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Intro
Believe it or not, we've had ten generations of Pixel phones so far, and the latest Pixel 10 series is the culmination of a decade in the making. The Pixel 10 and the Pixel 10 Pro deliver better performance with Google's first truly custom Tensor chip built on a 3nm process, improved cameras, extra RAM, brighter screens, and slightly faster charging.
Naturally, it will be normal to consider the Pixel 10 Pro to be the better device; it's a Pro, after all. However, this year things aren't that black and white, as the regular Pixel 10 now punches way above its weight and gives the pro model a run for its money.
At $799, the Pixel 10 comes in $200 cheaper, yet the experience is surprisingly similar. After testing both phones, here’s how they stack up next to each other. Which one should you get?
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The Pixel 10 is the first "base" Pixel with a telephoto camera. It also comes with a Tensor G5 chip, paired with 12GB RAM, providing incredible AI features and a smooth performance. You can get it for 31% off at Amazon right now, and there's an extra $100 discount available at checkout.
Looking for a flagship Pixel 10 experience in a compact form factor? Consider the Pixel 10 Pro! Right now, you can get the phone for $250 off at Amazon, making it a great pick for many. But that's not all! There's a $100 coupon available, bringing your total savings to $350.
Familiar bar; thicker frame; Pixelsnap magnets built in
At first glance, the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro look familiar to the previous generation. Both of them keep Google’s signature horizontal camera bar.
On closer inspection, though, you might notice that some details have changed. Both phones are slightly thicker and heavier than last year’s models, all to make room for larger batteries and the new Qi2 magnetic wireless charging system. As a result, the Pixel 10 weighs 204 g, while the Pro tips the scale at 207 g.
Pixel 10
Pixel 10 Pro
Thickness 8.6 mm
Thickness 8.6 mm
Dimensions 152.8 × 72 mm
Dimensions 152.8 × 72 mm
Weight 204 g
Weight 207 g
As far as durability goes, you get Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and a reinforced aluminum frame, as well as IP68 dust and water resistance (aka same as last year).
The Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro colors are different, of course. The Pixel 10 comes in brighter, more playful hues such as Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and a more neutral Obsidian. The Pro sticks to the classic subdued palette, with Moonstone, Jade, Porcelain, and Obsidian again. In the box, you get the phone, a USB-C cable, and paperwork, but no charger.
Both models feature 6.3-inch OLED displays with smooth 120Hz refresh rates, but there are a few differences worth mentioning. The Pixel 10 uses an FHD+ panel with 3,000 nits peak brightness, while the Pixel 10 Pro has a sharper QHD+ display and gets even brighter, reaching 3,300 nits. The truth is that both get plenty bright for outdoor use.
The difference that has a bigger impact is that the Pixel 10 can only go as low as 60Hz, while the Pixel 10 Pro can drop all the way down to 1Hz, giving the Pro an edge when it comes to battery efficiency.
Design-wise, the Pixel 10 Pro has slightly thinner bezels, although I wouldn't say it is that significant. Google has also improved the ultrasonic fingerprint sensors on both models, so they feel snappier compared to the Pixel 9 series. Of course, since the Pixel 8, you can also rely on face-unlock, which can also be used to authorize payments.
The CIE 1931 xy color gamut chart represents the set(area)of colors that a display can reproduce,with the sRGB colorspace(the highlighted triangle)serving as reference.The chart also provides a visual representation of a display's color accuracy. The small squares across the boundaries of the triangle are the reference points for the various colors, while the small dots are the actual measurements. Ideally, each dot should be positioned on top of its respective square. The 'x:CIE31' and 'y:CIE31' values in the table below the chart indicate the position of each measurement on the chart. 'Y' shows the luminance (in nits) of each measured color, while 'Target Y' is the desired luminance level for that color. Finally, 'ΔE 2000' is the Delta E value of the measured color. Delta E values of below 2 are ideal.
The Color accuracy chart gives an idea of how close a display's measured colors are to their referential values. The first line holds the measured (actual) colors, while the second line holds the reference (target) colors. The closer the actual colors are to the target ones, the better.
The Grayscale accuracy chart shows whether a display has a correct white balance(balance between red,green and blue)across different levels of grey(from dark to bright).The closer the Actual colors are to the Target ones,the better.
We were able to confirm that the Pixel 10 Pro is slightly brighter compared to the base model. The Pixel 10 reached 2,822 nits in our 20% APL test and 1,940 nits on a fully white screen. The Pixel 10 Pro went slightly higher at 2,921 nits and 2,159 nits respectively, while also offering a lower 1.8-nit minimum brightness compared to 2.1 nits on the regular model. Both also scored excellent for color accuracy. In other words, Pixels still have some of the best displays on the market.
Performance and Software
Tensor finally grows up
This year marks a major shift for Google silicon. Both phones run on the new Tensor G5, Google’s first fully custom processor, built by TSMC on a 3nm process. That alone brings noticeable improvements in efficiency and thermal management compared to the Samsung-made chips of previous generations.
But the upgrades go beyond raw CPU power. The new GPU from Imagination Technologies delivers smoother gaming and stronger graphics performance, while support for faster LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage (on the Pro) makes these the most capable Pixels to date.
The Pixel 10 Pro naturally gets more breathing room with 16 GB of RAM, while the base Pixel 10 carries 12 GB. That extra headroom lets the Pro juggle more apps and AI processes in the background, though both models feel fast and responsive.
The difference in single-core performance is negligible, but the Pixel 10 Pro pulls ahead in multi-core by about 700 points, likely thanks to slightly better thermal headroom and optimization. In daily use, though, both feel equally fast.
Our 3DMark test showed little difference between the two models, with the Pixel 10 hitting 3,368 points and the Pro at 3,426. Under sustained load, the Pro diped to 2,118 while the Pixel 10 dropped to 2,025, suggesting that both throttle under longer sessions, with the Pro still holding a small lead. For gamers, both will perform well, but neither of them challenges the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the S25 series.
On the software side, both launch with Android 16 and the new Pixel Sense assistant (a major evolution of the Google Assistant) designed for context-aware, on-device intelligence. Standout features inlude Magic Cue (live meeting notes), Camera Coach (real-time shooting tips), and Auto Best Take.
As always, Google promises 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates.
Camera
The Pixel 10 finally goes triple-camera
For the first time, the base Pixel 10 is not stuck with just two cameras. It is getting a telephoto lens of its own, making this year’s lineup much more competitive. Still, Google reserves its best sensors for the Pro.
The Pixel 10 uses a smaller 50 MP Samsung GN8 main sensor, a 13 MP ultrawide, and an 11 MP telephoto. The Pixel 10 Pro gets a larger 50 MP GN2 main sensor, a high-end 48 MP ultrawide, and a 48 MP 5x periscope telephoto. The Pro can also zoom in up to 100x, while the base model tops out at 20x.
The Pixel 10 has a standard 10.5 MP selfie snapper, while the Pro jumps to a new 42 MP autofocus selfie camera.
PhoneArena Camera Score:
Photo
Video
Phone
Camera Score
Photo Score
Main (wide)
Ultra Wide
Selfie
Zoom
Google Pixel 10
147
156
83
22
26
25
Google Pixel 10 Pro
151
162
85
23
26
28
Phone
Camera Score
Video Score
Main (wide)
Ultra Wide
Selfie
Zoom
Google Pixel 10
147
138
76
18
25
19
Google Pixel 10 Pro
151
140
76
19
25
20
Find out more details about photo and video scores for all phones we have tested on our PhoneArena Camera Score page
The Pixel 10 Pro scored 151 overall, compared to 147 on the Pixel 10. For photos, the Pro has a slight edge in Zoom and Wide categories, while selfies scored the same across both models. That may come as a surprise since the Pro has a 42 MP autofocus selfie camera versus the Pixel 10’s 10.5 MP one. That might be because Google’s processing evens out the results: the Pro’s sensor bins down images, and its wider 103° field of view can add edge softness, so under controlled test conditions the two perform nearly identically. In practice, though, the Pro offers more flexibility for group selfies, sharper crops, and higher-quality video calls.
As for video, the two are again close, with the Pro taking a narrow win (140 vs 138). The main camera performance is matched, but the Pro’s ultrawide and telephoto sensors contribute to its advantage. Overall, the Pro’s lead is consistent but small.
Main Camera
< Pixel 10Pixel 10 Pro >
The main camera on the Pixel 10 Pro is noticeably sharper, but the colors and dynamic range seem to be the same between the two models.
< Pixel 10Pixel 10 Pro >
The higher detail of the Pro is even more apparent when there is not enough light. In this particular case, the base Pixel 10 has exposed the image a bit higher, revealing more in the shadows, but slightly blowing out the white are behind the curtain.
Zoom Quality
< Pixel 10 5xPixel 10 Pro 5x >
The Pro's 5x zoom delivers much a sharper image, but its colors and white balance are slightly off compared to the base model.
Ultra-wide Camera
< Pixel 10Pixel 10 Pro >
Again, the Pixel Pro took a more detailed shot here. The one from the Pixel 10 ultrawide camera looks "mushy" and blurred in comparison.
Selfies
< Pixel 10Pixel 10 Pro >
The Pixel 10 Pro selfie camera captures much more in the frame, as it has a wider angle, but its colors look a bit exaggerated compared to the Pixel 10.
More Camera Samples
Battery Life and Charging
Bigger batteries, faster wireless
Both phones see slight bumps in battery size this year. The Pixel 10 packs a 4,970 mAh cell, while the Pixel 10 Pro has a 4,870 mAh unit.
In our testing, the Pixel 10 lasted 7 hours 16 minutes, while the Pro managed 7 hours 17 minutes, meaning you can expect almost the same battery life from the two. The Pixel 10 was stronger in our Browsing test (21 hours vs 20 hours 55 minutes), while the Pro lasted slightly longer in video playback (10h18 vs 10h00). In gaming, the Pixel 10 pulled ahead with 5h01 compared to 4h36 on the Pro.
Charging speeds remain the same: both phones support 30W wired charging and 15W wireless charging via the Qi2 magnetic system. The Pixelsnap accessory lineup makes this system far more practical, though, with magnetic alignment similar to MagSafe. In fact, the Pixel 10 series are compatible with MagSafe accessories, which is a big move on Google's part. This way, the company has taken down one more hurdle for iPhone owners to transition to a Pixel.
Audio
Audio is great on both, but it's the Pixel 10 Pro that sounds slightly better and more premium. It delivers audio that's a bit more rich and with a wider soundstage, whereas the Pixel 10 lack some of that depth and warmth.
Haptics are good on both devices, but we can't help but feel a slight metallic reverberation when using the haptics. The vibrator motor feels as if it's a bit more high-pitched in comparison with previous Pixel devices, which were pretty much on point in terms of strength and accuracy.
The Pixel 10 vs Pixel 10 Pro matchup is closer than ever this year. The base Pixel 10 is even easier to recommend this year thanks to that telephoto camera. It's also not that far behind the Pro in terms of general camera performance, and that was supposed to be the main differentiating factor between the two.
The truth is, besides the brighter display and somewhat better performance, there's not much else that would make you go for the Pixel 10 Pro instead of the regular Pixel 10.
But it is a good thing that Google made the Pixel 10 so attractive, as both Samsung and Apple have done the same with their base models. It seems this is the name of the game this year, and the Pixel 10 is playing it well.
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Aleksandar is a tech enthusiast with a broad range of interests, from smartphones to space exploration. His curiosity extends to hands-on DIY experiments with his gadgets, and he enjoys switching between different brands to experience the latest innovations. Prior to joining PhoneArena, Aleksandar worked on the Google Art Project, digitizing valuable artworks and gaining diverse perspectives on technology. When he's not immersed in tech, Aleksandar is an outdoorsman who enjoys mountain hikes, wildlife photography, and nature conservation. His interests also extend to martial arts, running, and snowboarding, reflecting his dynamic approach to life and technology.
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