The Google Pixel 10 has officially arrived in India, carrying a price tag of ₹79,999 for the 256GB variant. On paper, it looks like the best base Pixel yet, thanks to the new telephoto camera, a brighter OLED display, and Google’s new Tensor G5 chip. But in practice, does the Pixel 10 live up to expectations, or does it struggle in key areas? Let’s dive into the details.
Design and Build – Familiar but Premium
The Pixel 10 sticks to Google’s signature camera bar design, introduced a few years ago. At first glance, it feels very similar to the Pixel 9. The only major change is a slightly taller camera bar to house the new telephoto lens.
The phone is compact, measuring 152.8 x 72 x 8.6mm and weighing 204 grams. While it feels solid and premium in the hand, the weight is slightly on the heavier side for a 6.3-inch device. The satin-finish aluminium frame looks sleek and the polished glass back gives it a glossy appeal. The Frost variant, which we tested, looks stylish but does pick up smudges easily.
It is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, and both sides are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Despite its slippery back, the phone feels sturdy, and one-handed use is surprisingly comfortable.
Display – Bright, Smooth and Compact
The Pixel 10 sports a 6.3-inch Actua OLED display with 1080 x 2424 resolution. It offers a 120Hz refresh rate and peaks at an impressive 3000 nits brightness. That makes it one of the brightest compact displays in the market, perfect for outdoor use.
Colours are vivid, blacks are deep, and HDR playback on Netflix or YouTube looks fantastic. However, unlike LTPO panels on rivals, the refresh rate here only switches between 60Hz and 120Hz manually. This means no adaptive refresh for better battery efficiency, which is a small miss.
Still, everyday usage feels smooth and the screen is sharp enough for movies, reading, or gaming.
Performance – The Tensor G5 Story
Google’s new Tensor G5 processor powers the Pixel 10, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB storage. Built by TSMC, the chip brings performance improvements over the Pixel 9’s G4, especially in AI-driven features.
The phone handles multitasking well. Apps open quickly, UI animations are fluid, and switching between tasks feels smooth. However, under heavy loads like gaming, the Pixel 10 struggles. Titles such as Call of Duty Mobile or Genshin Impact run fine initially but cause heating issues after 20 minutes. This throttling limits its appeal for gamers.
Benchmark numbers also confirm this. The Pixel 10 scores over a million on AnTuTu but falls behind rivals like the OnePlus 13s and Samsung Galaxy S25, both of which deliver far stronger raw performance.
For everyday use, however, the phone remains fast and reliable. And with seven years of Android and security updates promised, the Pixel 10 easily outshines competitors in software support.
Cameras – Gains and Losses
Google has finally added a telephoto lens to the base Pixel this year, making the Pixel 10 more versatile. The triple-camera setup includes a 48MP main camera, a 13MP ultra-wide, and a 10.8MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom.
Daylight shots from the primary sensor are excellent. Colours are accurate, dynamic range is wide, and details are sharp. The ultra-wide captures good photos too, though sharpness takes a small hit compared to the main lens.
The telephoto works well in daylight, producing decent zoom shots. But in low light, it struggles with noise and reduced detail. Night Sight helps, but the results look heavily processed at times.
Selfies come from a 10.5MP front camera, which continues to perform well for social media use. Video recording supports 4K at 60fps across all cameras, with good stabilization. Still, Apple’s iPhones remain the gold standard for creators, especially in video quality.
Overall, the Pixel 10’s cameras are reliable, but the downgrade from a 50MP to a 48MP main sensor compared to the Pixel 9 is noticeable.
Battery and Charging – Needs Work
The Pixel 10 packs a 4970mAh battery, larger than last year’s Pixel 9. In real-world use, it lasts a day with 4-5 hours of screen time, which is decent but not class-leading. In our video loop test, it ran for about 26 hours, slightly better than the Pixel 9.
Charging is where Google lags far behind. The Pixel 10 supports just 30W fast charging, and the charger is sold separately. A full charge takes nearly 100 minutes, which feels slow compared to rivals offering 100W or more. On the positive side, the Pixel 10 now supports Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W, which is a welcome addition.
AI Features – Google’s Secret Weapon
If hardware leaves you underwhelmed, Google’s AI smarts are where the Pixel 10 shines. Features like Magic Eraser, Best Take, and Photo Unblur continue to impress. New tools like Magic Cue and Camera Coach add even more convenience.
Voice Translate works smoothly, and real-time alerts like Live Updates enhance the experience. Importantly, these features feel optional rather than intrusive, making them easy to adopt.
Verdict – Should You Buy It?
The Google Pixel 10 is the most complete base Pixel to date. At ₹79,999, it offers a telephoto camera, a bright OLED display, seven years of updates, and excellent AI features. But it isn’t perfect. Performance throttling, average battery life, and slow charging hold it back.
If you own a Pixel 9, there’s little reason to upgrade. If you are new to the Pixel series and want a compact, AI-driven flagship for daily use, the Pixel 10 is a solid choice. But power users, gamers, and creators may be better off with the Pixel 10 Pro, OnePlus 13s, or Samsung Galaxy S25.