The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL strides into the flagship scene with bold claims and sharper edges. Packed with AI-powered tools, a stellar camera system, and a dazzling display, it’s a phone built to impress. But is it a revolution—or just a polished rerun? Let’s find out!
- Price: From S$1,739 (256GB), get it at Shopee, Lazada, and Google Store
- Display: 6.8 inches, 2,992 x 1,344 pixels
- Processor: Google Tensor G5
- Rear cameras: 50MP, f1.7 (wide); 48MP, f2.8 (periscope telephoto 5x optical zoom); 48MP, f1.7 (ultra-wide)
- Selfie camera: 42mm, f2.2 (ultra-wide)
- Battery: 5,200mAh
- Weight: 232g
| PROS | CONS |
| Gorgeous display | Incremental upgrades |
| Superb cameras with great image quality | 100x Pro Res Zoom struggles |
| Smooth performance | Slow wired and wireless charging |
| Impressive AI tools like Magic Cue and Pixel Studio | Voice Translate only available in Pixel 10 series |
The Pixel 10 Pro XL doesn’t rewrite the design playbook, but it refines the formula. The iconic camera bar of its predecessor remains, now paired with smoother transitions and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Its aluminium frame gleams with a high-shine finish, exuding a premium vibe but definitely a fingerprint magnet.
At 232g, it’s heavier than its rivals, such as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, but the weight feels balanced in hand. Colour options — Obsidian (version reviewed), Moonstone, Jade, and Porcelain — lean professional, though a splash of boldness wouldn’t hurt. This phone looks the part, but plays it safe. Still, it is one hell of a good-looking smartphone.
Not to mention, its 6.8-inch OLED display easily punches through sunlight with a peak brightness of 3,300 nits. Whether you’re outdoors or bingeing Netflix, the visuals are crisp, vibrant, and buttery smooth, thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate. However, the overly reflective screen lacks anti-glare tech, making direct sunlight still a minor nuisance.
Like the rest of the Google Pixel 10 series, it packs the Tensor G5 processor. Paired with 16GB of RAM, it delivers snappy performance for daily tasks and casual gaming. Swiping through Android 16 feels seamless, and apps launch with satisfying speed. Whether it is Pokemon Go or Diablo Immortal, it is no sweat for this phone.
But if you run the benchmark tests, it’s no match for the Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered Android smartphones. Nonetheless, Google isn’t chasing specs. The Tensor G5 shines in AI-driven tasks, processing on-device for speed and security. This is where Google flexes its muscles.
Pixel Studio, Google’s generative AI tool, is really impressive. It nails creative prompts, generates stunning visuals, and even incorporates text—a feat it fumbled last year. Just look at the Singapore otter stamp it generated. But it’s not perfect. Biases linger, and the AI struggles to render Google’s latest Pixel phones accurately. Instead, the phones look like iPhones.
Magic Cue pops up relevant information when you are in mid-conversation. While impressive, it is not always consistent. Its reliance on Google apps limits its appeal for those outside the ecosystem.
Voice Translate is said to deliver real-time, in-call translations. I didn’t get to test this, as both parties need to be using Pixel 10 phones for this feature to work. Furthermore, Voice Translate currently only supports translation between English and these languages: Swedish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Hindi, Indonesian, and Japanese. I don’t have friends who speak these languages who happen to use a Pixel 10 phone.
On the other hand, Pixel Pro XL’s triple-camera setup continues to be a masterclass in smartphone photography. The 50MP wide-angle lens, 48MP ultra-wide-angle, and 48MP telephoto deliver jaw-dropping results.
Its Pro Res Zoom feature takes you from 5x optical to 100x hybrid zoom, producing surprisingly sharp images, albeit not all the time. It tends to work better for static subjects as compared to moving bodies. For instance, the cat below looks a tad fake, though not bad, after the Pro Res Zoom treatment.
However, for static objects, like this distant building below, it was able to render the lines and details really accurately. It looks like the real thing.
As expected, Google’s long-running Night Sight feature continues to be a star, pulling detail from darkness with ease. Portrait mode handles fine details like hair with elegance. But macro shots are a weak point, often struggling with subject separation.
Video recording hits 4K at 60fps and even 8K at 30fps — if you’re willing to wait for cloud processing – with rock solid stabilisation. But somehow, it lacks the finesse of Apple’s cinematic tools.
With a 5,200mAh battery, the Pixel 10 Pro XL easily powers through a full day, clocking around 7 hours of screen-on time. Charging speeds, however, are underwhelming. Wired charging maxes out at 45W, taking over an hour for a full charge. Wireless charging now hits 25W with the new Pixelsnap system.
But I wasn’t able to fully test it, as there were no Pixelsnap Charger with Stand or Ring Stand units for review. However, I did receive Google’s Pixelsnap Case for this review. As the new Pixelsnap system is finally compatible with MagSafe accessories, I tried the Pixelsnap Case on my Belkin MagSafe stand and it worked perfectly even if charging was a bit slow. My only gripe will be its silicone exterior that tends to pick up a fair bit of dirt and grime.
VERDICT: The Pixel 10 Pro XL is a showcase of Google’s AI prowess, wrapped in refined hardware. Its camera system is among the best in the market, and the AI-driven features point to an exciting future. But the hardware upgrades feel incremental, and the inconsistent AI tools leave room for refinement.
With pricing starting from S$1,739, it’s a great pick for AI enthusiasts and casual content creators, especially if they are looking to replace an old phone. For those still rocking a Pixel 9 or 8, this isn’t a must-have upgrade but certainly a good-to-have.