After spending a week with the Google Pixel 10, I can safely say this: it’s a good phone. Not a game-changer, not a spec-monster, not some flashy gimmick machine—just a genuinely solid smartphone. And honestly, that’s kind of refreshing.



Design & Feel

Let’s not pretend Google reinvented the wheel here. If you’ve seen the Pixel 9, you already know what the Pixel 10 looks like. It’s nearly identical. Same minimalist vibe, same slightly quirky camera bar across the back. Still a bit anonymous-looking, but also clean and premium enough to pass for a flagship.

Build quality is solid. Metal frame, Gorilla Glass on both sides, and good weight distribution. No plasticky nonsense. The size is comfortable—nothing oversized—and thankfully, the fingerprint reader under the screen is fast and reliable this time.

Also new: Qi2 wireless charging. That means better compatibility with magnetic accessories and more efficient charging. For those of us in Sweden (or anywhere really) who use wireless charging pads, this is a quiet but meaningful upgrade.



Performance & Everyday Use

Under the hood, the Pixel 10 runs on Google’s latest Tensor G5 chip. And yeah, it’s better than the G4. But don’t expect fireworks. In real-world use—socials, photos, emails, and a bit of gaming—it’s smooth enough. Not flagship-fast, not buttery like an iPhone 15 Pro or Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it holds its own.

One big improvement is thermals. The G5 runs cooler. No more burning your hands during a video call or while navigating with GPS in the car. That’s a real win, even if benchmark scores still aren’t all that impressive.

Also worth noting: the base model now uses UFS 4.0 storage, which makes app loading and file transfers noticeably snappier than last year.



Camera System

This is where the Pixel 10 quietly flexes. For the first time ever, the standard Pixel (not Pro!) gets a 5x telephoto lens. That’s huge. You’re no longer forced into buying the Pro model just to get solid zoom capabilities.

Photos, as expected from a Pixel, look fantastic. Natural colors, great contrast, and excellent detail—especially in daylight. Night Sight is still one of the best in the game. The 5x zoom lens performs well up to its native range, though anything beyond that gets a bit messy. Don’t expect miracles.

There’s also a new “PixelSnap” feature, which feels like Google’s answer to MagSafe accessories—more useful for wireless docks and stands than anything else right now.



Battery Life

Battery life has genuinely surprised me. Even without the Pro model’s rumored new battery tech, I was regularly getting close to two full days on a charge with moderate use. That’s with Bluetooth, 5G, and always-on display enabled. Impressive.

Charging speeds are still just “fine,” and there’s no charger in the box, but that’s the norm in 2025.



Software & AI Gimmicks

Android 15 on this thing is super clean, as you’d expect from Google’s own hardware. Gemini AI is baked into a lot of features—some useful (like real-time transcription), some just fluff (AI wallpaper, really?). But overall, the experience is snappy, smart, and bloat-free.

One minor complaint: 8GB RAM feels tight in 2025. It’s fine most of the time, but I had occasional hiccups when multitasking heavily. Not a dealbreaker, but the Pro’s 12GB would’ve been nice here too.



Price & Final Thoughts

At $799 USD (around 8,800 SEK), the Pixel 10 sits in that weird upper-midrange zone. You’re not paying Pro money, but you’re also not getting budget-phone compromises. For most people, that’s the sweet spot.

Conclusion: The Grown-Up Pixel

The Pixel 10 isn’t exciting. It doesn’t have a folding screen, AI in your eyeballs, or liquid cooling. But it doesn’t need to.

It’s the most practical, well-balanced phone Google has released in years. Clean software, great battery life, an actually useful telephoto lens, and small but meaningful upgrades like Qi2 and better thermals.

If you’re in Sweden (or anywhere, really) and just want a reliable Android phone without the fluff, this is a damn solid choice.

Rating: 4/5
(It’s not flashy, but it does almost everything right.)