Apple and Google have always stuck to just a regular lens and an ultra-wide on their main phones, reserving a telephoto zoom for their pricier Pros. Until now, that is.
The regular Google Pixel 10 matches its Pro sibling with a triple-camera setup. And it's got the same size and feel, the same battery life and cover glass strength, the same chip, AI features and magnetic wireless charging and accessories. It’s also still the same price as last year – it starts at £799 and comes in a choice of four colours.
So, now the Google Pixel 10 is more Pro than ever, is it the one to pick and can it tempt iPhone users to switch sides? And how does it compare to Google’s latest Pro phone? The pricer handset starts at £999 and includes a better display and cameras – but is it worth the extra cost? I’ve been testing both phones to find out.
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Google Pixel 10 & 10 Pro: At a glance
Pros
- Great design and software experience
- 5x telephoto on the base model
- Qi2 magnetic snap charging
- Camera Coach with helpful tips
Cons
- Ultra-wide camera is notably downgraded
- Speed is fine, but lags behind some rivals
Features at a Glance
| Display | 6.3-inch OLED |
|---|---|
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB |
| Cameras | 48MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10.8MP 5x telephoto, 10.5MP front-facing |
| Weight | 204g |
Pros
- Stellar photos from its capable camera setup
- Some useful AI tools
- Super-bright display
- Qi2 magnetic charging
Cons
- Feels like a small upgrade over the 9 Pro
- Not designed for heavy use or gaming
Features at a Glance
| Display | 6.3-inch OLED (or 6.8-inch for Pixel 10 Pro XL) |
|---|---|
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB |
| Cameras | 50MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 48MP 5x telephoto, 42MP front-facing |
| Weight | 207g (or 232g for Pixel 10 Pro XL) |
What I like about the Google Pixel 10
Google’s phones have been my go-to Android recommendation for years. The interface is intuitive and familiar, easy-to-navigate and use, even if you’re used to the way iPhones or other Android phones work. That’s still true for the impressive Pixel 10; it’s simple and smart, without the faff and bloatware of rivals.
Its display is bright and crisp, it delivers solid battery life, loads of AI features (some of which are useful), and “Pixelsnap”, Google’s version of MagSafe, which allows the phone to work with snap-on magnetic accessories and wireless chargers. It’s great, and works as easily as I'd hoped. The price also feels fair for what you get. In the UK, the Pixel 10 starts at £799, the same as the Pixel 9 did at launch. That’s great value right now compared to rivals.
The standout feature is the camera. You’ve now got a refreshed setup: a 48-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide and that new 10.8-megapixel telephoto lens. It all adds up to a very versatile system for photos at any distance, and there’s a decent front-facing selfie camera, too. Shots are detailed, bright and colourful, outperforming competitors. Video still isn’t its strong suit, but I’m impressed by the consistency of the stills across all the cameras.
There’s also a genuinely helpful AI tool: Camera Coach. This takes a little time to analyse scenes and will guide you on how to take a photo with a better composition. It’s ideal if you often struggle to get photos looking as good as you’d like, and it can help you get better results. Once you’ve got the shot, you'll also be able to say how you want it edited – ask it to “remove the photobombers,” for example and it will sort it.
Google Pixel 10 camera samples
What I don’t like about the Google Pixel 10
When you compare the Pixel 10 with its predecessor, the Pixel 9 actually had a better ultra-wide camera with autofocus, and that’s gone from the 10. The new main camera sensor is also a bit smaller, which affects its performance in low-light, and it’s also ever so slightly thicker and heavier. The changes aren’t that evident, but Pixel 9 owners don't need to upgrade.
The speed and performance of the Pixel 10 is also decent, but not class-leading. It's good for most everyday tasks, but the chip does lag a bit behind Apple and Samsung rivals. It won't be an issue for most of us, but I’d think twice before buying this if you're a power user or a heavy gamer!
It’s also worth saying that there are a lot of AI features on Pixel phones these days. They’re marketed as game-changing, but I've found I hardly use any of them day to day. You may have a different experience, but it probably won't be a major selling point for most people.
Now that I’ve also spent a few weeks with the Google Pixel 10 Pro, I’ve been able to compare it to the regular Pixel 10 to see where it excels. While the 10 is great, the Pro does take everything up a notch. It’s an outstanding phone for photographers, if you’re okay with the higher £999 price.
What I like about the Google Pixel 10 Pro
There’s a lot about the Pixel 10 Pro that’s fantastic, but that’s also present in both models. I’ve never had any trouble reading its super bright screen in direct sun, just like on the 10. It has a solid battery life and handy Pixelsnap support. It’s a great phone for ergonomics, too.
Pick this one if you want a much better camera than the regular 10. You’re getting high-resolution sensors on every lens, and the photos are keepers more often than not. You just snap away and get excellent results. In testing, my shots have been well-balanced, sharp and consistent across the lenses.
There’s a big zoom on this phone too, and when you push it to its limits it, controversially, starts to use AI to generate parts of scenes. Sometimes I thought this worked surprisingly well, but it’s fairly obvious when it doesn’t.
Google Pixel 10 Pro camera samples
What I don’t like about the Google Pixel 10 Pro
It’s worth remembering, just as with the regular Pixel 10, that these phones aren’t really made for heavy multitasking or serious phone gaming. They’re fast enough for productivity and most apps, but they’re not meant to be pushed hard.
This is a small quibble, though. There really isn’t much to dislike about the Pixel 10 Pro. It’s definitely one of the most polished and reliable flagship Androids out right now. If I were to have one issue, though, it would be with the heavy-handed AI in the camera app.
I like that Google is being upfront about it, but I prefer phones that take pictures without AI generation. You’ll only encounter this at the far end of the zoom, and it won’t work on people (thankfully), but it’s worth being aware that zoomed-in shots may gain some odd AI artefacts, or text on signposts that never existed in reality. It’s just an odd quirk in an otherwise excellent phone.
My verdict on the Google Pixel 10 & 10 Pro
So, who should buy the Pixel 10, and who should get the Pixel 10 Pro? The key thing to note is that these both represent the very best of Android when it comes to intuitive interfaces and well-designed handsets. They’ve both got great displays, battery life, durability, magnetic wireless charging, and more.
The 10 Pro offers the very best of the range (you can get the 10 Pro XL if you want a big screen). It has an improved display for smoother visuals, and is available with more storage. Where it excels is with the camera – it’s the phone for photographers and delivers all you’ll need for every shot. If you don’t need all that extra resolution, though, the Pixel 10 is definitely more than “Pro enough”, with the addition of a third camera and feature parity in many areas. It’s a brilliant upgrade.
Either phone is worth it in the long term, too, as they’re supported with seven years of software updates and offer a clear step-up from older models like the Pixel 7 or 8, or the budget Pixel 9a. Those with last year’s Pixels don’t need to upgrade yet, though.
To make things simple, I’d suggest getting the Pixel 10 if you want the best entry-level Android phone for most people; only spring for the 10 Pro if you need its higher resolution from every camera, super-long zoom, and AI capabilities.
Simon Cocks is Good Housekeeping UK’s Technology Editor, overseeing tech shopping content and strategy for the title. He previously also worked across other titles including Esquire UK, Digital Spy, Men’s Health UK and Women’s Health UK.
Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, portable chargers, radios, e-book readers and smartphones. He's reviewed top tech products from brands including Google, Apple, Amazon, JBL and Bose.
A magazine journalism graduate from Kingston University in 2014, Simon also worked on the Discovery and Silkroad inflight magazines. He then gained experience writing about entertainment at SFX and Total Film. He also contributed reviews and interviews to TwitchFilm (later ScreenAnarchy), CultBox and Frame Rated.
He joined Good Housekeeping UK as the Editorial Assistant for Special Projects and was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team between 2014 and 2019. In this role, he conducted price comparison research, wrote detailed household and money-saving advice guides and edited thousands of in-depth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.
He has focused on technology and gadgets since 2020, where he started by testing out power banks and instant cameras. He writes reviews, roundups, news articles and deals updates, and also covers top tech deals during sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.
You can follow Simon on Instagram, on Bluesky, on LinkedIn and on Threads.
