Google, on August 20, unveiled the Pixel 10 Pro XL – its biggest and most premium phone in the Pixel 10 series. The latest from Google sports the much faster and improved Tensor G5 chipset, but most of the hardware remains the same as last year. The Google Pixel lineup isn’t known for its raw hardware power, but software features that make the Pixel 10 the smartest phone in the room.
If you are confused between last year’s Pixel 9 Pro XL (review) and the newly launched Pixel 10 Pro XL, here’s a quick comparison between the two that will help you decide if Google’s latest and most capable phone is worth it.
Design and display
The Pixel 9 Pro XL launched with a huge 6.8-inch LTPO OLED screen protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. As it turns out, the Pixel 10 Pro XL has the same exact display size and specs as last year, but bumps up the peak brightness from 3,000 nits to 3,300 nits. However, the difference between the two won’t be noticeable since both phones not only have the same resolution, but also similar aspect size and pixel density.
Also, Google hasn’t fiddled around with the dimensions and the design of the phone, which means the Pixel 9 Pro XL and the Pixel 10 Pro XL may be indistinguishable at first glance. Both devices come with IP68 dust and water resistance and feature Google’s Titan M2 security chip.
Performance and software
The biggest upgrade to the Pixel 10 Pro XL comes in the performance and software department. While the Pixel 9 Pro XL came with Android 15 out of the box, the newly launched device runs on Android 16. However, both phones are slated to get seven years of OS updates and security patches.
As for the chipset, the new Tensor G5 SoC, fabricated on TSMC’s 3nm process, is a huge step up from last year’s Tensor G4. While performance benchmarks are yet to come in, Google claims that the new chipset has a 37 per cent faster CPU than its predecessor and offers increased TPU performance, which should help with tasks that use on-device AI.
Another area where the Tensor G5 might outperform its predecessor is in thermals. With Samsung, Google’s in-house developed chipset has had thermal issues for years, but now that the tech giant has shifted to TSMC, we hope to see reduced power consumption as well as better thermal management.
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And while the Pixel 9 Pro XL was available with up to 512GB of storage, for reasons unknown, Google has capped the storage capacity for the Pixel 10 Pro XL at 256GB. However, both phones have 16GB of RAM.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL will also get 7 years of OS updates and security patches. (Express Photo)
Cameras
Like the Pixel 9 Pro XL, the newly launched Pixel 10 Pro XL has a triple camera setup housed in the iconic pill-shaped island that extends almost across the width of the phone. The camera hardware is also the same as last year, which means you get a 50MP primary camera in addition to a 50MP ultrawide shooter and a 48MP telephoto lens that supports 5x optical zoom.
But compared to the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which only supports Super Res Zoom up to 30x, the new phone comes with up to 100x Super Res Zoom, which is a huge step for those looking to click zoomed-in pictures. However, both devices can record in up to 8K resolution at up to 30fps.
And while the hardware is the same as last year, Google has added some really nifty camera features that let you click better photos. For example, you get access to Camera Coach, a new functionality that uses Gemini to suggest things like camera angles, lighting, and automatically switches between lenses depending on the scene to get the best picture.
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The Pixel 10 Pro XL also comes with new software features like Auto Unblur and Auto Best Take, alongside some new editing features like Pixel Studio and Sky Styles, to name a few.
Battery and charging
The new Pixel 10 Pro XL also comes with a slightly bigger 5,200mAh battery compared to the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 5,060mAh battery. And while the charging speed is still the same as last year (45W), the wireless charging is now faster at 25W, thanks to Google adopting the Qi2 wireless standard.
Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Is it worth the upgrade?
The Pixel 10 Pro XL does bring some notable upgrades, especially when it comes to performance and software. It also has a slightly bigger battery than its predecessor, which may be useful for people who want a Pixel that can easily last a day on moderate usage.
And while you also get some new AI-powered software features, most of the hardware is as same as last year. If you are someone who wants to try out the latest features and want more performance, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is a good upgrade.
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However, if you get a good discount, the Pixel 9 Pro XL still remains one of the best phones you can buy in 2025. To give you a quick recap, the Pixel 1o Pro XL starts from Rs 1,24,999.