This year, Google is marking a milestone in its smartphone journey with the 10th generation of the Pixel devices. The tech giant on Wednesday, August 20, unveiled its much-awaited Pixel 10 series. For a lineup that once doubted its longevity, the new Pixel 10 comes with a mix of incremental refinements and some bold under-the-hood changes.
At the Google Pixel India event, I got to experience the latest line of smartphones – Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL. The new set of smartphones offer no radical change when it comes to design, yet they come wrapped in new colourways that are both sophisticated and bold. At the demo stall, the Pixel 10 in lemongrass piqued my interest. The refreshing new colourway shows how far Google has come when it comes to fusing design, AI elements, and everyday practicality into its devices.
About design and display
As said above, Pixel 10 offers no radical design change. The iconic camera island persists along with the familiar silhouette; on the front we still have the 6.3-inch flat display. However, holding it, you will notice how the subtle light green colour makes the phone stand out, especially due to its pastel-like and minimalist feel. The phone carries a unique character contrasting the usual black, white and metallic slabs that we have grown accustomed to. Along with Lemongrass, the Pixel 10 is being offered in Obsidian, Frost, and Indigo colourways.
The Pixel 10 in Lemongrass stands out with its pastel-like, minimalist finish and the familiar camera bar design. (Image: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)
If Pixel 9 had 2700 nits peak brightness, Pixel 10 with its new Actua display pushes the brightness up to 3,000 nits. In simple words, the new smartphone offers more legibility outdoors – be it scrolling under direct sunlight or framing a picture on a sunny day. The colours are vivid with crisp text.
When it comes to durability, the new Pixel 10 is built with spacecraft-grade aluminium and Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2, ensuring that the device is safe from drops and scratches. It also features an IP68 rating, allowing it to withstand dust and splashes.
The Pixel 10’s 6.3-inch Actua display, now brighter at 3,000 nits, makes colours vivid and text crisp. (Image: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)
Cameras
For a long time, telephoto zoom was limited to the Pro models in the Pixel lineup, but with Pixel 10, that changes. For the first time, the base Pixel 10 comes with a triple camera setup featuring a 48 MP main sensor, a 13 MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10.8 MP 5x telephoto lens. With this, the Pixel 10 is the most capable ‘standard’ Pixel camera yet.
While a detailed review will do justice to the camera system, so far the close-ups at 5x look sharp. Google’s HDR+ offers contrast-rich photos even in uneven lighting. Just as in its predecessors, the ultra-wide shines for landscapes, and the 10.5 MP front camera with autofocus makes selfies sharper. The Pixel 10, by default, records 10-bit HDR video, offering a cinematic punch to visuals. Besides, Google’s AI tools, such as Camera Coach, make clicking pictures easier, guiding the user on framing, lighting, and angles in real time.
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Performance, battery, and AI
The Pixel 10 is powered by the advanced Google Tensor G5 chip. While Google claims it to be a giant leap in custom silicon with 60 per cent faster TPU and about 34 per cent performance boost in CPU. Much of this can be ascertained based on the device’s performance as a daily driver. From what little tinkering I did, the device felt fluid, especially moving between apps and clicking pictures in quick succession.
The Pixel 10 comes with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage across all models.The battery promises 24+ hours of use with up to 55 per cent top in about 30 minutes of charging via wired 45W charging.
Running on Google’s Tensor G5 chip, the Pixel 10 offers fluid performance and comes with Gemini-powered AI features like Magic Cue and Camera Coach. (Image: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)
The new line of Pixel devices also teased some fresh AI features. With the latest line of devices, Google has doubled down on Gemini integration, endowing natural hands-free chats with Gemini Live, contextual assistance with Magic Cue, creative assistance with Pixel Journals, and others. Magic Cue is a smart addition – if you call your airlines, your flight details pop up; if a friend asks for your hotel address, it shows up instantly for quick sharing.
To me, Pixel 10 is a reminder that big changes don’t always have to come with flashy changes. While the design may seem familiar, the addition of a telephoto lens, a stronger build, a brighter display, and Tensor G5 capabilities elevate the Pixel 10. For anyone who has been waiting for a regular Pixel device with cameras similar to its pro-grade cousins, the Pixel 10 may finally be the phone. And, in the Lemongrass colourway, it is also one of the prettiest.
The Pixel 10 is priced at Rs 79,999, the Pixel 10 Pro at Rs 109,999, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL at Rs 124,999. Google is offering an assortment of offers, including cash back, trade-ins, etc.