Google's Pixel 10 series landed in August 2025, and the verdict from reviewers has been emphatic: Tom's Guide called it "the biggest upgrade in years". The headline feature? A 48MP 5x telephoto camera on the standard Pixel 10 — a lens previously reserved for the Pro models. At £799, that's a genuine shake-up of the flagship phone market.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Pixel 10 series: pricing, specs, what's actually new, and who each model is for. If you're trying to decide whether to buy one — or which one — start here.

Google has four Pixel 10 models, each targeting a different buyer:

Note that the Pro XL skips the 128GB option entirely — Google clearly expects buyers at that tier to want more storage.

Quick guide: The standard Pixel 10 suits most people. The Pro adds a better front camera and some exclusive AI features. The Pro XL is the flagship — biggest screen, biggest battery, fastest charging. The Pro Fold is for foldable enthusiasts only.

Google also offers financing from £22.19/month for the base model and £27.75/month for the Pro over 36 months.

Every Pixel 10 runs on Google's new Tensor G5 chip, and this year's upgrade is significant. Google switched manufacturing from Samsung to TSMC's 3nm process — the same foundry Apple and Qualcomm use for their latest chips.

The results are tangible: the TPU (Google's AI processing unit) is 60% more powerful than the G4, while the CPU is 34% faster on average. Google describes it as the biggest leap in performance since Tensor debuted.

What does this mean in practice? AI features run faster and more can happen on-device. The efficiency gains from TSMC's process should also help battery life, though that's harder to quantify. For most users, the takeaway is simple: this is the most capable Pixel chip yet, and the TSMC switch addresses the thermal and efficiency criticisms that dogged earlier Tensor generations.

The Pixel 10 has a 6.3-inch OLED display with a 60-120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 3000 nits. That's bright enough for comfortable outdoor use in direct sunlight.

Step up to the Pro models and you get Google's Super Actua LTPO OLED, which drops to 1Hz when static to save power. Peak brightness climbs to 3300 nits — the brightest Pixel display yet. HDR10+ support and 480Hz PWM dimming (up from 240Hz on the Pixel 9 Pro) round out the improvements.

The Pro XL stretches to 6.8 inches with a resolution of 1344 x 2992 pixels at 486 PPI.

Build quality matches the premium pricing. The Pro models feature spacecraft-grade aluminium frames with silky matte glass backs, while the standard Pixel 10 has a satin-finish metal frame with polished glass. All models use Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and carry an IP68 rating for water resistance up to 1.5m for 30 minutes.

The most practical design addition is Pixelsnap — Google's magnetic charging system based on Qi2. The Pixel 10 series are the first Android phones with built-in magnets like the iPhone — no case required, the magnets are embedded in the phone itself. Your MagSafe chargers, wallets, and car mounts will work out of the box.

Colour options: the standard Pixel 10 comes in Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and Obsidian. Pro models swap these for Moonstone, Jade, Porcelain, and Obsidian.

This is where the Pixel 10 makes its strongest case. The standard model now includes a 48MP 5x telephoto camera — previously a Pro-exclusive feature. Combined with the 48MP f/1.7 main camera and 50MP ultrawide, you get a genuinely versatile triple-camera setup at the £799 price point. Maximum zoom reaches 30x Super Res Zoom.

The Pro models push further. The main camera is 50MP with a wider f/1.68 aperture and a large 1/1.31-inch sensor. The 48MP ultrawide gains Macro Focus, and the telephoto offers 10x optical image quality and 100x Pro Res Zoom — the longest zoom ever on a Pixel.

The front camera is where Pro really differentiates itself. You get a 42MP sensor with autofocus and a 103-degree field of view — the widest Pixel selfie camera yet. The standard Pixel 10 makes do with 10.5MP.

Video capabilities have jumped too. Pro models shoot 8K at 30fps with 10-bit HDR, Night Sight Video, and Video Boost for cloud-enhanced processing (results aren't instant — footage is uploaded and processed remotely). Stabilisation has improved significantly — Android Headlines described it as like using a DJI Osmo Mobile 6 gimbal without the gimbal.

One quirky Pro-exclusive feature: the thermometer sensor on the camera bar, returning from the Pixel 8 Pro.

Battery sizes have grown across the lineup. The standard Pixel 10 packs 4970mAh, while the Pro has 4870mAh. The Pro XL takes the crown with 5200mAh — the largest battery ever in a Pixel.

All models claim 24+ hours of use, with the Pro models lasting up to 100 hours on Extreme Battery Saver.

Charging is where the Pro XL pulls ahead. It supports 45W wired charging, reaching 70% in about 30 minutes. The standard Pixel 10 and Pro both top out at 30W wired, hitting 55% in 30 minutes.

Wireless charging also varies by model. The standard Pixel 10 and Pro support 15W Qi2, while the Pro XL jumps to 25W via Qi2.2 — making it the first Android phone with Qi2.2 wireless charging.

Gemini is deeply integrated across the Pixel 10 series. Gemini Live enables voice conversations, and you can now share your camera or screen during those conversations — useful for getting real-time help with what you're looking at.

Magic Cue is new for the Pixel 10. It offers proactive suggestions based on what's on your screen — though it currently only works with Google services like Gmail, Keep, Messages, and Calendar.

Other AI features include Circle to Search, Live Translate with voice preservation, Camera Coach (though this requires an internet connection), Magic Editor, Auto Best Take for group photos, and an updated Add Me feature.

Some features are Pro-exclusive. Call Screening and Call Notes don't appear on the standard Pixel 10 — a notable omission given Call Screening's popularity.

Pro buyers also get a year of Google AI Pro free (worth £227). This includes Deep Research with Gemini 2.5 Pro, 2TB of cloud storage, Veo 3 video generation, Flow AI filmmaking, and enhanced NotebookLM access.

The Pixel 10 ships with Android 16 featuring Google's new Material 3 Expressive UI. More importantly, Google commits to 7 years of OS and security updates, plus ongoing Pixel Drops feature updates. Buy a Pixel 10 today and you'll receive software support until 2032.

The critical consensus is clear. TechRadar named the Pixel 10 Pro XL the "best all-round phone you can buy right now" and their top smartphone of 2025. The Verge gave the Pixel 10 Pro 8/10, calling it "not a perfect ten but pretty damn good" while praising Qi2 integration and Magic Cue. Battery life was described as "just okay" — perhaps the only consistent criticism.

Tom's Guide's battery test found the Pro XL lasted 14 hours 20 minutes — roughly 1.5 hours longer than the Pixel 9 Pro XL. T3 reported the Pro XL "easily lasts a 16-hour day, reaching about 20% by 11pm".

DXOMark ranked the Pixel 10 Pro XL fourth globally for camera performance with an overall score of 163, ahead of the iPhone 17 Pro Max. With Video Boost enabled (requiring cloud processing), its video score jumps to 175.

TechRadar specifically noted the Pixel 10's appeal for iPhone switchers — the combination of MagSafe-compatible magnets, a premium build, and a competitive camera makes the transition easier than ever.

Next steps: If you're weighing the Pixel 10 against the iPhone 17 or Galaxy S25, see our head-to-head comparison. Ready to buy? Check our guide to the best UK Pixel 10 deals — including where to find it for £599 at Currys.