I went hands-on with every Google Pixel 10 phone, and this model stole my heart

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Pixel 10 lineup brings welcome changes across all models.
• Base Pixel 10 suits most, but power users will prefer Pro XL.
• Pro XL is the sleeper hit with top performance and endurance.

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I’ll be honest: My expectations going into my Google Pixel 10 demos were on the lower side. I had just wrapped up testing Samsung’s $1,900 foldable phone, and Google all but confirmed the new Pixel phones would look identical to last year’s, spoiling the surprise ahead of today’s event.

The question I had going in was simple: Was this a lack of ambition or a sign of unwavering confidence?

Also: Everything announced at Made by Google 2025: Pixel 10 Pro, Fold, Watch 4, and more

It took only minutes of hands-on time to find the answer — and realize just how wrong I was about which Pixel model I would actually want this year. No, the designers at Google haven’t run out of ideas for decorating a glass rectangle; instead, they’ve improved something that was already great. And one model in particular left the biggest impression on me.

The Pixel 10 just barely missed the mark

Going into the Made by Google event, I was fully prepared to slap my wallet down for the standard Pixel 10 model, ending a seven-year streak of buying the XL/Pro variant. The writing was on the wall: A dedicated telephoto lens would give the base Pixel the camera bump it needed to rival its Pro siblings, Qi2 wireless charging with integrated magnets set the stage for Android’s MagSafe moment, and a charming Indigo color (pictured above) had my caseless habits drooling.

But a closer examination of the device and its spec sheet revealed some not-so-obvious shortcomings. First, fitting a dedicated telephoto lens into the rear camera bar meant that Google had to downgrade to smaller main and ultrawide sensors, resulting in camera samples that, based on my albeit limited sample size, lacked color accuracy and contrast compared to the Pro models.

Also: I’m a longtime iPhone user, but Google just sold me on the Pixel 10 with these features

Google is also launching a new dock mode that passively displays the time, weather, photos, and even smart home controls when the Pixel 10 is mounted on the new PixelSnap charging mount. However, the standard Pixel 10 lacks the LTPO technology — which allows the display to refresh from 1Hz to 120Hz — found on the Pro models, meaning it’s less power efficient when docked.

By the end of my Pixel 10 demo, the glossy back cover of my Indigo unit was plastered with fingerprint marks — a gentle reminder of why the most expensive phones on the market opt for satin finishes instead of shiny glass.

I almost folded for this Pixel model

That left me with the Pixel 10 Pro phones, including a Fold model that features slimmer front screen bezels, a larger battery, the same Qi2 charging as the Pixel 10, and a $1,799 price tag that makes you think twice. Coming from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, which greatly improved in lightness and ergonomics this year, I was fully prepared for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold to feel outdated.

Instead, the device felt balanced and, frankly, much more durable in the hand. Google’s done something extravagant with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold; it’s the first foldable phone ever to be certified with an IP68 rating, making it both water- and dust-resistant. Why has this never been done before? The mechanical nature of foldable phones, with all their hinge systems and rail maneuvers, makes it nearly impossible to fend off dust-sized particles.

Also: Google just settled the foldable phone debate with one number – and I hope Samsung is watching

Achieving this engineering feat automatically puts the Pixel 10 Pro Fold ahead of the competition when it comes to longevity and reliability. (Again, the designers at Google are clearly not out of ideas.)

Then came the bad news. Like previous years, Google’s most expensive hardware product is a tier below the Pro and Pro XL models when it comes to general specs like camera and charging, a choice that makes the Pro Fold a tough sell against more capable, non-folding flagships. This model also charges at up to 30W wired and 15W wireless, compared to the Pro XL’s 45W wired and 25W wireless.

That leaves two, and one big difference

Google has kept the feature parity between its Pro and Pro XL models fairly balanced over the years, and from a bird’s-eye view, that remains true in 2025. But then you start to notice the minor ways in which the XL model pulls ahead and wonder if the gap has ever been larger.

Also: Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: I tested both Android phones, and here’s the winner

Like with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, charging and endurance are the most notable differences between the Pro and Pro XL. The latter has both a larger battery (5,200mAh vs. 4,870mAh) and faster wired and wireless charging. It’s also the only Pixel model this year to support the new Qi2.5 standard, allowing it to pull in wireless energy at a 25W rating.

I’ve also found the Pro XL model’s larger 6.8-inch screen more optimal for Google’s various new AI features, whether it’s for displaying Magic Cues in messages and phone calls, or photo tips when Camera Coach is turned on, cementing it as the phone I’ll likely upgrade to this summer.

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