I’ve tested the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro last year, and now with the Pixel 10 Pro (and its bigger sibling, the 10 Pro XL), I can say Google’s evolution is clear: phones have come a long way in just three years. So much so that I’ve decided it’s time for me to change devices; though, spoiler, I have iOS and I won’t be switching to Android just yet.
📸 Computational Photography, Love It or Hate It
I’ll admit it: philosophically, I’m not the biggest fan of computational photography. I prefer “real optics” when possible. But with the Pixel 10 Pro, I cannot deny the results are stunning. The cameras deliver sharp, colorful images in every situation, and the zoom capabilities (10x, 100x) sometimes feel like cheating. For casual and even semi-professional use, this phone is simply amazing. Compared to the 8 Pro and 9 Pro, the leap forward is clear.
⚡ Performance & AI Integration
The phone itself is fast, smooth, and very stable. Integration with AI is more present than in past years, and Google is clearly pushing it. That said, I wasn’t able to activate all the smarter editing features, so I couldn’t test everything as I wanted. On the other hand, having one year of Pro account and the chance to test VEO is a very cool addition (I still need to set it up, though).
📱 Pixel 10 Pro vs Pixel 10 Pro XL
The XL version has all the strengths of the 10 Pro but adds a bigger screen and a bigger battery — both genuine pros. The downside? It feels really heavy in hand. Compared to an iPhone 16 Pro Max, for example, the Pixel 10 Pro XL feels less balanced, and for me the smaller Pro is the more ergonomic and enjoyable choice.
🔋 Everyday Experience
Battery life is solid, and the phone feels quick and reliable in daily use. The Pixel 10 Pro fits well in the hand, unlike the XL which leans on the bulky side. For someone who uses their phone all day, that ergonomic difference matters more than you’d think.
⭐ Verdict
The Pixel 10 Pro (and XL) confirm Google’s place at the top of smartphone photography. The leaps since the Pixel 8 Pro and 9 Pro are undeniable. Even if I still prefer the Apple ecosystem and won’t switch from my iPhone just yet, I have to admit this generation of Pixels is truly impressive. If photography is your main criterion, these might be the phones of the year.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
📊 Specs & Features
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✅ Pros & Cons
Pros
📸 Outstanding computational photography (zoom up to 100x)
⚡ Smooth performance with Tensor G4
🔋 Strong battery life (even better on XL)
🤖 Gemini integration + 1-year Pro account
📱 7 years of software updates
Cons
🏋️♂️ XL version feels too heavy compared to iPhone 16 Pro Max
🎨 Not all AI features (like smarter photo editing) are active in Italy yet (I think)
🔊 Some audio streaming issues (e.g., Netflix at 1.5x)
🤔 Computational photography is to me less “authentic” (I prefer the Apple view on this)
