Google recently unveiled its brand new Pixel 10 series smartphones at a high-profile launch event, featuring celebrity appearances and offering initial hands-on experiences to reviewers. Early impressions highlight Google's continued commitment to its established Pixel design philosophy, focusing on quality enhancements rather than drastic design overhauls. The lineup includes the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the forthcoming Pixel 10 Pro Fold, with the latter set to release on October 9. The base Pixel 10 starts from £799 / $799, while the Pixel 10 Pro, considered the best value among the premium models, is priced from £999 / $999. Google also offers incentives like a free year of Google AI Pro with the Pro models and trade-in options for older smartphones.

The Pixel 10 Pro boasts a beautiful and capable design, featuring a silky aluminium casing that contributes to its light feel. It is available in various color options including Obsidian, Moonstone, Jade, and Porcelain. The display on the Pixel 10 Pro is a 6.3-inch OLED panel, offering excellent contrast with true blacks due to its self-illuminating pixels. It features a high pixel density of 495 pixels-per-inch and a resolution of 1,280 x 2,856, making it marginally denser than the larger 6.8-inch Pro 10 XL. The screen is notably bright, achieving 2,200 nits with HDR video and a peak brightness of 3,300 nits, ensuring clear visibility even in direct sunlight. This panel is protected by robust Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Photography is a significant focus for the Pixel 10 Pro, equipped with a respectable 42-megapixel selfie camera and a powerful triple-camera system on the rear. This system comprises a 50-megapixel wide camera, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide shooter (also capable of macro photography), and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens. The camera excels in various conditions, including low light, and introduces intelligent features like real-time guidance for better picture-taking and a group photo trick that selects the best expressions. A standout feature is the 100x Pro Res Zoom, available across all Pro Pixel 10 models (Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold). This technology utilizes a combination of AI and advanced computing to deliver remarkably clear shots from extreme distances, pushing the boundaries beyond optical zoom and raising intriguing questions about the essence of photography in the digital age.

Running on the latest Android 16 operating system, the Pixel 10 series benefits from Google's unique position as both hardware and software developer, ensuring optimized performance and early access to cutting-edge features. Google has also pledged an impressive seven years of software and security updates for the devices. New software tricks abound, including Magic Cue, which intelligently serves up relevant content from across the phone based on context (e.g., flight times from texts). The phone also offers real-time voice translation for calls in foreign languages and the ability to take call notes automatically. Users also gain seamless access to Google’s Gemini AI assistant, lauded for its versatility in tasks ranging from holiday planning to saving money.

Powering these innovations is Google's Tensor G5 chip, specifically designed to handle the demands of on-device AI processing, ensuring features like Pro Res Zoom function effectively even offline. The Pixel 10 Pro comes with 16GB of RAM and 128GB of storage as standard, with options to upgrade to 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB (the Pixel 10 Pro XL notably lacks a 128GB option). Battery performance is robust, with a 4,870mAh battery providing over 24 hours of usage and supporting fast charging that can achieve a 55% top-up in just 30 minutes.

In terms of accessories, the Pixel 10 series introduces Pixelsnap, a new magnetic system akin to Apple's MagSafe. This enables magnetic attachment for Qi2 chargers, stands, and cases, and remarkably, even supports existing Apple MagSafe accessories. However, a popular feature, Battery Share, which allowed users to wirelessly share power with other devices or charge earbuds, has been officially discontinued, a decision that may disappoint some users despite its utility primarily for others. The Pixel 10 Pro is positioned as a top-tier Android smartphone, offering a blend of exquisite design, a powerful camera, an extensive suite of AI-driven features, and competitive pricing. While it may not represent a significant upgrade for existing Pixel 9 Pro users, it stands as an excellent choice for those transitioning from older Android devices, embodying what many consider the purest Android experience available.