The Pixel family has always been Google’s laboratory for pushing the envelope—starting with the modest Pixel 1 that proved a pure‑Android experience could be elegant, then evolving through the Pixel 4’s bold facial‑unlock experiments, the Pixel 5’s 5G debut, and the Pixel 6’s daring new Tensor chip that married AI to the core of the phone. Each generation has added a layer of refinement, from sharper screens and smarter cameras to deeper integration of Google’s services.
Now, with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the journey reaches a new milestone: a brighter, larger “Super Actua” display, a dramatically upgraded Gemini-driven AI capabilities in the triple‑camera system, a second‑generation Tensor G5 that feels instantly responsive, and a suite of on‑device intelligence that turns everyday tasks into seamless conversations. In short, 2025’s flagship isn’t just another iteration—it’s the most ambitious, AI‑centric Pixel yet, signalling that Google’s vision for the future of smartphones is finally catching up with its own aspirations.
DESIGN
The Pixel 10 Pro XL retains the refined, signature Pixel design language—featuring polished aluminium side rails, a pill-shaped camera bar, and the same overall dimensions (162.8 × 76.6 × 8.5 mm) as the Pixel 9 Pro XL—but with a slightly higher weight, now 232 g versus last year’s 221 g, lending an even more substantial in-hand feel. New finishes like Moonstone and Jade add a fresh touch to the familiar Obsidian and Porcelain options, subtly differentiating it without altering the core aesthetics.
In essence, the design changes are minimal—deliberately keeping what already worked. It’s a deliberately conservative update: a nearly identical exterior, but with incremental refinements in materials, colourways, display brightness, and heft that give it a fresh yet familiar feel.
DISPLAY
The Pixel 10 Pro XL features a stunning 6.8-inch Super Actua LTPO OLED display with a QHD+ resolution of 1344 × 2992 pixels, delivering razor-sharp visuals at 482 ppi. It maintains the same dimensions and resolution as last year’s model but increases its peak brightness to 3,300 nits, making it even easier to view in bright sunlight while enhancing HDR content. The screen also supports a variable 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ensuring buttery-smooth scrolling and animations while conserving power during static use.
Alongside these upgrades, the display continues to offer HDR10+ support, a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, providing both rich, vibrant colours and durability. While visually similar to the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s panel, the enhancements in brightness and efficiency make the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s screen one of the most refined and immersive viewing experiences in Google’s lineup to date.
HARDWARE SPECS
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is built around Google’s second‑generation Tensor G5 SoC, coupled with a hefty 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM that gives the phone a snappy feel even when multitasking between AI‑heavy apps. Storage is offered in four capacities—128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB and a massive 1 TB—using zoned UFS 3.1 for fast read/write speeds. The device’s chassis combines a silky‑matte glass back with a polished metal frame, and the back panel is partially coated in recycled glass, contributing to roughly 30 % of the phone’s total weight being made from post‑consumer materials. A 6.8‑inch “Super Actua” OLED panel peaks at 3,300 nits, supports an adaptive 1‑to‑120 Hz refresh rate, and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Power comes from a 5,200 mAh battery that the guide claims will comfortably exceed thirty hours of mixed usage; charging is handled by a 45 W wired adapter and a 25 W Qi2.2 magnetic wireless charger that snaps onto the rear via the new Pixelsnap magnetic system. All of this is bound together by a thorough suite of future-proofed connectivity, including 5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Ultra‑Wideband for fast accessory pairing and car‑unlock functions.
CAMERAS: POINT AND SHOOT IS GREAT, BUT THERE’S MORE
At the heart of the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s imaging system lies a triple‑lens rear array. The primary sensor is a 50 MP unit with enhanced optical image stabilisation, the ultra‑wide lens is a 48 MP sensor offering a 123‑degree field of view plus macro focus, and the telephoto module is also 48 MP, capable of up to 100× Pro Res Zoom thanks to on‑device generative AI. The front‑facing camera steps up to a 42 MP shooter with a 103‑degree field of view and autofocus, delivering crisp selfies even in bright daylight.
Software enhancements include Camera Coach, which provides real‑time composition advice; Auto Best Take, which merges multiple exposures into the optimal shot; Add Me, allowing subjects to be inserted after the fact; Guided Frame, an audio‑guided mode for low‑vision users; and C2PA provenance tagging for authenticity. Low‑light performance is bolstered by a dedicated boost for Instagram, while the telephoto lens can be switched between true optical 5× zoom, a 10× hybrid mode and the AI‑augmented 20× Super Res Zoom. All of these capabilities are accessed through the native Google Camera app, which also handles the background download of the ProRes Zoom model (approximately 200 MB) the first time the feature is used.
This is a bit of an interesting discussion point where you can get some pretty impressive photos, but for the most part, I found photos taken with ProRes to be soft around the edges. The colours were a little flat and the image definition wasn’t as crisp as I wanted or expected it to be.
The camera’s general capabilities, however, are likely to delight most users. The capacity to point and shoot with the near certain knowledge of good quality photos, that’s well framed, in focus and producing good colour is there. The fact that (if you want to) you can explore further features like the camera coach can help you get the best possible results from your phone camera.
AI FEATURES: GEMINI CONTINUES TO EVOLVE
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is the first handset to embed Google’s Gemini family of models deeply into the operating system. Gemini powers the dedicated Gemini app, but its influence spreads across the UI via Magic Cue, which surfaces context‑aware suggestions drawn from Gmail, Calendar, Messages, Keep and other personal data sources, offering proactive actions such as drafting replies, creating calendar events or pulling up relevant documents. Gemini Live adds a conversational layer that can share the phone’s camera feed or screen content, enabling real‑time visual assistance—for example, asking the model to identify a plant in the frame or to walk through a troubleshooting step while you point the camera at the device.
Google AI Pro, unlocked for a year on the Pro XL, grants access to the most capable Gemini 2.5 Pro model, Deep Research for multi‑step problem solving, and a 1 million‑token context window for handling very long prompts. Creators benefit from Pixel Studio, a generative‑image editor powered by Imagen 4, and Veo 3, an AI video generator that can turn short text or images into eight‑second clips with automatically generated audio. Voice Translate provides on‑device, real‑time bilingual conversation support for nine languages at launch, while Take a Message transcribes missed calls and suggests next steps such as adding a calendar event or sending a quick reply. All of these AI services run locally where possible, preserving privacy while delivering low‑latency responses.
USER EXPERIENCE: FIRST-TIME OR SEASONED PIXEL USERS WILL LOVE IT
I’ve been a Pixel user for years now, and the experience continues to improve with each generation. This time around, the hardware hasn’t seen giant leaps in specs or performance, but the increased Gemini-powered AI features that utilise the Tensor G5 chip (processing on-device) make this experience better than the last.
As someone coming from a Pixel 9 device, I’m very happy to have the Pixel 10 Pro XL in my pocket. For me, as someone learning a lot about cameras, I’m really enjoying the Camera Coach and some of the deeper integration of Gemini.
The software is distinctly Pixel, consistent with what is expected by Pixel users and performs really well. The navigation and presentation with Android 16 has continued to evolve and will undoubtedly continue to do so throughout the 7 year lifecycle of the device where you’ll get OS and Security updates.
BATTERY AND CHARGING
The battery performance and charging aren’t bad, but if I were to be honest, I would say it’s a “pass mark” because it consistently provides a full day of power, even on long days. The power drain is consistent, although I did notice that some of the power management seems more aggressive than last year, shutting down some apps in the background and only retrieving notifications when I wake the phone. I’ve added the necessary exceptions for the battery on these critical apps, but I’d argue that with all of the smarts available in phones these days, you shouldn’t need to do that.
Where the Pixel 10 Pro range has improved is the addition of Pixelsnap. A Magsafe alternative that can take up to 25W wireless charging, while also supporting accessories like the Ring stand, Charger and Charger with stand; there are also third-party accessories like the Belkin UltraCharge Pro stand that work perfectly.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The Pixel 10 Pro XL starts at $1,999.00 for the 256GB version, with the 512GB and 1TB costing $2,199.00 and $2,549.00, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The Pixel 10 Pro XL represents a significant step forward for Google’s flagship phone lineup. Powered by the all-new Tensor G5 chip, the device delivers a truly polished and responsive user experience. While benchmarks may not always put it at the top for raw performance, the G5’s focus on on-device AI and efficiency shines through in the day-to-day. The camera system remains a class leader, with its hardware and computational photography working in harmony to produce stunning results. With a refined design, a gorgeous display, and innovative AI features like Magic Cue, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is not just a collection of specs but a cohesive and intelligent device that proves the value of Google’s holistic approach to smartphone design.
