the only difference we've seen between these phones in the past is their size — plus a slightly bigger XL battery. If you're going to stick to that parity with the rest of the hardware, you might as well bump up storage on the smaller model, too.

Personally, the comfort of knowing that I have double the storage space, and won't need to be quite so strict with my storage usage for a while, is well worth the extra $100 or so this change would ask me to pay. The cost of not having to deal with that stress really helps.

Bottom line

I know that not everyone will agree on me with this point, and I know there are people out there who are more than happy with a 128GB storage option — they've made themselves known to me in the past. But that doesn't change my opinion here, and I still think that 128GB is an inadequate entry level for premium smartphones.

I wouldn't be happy if Google kept the 128GB option for the entire Pixel 10 line-up, but it also doesn't sit right that it might only remove that option for the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

I get the logic in leaving a cheaper storage option for Pixel 10, but it doesn't make sense to start making arbitrary differences between Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL. Sure the sizing option is still very new, but the whole point was supposed to be that they're the same phone with different size options.

Adding arbitrary differences now doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Especially since 128GB storage options on ultra premium phones should already be on their way out.

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Shooting photos is second nature for me. But whenever I let my dad take family photos for me, I sometimes cringe at the result because I know it could’ve turned out better. Google wants to up your photography game with a feature rumored to be coming to the Pixel 10 that will make you a better photographer.

Android Headlines is reporting that Google’s working on a feature for the Pixel 10 called Camera Coach, which would lean on Gemini to provide you with real-time coaching instructions to get better-looking photos. It sounds like this Gemini-powered feature for the Pixel 10 camera would suggest changes like adjusting your angle for better framing, changing the lighting, and much more.

I really like this idea of Camera Coach using Gemini to guide you to get the best shot, but I’ll be more impressed to see what the execution is like. Taking photos like a professional requires quick analysis of the scene, then choosing your frame. It’s the difference between getting an ordinary shot from one that will get you hundreds of likes on Instagram.

Even though there aren’t a lot of explicit details on how Camera Coach will work on the Pixel 10, one of the arguments I agree with is that this feature should be instant. Gemini would need to read the scene and give instructions right away to make it practical for everyone to use — because, quite frankly — I think the whole process should take no more than 5 to 7 seconds.

We'll have to see if this rumored feature is true. If it is, it could radically change the way people take photos, and I'm confident it would work well in practice. That’s because I imagine that Google’s been training Gemini to know what looks good and what doesn’t.

Beyond Camera Coach, there’s a lot of excitement and buzz surrounding the Pixel 10 series, including the base model that’s rumored to feature a triple camera system complete with a dedicated telephoto lens. I’ve already explained the precedent it would establish if the Pixel 10 does end up getting a telephoto shooter.

Thankfully, we won’t have to wait long because the next Made by Google event is slated for August 20, where we’ll also likely get our first look at other devices — like the Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

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We're just two weeks out from the next Made by Google event, where we're expecting to hear about all the newest Google devices — including the Google Pixel 10. Judging from the rumors, this could be a very big year for Google's phones, with the entry-level model offering even more upgrades and improvements than ever before.

In fact, from the sounds of things, the Pixel 10 may just be a Pixel 10 Pro in everything but name. After all, one of the most prominent rumors is that we'll finally see a telephoto lens on the cheapest model. But that's just one rumored upgrade out of many, and there are plenty more out there.

Here are the 7 biggest upgrades rumored to be coming to Pixel 10.

Telephoto lens

The entry level Pixel has always stuck with the dual-camera lens approach — offering a main and ultrawide lens with no sign of a zoomable shooter. That could be about to change, with a lot of rumors leaning on the fact the Pixel 10 will get this formerly Pro-exclusive feature at long last.

Leaks suggest that the new lens could come at the expense of other lenses. The ultrawide has apparently dropped from 48MP to 12MP, while the main lens gets a less significant drop from 50MP to 48MP. Presumably to help offset the cost of adding the 11MP telephoto lens, and its 5x optical zoom capabilities.

Thankfully resolution isn't everything, especially with AI, so we shouldn't experience any major drops in image quality as a result.

Pixelsnap magnetic charging

One of the things I've often complained about is the fact Android phone makers have been very slow to adopt Qi2 wireless charging. So fa,r only HMD has actually released a phone with the full magnetic charging system built into the phone — with a couple of others offering stripped down versions.

According to some rumors, Google may finally bring that feature to a mainstream flagship. Not only have leaked renders shown the Pixel 10 using a magnetic charger, without any kind of external case, the phones are supposedly heavier than their Pixel 9 counterparts.

Leaks also suggest that this will be called "Pixelsnap," and that Google will be releasing a range of compatible accessories to go with it. There's no word on how fast the wireless charging will be, but if it is based on Qi2 then we should see a minimum of 15W speeds — provided you use the right charger.

3nm Tensor G5

This is one the longest standing Pixel 10 rumors we've heard, because it could mark a turning point for the Tensor chipset family. According to rumors this will be the first chip that didn't start life as one of Samsung's Exynos chips — instead being designed from scratch by Google.

Oh, and word is that the chip will be manufactured with TSMC's 3nm process, which is the same one used to make the likes of the Apple A18 Pro and the Snapdragon 8 Elite. A process that has proven to have a positive impact on performance power and energy usage.

Starting from scratch means Google has more control over what the chips can do. Combined with the fact it also develops Android and the Pixel series, it could mean better optimization between all areas of the Pixel 10 — potentially leading to better performance and lower power consumption in the process.

Speak to Tweak AI

If you've found Google's AI editing tools a little difficult to use in the past, then "Speak to Tweak" might be the thing you're looking for. Details about this feature aren't widely known, other than the fact it will be an AI editing tool.

Judging from the name it's going to be a system that lets you tell your phone what edits you want to make — rather than interacting with the screen. If that works as well as other AI features, and is able to understand what you need, then this could make the process of editing an absolute breeze.

A bigger battery

Battery life on Pixels has come a long way over the last couple of years, and here's hoping that the same is true for the Pixel 10. Thankfully, rumors are claiming that we'll see a bigger battery on the phone, which is definitely a good start towards boosting that battery life even further.

Rumor has it that the phone will come with a 4,970 mAh battery. Not only is that larger than you'd find in phones like the Galaxy S25 (4,000 mAh), it's also a healthy boost from the 4,700 mAh battery we saw in the Pixel 9.

While there's no telling how much better the battery life will be just yet, it bodes well for a feature that Google has long struggled to get right.

Gimbal-like video stabilization

Nobody likes a shaky video, no matter how many Hollywood movies seem to believe otherwise. If you're an avid videographer then you'll be happy to hear that the Pixel 10 could come with significant improvements to its video stabilization system.

In fact, the initial rumor compared the new system to a DJI Osmo Mobile 6 — which is easily one of the best smartphone gimbals we've used this year.

Details aren't clear, so we don't know if this will be a physical revamp of the hardware or some kind of software improvement. It could even be both, and I can't imagine AI won't play a role in smoothing out the footage if that's the case.

No price hike

While not necessarily a hardware upgrade, we have heard some Pixel 10 price leaks in the run up to launch — and it's good news. According to the leak the Pixel 10 is going to start at $799 for a model with 128GB of storage. That's the same as the Pixel 9, and will reportedly come with 6 months of Google's AI Pro plan.

The Pixel 10 Pro will reportedly start at the same $999 price tag as last year, with 128GB of storage. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold will also apparently stick to $1,799 for a 256GB storage variant.

Sadly the Pixel 10 Pro XL will cost an extra $100 ($1,199) due to the fact Google has dropped the 128GB model in favor of starting at 256GB. These 3 phones are expected to come with a year of Google AI Pro

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After using the Pixel 9 Pro XL for most of the past year, it’s still one of the best camera phones in my opinion because of the impressive performance of its telephoto camera. However, I did debate early on how both the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL were overrated because of the big upgrades Google gave the standard Pixel 9 model.

That’s why I’ve been keeping a close eye on all the Pixel 10 rumors, especially around how Google might be adding a telephoto camera to its arsenal. Not only would this be a big shakeup for the series, but it also would absolutely put the iPhone 17 on notice.

We’re just a couple of weeks away from the next Made by Google event, where we’ll also presumably learn more about the Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. By introducing a telephoto camera to the base Pixel 10, it would set a precedent going forward in what I'd expect in a phone that's around the $799 price point.

And it could turn out to be the secret weapon used against the iPhone 17.

Telephoto would be a first for the series

Before I explain why the iPhone 17 is in trouble if this rumor turns out to be true, it’s worth detailing what to expect with the Pixel 10. Google has kept the formula the same ever since the Pixel 6 — by giving its ‘Pro’ models the better cameras complete with dedicated telephoto shooters.

With the Pixel 10, though, the rumors hint at a shakeup because it would be the first time that the base model gets treated to a triple camera system. There was a major specs leak a few months ago that reportedly detailed a telephoto shooter with the Pixel 10. The specs leak showed an 11MP telephoto camera, which would supplement its rumored 50MP main and 13MP ultrawide cameras.

By adding a telephoto camera, it would greatly add more utility to the Pixel 10. It would effectively cover all the range: near, far, and everything in between. Even though Google has leaned on pixel binning techniques in the past to deliver ‘optical-like’ zoom from its main cameras, a dedicated telephoto with the Pixel 10 is one serious upgrade I’m stoked about.

While this rumor makes me excited, there might be an unintentional downgrade to this triple camera system in the form of a smaller sensor with the main and ultrawide cameras. Meaning, the current 50MP main camera in the Pixel 9 would be replaced by a 48MP shooter similar to the one in the Pixel 9a. Likewise, the ultrawide camera would go from 48MP on the Pixel 9 to a 12MP one.

I'm confident the camera performance will be an improvement, even with these changes. It's rare for a new phone to have a worse camera than its predecessor.

Uh oh for iPhone 17

Apple has also kept to a similar format with its iPhone releases, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be any different this fall. There have been virtually no iPhone 17 camera rumors or leaks that hint at any major changes, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it recycles the current camera combo of the iPhone 16 — which would be a 48MP main shooter paired with a 12MP ultrawide.

The Pixel 10 would have the upper hand in convincing people it’s the better phone because of its rumored telephoto shooter. Three cameras are better than two. That’s just the reality and the iPhone 17 faces an uphill battle because all zooming would have to lean on the performance of its main camera.

I will say, though, that Apple has leveraged its own set of techniques to deliver decent zooming performance — which I’ve tested with the iPhone 15. But even if the iPhone 17’s zooming capabilities are improved, it’s going to have a difficult time I think to match the 5x optical zoom lens performance reportedly coming to the Pixel 10.

Take a look at the photos I captured above: one with the Razr Plus (2025) using its dedicated telephoto camera (with 2x optical zoom) at 30x zoom, then the Razr Ultra (2025) getting the same shot at 30x with its main camera. It illustrates exactly why optical zooms are superior, no matter how much image processing and AI enhancements are thrown at the photo.

I shoot a lot of photos professionally and can tell you there’s a substantial difference in performance from shooting a photo that I would crop in post to look like a 5x zoom, versus the results straight from the camera paired with a telephoto lens with the same 5x optical zoom framing. Using this logic, not only would the Pixel 10 offer more utility, but it would also show more value.

Pixel 10: Potentially much better value

Another interesting thing to consider is that the Pixel 10 is tipped to have the same price as last year’s model. That would put it at $799, which would only fuel its value over the iPhone 17 because of an added telephoto camera.

I always love getting more features on a newer device without its price being jacked up in any way. By introducing a telephoto camera, the Pixel 10 would instantly have a huge advantage over the iPhone 17 since it’s likely to come at the same $799 price.

However, the pressure isn’t solely on the iPhone 17 because the Pixel 10 would also presumably be on a par with the Galaxy S26. Samsung’s next flagship isn’t expected until early next year, but we're presuming that the new flagship will sport a triple camera setup just like the Galaxy S25. Still, Samsung's next phone needs to move the needle up because 3x optical zoom won't be as attractive as the 5x optical one rumored for the Pixel 10.

To be fair, there are other phones priced lower than $799 that have triple cameras with a dedicated telephoto shooter. The CMF Phone 2 Pro is one of them, but its 2x optical zoom performance isn’t worth writing home about. Even though it's a top contender among the best cheap phones, its zoom performance leaves a lot to be desired. But I will say I’m optimistic for the Pixel 10.

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Google will officially announce the Pixel 10 series at the end of August during its next Made by Google event. That hasn't stopped the Mountain View company from teasing its flagship phone line as a mind-boggling number of leaks continue to pour out.

On Monday (August 4), Google posted a teaser ad on its YouTube channel that takes digs at Apple over its ongoing struggle to release an updated AI-powered version of Siri. The video is also set to an instrumental version of "The Next Episode" by Dr. Dre, another poke at Apple since the company owns Beats by Dr. Dre.

The ad references how Apple announced several Apple Intelligence features and Siri upgrades during WWDC 2024. The rollout of Apple Intelligence has been slow and, in some cases, delayed until 2026.

As Google implies, many of its announced AI capabilities are already available in its Gemini AI platform.

Meanwhile, regular image leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer (OnLeaks on X) teamed up with Android Headlines to share new renders of the Pixel 10 from just about every angle.

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We may not have long to wait until the Pixel 10 launch event on August 20, but Google has already released a first look teaser at one of the upcoming phones — seemingly the Pixel 10 Pro. For the most part this phone looks pretty much the same as the Pixel 9 Pro, and that's a problem for me.

Not that I have a particular dislike of the Pixel 9 design, quite the opposite. But for the fact that the phone still seems to have a temperature sensor alongside the camera. And that's a feature that should have been scrapped by now. If only because it's a gimmick that has overstayed its welcome.

A gimmick that was already tired when it first arrived

The Pixel temperature sensor is a feature that could have been useful, had it appeared three years earlier than it did. The Pixel 5 was released towards the end of 2020, back before COVID-19 vaccines were available and the virus was still a significantly bigger threat than it is today.

Those of you that remember that time will likely remember having your temperature taken at one place or another. In a store, at an event, arriving at work, you name it. At that point a smartphone with a built in temperature sensor, especially one approved for medical use on humans, could have been a very big deal. Unfortunately the Pixel temperature sensor arrived on the Pixel 8 Pro in 2023.

It's almost as though Google saw how useful such a feature could have been, and started work on it for a future phone. It's just unfortunate that by the end of 2023, the threat of COVID-19 has dropped significantly. Vaccines were available, lockdowns had ended, and while it never really went away, a lot of people had stopped worrying about the disease by that point.

To make matters worse, the feature didn't even have FDA approval when the phone was released — that didn't happen until December, two months after release.

Had the temperature sensor come bundled in on the Pixel 6 Pro, or even the Pixel 7 Pro, it could have proven its worth a little more than it already has. But the Pixel 8 Pro was released far too late. By late 2023, the need for such a feature was long gone.

I've been using a Pixel 9 Pro, which also has a temperature sensor on the back, for almost a year now and I've found little need for a temperature sensor. Aside from some testing, and comparing the sensor to a thermal camera add-on, I'm not sure I've ever even used it. Aside from using food, I just don't have any need to regularly check the temperature of people or things.

Maybe food, but I sure as heck am not sticking my phone into a partially cooked meal to see how much more time it needs.

Scrap the temperature sensor and focus on other things

While the Pixel 10 Pro is only the third time the temperature sensor has been included on a Google phone, I can't help but think it's overstayed its welcome.

Maybe I'm just the wrong target audience for it, but I feel like anyone who desperately needs to measure temperatures would probably just buy a dedicated thermometer — especially if it was for use with humans.

The way I see it, the temperature sensor feels like a waste of money and resources — and Google would be better off utilizing the effort elsewhere. Whether that's for adding new AI features, improving staples like camera quality and battery life, or with some new piece of hardware that has better potential for success.

Considering we've seen multiple Pixel price hikes in the past few years, it's strange that Google hasn't tried to trim the fat and cut costs. The lower price tag was one of the key selling points of buying a Google phone, even if Pixels weren't nearly as affordable as the old Nexus lineup.

There are plenty of other benefits, like the exclusive features and first access to Android updates, but we can't ignore the fact that the ever-increasing cost of Pixel phones makes them a lot less appealing.

If Google can save a little bit of money, by scrapping a feature that it really doesn't need to keep pursuing, and pass that saving onto the customers, it would be of benefit to everyone. But that hasn't happened, and I suspect it won't happen until we get another significant redesign to the flagship Pixel hardware.

Considering the Pixel 9 series was a major deviation from the previous 3 generations, I can't see that happening anytime soon.

Bottom line

There is a reason why Google has kept the temperature sensor around on Pixel phones, even if it doesn't seem like a particularly logical choice. We just don't know what that reason is, and so far Google hasn't been quick to volunteer an answer.

Still, I can't help but feel like the temperature sensor is the kind of feature that should have been scrapped already. Like the Pixel 4's Motion Sense gesture recognition feature, it should have been a one and done piece of hardware. Because it's just not the kind of thing anyone needs to have on their phone, especially now that we're not trying to dodge exposure to a deadly virus on a daily basis.

But hey, I guess I'll just have to continue not using the temperature sensor and hope that Google realizes the Pixel 11 could probably go without. At the very least I'm happy to hear rumors that the Pixel 10 could finally offer Qi2 magnetic charging, under the name "PixelSnap."

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Google’s Made by Google event is on the horizon, and a recent leak by Android Headlines has revealed the possible prices for the Google Pixel 10, Google Pixel 10 Pro, Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

For the most part, it appears that Google won’t be increasing the price for its new phones. The Google Pixel 10 is listed to cost the same as the Pixel 9, with the basic 128GB model costing $799 in the US and $1,099 in Canada. There's no change for the 256GB option either.

Android Headlines also states that the Pixel 10 will come with six months of Google’s AI Pro plan, six months of Fitbit Premium and 3 months of YouTube Premium. The three Pixel 10 Pro models, meanwhile, are reportedly going to offer a year of Google AI Pro, meaning access to Gemini Advanced and 1TB of storage courtesy of Google One. On top of that, buyers of a Pro model could also get three months of YouTube Premium and six months of Fitbit Premium.

It isn’t just the base Google Pixel 10 that’s staying the same, as the Google Pixel 10 Pro is reportedly going to offer the same prices as the Pixel 9 Pro. That means that the lowest model is going to cost you $999 in the US and $1,349 in Canada. The Pixel 10 Pro also reportedly offers more storage options, all of which appear to have the same price as the current Pixel 9 Pro.

Are all prices staying the same?

As mentioned earlier, the majority of the Pixel 10 series are listed to cost the same as their predecessors, but there are some reported differences. Firstly, the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL could have a higher cost of entry than the Pixel 9 Pro XL due to Google reportedly dropping the 128GB option. This means the base model is the more expensive 256GB version, which costs $1,199 in the US and $1,629 in Canada.

Arguably, the biggest shock in the report has to do with the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which could be the most expensive Pixel phone we’ve ever seen. The reason for this is that Google is reportedly planning to release its next generation of foldable phones with a 1TB option, which could cost $2,149 in the US and $2,869 in Canada.

If accurate, then it would mean that, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold wouldn’t be as pricey as the 1TB Galaxy Z Fold 7 — which costs $2,419 — it would still be a pretty major increase for the company. Thankfully, it appears that the 256GB and 512GB options will remain the same as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

It is worth noting that Android Headline does not specify its source for this information, so it is possible that these prices will not match the final product. We’ll have to wait until the Made by Google event on August 20 to see what the final prices for these devices will be.

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