After months of leaks, the Google Pixel 10 series is finally official.
While the new Pixel 10 phones don’t look much different from last year’s Pixel 9 series on the outside, they carry real upgrades, including the new TSMC-made Tensor G5 chipset, a telephoto camera on the base Pixel 10 for the first time, and more.
One of the best additions to the Pixel lineup this year is support for MagSafe-like magnetic wireless charging.
That said, it looks like the complete magnetic charging experience is reserved for Google’s large-screen flagship, the Pixel 10 Pro XL, making the rest of the Pixel 10 lineup feel like a compromise.
Faster Qi2.2 wireless charging is exclusive to Pixel 10 Pro XL
The smaller models miss out here
One of the highlighting features of the new Pixel 10 series is the addition of magnets to the back of the phone (finally).
While you previously had to use third-party cases and stickers to get iPhone-like MagSafe charging on a Google Pixel, the magnets are now built into all Pixel 10 models, meaning your phone will click into magnetic wireless chargers, just like an iPhone, for safe and efficient charging.
Thanks to native magnetic support, the Pixel 10 series also works with other MagSafe accessories such as magnetic power banks, wallets, car mounts, and more.
Google has even launched its own line of Qi2 accessories called Pixelsnap for new phones.
While the experience will remain mostly the same across all Pixel 10 models, Google has reserved one major advantage for the Pixel 10 Pro XL that isn’t available on non-XL models.
While the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro are Qi2 certified, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is Qi2.2 certified.
This means the Pixel 10 Pro XL can charge wirelessly at up to 25W, while the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro are limited to 15W.
This means even if the phones appear similar on the outside, you’ll experience slightly slower wireless charging on the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro.
Ultimately, if you want the fastest wireless charging, you’ll need to spend at least $1,199 on the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Otherwise, your Pixel 10’s wireless charging speed will be capped at a slightly slower 15W.
The standard Pixel 10 feels cramped already
Another feature that makes the Pixel 10 Pro XL a better buy compared to the standard Pixel 10 or Pixel 10 Pro is its higher base storage of 256GB.
Similar to last year’s Pixel 9 series, the base Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro start at 128GB, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL doubles that with 256GB by default.
This gives you far more room for photos, files, games, and videos on the larger-screen model.
Moreover, in addition to the higher base storage, the Pixel 10 Pro XL also comes with a free one-year Google AI Pro subscription, which includes 2TB of Google storage usable across Gmail, Photos, Drive, and more.
However, it’s worth noting that this bonus is also included with the mid-tier Pixel 10 Pro.
Pixel 10 Pro XL feels like the real flagship this year
All things considered, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is shaping up to be a true flagship this year.
With its improved chipset, best-in-class magnetic wireless charging, and Google’s new AI features like Magic Cue and Conversational Photo Editor, it seems Google has a winner on its hands.
More testing will reveal how it performs in real life, but for now, the Pixel 10 Pro XL looks poised to deliver the best Android flagship experience from Google.
- SoC
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Google Tensor G5
- Display type
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Super Actua
- Display dimensions
-
6.8-inches
- Battery
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5200mAh
- Operating System
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Android 16
- Dimensions
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6.4-inches x 3.0-inches x 0.3-inches
The Pixel 10 Pro XL offers a big 6.8-inch OLED screen with Google’s new Tensor G5 chipset for fast and efficient performance. It keeps the same triple rear camera system as last year, but bundles in many new software features powered by Google Gemini. It’s also the only phone in the Pixel 10 series to support the latest Qi2.2 standard for faster 25W wireless charging.
