Everything you need to know about the new Google Pixel devices

Google has presented its new device lineup: Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Buds 2a. I haven’t tested all of the devices yet. This is a summary of the launch event.

Pixel Snap: Qi2 comes to Android

These are the first Android smartphones with Qi2. We know that from Apple as MagSafe, and it was the only feature on iPhones that I still celebrated. At Google it’s called Pixel Snap. There’s also the Pixel Snap Stand, a magnetic holder with charging where the charging pad can be removed, and matching cases with Pixel Snap. Power banks, wallets and other accessories that were previously only meant for iPhones also work with the new Pixel smartphones. That was long overdue.

Pixel 10, Pro and Pro XL

On the outside, hardly anything has changed compared to the predecessors, the differences are in the range of 0.1 mm. But there are new colors, above all Moonstone Grey. All of them have the new Tensor G5. According to the spec sheet, it has a 60% better TPU and a 34% more powerful GPU. How much power it really has will show in my everyday test.

	Pixel 10	Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL
Wide-angle	48 megapixels, macro focus	50 megapixels
Ultrawide	13 megapixels	48 megapixels, macro
Telephoto	10.8 megapixels, 5x optical, 20x digital	48 megapixels, 5x optical, up to 100x digital
Front camera	10.5 megapixels	42 megapixels
RRP	from €899	Pro from €1,099, Pro XL from €1,299

The digital zooms use the Super Res Zoom feature. The AI does a lot of reworking on zoom shots, and on Pixel devices it works extremely impressively. The shots look as if they were taken up close with the main camera. According to Google, an optimized autofocus is also on board.

I like that the Pixel 10 Pro and the 10 Pro XL are identical except for the display and battery. That way you get a handy Pro, which I appreciate at Apple and painfully miss at Samsung.

• Pixel 10 Pro: 4,870 mAh battery, 30-watt wired charging and 15-watt wireless charging via Qi2.
• Pixel 10 Pro XL: 5,200 mAh battery, 45-watt wired charging and 25-watt wireless charging. It’s also supposed to have optimized speakers.

Pixel 10 Pro Fold

I have to complain a bit here. The design has only changed by about 0.1 mm, and folded, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is 0.3 mm thicker than its predecessor at 10.8 mm. It was supposed to get thinner, not thicker. With the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung achieved 8.9 mm, almost 2 mm less, and the Z Fold 7 is 43 g lighter. Google has to put up with that comparison. In return, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a much larger battery, the Tensor G5 and Pixel Snap, which the Z Fold 7 doesn’t have. It’s also the first foldable with IP68 protection against dust and water.

The camera is similar to the Pixel 10: 48-megapixel wide-angle, 10.8-megapixel telephoto and 10.5-megapixel ultrawide, at least with macro focus. The price starts at an RRP of €1,899. Quite a lot of money.

Software and AI

All the new smartphones get seven years of OS and security updates and run Material 3 Expressive. The new features at a glance:

• Camera Coach: You choose a style in advance, and the display shows you instructions so the photo turns out well.
• Editing by voice: Photos can be edited afterwards with voice instructions.
• Auto Best Take: With one tap, the feature automatically takes up to 150 shots. Then you pick the best facial expression for each person.
• Voice Translate on phone calls: For real-time translation, the AI clones your own voice, so it sounds as if you were speaking the other language yourself. I think that’s cool and a little creepy. How well it already works is frightening.

Pixel Watch 4

The Pixel Watch 4 comes in 41 and 45 mm. The display bezels are 16% slimmer, the display is 10% larger and gets up to 3,000 nits bright. The vibration motor is supposed to be better, the processor 25% faster and the battery 25% longer-lasting. New is the side charging, so the watch doesn’t slide off the table along with the charger. It runs Material 3 Expressive on Wear OS 6 and is protected to IP68.

Pixel Buds 2a and Pixel Buds Pro 2

The Pixel Buds 2a cost €149 and have ANC and gesture control, which I find astonishing for the price. Gemini is on board as a voice assistant. How good the ANC is will show in the test. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 get better sound quality and more Gemini interaction via the ear through a software update. They’re also now available in Moonstone Grey.