Don't pay the Pro tax for 100x zoom. The regular Pixel 10 is where it's at.
I spent most of the week convincing you the Pixel 10 Pro isn't worth the upgrade if you're already living life with a well-established working device. (I still bought it.) However, I have a different argument to make regarding the regular Pixel 10, the one without the "Pro" moniker. It's the one I wish I had the gall to buy instead of spending more to stay Pro. If you are itching to upgrade to a Pixel device and want something a little more potent than the A-series, the Pixel 10 is worth considering at its $800 starting price point (which you can likely lower with a trade-in).
The Pixel 10 has all the makings of a solid smartphone. It features a 6.3-inch Actua display with nearly the exact resolution as the Pixel 10 Pro, which defaults to 1080 x 2410. Google advertises a higher 1280 x 2856 resolution on the Pro/Pro XL, but it's not even on by default. In fact, when you enter the settings, you'll see a reminder not to switch to it unless you're deeply committed to undermining the Pro's promises of 30-hour battery life. To that end, the 120Hz refresh rate is available on the Pixel 10, and although it fluctuates between 60Hz and 120Hz, the only thing you're missing out on with the Pro is the 1Hz always-on display wallpaper. You're still able to glance at the time, and the Pixel 10's proximity sensor will automatically turn on the screen as you approach it, anyway.
You will likely make compromises with the Pixel 10 compared to the Pros. There's less RAM—only 12GB—but it's the same amount as in Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, a folding phone that costs nearly three times as much as the Pixel 10 and boasts similar AI capabilities. The Pixel 10 is only available with up to 256GB of storage, which may not sound like much, but I've been fine with devices at that capacity for the past several years. If you're in dire need of more, then you probably need a "pro" level device for what you do, anyway.
Most people do not need a Pro-level smartphone. Most people will be fine with the Pixel 10's Tensor G5 and nearly 5,000mAh battery (it's just slightly bigger than the Pixel 10 Pro's). And so what if the Pixel 10 doesn't have the hardware capable of Pro Res Zoom and 50-MP portrait shots? Those specifications enable the Pixel 10 Pro to compete with the iPhone's Pro lineup, and even rival Samsung. As we discussed on Android Faithful this week, those promises of super zoom are mostly marketing efforts at this point. Although the Pixel 10 Pros do zoom better than last year's, you still get 5x optical zoom on the Pixel 10, which is what most people will benefit from in day-to-day life.
Like the rest of its candybar siblings, the Pixel 10 is primarily a vessel for all the artificial intelligence magic that Google's been concocting in its labs behind the scenes. The point of the Pixel now is not to lay the groundwork for the Android operating system, as the Nexus phones of the past did, but to showcase AI in ways that are both subtle and overt in the user experience. With the Pixel 10, you still have access to those features. Most of the reason I stay with Pixel devices is due to the AI-aided camera algorithms and call screening, both of which are still available at the $800 experience. You really don't need the Pixel 10 Pro.
We delayed this week's show premiere to go live once we were all collectively allowed to share our thoughts on the Google Pixel 10 lineup. Jason, Huyen, and I discuss the Pixel 10 Pro experience after just a week. Also, Huyen assures us that Google requiring identity from developers isn't the total end of the sideloading on Android.
Jason put together a thorough look at Material 3 Expressive, including what's new and what's not changing.
