With the Google Pixel 10 officially announced, it’s time to decide whether you should upgrade from your current smartphone.
If you have anything newer than the Google Pixel 8, the answer is no. However, for slightly older Pixel models, the conversation gets more interesting.
The Pixel 10 series isn’t the most exciting hardware upgrade compared to the Pixel 9, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the improvements Google has made in the last few years.
More than any other Android OEM, Google’s listened to user feedback, and the company has made meaningful changes to its hardware and software.
If you’re a Pixel 7 Pro owner, it’s time to enjoy what the Pixel 10 range has to offer — here’s why.
A fantastic display and sleek design
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is more finished than the Pixel 7 Pro
I didn’t think the Pixel 7 Pro was a bad smartphone on launch. It was leagues better than the outgoing Pixel 6, and it featured many notable improvements.
However, it also had plenty of the classic Pixel flaws, including a substandard display for a flagship device.
You may think you like the display on your Pixel 7 Pro, but you’ll be blown away by the Super Actua panels used on the newer devices. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL screens are noticeably brighter and more vibrant than the panel on your Pixel 7 Pro.
I used to have to crank the Pixel 7 Pro’s brightness up to 100% just to use the phone, but the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s display feels like a panel worthy of a $1,200 smartphone, and it rivals the displays you get on the Galaxy S25 devices.
You’ll also enjoy the design of the new Pixel 10 Pro XL. The Pixel 7 Pro felt unfinished, an awkward middle stage between the redesigned Pixel 6 and the more refined Pixel 8 Pro. There’s no confusion with the Pixel 10 series.
It feels like a premium flagship smartphone in the hand, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covering its front and back and an aluminum frame.
It won’t feel like a significant upgrade coming from a Pixel 9 Pro XL, but from the Pixel 7 Pro, it’s a completely different device.
More than just a pretty face
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is a significant upgrade under the hood
I give you credit if you’ve lived with a Tensor G2 chipset for this long. I was never one who complained about its raw performance. Since the Pixel 6, Google has had a different smartphone strategy from its competitors.
I know my Pixel will never benchmark as well as its Snapdragon-powered contemporaries, but that’s not the point. Google has focused on the user experience, and even the Tensor G2 still gets the job done.
However, what Google didn’t manage well was the power efficiency of its older chipset. The company never really got the Tensor G2 dialed in, and the battery life was never what it should’ve been on the Pixel 7 Pro. I consistently struggled to get six hours of screen-on time.
Thermals also suffered. My Pixel 7 Pro never got as smoking hot as my Pixel 6, but it wasn’t a phone I looked forward to gaming on or doing anything intensive for too long.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL will provide an improved experience.
The Tensor G4 in my Pixel 9 Pro XL was excellent, staying cool and offering the best battery life I’ve experienced on any Pixel.
With the TSMC 3nm process on the Tensor G5 chipset, paired with the slightly bigger batteries on the Pixel 10 series, I’m expecting fantastic results.
My Pixel 7 Pro couldn’t make it until dinnertime, but, if history is any indication, my Pixel 10 Pro XL will get two full days of mixed use on a single charge.
Software improvements worth upgrading for
I don’t know what the Pixel 7 Pro will get
Material 3 Expressive will make it to your Pixel 7 Pro, and you’re going to love Google’s visual upgrade.
You’ll also continue to get various Pixel feature drops and enjoy Pixel software extras like Now Playing.
However, I’m unsure how many of Google’s Gemini enhancements will be compatible with older hardware.
If we were talking about Galaxy AI, I wouldn’t care that much about what AI features made it to my older phone. But the Google Gemini upgrades for the Pixel 10 Pro XL are worth paying attention to.
Magic Cue is excellent. I love that Google is moving AI away from needing to figure out which tool or prompt to use to get the desired result. I don’t need to know any of that for Magic Cue; it just exists as another layer of the user experience.
If I’m on a call with customer service about an order, it’ll pull up my order number and the confirmation. If a friend mentions plans in a text, it’ll pick up on the context and offer me options about a reservation we’ve made or a calendar entry.
Google mentioned that many of the new features run on the device, thanks to the Tensor G5. I’m unsure whether older devices will rely on the cloud or if Google will make newer features exclusive to more powerful hardware.
I’m never a fan of gatekeeping features from older hardware, especially if there is a way to make it work, but that’s an uphill battle. If you’re impressed by what you saw at Made by Google 2025, it’ll be time to upgrade to the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
If you haven’t seen it, it’s new to you
The Pixel 10 lineup isn’t the most invigorating year-over-year upgrade I’ve ever seen. I appreciate getting a bigger battery, and I don’t expect Google to overhaul its hardware with each new generation.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t features and upgrades you’ll love coming from an older device.
If you’re still rocking a Pixel 7 Pro, it’s time to experience all the good work Google has done over the last few years.
- SoC
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Google Tensor G5
- RAM
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16GB
- Storage
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128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB with Zoned UFS / 1 TB with Zoned UFS
- Battery
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5200mAh
- Operating System
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Android 16
- Front camera
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42 MP Dual PD selfie camera
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL features a 6.8-inch Super Actua display with 3,300 nits max brightness. It includes the new Tensor G5 chipset, providing improved performance with 16GB of RAM. The Pixel 10 Pro XL has a bigger battery this year at 5,200mAh and includes Qi2 compatibility for wireless charging accessories.
