When the Pixel 10 Pro launched in October 2025, we called it the most polished Pixel Google had ever made. Four months of daily use later, we stand by that verdict - but with a few caveats that are only apparent once the honeymoon phase wears off.
The good
The Pixel 10 Pro's camera system is still, without question, the best point-and-shoot experience in any flagship. Google's computational photography pipeline consistently nails exposure and white balance in tricky lighting, and the new Tensor G5's dedicated ML block has made Magic Editor feel genuinely useful rather than a party trick. Battery life is also a huge step forward: we routinely get 6-7 hours of screen-on time, compared with around 5 hours on the Pixel 9 Pro.
The not-so-good
Heat management remains the Pixel 10 Pro's Achilles heel. Extended gaming sessions still push the phone into an uncomfortable warm state, and the camera app has a habit of force-closing if you fire off too many burst shots. We also have reservations about the glass back - it scratches more easily than Samsung's Armor Aluminum finish, and a dropped phone at the school gates left a chip that would not have troubled an iPhone.
Versus the competition
| Model | Camera | Battery | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixel 10 Pro | Excellent | Good | Good |
| iPhone 17 Pro | Excellent | Very good | Excellent |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | Very good | Very good | Excellent |
Value over time
One underrated Pixel strength is Google's commitment to seven years of OS and security updates. Nothing else in the Android world matches that, and if you tend to keep phones for three years or more, the Pixel 10 Pro is genuinely the cheapest flagship in the long run. UK pay monthly deals currently start at around £38 per month on EE and Vodafone with 100GB data.
The verdict
The Pixel 10 Pro is not perfect, but it is the most thoroughly considered Pixel yet. If your priority is camera quality, clean software and long-term support, it is still the Android phone to beat. If you care more about raw performance and build quality, the iPhone 17 Pro or Galaxy S25 Ultra will serve you better.
Rating: 4.5/5