Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review: great at (almost) everything

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL in test

In the early years of the first Pixel models, the smartphones did not officially come out in the Netherlands. Then it was via grey imports and now the devices have been officially released in our country for several years. In August, the curtain was pulled back on the Pixel 10 series. Are the differences from the previous model big, or is it more of a minor tweak? We'll tell you in the Pixel 10 Pro XL review.

Unboxing

The review sample was not put in its final packaging, but what's inside is similar to the version in shops. This means you get the Pixel 10 Pro XL delivered with some paperwork, a SIM needle and a USB-C cable. You have to take care of everything else yourself. A charger is not included, nor, as we sometimes see with other brands, is a screen protector already included on the screen.

Design and interface

The addition 'XL' already indicates, that this is not just an average smartphone. Compare it to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. In terms of size, it is pretty much the same as that device, and it is also the same size as the Pixel 9 Pro XL. If you have large hands, the device will be fine in your hand, but with smaller hands it will be a little less pleasant. The smartphone is on the heavy side, though. In fact, the Pixel 10 Pro XL weighs 232 grams. Now, we wonder if you immediately feel the difference between, say, the 218 grams of the S25 Ultra and this Pixel, but chances are you are now used to a lighter device. In testing, it took some getting used to at first, but never got annoying.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL features a 6.8-inch display. This is an OLED panel with a resolution of 2992 x 1344 pixels. With that, there is of course a dynamic refresh rate of 1-120Hz. In the settings, you can choose natural display or adaptive colour reproduction. Interestingly, if you choose the latter, black borders can be seen on the screen, especially on a sunny day. In terms of colours, we think adaptive is slightly nicer, but the standard natural display also certainly suffices. The screen can be dimmed enough in the evening and bright enough on sunny days.

About the black borders, Google informs us that this is not a bug, but a product feature. What you see is a feature designed to optimise the outdoor viewing experience. The Pixel then prioritises increasing the brightness in the main part of the screen to make it more readable.

The fingerprint scanner is also located in the screen and does an excellent job effortlessly. Thereby, the advantage of a Pixel device is that you can also use the facial recognition to log into a banking app, for example; in this too, the Pixel does a good job, although the scanner has more trouble in the dark. The facial recognition capabilities are more extensive than most other Android devices. The selfie camera is a 42-megapixel camera and thus somewhat improved in quality, compared to the previous model.

At the back, we see the familiar Pixel camera bar, containing three lenses. We will return to the camera in detail later in the Pixel 10 Pro XL review. The bar also houses a flash and a temperature gauge. The right side of the device offers the volume button and the power button. If you are used to a smartphone from a different brand, you will get used to the fact that these buttons are reversed. With a OnePlus or Samsung, for example, you can take a screenshot with one hand at lightning speed, but because these keys are reversed on the Pixel, you need two hands there if you want to do this via the button combination. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL feels very solid and sturdy. It should, for the price of the device.

If you want to protect your device, you may want to buy the original silicone Pixelsnap case from Google. For the review, Google provided this case. The case feels nice, even in daily use, but sixty euros for a silicone case is obviously not going anywhere. There are plenty of cases on the internet that I'm sure come close and cost less. Although the Pixelsnap case is very nice, it is an unmitigated dust magnet. It collects dust in large numbers.

Pixelsnap

We already talked about Pixelsnap in the review of the Pixel 10 Pro XL, but what is Pixelsnap? In case you are familiar with Apple's products, you probably know what MagSafe is. That is a magnetic ring inside the device; which, in that case, allows you to effortlessly attach the iPhone to a (car) holder, wallet or other accessory like wireless charging. Google is now offering a similar option with Pixelsnap. All Pixel 10 models offer this ring with a magnet. Conveniently, for example, it also allows you to charge your phone "wirelessly" while you can just hold the device.

Interface

The interface of the Google Pixel models is praised by many. Yet not everyone is equally enthusiastic. After all, you can't personalise it as much as several other Android manufacturers. Still, we don't think that's too bad with the Pixel 10 Pro XL. You can adjust the grid size, get started with different shapes for your icons and choose different colour themes to match the set background. It's a minimalist skin and pure Android. Conveniently, for example, you can pull out the app menu and start a search for your favourite app right away.

On the lock screen, you can choose which shortcut you want, and you can also use the Always-on display, with a full-screen wallpaper if desired. You can also use live effects for backgrounds on the lock screen, where, for example, a photo with your partner is cropped out and splashed off the screen even more.

The screen with notifications and quick settings is uncluttered. These also work exactly as you would expect. The device feels very fast, and the software is also very well put together. Leave that to Google. Of course, it remains very personal which skin you like most on a smartphone, but the one on the Pixel falls well into line here.

Communication and multimedia

The Pixel 10 models from outside the US come with support for a physical SIM card, though you can of course choose to add an eSIM in the settings as well. For calling, the Google Phone app allows you to make calls, and it's a pleasantly working application. Recently, this application was given the Material 3 Expressive sauce, making it completely up to date. The call quality of phone calls is very good. Calls are clear and the person on the other end of the line can be understood well.

The display is ideal for watching videos or movies, but what about the sound quality? What is immediately noticeable is that the volume can be quite loud. The sound is full and it is a bowl of sound that you get over you. Music lovers can definitely enjoy this!

Camera

An important key-feature with the Pixel models. Time and again, Google manages to offer a camera that does not disappoint with its devices. The Pixel 10 Pro XL should continue that success. For this, the phone is equipped with three cameras. The main camera is a 50-megapixel lens with an aperture of f/1.68. There is also a 48-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens. The latter lens allows for 5x optical zoom.

You will find even more zoom options in the user-friendly camera app. For instance, you can zoom 10x as well as up to 100x. Through Pro Res Zoom, as Google calls the feature, the image is combined with AI to prepare a final result. The further you zoom in, the more AI is unleashed on it.

The latter is also apparent in practice. For example, we took a picture of a bus stop sign with 100x zoom. The artificial intelligence failed to decipher the text. Also, the whole thing looks a bit tightly finished. Incidentally; 100x zoom is unimaginably far for a smartphone and it is still clever that AI can still make quite a bit of it. With the bench in the heath, far in the distance, AI also fails to make it into a nice bench; with 30x zoom, it becomes 'slightly more' of a bench; but it's best to stick to 10x zoom then. It also largely depends on your subject.

Photo quality

But how is the photo quality of the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL? We tested the smartphone's camera under different conditions and in different places. We can sum it up briefly: perfect. With almost every situation, the Pixel 10 Pro XL knows how to handle it excellently. The camera of the Pixel 10 Pro XL is really a dream for those who don't want to lug around a big camera; and want to take beautiful pictures with the smartphone. In almost all cases, the results are spot-on. What further stands out is the consistently very good balance between dark and light elements in a photo; they are well balanced. Zooming in in dark environments does result in some loss of quality, although this is not very strange. We also notice that when shooting handheld in the evening, the photos are a bit faster to shake. Here, AI still has a nice job to do. However, you can fine-tune this afterwards with Google Photos. Perhaps a software update could make some improvements here.

The wide-angle lens also deserves some attention in the review. After all, it is capable of taking nice pictures. Whereas with many smartphones we still see inferior quality, with faded edges for example, this is almost not the case with the Pixel 10 Pro XL. You take selfies with the 42-megapixel front camera, and it captures images well.

The photo below is taken straight from the Pixel 10 Pro XL. If you want to see more photos, check out the digital photo album here.

Camera Coach

Camera Coach teaches you to photograph better, with the help of Gemini. For instance, Camera Coach can give tips on your composition or framing. It can also show beforehand, what you can do with the subject in the picture. The roadmap guides you through the different things to do to make a better photo.

If you want to get even more out of the camera; there are several features you can use. For example, Add Me, a feature familiar from other Pixel models. It lets you add yourself to a group photo. Handy, if everyone has to be in the photo anyway. With Auto Best Take, the Pixel can see which photo is best for you. Previously, you had to do this manually, so with the Pixel 10 series, this can be done automatically. AI is also used for this. If you are still in doubt, you can also make the selection yourself. Ideal for when there is someone with eyes closed in the photo, or someone just looking away. The nice thing is; the function can also combine situations; should there not be a perfect photo between them. That way, you always have a nice (group) photo.

Video camera

The video camera is also packed with features and functions. You can film in up to 8K resolution, only then the frame rate is limited to 30 frames per second. In 4K, you can film at up to 60fps. We shot the video below with the smartphone. Just as Google seems to have the photo camera under control, the videos are of good quality.

Performance and battery life

Google puts its own Tensor G5 chipset in the Pixel 10 series. As such, we find it in the Pixel 10 Pro XL. While previous generations were not always well received, we have no complaints about this chipset. Tasks are completed quickly and during the test period we did not encounter any annoying side-effects. The 16GB of working memory also contributes to that. The internal memory is just what you choose as a user. With the Pixel 10 Pro XL, you have a choice of 256GB or 512GB. We haven't yet come across the 1TB variant in the Netherlands.

There are several AI features announced in the new Pixel models. Magic Cue, for example. This allows the phone to provide relevant information from apps through AI, without you having to ask for it. For example, if someone asks in a chat message what your flight number is, Magic Cue will give it based on an email from the airline. Of course, Gemini is also present, you can use Gemini Live to find out what you see on camera; and so are other options. Not every AI feature works equally well in Dutch.

Battery

The battery, surely one of the most important parts in a smartphone review. Compared to its predecessor, the battery capacity has increased 500 mAh. This results in a 5200mAh battery in the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. In recent years, battery life has improved on Pixel devices and they are coming along well with the competition. What about this device?

First of all, good to stress: we don't do (static) testing like several other sites do. Consumption depends on many factors; including varying network strength when you are on the move. We look purely at real-world consumption; something you as a user will also have to deal with. You are probably not going to spend hours watching YouTube videos until the battery runs out, unless you are sick in bed.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL delivers a very stable battery life that will get you through the day (or more) without any problems. With heavy use, we often note a quarter battery percentage left at the end of the day. Screen time with 5G use is around 4.5 hours, with occasional spikes to five hours. If you use more WiFi, this adds even more time. If you are an average user, then two days are possible. A very neat score!

Google did recently hit the news with a battery limitation that becomes active from 200 charge cycles. That's very early, and we asked Google for an explanation of exactly how this works. Incidentally, the impact may well not be very noticeable to users, but at 200 charge cycles, it is earlier than other manufacturers that only start protecting the battery further from 1,000 or later. Besides, this level of battery restriction cannot be switched off by the user. Whether this will really cause problems in practice in a while, we wonder, but that will become clear in the future.

In response to our questions, Google does still let us know that the company is offering 7 years of support for the device. That makes no sense if none of the batteries make it to 2032. Battery life and long-term health are taken very seriously and Health Assistance is meant to help your battery last longer. Google's full response reads:

"Smartphone battery life is getting longer and longer, and that includes Pixel. With that in mind, we want to make sure the Pixel software is designed to meet users' changing expectations. As part of our software solution, we have introduced battery health assistance alongside our range of battery management features to help maintain battery performance and life despite these lifecycle changes."

You can charge the Pixel 10 Pro XL faster than the other Pixel devices. The maximum charging speed is at 45W. The aforementioned Pixel Snap with Qi2 wireless charging is also present on the device and lets you charge at 25W.

Energy label

Since June, devices in the European Union must come with an energy label. This label tells you about a product's durability and whether it is easy to repair, for example. The Pixel 10 Pro XL gets an energy rating B, a repair rating B and drop resistance A. In addition, the battery life comes out at 48 hours and 39 minutes and 1,000 cycles.

Update policy

On the update policy, we can be brief. Like previous generations, the Google Pixel 10 models get seven-year updates. This applies to Android OS updates as well as security updates. The smartphone runs directly on Android 16 and is thus kept up to Android 23. Once a quarter, so-called Pixel Feature Drops are released, which are updates with new features for Pixel devices. We will also come across these on the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Review

Recently, we have been using the Pixel 10 Pro XL as a 'daily driver'. It has not been disappointing at all. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is a delightful device with hardly any downsides. The camera is fantastic, the battery life is good and the device has high usability. Thanks to the pure version of Android, you find your way around quickly. Charging is still not lightning fast, but will suffice for most users. In terms of design, it's also fine; the phone feels premium, although the position of the volume and power buttons will take some getting used to for non-Pixel users. It should be added that this Pixel 10 Pro XL is a hefty smartphone. If you want to benefit from the same camera and features, the Google Pixel 10 Pro could also be an interesting choice.

At €1299, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is not cheap. For that money, however, you do have an excellent smartphone that will last you for years to come, and that you will enjoy. You can buy the new device at Google, Coolblue, Belsimpel, Mobiel, Bol.com, MediaMarkt. You can also find the devices at Odido, KPN and Vodafone.