Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9: All the biggest upgrades

With Google updating its smartphone lineup, it's time for a Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 comparison to detail all the changes made to year's entry-level flagship. And there are quite a few improvements to go over.

The Pixel 10 features upgraded cameras, a bigger battery and a brand new Tensor system-on-chip. That latter change enables a series of new AI-powered capabilities that figure to pad Google's lead in the race to build the best AI phone.

What hasn't changed from the Pixel 9 is the basic look of the phone or its screen size. But perhaps the most important thing to stay the same is the starting price — a welcome development in light of all the other changes Google has made.

Here's a look at the Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 differences now that we've had some initial hands-on time with the Pixel 10. See our Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro face-off for a look at what's new with Google's Pro models.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 specs

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 price and availability

The Pixel 9 arrived in stores a year ago after an August 2024 launch event. Flash forward to 2025, and the Pixel 10 also gets an August launch, with the new phone arriving in stores August 28 after the August 20 Made by Google event.

The Pixel 9 saw a price hike from the Pixel 8, with the cost of the phone rising to $799. That didn't happen this time around, with the Pixel 10 keeping that $799 starting price.

Pixel 10 preorders are already under way as of this writing, and those Pixel 10 deals enable you to pick up the phone at a discount.

Google continues to sell the Pixel 9, but we haven't seen a price drop since the Pixel 10's official announcement.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 design and display

You'll be hard-pressed to find any differences in the look of the Pixel 10 compared to the Pixel 9. Unlike the budget Pixel 9a, the new flagship keeps the distinctive camera bar that's been a hallmark of recent Pixel phones. The Pixel 10 is essentially the same size as the Pixel 9, too, though it is marginally thicker to accommodate built-in magnets that support Qi2 wireless charging.

Those Pixel 10 magnets serve another purpose — they also work with accessories like charging stands and cases that use magnets to connect. That means MagSafe accessories, but Google is rolling out its own Pixelsnap accessories, too.

Display sizes haven't changed from 6.3 inches, and like the Pixel 9, the Pixel 10's refresh rate can range between 60 and 120Hz.

But there is an upgrade to the Pixel 10's panel. The phone now promises a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, which is a slight improvement from the 2,700 nits the Pixel 9 topped out at. In our testing, the Pixel 9 delivered tremendous brightness with a reading of 1,769 nits on our light meter, so the Pixel 10 has a big target to clear.

As for the colors of the phone itself, you can get a Pixel 10 showing up in Obsidian, Indigo, Frost, and Lemongrass. That compares to Obsidian, Porcelain, Winter Green and Peony for the Pixel 9. Personally, I'm sad to see the distinctive pink Peony fall out of Google's rotation, but the Indigo shade does look pretty striking.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 cameras

Cameras mark the biggest departure between the Pixel 10 and Pixel 9. The previous flagship featured dual rear cameras — a 50MP main lens and a 48MP ultrawide shooter. Google has actually downgraded the resolution on those sensors for the Pixel 10, as the main camera is now a 48MP shooter and the ultrawide lens comes in at 13MP.

But those changes are offset by the addition of a telephoto lens on the Pixel 10. The 10.8MP sensor doesn't have the resolution of the Pixel 10 Pro zoom lens, but it does match the 5x optical zoom. That puts the new Pixel on par with the camera setup on the Galaxy S25, another $799 phone with a telephoto lens (though Samsung's offering limits the zoom to 3x).

New camera capabilities powered by AI also debut on the Pixel 10. Camera Coach uses the Gemini assistant to bring real-time guidance on getting different shots. Auto Best Take removes the need to take multiple photos so that AI can pick the best one; instead, AI analyzes the faces in one shot and tweaks them so that everyone looks their best. You'll also be able to edit photos on the Pixel 10 just by telling the assistant what changes to make.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 performance and software

The AI features mentioned above are made possible by the new Tensor G5 silicon in the Pixel 10. That chip replaces the Tensor G4 Google used in the Pixel 9.

The Tensor G5 is a 3nm chip, compared to the 4nm Tensor G4. Google says that will lead to 60% better TPU performance and 34% faster CPU performance on the Pixel 10.

Still, new AI features remain the story with the Tensor silicon, and there's plenty to explore on the Pixel 10. Besides the photo tools powered by AI, the Pixel 10 gains a new Magic Cue feature which surfaces relevant information when you're on the phone or replying to messages. Real-time translation features return, but now AI will try to mimic your voice when speaking in another language. And a new Take a Message feature creates suggestions based on the message left whenever you miss a phone call.

The Pixel 9 has already received the Android 16 update, after Google rolled out its software update earlier than usual. The Pixel 10 ships with Android 16 as well, but it will include the new Material 3 Express interface that allows for more personalization.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 battery life and charging

Pixel phones have historically struggled to keep up with their fellow flagships when it comes to battery life. But Google looks to be taking steps to correct that.

In addition to whatever power savings are gained by the use of a 3nm system-on-chip, the Pixel 10 should benefit from a larger 4,970 mAh battery. That compares to the 4,700 mAh power pack inside the Pixel 9.

The bottom line is, we'd expect the Pixel 10 to improve upon the 13 hour, 18 minute time that the Pixel 9 put up in our battery test. For context, that time's nearly 3 hours better than the average smartphone result, though it's well short of the 15-plus hours you need to be considered among devices with the best phone battery life.

As noted above, the Pixel 10 includes magnets to support Qi2 wireless charging. Meanwhile, wired charging improves from the 25W speed on the Pixel 9 to 30W with Google's new phone.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 outlook

We're still in the process of testing the Pixel 10 so that we can complete a full review of the phone. That will also let us know how significant the changes from the Pixel 9 are.

But a side-by-side Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 9 comparison confirms that there's a lot of differences with this year's model, as Google looks to take a big jump forward with its entry-level flagship phone.

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