Pixel 10 is the latest in Google’s line of phones that have, for nearly a decade, focused on smart software and dependable performance rather than flashy hardware.
After spending time with the Pixel 10, it’s clear that this is a phone that doesn’t chase trends, yet somehow manages to feel future-proof. It doesn’t scream luxury like iPhone Pro models, nor does it overstuff itself with features like some Android rivals. Instead, it delivers what Google phones have always promised, clean software, clever AI tools, and cameras that make everyday photography feel effortless.
The Pixel 10 starts at Rs 79,999 in India, which puts it firmly in the premium flagship category where it goes head-to-head with Samsung’s Galaxy S25 and Apple’s iPhone 17.
This year, Google seems to have leaned even harder into AI features and subtle design refinement. The question is, does the Pixel 10 feel like a must-buy or just another steady upgrade? Read the complete review to find out.
Design and Build Quality
The Pixel 10’s design language won’t shock anyone who has used a Pixel before, but there are refinements that make it feel more polished. And when I say I “used a Pixel before”, I am talking about last year’s Pixel 9, which looks identical to the Pixel 10. But no complaints there.
At 152.8 mm tall and weighing 204 grams, it sits in that “medium-large” category. It isn’t feather-light, and you’ll notice its presence in your pocket, but it also avoids the awkward bulk of some oversized flagships.
Google continues with its signature camera bar, which some people love and others tolerate. I fall into the “like it” camp, it makes the phone distinctive and stops it from wobbling on a flat table. The aluminium frame has a satin finish that feels premium, and the polished Gorilla Glass Victus 2 at the back resists scratches better than most glossy designs I’ve handled. Fingerprints still show up, but not as aggressively as on mirrored glass phones.
Colour options bring a nice mix of personality and subtlety. Indigo feels bold and striking, Lemongrass adds a fresh twist, while Frost and Obsidian are classic choices for those who prefer understatement. I got the Frost colour variant for review and it is one of the most beautiful colours in a smartphone. If you use your phone without a case, these shades genuinely help it stand out from a sea of dull slabs.
The IP68 rating is reassuring.I tested it under light rain and accidental splashes, and it shrugged them off. It’s not something you’ll actively test, but knowing your phone can survive a puddle moment is comforting.
Display: Bright, Smooth, and Easy on the Eyes
The 6.3-inch OLED display is one of the best aspects of the Pixel 10. With a resolution of 1080 x 2424 at 422 PPI, it’s crisp without being overkill. Text is sharp, and videos on YouTube and Netflix look vivid. Where it truly shines is brightness, Google has pushed peak brightness to 3,000 nits. In practice, this means I could easily use the phone under Delhi’s harsh midday sun without straining my eyes.
The adaptive refresh rate, scaling from 60Hz to 120Hz, makes interactions feel smooth without draining too much battery unnecessarily. Scrolling through Twitter (or X, if you prefer) feels slick, while gaming benefits from the higher refresh rate. Colours are well-balanced, not oversaturated like some Samsung phones, nor too muted. HDR content pops, making even regular photos in the gallery look dynamic.
Google also includes features like 24-bit depth for 16 million colours, and while most of us won’t actively count those shades, it results in a display that just feels natural and pleasing. After a week of use, I noticed less eye strain compared to sharper but more aggressive panels on other phones.
Performance and Software
Inside, the Pixel 10 runs on Google’s Tensor G5 chip paired with 12GB of RAM. If you’re looking purely at benchmarks, it might not match the raw muscle of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen chipsets. But daily use is where the Pixel shines.
I threw my usual workload at it–multiple Chrome tabs, YouTube streaming in the background,Instagram running, and constant WhatsApp messages. The Pixel 10 handled it without breaking a sweat. Switching between apps felt seamless. I noticed minor warmth during extended gaming sessions, but nothing alarming. I am not a heavy gamer but a 30 minutes of Asphalt 9 was enough to raise the heat on the Pixel 10.
Where the Tensor G5 really flexes is AI. This is where Google is in its own league. I will talk about the AI features in detail in the next section
But here’s the important thing-- the Pixel 10 is no longer alone in the compact premium category. Phones like the OnePlus 13s with its smaller body and Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 now bring serious flagship performance to pocket-friendly sizes. That means the Pixel isn’t your only option if you want something small and powerful.
And perhaps the most underrated part? Seven years of OS and security updates. That’s longer than most people keep their phones, and it means the Pixel 10 won’t feel outdated anytime soon.
AI Features
Google has been pushing AI for years, but on the Pixel 10 it finally feels baked into everyday use, not just sprinkled on top. A few features stood out to me:
Magic Cue
This one became an instant favorite. Magic Cue acts like a built-in summariser. I tested it on long emails and a work PDF, and it instantly boiled them down into digestible points. It’s perfect when you don’t have the patience to read line after line but still need the gist. Unlike third-party apps, it works seamlessly across apps, which makes it feel part of the phone rather than an add-on.
Camera Coach
While snapping photos, I noticed subtle prompts from Camera Coach. Once, while taking a picture of my dog, it suggested adjusting my tilt so I didn’t crop out her paws. It wasn’t intrusive, more like a gentle nudge, and the resulting photo was noticeably better. It’s the kind of small AI assist that helps casual users take pro-looking shots.
Pixel Studio
Google’s photo editing smarts have grown beyond Magic Eraser. Pixel Studio lets you resize or move subjects, change skies, and apply portrait lighting tweaks. I tested it by shifting a person slightly in a group shot, and the results looked surprisingly natural. For someone like me who doesn’t enjoy fiddling with editing apps, it’s a lifesaver.
Cameras
Let’s be honest, many people buy Pixels for the camera, and the Pixel 10 doesn’t disappoint.
The triple rear system combines a 48MP main wide lens, a 13MP ultrawide, and a 10.8MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom. In practice, this setup covers every scenario you’d realistically need.
Daylight photos are sharp, with excellent dynamic range. Colours lean toward natural rather than overly saturated, which I prefer. Portrait mode continues to deliver creamy backgrounds and sharp subjects, rivaling what you’d get from more expensive phones.
Low-light photography is where Pixel magic shines. Night Sight produced usable, detailed shots during an evening walk where other phones might struggle. The astrophotography mode is niche, but capturing the night sky on a clear evening was jaw-dropping.
Zoom performance is strong too — 5x optical retains detail, and even going up to 20x Super Res Zoom gave me Instagram-worthy results without heavy pixelation.
Video recording has also stepped up. You get 4K at up to 60fps, with stabilisation that makes handheld clips look cinematic. Features like Audio Magic Eraser help reduce background noise, which came in handy when recording a street performance.
Selfies are no afterthought either. The 10.5MP front camera, with its ultrawide 95° field of view, makes group selfies easy. Autofocus ensures you’re not stuck with blurry shots, even if you move around.
That said, I have to point out something important: while the Pixel 10 is still excellent at what it does, it no longer holds the undisputed crown it once did. A few years ago, buying a Pixel almost automatically meant you had the best camera in the Android world. But competition has caught up fast.
Take the Vivo X200 FE, for instance, another compact phone I recently reviewed. It comes with ZEISS optics, a 50MP telephoto camera, and even 100x zoom. Sure, the 100x is digital, but paired with optical and hybrid levels like 1x, 10x, and 20x, it delivers surprisingly detailed results.In some scenarios, the X200 FE genuinely outshines the Pixel, especially when it comes to long-range photography and versatility.
So while the Pixel 10 still gives you confidence in every shot and continues to feel effortless to use, it’s no longer leagues ahead. It’s part of a crowded, competitive field where rivals like Vivo and Oppo are making the conversation around “best Android camera” far more interesting than before.
Battery and Charging
The Pixel 10 packs a 4,970mAh battery, which sounds standard, but real-world use exceeded my expectations. With moderate use, emails, calls, a bit of social media, and YouTube Music, I consistently ended the day with 20–25% left. On lighter days, it stretched comfortably into the next morning.
Charging is where things are just okay. 30W wired charging isn’t the fastest, I got around 50% in half an hour, and a full charge took about 80–90 minutes. Wireless charging caps at 15W, which feels behind the curve compared to competitors. It’s fine if you charge overnight, but if you’re used to super-fast charging phones, you’ll notice the difference.
Audio and Everyday Use
The Pixel 10’s stereo speakers are clear and get reasonably loud, with nice spatial audio for supported content. Watching Netflix without headphones felt immersive, and calls over speakerphone were crisp.
Three microphones with wind noise reduction mean recorded audio is clean, whether you’re shooting video or taking voice notes. Features like audio zoom and speech enhancement make a difference when capturing clips outdoors.
Fingerprint and face unlock are both quick and reliable. I appreciated that I didn’t have to think about unlocking. The haptic feedback is subtle but satisfying, especially when typing.
Final Verdict
The Pixel 10 isn’t the kind of phone that tries to wow you with specs alone. Instead, it focuses on the essentials –great camera performance, smart AI features, long-term updates, and a display that’s both smooth and incredibly bright.
It’s not perfect. Charging speeds could be better, and some rivals offer rawer power for the same price. But if you’re someone who values everyday reliability, intelligent features that actually make life easier, and photos that look amazing without effort, the Pixel 10 is hard to ignore.
At Rs 79,999, it may not be the cheapest flagship around, but for what it offers –clean software, stellar cameras, and seven years of updates, it feels like money well spent for anyone who values stability and smarts over spec-sheet bragging rights.
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