Customer Ratings & Reviews

Pixel 10 Pro XL – Where to start? There are so many things to say about the Pixel that trying to cover all its many attributes is beyond the scope of my impressions and use as an ordinary person using the Pixel 10 Pro XL in regular and ordinary ways. Looking at the Pixel 10 Pro XL the hardware is slick, polished and clearly shows attention to detail in its appearance and operation. My Pixel 10 Pro XL is quality built outwardly and inwardly. Mine is the Obsidian model and I’m a fan of the matte black (not flat black but matte – kind of a smokey charcoal) that includes the metal frame surrounding the outer rim of the Pixel, and the glass panels on the front and back are Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The screen is OLED, 2992x1344 (486 ppi) so the resolution is terrific as the accompanying variable refresh rate 1-120 HZ compliments, and colors appear very natural and clear. With a 3300 nit peak brightness the screen is easily seen in direct sunlight. With the new faster G5 Tensor CPU (also home to the AI chips) and 16GB of RAM all normal functions when moving about the phone, opening/closing apps, scrolling etc., just snap with no lag or slowness. Using the phone as one does in daily use, you only experience smooth operation and quick responses. The only areas that may not be as quick in comparison to current Apple and Samsung flagship phones might be intensive graphics work such as top tier gaming or professional video editing, but this is just an impression I’ve gotten due to some online testing I’ve read about comparing these flagships and the Pixel 10’s indicating the Pixel 10 may be a little slower comparatively in these two specific areas. I don’t run top tier games on my phone, nor do I do full-bore video editing on my phone, so I have no firsthand knowledge of phone behavior in these areas. But playing games on the Pixel Pro 10 XL or using AI assisted photo editing, such as using your voice to edit photos by asking it to do this or that to the photo in question, is quick and simple to do. There are a number of other on-board photo editing tools that perform well such as taking a photo of a friend or friends and adding yourself to the photo – you can’t tell that you weren’t in the photo to start with, and with just a few steps it happens quickly. There are many more photo/video editing tools available on-board of the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Editing 8k video requires help from the cloud but otherwise everything else is onboard the Pixel 10’s when it comes to editing. My comments about the possibility that the Pixel 10’s may be a little slower gaming or doing heavy graphics work doesn’t mean photo/video editing or running top tier games is slow or can’t be done. They are easily done but they simply may not do these specific things quite as quickly when comparing them with the other flagship phones. In contrast to these comments, I’ve seen other testing that shows high tier games running on the Pixel 10's with no dropped frames or slowdowns while playing them. So, some of the technical tests may vary somewhat from real-world situations due to the close integration with the hardware and OS. This is just my opinion but my overall impression considering the high quality of the Pixel and how tightly knit the Android software seems to be with the hardware, thus running so smoothly, reminds me of the Apple approach to their hardware/software being so well synchronized together. I’ve heard rumors that Google is trying to lure iPhone owners away through their new Pixel 10’s, and my impression using this phone is that it’s reminiscent of using an iPhone – not surprising since Google’s OS, their software and the hardware are all made by Google and optimized to work quickly and perform smoothly together. With loud stereo speakers at the base of the phone, the sound/music is robust and very good considering you’re dealing with phone speakers. A review of the Pixel 10 in whatever configuration wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that the PixelSnap hardware (magnets in the back of the phone) allow you to use most of Apple’s MagSafe accessories as well as Pixel’s accessories with them adhering firmly to the phone. You’re talking about various wireless chargers (up to 25 watts wireless charging for the Pixel 10 Pro XL or 45 watts wired charging with an appropriate wired charger), phone stands for your desk or car, wallets able to hold cash, credit cards, ID etc. You can even stick your Pixel to a metal surface if you need to do so. Coupled with a case designed for the Pixel 10’s and PixelSnap, your accessories will stay firmly attached with or without a phone case. The Pixel 10’s use eSims only (the Pixel 10’s are designed for two (2) eSim slots) – no Sim cards in U.S. Pixel 10’s. I’ve seen some flak online about the Pixel 10 line not having Sim cards and causing problems for some. I set my Pixel 10 close by my Samsung Note20 Ultra, my old phone, when setting up my Pixel 10 Pro XL. It carried over the info wirelessly without a hitch. All I had to do was inform my carrier of the IMEI number on my Pixel and in a moment my new phone was activated on their network. For me, at least, the eSims posed no problems. Don’t forget that Sim cards deteriorate and have to be replaced – case in point was my Samsung Note20 used both a Sim card or an eSim. I had a Sim card and my carrier detected that the Sim card was showing signs of deterioration and not functioning properly. I would have had to replace the Sim card had I kept using my Samsung Note20. If you’re coming from a Samsung phone, you will note differences in the “pure” Android OS that runs on the Pixel 10’s. Labeling of categories in Settings is somewhat different as is the arrangement and location of the various sub-settings. All this means there is a learning curve to adapt to the Pixel OS. Oh, and as you may know, Samsungs OS has at least a million settings (…well, that’s somewhat of an exaggeration) but you won’t find the Pixel setting quite as numerous and, in some cases, not as granular either. You will find a complete yet simpler approach to dealing with the Pixel OS compared to Samsung. When you purchase your Google Pixel 10 Pro XL you will receive a 12-month free subscription to Google AI Pro. This means you have vocal access to Gemini through the cloud to talk about anything you want or to get local assistance through something you’re showing through the lens of your camera by asking Gemini about it. So, you have access to the most powerful Gemini AI available at this time in addition to the Gemini AI resident on the Pixel that assists with a plethora of app related things you can do well beyond just AI assisted searches of the Internet for data. This phone is AI driven and is getting better as the Pixel Feature Drops occur along with OS updates and security fixes guaranteed for seven (7) years. My experience taking photos with the Pixel 10 Pro XL is in keeping with the high reputation Pixel has enjoyed with its cameras for years now. Using the 100x telephoto is truly amazing and only possible through the use of AI. Considering photo hardware is limited in any smart phone by the tiny available space for camera hardware, Google’s use of AI with their cameras is unreal – quite an accomplishment over the other flagship phones. Call quality is amazing as well – clear and with little background noise at all so that it’s much like sitting next to someone and just talking naturally in a quiet room. I’m not exaggerating when I say that there is so much more to learn about the accomplishments achieved by Google in their Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 line in general than what I’m able to mention in this review. I will simply say that you won’t be disappointed with the Pixel 10 Pro’s offerings or performance.

Pixel 10 Pro is absolutely magnificent. The camera is the standout feature for me—it consistently delivers stunning results, even in challenging backlit situations where many phones struggle. The overall experience feels refined and smooth. Performance is fast and responsive for everyday use. The display is bright and sharp, making photos and videos look fantastic, and the build quality gives the phone a premium feel in hand.

Bought the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL from Best Buy on November 28, and I really love it. It has a beautiful display, fast performance, excellent camera, and a clean Android experience with no bloatware. The battery easily lasts all day or two days when I am busy with work. Highly recommended.