Google Pixel 10 Pro review
Design, build quality, handling
The Pixel 10s design remains immediately recognizable - after all, it's more or less unchanged compared to the previous generation. Introduced in 2019 with the Pixel 6s, the visor-like rear camera styling has evolved into what we have today and the continuity is there, but it's still looking modern, even if it's essentially the same as last year.
Google has also kept the Pro-vs-non-Pro differentiation - the higher-tier model features a frosted back with a glossy frame, while the vanilla options switches things up with a glossy back and satin treatment on the frame. Regardless of what's on the surface, both handsets have Gorilla Glass Victus 2 sheets front and back, and aluminum frames.
All regular Pixels since the Pixel 3 (excluding the a-series) have had IP68-rated dust and water resistance and that's true on the 10s as well.
Pixel 10 Pro (left) next to Pixel 10
There are four color options on the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL - Moonstone, Jade, Porcelain (our review unit), and Obsidian. We're in the age of subdued colorways, seemingly, but the Google phones hues are still pretty appealing.
Pixel 10 Pro colorways: Moonstone • Jade • Porcelain • Obsidian
The non-Pro does have a couple of bolder options, for what it's worth. There's also the matter that the official cases for the 10 and 10 Pro are interchangeable, and there are case colors to match all of the two phones' colorways, so technically you can have a Pro with a non-Pro-colored case.
The case will help with grip, the supple silicone being nicely tactile. The phone itself can feel slippery as most frosted glass handsets, while the frame will pick up fingerprints in a heartbeat. Still those official cases are $50 a pop (or €60 because why not) so it's a bit of a costly option for protection.
Speaking of fingerprints, the Pixel 10 Pro will read yours through an ultrasonic sensor underneath the display - Google made the switch from optical to ultrasonic on the previous generation and there's no going back. It's super nicely placed and unlocks without incident.
There's one caveat though - you need to have the always-on display feature enabled in order to have the fingerprint unlock always on. If you don't have it on, you can't unlock the phone while it's lying on a table, for instance. Of course, picking it up or taking it out of the pocket always wakes the screen, so it's not much of a problem in day-to-day use.
Google persists with their upside down button placement - the volume rocker is below the power key (more like Gemini key). That's most welcome if you're only upgrading from one Pixel to another, but it's pretty annoying if you're switching between brands every now and then, since virtually everyone else has the buttons arranged the other way around (a.k.a. the correct way).
Still, the buttons themselves have a nicely positive click action - some may find it stiff, but it's not a big deal, really.
Our review unit has a physical SIM slot up top and the tray will accept a single nano SIM card. It also supports eSIM. US-bound Pixel 10s omit the physical SIM option entirely, instead apparently using the same space for the mmWave antenna. It's only eSIMs on those units.
SIM slot on top of our EU unit • Single nano SIM tray
One of the significant upgrades this year is the addition of Qi2 wireless charging capability, complete with magnets for coil alignment. You won't see that from the outside, but you'll appreciate the positive snap when you place the phone on a compatible charging pad - Google has branded it Pixelsnap for a reason.
Even with that added, and the extra battery fitted this year (not a lot extra, but still), the Pixel 10 Pro maintains the physical dimensions of last year's model. It does add another 8g on top of what was already not a very lightweight package - we're at 207g now, for the supposedly compact Pro Pixel. Well, it kind of is compact and it's certainly way more pocketable than the XL, but the iPhone 16 Pro is slightly more compact still, while the Galaxy S25 is downright tiny in comparison.
All things considered, the Pixel 10 Pro is undoubtedly a premium-built handset - it looks the part and it feels dense in that expensive way. It's got a few of the usual Pixel idiosyncrasies that you learn to accept along the way, and possibly even like. The upgraded wireless charging with magnet alignment opens up possibilities for accessorizing, which have so far been limited only to iPhones or clunkier case-based solutions, so that too is welcome.
