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Need-to-knows
- Pixel 10 has a new 5x telephoto lens
- Battery life remains about the same
- Pixel 10 has Pixel Snap for magnetic accessories
- Pixel 10 has a very slightly brigher display
Another year, another Pixel. Or so it seems. The Pixel 10 has landed with a softly spoken thud, and once again, Google has left us to piece together whether it’s worth upgrading or simply sticking with last year’s still-very-capable Pixel 9.
Is this a revolution, an evolution, or just a slightly shinier box with more numbers on the spec sheet? Let’s find out.
Shop the Pixel 10 and Pixel 9 below!
Pixel 10
Pixel 9
At a glance
| Category | Pixel 10 | Pixel 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $799/£799 | From $799/£799 |
| Display | 6.3″ OLED, 120Hz, 3000 nits peak | 6.3″ OLED, 120Hz, 2700 nits peak |
| Processor | Google Tensor G5 | Google Tensor G4 |
| RAM / Storage | 12GB / 128GB or 256GB | 12GB / 128GB or 256GB |
| Battery | 4970mAh, 30W wired, Qi2 wireless (15W) | 4700mAh, 45W wired, Qi wireless |
| Cameras (Rear) | 48MP wide + 13MP ultrawide + 10.8MP 5x telephoto | 50MP wide + 48MP ultrawide |
| Front Camera | 10.5MP, 95° FOV | 10.5MP, 95° FOV |
| Zoom | Up to 20x Super Res | Up to 8x Super Res |
| Build | Gorilla Glass Victus 2, aluminum frame, IP68 | Gorilla Glass Victus 2, metal frame, IP68 |
| AI Features | Gemini Nano, Magic Cue, Circle to Search | Gemini Nano, Circle to Search |
| Editing Tools | Ask Photos, Pixel Studio, Magic Eraser, Best Take | Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, Best Take |
| Video Features | Video Boost, Night Sight Video, HDR, Audio Magic Eraser | HDR, Audio Magic Eraser |
| OS | Android 16 | Android 14 |
Design and Display
If you held the Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 side by side, you might notice…very little. They’re practically identical in size and weight. The Pixel 10 clocks in at 204g, a smidge heavier than the Pixel 9’s 198g, likely due to a bigger battery and that extra telephoto lens.
The display is still a 6.3-inch OLED with the same resolution and pixel density. But there’s a brightness boost on the Pixel 10; up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness vs the Pixel 9’s 2,700. Does that matter? Only if you live in perpetual sunlight or enjoy watching HDR videos on full blast with sunglasses on.
Related: Google Pixel 10 review
Both displays are lovely to look at (as are most Android displays these days), but I found the Pixel 10’s screen marginally easier to see in bright conditions. That’s it. The difference is, frankly, negligible for most users.
Both phones are the same size, feature recycled materials and IP68 water resistance, but the Pixel 10 takes things a step further with what Google is calling a ‘spacecraft-grade aluminium frame’ which is apparently an upgrade from the Pixel 9.
Performance and battery life
The Pixel 10 introduces the Tensor G5 chip, replacing last year’s G4. Is it dramatically faster? No. Is it more efficient? Slightly.
In day-to-day use, you won’t notice a huge leap forward unless you are really pushing your phone to the limit with video editing or playing games while juggling a dozen background processes. But it does mean the Pixel 10 runs a little cooler and seems to squeeze a bit more out of its 4,970mAh battery.
On that note, battery life on the Pixel 10 is excellent, as it was on the Pixel 9. Google claims you get 24 hours which is the same as the Pixel 9. In reality, you can pretty easily get through a day and a half without charging under slightly conservative usage. The Extreme Battery Saver mode still promises up to 100 hours but the Pixel 10 now has 30W wired fast charging, compared to 27W on the Pixel 9.
Cameras
Here’s where things start to matter. The Pixel 10 gets an upgraded triple rear camera system, including a new 10.8MP 5x telephoto lens. This is the biggest change from the Pixel 9, which only had two rear cameras and topped out at 8x Super Res Zoom.
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If you care about photography, and let’s face it, Pixels have long been aimed at camera nerds, this is the upgrade that actually matters. It brings 5x optical zoom which hasn’t been seen before on the base-level Pixels. That means much better quality photos when zoomed in.
Strangely, the Pixel 10 has technically received a downgrade in the other two lenses compared to the 9. The main sensor is now 48MP compared to 50MP which makes pretty much zero difference. But the Ultra Wide is now only 13MP compared with 48MP. This is significant from purely a specs perspective. In real testing, the difference is very hard to perceive, but it’s there.
In testing, the Pixel 10 and Pixel 9 produce pretty much identical quality photos when taken at 1x on the main sensor. That is to say that they are both excellent, up there right at the top of the market in terms of point-and-shoot performance.
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When it comes to zooming in, the Pixel 10 is the clear winner with much sharper long-range shots thanks to that optical 5x length. The new telephoto isn’t just there for the numbers; it genuinely delivers better clarity at higher zoom levels. Combine that with Google’s typically excellent computational wizardry, and you’ve got a seriously capable camera system.
But if you rarely zoom past 2x or mostly shoot selfies, the Pixel 9’s camera will still serve you absolutely fine. Video capabilities remain the same across the two generations.
AI Features
Both phones support Google’s Gemini Nano, their latest on-device LLM, and the smorgasbord of AI features that now make up the Pixel experience. In theory, the Pixel 10 runs Gemini faster because of the newer chip, but you’re unlikely to notice.
That means features like Magic Eraser, Best Take, and Circle to Search all make a return. You also get new additions like Magic Cue, which aims to preempt your needs by surfacing information without having to dive into apps for it, and Pixel Screenshots, which essentially recalls information from screenshots on demand. So, if you need to remember something from a recipe that you’ve captured, you can ask Gemini to fetch it from the list.
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These new features make what was already one of the best AI phone systems even better, even if you might not use them very often. That being said, the core features are still all on the Pixel 9 so there isn’t a huge difference.
Software and Longevity
Both devices promise seven years of software and security updates, which is great. If you buy a Pixel 9 today, it’ll still be fully supported until 2030.
However, the Pixel 10 launched with Android 16 out of the box, whereas the Pixel 9 started life on Android 14. That means the Pixel 10 will get updates a bit further into the future. If you’re planning to hold onto your phone for a long time, this might be worth considering.
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Both phones also run Google’s latest design language, Material 3 Expressive, which allows users to add a bit more personality to things with more colours and customisation.
Connectivity and Charging
Wireless charging on the Pixel 10 is now Qi2 certified with up to 15W speeds, which is a step into the modern world from Google as most flagship phones have this these days. The Pixel 9 is no slouch either but sticks with older Qi standards.
The new Qi2 compatibility also means the Pixel 10 gains the new Pixel Snap feature. Like MagSafe on the iPhone, this means you can attach a range of compatible accessories to the rear of the Pixel 10, such as wallets, stands or chargers.
The wired charging spec hasn’t changed much: both phones hit about 55% in 30 minutes with a fast-enough USB-C charger.
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As for connectivity, the Pixel 10 has Bluetooth 6 versus the Pixel 9’s 5.3, but unless you’re the kind of person who knows what MIMO is and owns a Wi-Fi 6E router, you’re unlikely to notice.
So, Should You Upgrade?
If you own a Pixel 9: probably not.
It still holds up brilliantly in 2025, especially if you’re not fussed about 5x optical zoom, a marginally brighter display or Pixel Snap.
But if you’re coming from an older Pixel (like the 6 or earlier), the Pixel 10 is a huge upgrade. It’s fast, packed with genuinely useful AI features and the new camera system adds real-world benefits that go beyond marketing fluff.
The other thing to mention is the price. Remarkably, the Pixel 10 at the time of writing costs $799/£799, the same price as the Pixel 9. So, if you are buying new from Google, the Pixel 10 is the obvious choice. But if you can pick up a Pixel 9 for less on Amazon or elsewhere, it might be worth it.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t a huge leap year for the Pixel, aside from the addition of telephoto zoom. But it is an incredible smartphone, the best ever from Google.
If you want the best value Google has to offer in 2025, the Pixel 10 is it. But the Pixel 9 isn’t far behind, and in the right sale, it could be a smart buy for those wanting 90% of the experience at a lower cost.
Either way, you’re getting a brilliantly smart, photo-savvy Android device and loads of AI bells that you’ll probably never use. Ultimately, the one you go with is down to your budget.
