Last year, the Irish Mirror rated the Pixel 9 Pro XL as our favourite smartphone of 2024, so we were super excited to test out the latest and greatest Google handsets when they were announced recently.
Google’s 2025 offerings, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL all come with a refined version of the firm’s iconic camera bar, a new MagSafe compatible Pixelsnap system that has built in Qi2 wireless charging and are made with the most recycled materials yet on a Pixel.
The biggest overhaul within the Pixel 10 series is arguably the most affordable model which comes in a range of colours including this dazzling Indigo that I love.
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Google Pixel 10’s upgrade brings us better cameras including a 5x optical zoom lens, a faster chip and top quality software. And all for €1,019 if you opt for the 256GB storage model which I would recommend.
There is a less expensive 128GB storage option for €919 but I had filled that amount of storage on my Pixel 9 Pro XL a couple of months back which demonstrates that in 2025 every phone should have at least 256GB of storage.
That quibble aside, Pixel 10 scores a perfect 10. Here’s why I rated it so highly…
Google Pixel 10 in everyday use
I love the slightly refined Pixel design with its satin aluminium and glass body that is screaming premium. The pill-shaped camera module on the rear acts as a rest for your fingers and stops the Pixel rocking if you are using it on a desk. The phone is comfortable to hold and use and weighs 204g.
The 6.3in OLED display is sharp, super-bright and smooth and comes with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is one of the best displays I’ve ever seen on a smartphone and comes with 3,000 nits of peak brightness.
I spent the first day or two marvelling at the Qi2 wireless charger’s magnetic accessory support. This is the first Android phone that works with all my MagSafe chargers and stands and the thrill of this feature was immense.
The wireless charging here is capped at 15W while the 30W wired charging takes about 90 minutes to fully refuel the phone’s 4,970mAh power pack. Battery life was solid and reliable during my testing.
Google Pixel 10 performance
Powered by the Tensor G5 chip, Pixel 10 feels superfast in everyday use. The way the hardware and software combine means you are getting the best execution of Android on a smartphone. This is the first TSMC-manufactured chip employed by the Pixel line which previously used Samsung made Exynos processors. There is 12GB of RAM on this model helping things along.
You’ll notice the new chip’s power and speed when using Google’s advanced AI as Tensor G5 handles more complex systems on-device. Gemini is ahead of the pack when it comes to useful AI tools that don’t impede on your overall experience.
Along with the various writing, dictation and image-editing tools you get a new voice translation system for phone calls that can speak to you imitating the caller’s voice and Magic Cue which is a digital assistant running in the background on your device to proactively suggest contextual options on your phone. It only works with a handful of apps such as Gmail, Maps and Calendar for now, and it is not perfect yet but it is brilliant when it works and shows a lot of potential.
Aside from the slick AI tricks and tools, Google’s software delivers the smoothest and purest implementation of the latest Android 16 operating system on a smartphone along with its stylish Material 3 Expressive design language which looks the part.
This device doesn’t score too highly in synthetic benchmark tests but this is not a concern currently as it’s fast and fluid. However, if you are an ardent mobile gamer then perhaps you should look at a dedicated gaming handset instead, such as Rog Phone 9 Pro or Redmagic 10S Pro.
Pixel 10 cameras
On top of all this, you get a superb camera system that Pixel phones are renowned for. Pixel 10 features a 10.5MP f/2.2 front camera and a 48MP f/1.7 main, 13MP f/2.2 ultrawide and 10.8MP f/3.1 telephoto lens on the rear with 5x optical zoom and 20x SuperRes zoom (aka digital zoom). The 5x optical zoom is the standout feature but it does come with a compromise because to make room for it Google has swapped out last year’s 48MP ultrawide for a smaller ultrawide sensor that is not as sharp as its predecessor. But I’m happy with the trade-off and having three lenses and a brilliant 5x telephoto on a non-Pro flagship is great value.
Images and videos from the main camera and the zoom are consistently pleasing. The computational photography smarts mean you can take remarkable shots effortlessly. The improved Best Take mode for group shots captures multiple images and blends them together for a photo where everyone is looking at the camera. The Add Me feature is also boosted to support larger groups of subjects and complex backgrounds.
You can now simply type in any improvements you’d like to make to an image, just like you can on expensive Adobe software programs. This includes removing figures from the background, brightening the shot and sharpening it. You can even just instruct the Photos app to ‘make this photo better’.
And the new Camera Coach feature uses Gemini to help you compose and frame your shots to get better photos.
Google Pixel 10 other features
The firm said that Pixel 10, like all of its new handsets, will receive seven years of OS, security upgrades and Pixel Drops feature updates.
Pixel 10 utilises USB-C Gen 3.2 which can deliver data transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps with a compatible cable.
Both the front and rear of the device are protected by super tough Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Google Pixel 10 verdict
Overall, Pixel 10 is arguably the best value flagship smartphone of 2025, with premium quality hardware and software and a superb camera system. Not to those magnificent magnets.
Pixel 10 pricing and availability
Google Pixel 10 (128GB storage) costs €919 from Google Store. You can pay in the three interest-free monthly instalments of €306.33. You can buy from Currys for €919. You can also buy it at Amazon for €899 (at time of publication). And it costs €959 from Very. I would recommend buying the 256GB storage model that costs an extra €100 instead.
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