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Google Pixel 10 is priced the same as Pixel 9 in India, comes in a single 256GB storage variant and gets new Gemini AI features.
Google’s new base Pixel 10 model gets more cameras, better Tensor chip and AI.
Google Pixel 10 series has reached the point where its flagship status is undeniable but its focus pivots to AI after every iteration. The company has solidified its backend to deliver a new Tensor G5 chipset along with AI features that Apple can only dream of today.
The regular Pixel 10 model has got some upgrades, which is easily noticeable at the back with now three cameras available instead of two. Google clearly sees the Pixels being fine and since it is not broken, it doesn’t need any fixing.
The intention is to make a hardware that does the best justice to AI running on-device and does it effectively. That said, you still have a phone for calls, using social media and other tasks. So, does the Pixel 10 offer the flagship value that its price tag demands? We got down to test the device to get these answers.
The Design Prevails
Keeping the Pixel 9 next to the Pixel 10 tells you one small change. The new one has three cameras at the back. The new Pixel 10 has actually gained some weight and the glossy glass panel is not our favourite, especially because it gets slippery and you suspect the durability even with the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 layer.
The aluminium frame gives a nice grip and some level matte finish at the back would have made it the ideal combo for better ergonomics.
The visor style has become a Google identity and we don’t have much to complain about its overall looks. The company clearly doesn’t feel the need to tinker much and that’s fine. The speakers at the bottom and on the display give it better visibility.
The Display Cutbacks
Google continues to skimp on the display features with the regular Pixel 10 model. You get an OLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate but not adaptable and you have to manually choose between 60Hz and the higher rate. It does get brighter with the 3,000 nits peak brightness level which ensures you get ideal readability under harsh sunlight.
The support for HDR10+ offers Netflix video streaming in high quality. Some might have issues with the size of the bezels on the display compared to the 10 Pro variants. But the display is crisp, you get the sharp OLED colours and the contrast levels are also satisfying.
The Tensor AI Push
Google using the TSMC 3nm process for the Tensor G5 got us excited for its raw performance. But during our tests, we found the new chipset is a page from the old book in many ways. The levels have gone up from the G4 which is good but not the ideal benchmark for a flagship device. Its benchmark scores were comparable with the 2024 Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 than the latest 8s Gen 4 or even the 8 Elite SoCs in the market.
However, Google’s Tensor focus is primed for the AI push and by that we mean, the in-house chip has been developed to run on-device AI tools that have been introduced with the Pixel 10 series. That’s why you have the Pixel 10 with 12GB RAM as the base option this year. So, while the actual performance is decent, it is not the best you can get these days. But for AI, the G5 shows Google the right path into the future.
Are More Cameras Good?
The Pixel 10 carries a triple camera setup this year, which gets a special mention, but the sensor choices tell you a different story. The 48MP wide sensor gets OIS, while the ultrawide has gone down from 48MP to 13MP lens, and the 10.8MP telephoto lens is the new addition. The sensors in practice are also different which means the results are stark from the predecessor.
The details are spot on and the colour looks fairly natural in the Pixel tuning but you can’t call this a great camera system by any means, especially when the competition has so much more to offer. The telephoto lens feels restrictive in terms of the zoom and the wider range does its computation magic to keep the details in place but hardly. Even the low light shots feel underwhelming, and while the details are fine, the sharpness lacks the Pixel quality.
The Gemini Flaunting
Google continues to show off its Gemini prowess (Apple might be envying) and the new Pixel hardware is the ideal platform for its market testing. You get the Gemini Live suite, including the live camera access to view and share insights. You have the Magic Cue which goes beyond just answering your queries and makes calls more convenient with all the data in front of the screen.
Google Photos has heavy AI integration, with the camera coach and conversational edit showing a new way to edit images using voice. Some of these are locked to the US region for now, but eventually we expect the Pixel 9 (or even 8 series) to get them.
The new Android 16 update with the Material 3 Expressive UI that shows the design changes and a sleeker look for the interface. The icons have got a refresh too along with the font style. It just looks visually different even if it is just minor.
Does The New Pixel Last?
Google has packed the Pixel 10 with a 4,970mAh battery which is around 250mAh more than its predecessor. With the new Tensor G5 chipset on board we expected the new model to deliver better efficiency but the real-time tests left us wanting more once again. The Pixel 10 can offer you a screen-on-time of around 5 hours which is nowhere close to the levels of the unit that the device gets. We got the phone running for around 12 hours after which it demanded to be plugged into a charger.
Which brings us to the charging speeds, that are still slower than the competition, even though it might allow the battery to run for more cycles. The lack of a bundled charger means you need the right combo of the cable and the adapter to get the supported 30W charging speed.
Google Pixel 10 gets a brighter display, the design sees minor refinements, while the glass panel is not ideal. The new Tensor G5 chipset is better than G4 but lagging behind others, which means the battery life doesn’t see a big improvement. There are more cameras but not the best we’ve seen on a Pixel. For the same price as the Pixel 10, Google does its best to give the ideal combo of value and AI in our palms.
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr…Read More
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr… Read More
Delhi, India, India
September 05, 2025, 13:40 IST
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