Google Pixel 10 Review: The New Normal

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The Google Pixel 10 series of phones has arrived, and there’s no ‘Edge’, Air’ or ‘Max’ in sight.

Instead, the phones mirror the previous quartet and stick at the same prices (mostly) while bringing a selection of upgrades – one of which will likely be a catalyst for the entire Android phone market.

It’s nothing new as the iPhone has had MagSafe for a number of years, but Qi2, which is effectively the same technology, brings magnetic charging and accessories to an Android flagship for the first time.

The regular Pixel 10 on review here is also interesting in a number of other ways. For starters, it has no less than three colourways you can’t get on any other Pixel 10, while Google has also now added a telephoto lens to the camera module, giving you optical zoom at your fingertips.

Although I have a few minor quibbles, for what seemed like a phone to skip in the months leading up to its release (based on early leaks), I now think it’s the default affordable Android flagship smartphone that most people should buy.

Let’s dive in…

Design & Build

• Same look, new colours
• Minor design tweaks
• One big invisible upgrade

Smartphones often go through a cycle of keeping the same design for two or three generations before introducing an overhaul. The Pixel 9 series brought a new look, so it’s understandable that the Pixel 10 is effectively the same.

It’s hard to tell the new phone apart from its predecessor unless you look closely at small things. For example, the bottom of the phone now looks more pleasing with symmetrical holes on either side of the USB port (one mic and one speaker).

The SIM-card tray has also moved to the top of the phone, which I find quite disconcerting as it’s so unusual, but it’s quickly forgotten about. This doesn’t apply in the US, where the phone is now eSIM only, matching the iPhone.

I got the short straw with Lemongrass. Maybe you love it, but it’s one of the worst phone colours I’ve ever seen

More important than those small changes is the new set of colourways Google has ushered in. It’s more dramatic for this regular model, where there are no fewer than three new colours.

Obsidian remains as the plain black option, then you have Frost, Indigo and Lemongrass to choose from – all of which are exclusive to this phone. The Pro models have a more grown-up and restrained set of hues.

Whether this is good or bad news depends on your taste, of course. I had my fingers crossed for an Indigo sample, which is a throwback to the ‘Really Blue’ of the first-gen Pixel phones.

However, as you can see, I got the short straw with Lemongrass. Maybe you love it (I may be too old to be the target market for this), but it’s one of the worst phone colours I’ve ever seen.

Somehow, depending on the light, it’s a garish foam banana yellow or a sickly green. The metal frame and camera bar are a pale gold, which I almost like, but the rear cover is too lurid for this to matter.

The official Pixelsnap case in the matching colour has a more pastel tone due to its matt finish, but it’s still far from my cup of tea. I still wish Google would make a more varied range of official cases, including the fabric ones, which were great.

This year’s version is a mixed bag. It’s well made (no marks after 2 weeks of use), uses 42% recycled material and offers good protection, but the outside is oddly slippery – far more than the Pixel 9’s. Inside is a nice microfibre lining and a faint circle hinting at a major Pixel 10 upgrade.

Google adding Qi2 to the Pixel 10 will no doubt be a catalyst for the Android market to follow suit

Pixelsnap is far more than just the official case. It’s a whole range of accessories, because the Pixel 10 phones have Qi2, a wireless charging standard which involves magnets, so you can easily and accurately attach chargers and other accessories.

It’s essentially the same thing as MagSafe on the iPhone, and you can even use thousands of MagSafe accessories with the Pixel 10 – with some caveats.

While MagSafe has been around for years, it’s been sorely missing from the Android world. HMD introduced it on the Skyline, but it was a phone almost nobody cared about or took notice of.

Google adding Qi2 to the Pixel 10 will no doubt be a catalyst for the Android market to follow suit.

This addition is one of the reasons the phone is slightly thicker and heavier than its predecessor, but only marginally at an extra 0.1mm and 6g, so it’s not noticeable.

Once again, it’s a comfortable and balanced phone to hold and use. It’s also nicely compact, though the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S25 beat it in that regard in exchange for slightly smaller screens.

Screen & Speakers

• Essentially the same screen
• Higher brightness
• Good quality audio

Speaking of screens, the Pixel 10 is largely unchanged from the Pixel 9. That means you get what is pretty standard for an entry-level flagship smartphone in 2025.

It’s 6.3 inches, uses an OLED panel with the same resolution and 120Hz refresh rate as before. In fact, all the specs of this Actua Display are the same apart from the brightness, which has been improved.

The Pixel 10 can now hit 1,800 nits (HDR) and up to 2,700 nits (peak brightness), which is 200 and 300 nits better than its predecessor, respectively. It’s rarely noticeable side-by-side but welcome nonetheless.