The Google Pixel 10: A Smart Buy, Even Now

You don’t need the “Pro”: The standard Pixel 10 proves itself almost as good as its flagship siblings, despite smaller camera sensors and other limitations. And with its price already having dropped significantly, it’s a compelling purchase right now.

Comparing the Pixel 10 trio to its predecessors, the standard model shows the most significant advancements. Like its Pro counterpart, the standard Pixel 10 now boasts a triple rear camera system. In practice, the differences are so minimal that the Pixel 10 stands as a strong alternative for budget-conscious buyers – especially considering the substantial price drop since its launch about a month ago.

Excellent Display

The Pixel 10 retains its 6.3-inch display with a sharp 422 pixels per inch (ppi) resolution. It also features a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hertz (Hz), though this isn’t adaptive. It switches between 60 Hz and 120 Hz as needed, rather than offering variable refresh rates from 1 to 120 Hz. This makes little visual difference, but the Pro’s display is slightly more power-efficient.

The maximum brightness has increased from 2700 to 3000 nits. While this doesn’t quite reach the 3300 nits of the Pixel 10 Pro, both displays appear equally bright except under direct sunlight. Overall, the Pixel 10’s screen is excellent.

Pro-Level Performance

Performance-wise, there’s virtually no difference, as the standard Pixel 10 is also powered by Google’s new Tensor G5 chip. While the standard model only features 12 gigabytes (GB) of RAM compared to the Pro’s 16 GB, this is imperceptible during typical usage.

Regularly backing up photos, videos, and other data externally also mitigates the smaller storage options: the Pixel 10 offers 128 GB and 256 GB, while the Pro comes in 512 GB and 1 terabyte (TB) variants.

Impressive Camera System

The key difference lies in the camera sensors. The standard model’s sensors are smaller and offer lower resolutions: 48 MP (dual) and 10.5 MP. However, the real-world difference is far less pronounced than the specifications suggest.

Similar to the Pixel 9a, the main and ultrawide cameras deliver excellent photos with realistic yet vibrant colors and strong contrast. Differences only become apparent on larger screens.

The same holds true for the telephoto camera, which delivers impressive results at 5x optical zoom. Images up to 10x zoom retain good quality; beyond that, while increasingly pixelated, they remain viewable thanks to Google’s excellent software processing. The Pixel 10 Pro’s AI-powered Pro Resolution Zoom, enabling up to 100x digital zoom, isn’t significantly missed.

Importantly, the standard Pixel 10 also includes the Camera Coach, which analyzes the subject and assists in capturing the perfect shot step-by-step. It also features automatic selection of the best shot in group photos.

The Pixel 10’s video capabilities are also impressive. The lack of 8K recording and the Pro’s additional video tools will only be missed by serious videographers, who would likely opt for a top-tier model anyway. The same applies to the front camera, which offers 12 MP on the standard Pixel 10 compared to 48 MP on the Pro.

Full AI Suite and Good Battery Life

Pixel 10 users enjoy the full range of AI features, including the excellent real-time translation, the Journal app, and deeper integration with Notebook LM.

Like the Pro models, the battery capacity has increased. The Pixel 10 boasts a 4970 milliampere-hour (mAh) battery compared to the 4700 mAh of its predecessor. This results in comparable battery life to the Pro model, which has a slightly smaller battery but a more energy-efficient display. The Pixel 10 easily lasts a full day.

The Pixel 10 supports up to 30-watt (W) wired charging and 15-watt inductive charging. It also features Pixelsnap, allowing magnetic attachment of charging pads and other accessories to the back. As with the Pro models, Google gradually reduces battery performance after 200 charge cycles to extend its lifespan.

Conclusion

The Pixel 10 offers a remarkable amount for a standard model, without sacrificing many of the Pro’s features. Even the triple rear camera system, with its lower-resolution sensors, performs exceptionally well. The Pixel 10’s price-performance ratio is highly attractive, dropping from around €900 at launch to approximately €750. Plus, Google provides seven years of Android and security updates.