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Google Pixel Watch 4 review: Big design changes make for a great smart companion

7:00 pm | August 20, 2025

Google Pixel Watch 4: One-minute review

Google's latest crop of hardware, released at its Made by Google 2025 event, including phones, earbuds, and of course, the Google Pixel Watch 4. Similar to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 or Apple Watch Series 10, the latest generation of the Pixel Watch 4 is less about earth-shattering changes and more about refinements to a working formula.

Google is sticking with the now-iconic and really quite lovely polished pebble circular build that comes in two sizes – the addition of a 45mm option alongside the 41mm model was the big change last year. That means more choice for you if the Pixel Watch sparks your interest, and ultimately lets you get the one that’s the right size for your wrist.

Google is also mostly sticking with the same prices as last year (there's a small increase for the 45mm version in Australia). And despite the outward similarities there are some significant upgrades here, including a healthy dose of AI smarts powered by some new silicon, a forthcoming AI coach that’s part of a larger Fitbit rollout, replaceable parts, a refreshed user interface, and a new domed display that’s physically raised to the touch.

It's a slick piece of kit, and one we really like using for the most part. It looked great, although it was thick on the wrist it was comfortable, and the Material 3 Expressive software design is a joy to use. Fast charging works as described, and the battery on our 45mm unit stands up to its 40-hour claim with moderate use. The Fitbit app, which got a redesigned this year, is intuitive and works very well, although it's irritating that some features are locked behind the Premium paywall.

Testing the PW's heart rate against a chest strap during a workout showed a small amount of inaccuracy: not enough to bother those who just want an estimate of how well they're doing during the day, but enough to make serious athletes looking for pinpoint accuracy slightly wary of trusting the Pixel Watch 4 in the same way they do Apple or Garmin when looking at heart-based metrics.

Google Pixel Watch 4: Specifications

Component	Google Pixel Watch 4
Price	Starting at $399 / £349 / AU$579
Dimensions	41 x 41 x 12.3mm / 45 x 45 x 12.3mm
Weight	31g / 36.7g without straps
Caze/bezel	Recycled aluminum
Display	320ppi always-on display AMOLED with up to 3,000 nits brightness
Operating System	Wear OS 6.0
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 processor with an ML coprocessor
Memory	2GB of RAM
Storage	32GB
GPS	GPS (Dual-Frequency), Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS
Battery life	Up to 72 hours with battery saver enabled or up to 40 hours with always-on display enabled
Connection	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE
Water resistance	WR50, IP68

Google Pixel Watch 4: Price and Availability

From $349 / £349 / AU$579 for the 41mm
From $399 / £399 / AU$669 for the 45mm
Cellular connectivity costs extra as usual

If you’re looking to upgrade from, say, a Pixel Watch 2 or 3, maybe another Android smartwatch, or even getting your first one, there is a wait for when you’ll actually receive a new Pixel Watch.

Unlike other gadgets that have seen price hikes year over year, the Pixel Watch 4 sticks with the same price as the Pixel Watch 3. Meaning it’s priced at $349 / £349 / AU$579 for the 41mm Pixel Watch 4 with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, or $449 / £449 / AU$749 for cellular connectivity. The larger, 45mm Pixel Watch 4 is $399 / £399 / AU$669 for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, or $499 / £499 / AU$839 for connectivity.

Beyond accessing the internet with the cellular connectivity model, you’ll also need to spend more to get emergency satellite functionality on the Pixel Watch 4. There isn’t an extra monthly or annual cost – at least for two years, that’s what Google provides out of the box – but it needs to make use of the bands found in the cellular version of the watch. That could be a reason alone to get it right there.

Value score: 4.5/5

Google Pixel Watch 4: Design

Google Pixel Watch 4 hands-on — (Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

Domed display
New Material 3 Expressive software look
Redesigned charger

The first thing I noticed during my hands-on time with the Pixel Watch 4 was that the display itself is not flat like on the Pixel Watch 3. Sure, we’ve seen smartwatches on which the display slopes down the sides towards the watch case, such as the Apple Watch Series 10, but the glass display here is actually domed to the point where, as you swipe across the screen, you’ll feel the surface rise or lower.

This makes the sides of the display and the graphics appearing on the edges even more sloped, a feature the new Material 3 Expressive interface uses in its animations. However, it also noticeably increases the thickness on your wrist. The domed 360 Actua display still looked rich and vibrant with crisp text or numbers, and it got considerably brighter in the demo room, which wasn't brightly lit. Google says it can hit up to 3,000 nits, a jump of 1,000 nits compared to the Pixel Watch 3.

The third-generation Pixel Watch got a larger display than its predecessor, and the fourth-gen model goes bigger again, with 16% smaller bezels and 10% larger active display area, which Google says is made possible by the domed display.

We think the physical touch and interaction with the watch might take some time to get used to, but the new design delivers a theoretically more durable surface – as is the case with some dome shapes – and more space to hit touchpoints or see items presented on your wrist is certainly a win. It enhances what we described in our Pixel Watch 3 review last year as the 'polished pebble' effect of the Pixel Watch’s looks.

The Pixel Watch 4 still boasts Corning Gorilla Glass to protect against drops or scratches, and the rest of the build here is aerospace-grade aluminum. It’s also water-resistant up to 50 meters. Another major change this year is a redesigned back, which has resulted in the moving of the charging ports in order to make this smartwatch repairable and serviceable.

Yes, you’ll notice several screws, which allow the battery to be replaced for a more sustainable design. This isn’t something that's common for major smartwatch brands, as most devices are sealed units, so it’s a welcome step in the right direction from Google.

This also means a pretty significant change in charger design, as you’ll no longer place this on a proprietary puck with prongs as you would the Galaxy Watch, Apple Watch, or any Pixel Watch before this. The Pixel Watch 4 charges on its side in a dock, and if you’re charging it on a nightstand this should make it easier to use the smartwatch as a small alarm clock – it’s even perfectly positioned so that you can tap the crown to snooze.

Google is also taking advantage of these charger and design changes to speed up refueling. You can now charge the Pixel Watch 4 from 0% to 50% in just 15 minutes, and Google is promising longer battery life for both sizes – up to 30 hours for the 41mm and up to 40 hours for the 45mm. Your mileage will, of course, vary depending on usage, but it’s a good step beyond the Pixel Watch 3.

Design score: 5/5

Google Pixel Watch 4: Features

On-wrist Gemini
Usual suite of health and fitness features
Tons of third party apps

Gemini powers a ton of new features. Google’s new Smart Replies feature looks like a welcome innovation, especially if you’re tired of suggested replies that often lack context and are unsuited to the conversation. The Pixel Watch 4’s silicon can power an on-device large language model to generate appropriate suggested replies based on what a message says.

We’ve already seen Gemini arrive on-wrist courtesy of the Galaxy Watch 8, but Google is serving up something special for its watch, and that’s a ‘raise to talk to the AI assistant’ functionality. Simply raise your wrist, and a glowing bar appears at the bottom of the display, which indicates that Gemini is listening and that you can start your request. You don’t need to say ‘Hey Gemini' – Google has us pretty well trained in that department – and it worked well in practice, quickly pulling up the weather.

Google’s shipping the Pixel Watch 4 with a familiar suite that includes general activity, heart-rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), and sleep tracking. You can also take an ECG or Electrocardiogram, and there’s an improved Skin Temperature sensor for more accurate readings. You can also track over 40 workouts with the Pixel Watch 4.

The real big potential leap, though, is a promised ‘personal AI health coach’ that’s powered by Gemini and set to arrive at some point in October as a preview in the United States at first. It should go beyond ‘Workout Buddy’ on the Apple Watch and some AI features on the Galaxy Watch, but we don’t know exactly what it entails just yet. Google is promising it to be a coach of sorts that bases recommendations on your health data and that you can chat with, maybe something similar to that of Oura Advisor.

While the Pixel Watch 4 doesn’t usher in a tremendously radical redesign, it’s mostly about polishing and the addition of a healthy dose of AI functionality – something that Google is a big fan of. It’s likely that you don’t need to rush out for it if you already have a Pixel Watch 3, as you'll get many of the same features and the same smorgasbord of third-party app availability there.

Features score: 4/5

Google Pixel Watch 4: Performance

Zippy and fast day-to-day
Battery charges fast and lasts as described
Heart rate accuracy fine, but not as accurate as an Apple Watch Ultra 3 or Garmin Venu 4

The Pixel Watch 4 felt like a modern-day smartwatch that was responsive and zippy fast. Under the hood it’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Wearable Platform and a next-gen ML CoProcessor, both of which ensure that the new Material 3 Expressive interface design runs well here. It was easy enough to swipe between tiles, and we especially liked the more vibrant nature of the colors, which you can, of course, customize. Overall, this watch feels speedy compared to previous years.

We tested Gemini with a message that referenced delays on my local train service, and the Pixel Watch 4 delivered an appropriate response. It took a few seconds, but it’s much better than the list found on previous Pixel Watches, the Galaxy Watch, or the Apple Watch. However, we also had a couple of mishaps: it once directed me to a disused train station, not the closest operating one.

We tested the heart rate tracking against an accurate chest-mounted heart rate monitor, the Polar H10, during a four-mile run. The Google Pixel Watch 4 had an average heart rate difference of around 13bpm during our tracked test. Not awful, but the Garmin Venu 4 had a 5bpm difference, while the Apple Watch Ultra 3 had just 1bpm difference to the chest strap.

It's more accurate than the Garmin Instinct 3, which had 18bpm difference, but worth understanding that during our test, the Pixel Watch 4 was more in 'ballpark' territory rather than 'pinpoint accuracy', and perhaps best used as a guideline for activity-based metrics rather than gospel.

However, the watch was extremely comfortable to wear despite its thickness, very useful day-to-day, easy to navigate and a joy to use. Battery performed as described, and charging was very fast. I loved the redesigned charger, especially as the watch feels like it now has a nightstand place.

Performance score: 4/5

Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	Same price as last year, a win!	4.5/5
Design	Iterates on the iconic pebble with smart choices, like the domed screen & new charger.	5/5
Features	All the third party apps you want, workout tracking and AI.	4/5
Performance	Some early glitches & accuracy quibbles, but generally a joy to use.	4/5

Google Pixel Watch 4: Should I buy?

A close up of the Pixel Watch 4 being unscrewed for repairs — (Image credit: iFixit)

Buy it if...

You want the best Wear OS watch

Love Android? This is going to give you the best Wear OS experience.

You're a Fitbit user

This automatically shot to the top of our pick for "best Fitbit watch" thanks to its use of Fitbit integrations.

You're an AI pioneer

Love Gemini? You've now got it on your wrist to perform tasks like smart replies.

Don't buy it if...

You need athlete-level tracking

The Google Pixel Watch 4 wasn't as accurate at measuring our heart rate during a workout as a Garmin Venu 4 or Apple Watch Ultra 3.

You use an iPhone

It sounds silly, but unless you're planning a switch to Android, there's no need to buy this watch.

Also consider

Component	Google Pixel Watch 4 (41mm)	OnePlus Watch 3 (43mm)	Garmin Venu 4 (41mm)
Price	From $399 / £349 / AU$579	From $499 / £269.99 / AU$TBC	From $549.99 / £469.99 / AU$949
Dimensions	41 x 41 x 12.3mm	43.2 x 43.2 x 11mm	41 x 41 x 12 mm
Weight	31g without straps	37.8 without straps	46g with band
Caze/bezel	Recycled aluminum	Stainless steel	Stainless steel/Polymer
Display	320ppi always-on display AMOLED	466 x 466px 1.3-in AMOLED display	390 x 390px 1.2-in AMOLED display
Operating System	Wear OS	Wear OS	Garmin OS
GPS	GPS (Dual-Frequency), Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS	Beidou, GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS	GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, SatIQ
Battery life	Up to 72 hours with battery saver enabled or up to 40 hours with always-on display enabled	Up to 60 hours, 7 days in power saver	Up to 10 days
Connection	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Water resistance	WR50, IP68	5ATM	5ATM

OnePlus Watch 3

An excellent WearOS alternative, in 43mm and 47mm sizes.

Read our full OnePlus Watch 3 review

Garmin Venu 4

One of the best smartwatches for fitness tracking.

Read our full Garmin Venu 4 review

How we tested

We wore the Pixel Watch 3 for days, tracking our sleep, performing ECG tests and working out with a chest-mounted heart rate monitor. We also tested AI systems like smart replies and on-device Gemini searches. We loaded our favorite third-party apps onto the watch, like Strava and Spotify, drained the battery down and examined the speed of its fast charging.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is a fine Pixel phone but less than the sum of its parts

7:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Google Pixel Phones Phones | Tags: AI, Google Pixel | Comments: Off

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: Two-minute review

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is a phenomenal smartphone, and one of the best foldable phones you can buy, but after reviewing the phone for a week, I was left wanting more… or maybe less. Big tablet foldable phones still have a hard time justifying their mountain-peak prices, and while I love Google’s latest Pixel 10 family, as a foldable phone, it just doesn’t offer enough extra appeal to justify paying so much more for the privilege of a Google tablet inside.

Before I talk about what I like or dislike about the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, I need to get the price out of the way, because this is one of the most expensive phones you can buy, and it’s even more expensive than most laptop computers. It gives you an outer display that is nearly the same as the display on the Pixel 10, but the new Pro Fold costs $1,799 / £1,749 / AU $2,699, which is $950 / £750 / AU $1,000 more than the Pixel 10 Pro.

How could a foldable phone possibly justify costing twice as much as the flat phone from which it evolves? You can buy a Pixel 10 Pro and two iPad mini tablets for the same price as a Pixel 10 Pro Fold. If the Fold is going to be worth the high cost, it needs to be special. It needs to be a better choice than buying a phone and tablet separately.

That means it needs to be thin and light – impossibly so. The magic trick of producing a tablet from within your smartphone is dazzling, but it only works if the folded phone is the size of a normal smartphone.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold in Jade green outside at a flower garden on a sunny day — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Sadly, Google hasn’t made the Pixel 10 Pro Fold any thinner this year. It’s even taken a step back, while Samsung has blown us away with its super-thin Galaxy Z Fold 7. To be fair, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold was the thinnest phone you could buy when it launched in 2024, but this is the year for thin phones, and the new Pixel Pro Fold has been snacking between meals.

A foldable phone also needs to do things that a flat phone cannot do. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold doesn’t just have a bigger display inside. It also folds in the middle, so you can use the two sides for different functions. You can also use the inner and outer displays simultaneously.

I wish there were a lot more features that took advantage of the unique foldable design, but sadly, Google hasn’t added much excitement to the Fold over the past few years. Now, when you open the camera on the big inner display and take a photo, you’ll see the pic you just took on one half of the screen with the camera app on the other half. Big deal? Hardly.

There is nothing the Pixel 10 Pro Fold lacks – nothing missing that I loved on the Pixel 10 Pro. The flat Pixel Pro phone is one of the best you can buy. But without adding standout features that take advantage – and justify the cost – of the folding display, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is much harder to recommend than its flat siblings.

If you’re settled on a foldable tablet, there are only two phones worth considering – the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. I have both of these phones (that’s almost $4,000 worth of folding glass in front of me), and the differences are more interesting than I imagined.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is technically superior in many ways – it's faster and has much better cameras than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold – but Google has some distinct advantages that are firsts for a foldable of this size.

Foremost is the IP68 rating, which means the phone won’t be destroyed by dust and sand. I don’t know how Google did it, but the new hinge is more tightly sealed than ever before, and that means you can take the Pixel 10 Pro Fold to more places than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Google also includes its new Pixelsnap magnetic charging on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which opens a world of accessories, including charging stands, wallet cases, and magnetic tripods. That also means my Pro Fold fit neatly into my world of iPhone MagSafe charging and accessories. The Galaxy can’t do that.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold HANDS ON — The Pixel 10 Pro Fold (left) next to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (right) (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Finally, my disappointment over the lack of big-screen features aside, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is much more attractive and comfortable to hold than other big foldable phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It keeps most of the Pixel 10 family design – a winning look that Google refined this year – and offers more durability and better battery life instead of shaving off another millimeter.

I’d recommend the Pixel 10 Pro Fold over other foldable tablets like the Z Fold 7 because I like those priorities – durability and battery life – and because Google’s version of Android remains the most polished and friendly on any phone, foldable or flat.

Still, despite its advancements, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold struggles to justify the premium price for its unique form factor, making the more affordable and traditional Pixel 10 Pro a better choice for anyone who doesn’t have money to burn.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review: Price & availability

Starts at $1,799 / £1,749 / AU $2,699 for 256GB of storage and 16GB RAM
Available in Jade or Moonstone, but 1TB size only comes in latter

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the most expensive phone you can buy… from Google. It keeps the same price as last year's 9 Pro Fold, while Samsung raised the price on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, making the latter the most expensive smartphone you can buy (outside of China, where the tri-fold Huawei Mate XT laughs at our poverty).

This is the third Pixel Fold, but that sticker price is no less shocking. You can get a Pixel 10 Pro and an iPad mini with a cellular connection for the same cost, and still have hundreds left in your bank account. Is it really so convenient to have both devices in one? Yes, but not twice-the-price convenient, and certainly not more than that.

Of course, most people won’t pay full price, and I’m seeing carrier deals that will drop the Pixel 10 Pro Fold to around $25/month in the US – if you sign a three-year contract. Google is promising seven years of Android OS updates and security patches, but I’m sure this phone will feel aged in three years, considering the super-thin new phones just hitting the market.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold pricing
Storage	US Price	UK Price	AU Price
256GB	$1,799	£1,749	AU $2,699
512GB	$1,919	£1,869	AU $2,899
1TB	$2,149	£2,099	AU $3,289

Value score: 2 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review: Specifications

With a Google Tensor G5 chipset inside, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold doesn't veer far from the rest of the Pixel 10 family, and it isn't a major upgrade from last year, at least not on a spec sheet. Durability and resilience count for more than megapixels, in my opinion.

The numbers to compare will be the camera specs. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold features a 48MP main camera and a 5x optical zoom. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 steals the 200MP sensor from the Galaxy S25 Ultra. I'm the first to say that megapixels don't matter as much as sensor size, and the Galaxy also uses much larger sensors than Google on all three cameras: wide, ultra wide, and zoom.

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold specifications
Dimensions:	Open: 155.2 x 150.4 x 5.2mm Closed: 155.2 x 76.3 x 10.8mm
Weight:	258g
Inner Display:	8-inch 120Hz OLED
Outer Display:	6.4-inch 120Hz OLED
Chipset:	Google Tensor G5
RAM:	16GB
Storage:	256GB / 512GB / 1TB
OS:	Android 16 (7 years of Android OS updates)
Main cameras	48MP wide; 10.5MP ultra wide; 10.8MP 5X telephoto zoom
Selfie camera:	10MP
Battery:	5,015 mAh
Charging:	30W wired; 15W Qi2 wireless
Colors:	Moonstone, Jade

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review: Design

Kind of like the Pixel 10, with a camera block instead of a bar
This design was impressively thin last year

We can't expect phone makers to come up with new designs every year, so I don't fault Google for making the Pixel 10 Pro Fold a more refined, more durable version of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Unfortunately, in the interim, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 arrived and redefined what I expect from a foldable tablet.

A foldable tablet is the thinnest phone you can buy, at least when it's unfolded, but which foldable tablet is actually the thinnest? Last year it was the 5.2mm Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This year, the Fold gains a hair of thickness, while the Galaxy slips under the gap with a 4.2mm frame that, while closed, is nearly as thin as an iPhone 17 Pro.

Tick-tock, maybe next year Google will win. Maybe it will be Samsung. Maybe Apple will have a foldable phone that's thinner than the iPhone Air. Don't let these complaints distract you. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is already thinner than the iPhone Air when it's open.

Even though it's thicker and heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 – by a noticeable degree – the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the nicer looking phone. It has gently curved corners, pleasantly rounded edges, and a beautifully machined camera block, atop the gorgeous Jade green or alluring Moonstone blue-grey. The Galaxy feels sharp and edgy by comparison.

Design score: 5 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review: Display

Excellent displays inside and out, sized perfectly
I wouldn't mind less bezel on the big display, not gonna lie

Both of the displays on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold are excellent; they're bright and colorful even on a sunny day. I loved using the inner display to take photos with the camera – I'm definitely the dork who wished my old iPad had much better cameras. The camera also has more dual-screen features than any other app, so it was the most fun app to use during my review.

The outer display is pretty much the same screen as the Pixel 10 Pro. It's the exact same size and resolution, unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which still uses an unusually narrow cover display. I was always happy to use the front screen on the Pixel – it felt natural. On the Galaxy, the front display is just an appetizer for the big main course inside.

The inner screen on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is enormous. I love using it for reading, and web pages get blown up so much bigger than on a normal flat phone that it's an entirely better experience. Then I open the crossword, or doomscroll my socials writ large, and this foldable tablet wins me over.

Display score: 5 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review: Software

Excellent Pixel software is the most refined version of Android you'll see
Not enough Fold-specific features, and too many bugs

I love Google’s Pixel software, from the way it handles notifications to the way it answers my phone calls for me. The latest Android 16 version of the Pixel interface is gorgeous yet refined, with bubbly clocks and other widgets that change color to match your wallpaper, then get subtly darker as the sun goes down. I'm just scratching the surface; I really like what Google is doing with Pixel.

What Google is doing with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold specifically? Not so much. Like, there isn't much that takes advantage of the big screen inside. Not even one big widget that would span the whole display. Zilch.

Take my Calendar (please!). I can place a widget showing an entire month, but it will only fill half the big screen. I can't stretch it further. This is convenient when I close my phone and I only have half the area to work with, but I want a full-screen widget or two. I'd also like to place a widget across the crease, but widgets lie on one side or the other, never on the gap.

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I want a lot more features to make the Pixel 10 Pro Fold feel truly special – more than the sum of its parts. Otherwise, I'd recommend buying a Pixel 10 Pro and an iPad mini – you'd save money and you won't feel let down by either.

Maybe I should count my blessings. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is very buggy right now. I'm hoping future software updates fix these glitches, but I had trouble during my review time.

The app taskbar at the bottom of the big display would occasionally persist and block my view of important app features. Google-owned Waze would sometimes stop showing me buttons or information, but only when I used it on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. A few times, my timer would go off, but when I asked Google to stop it, it would say – on top of the alarm sound – that I had no timers ringing or music playing.

These are minor inconveniences that are usually resolved in an update or two, but the first Pixel Fold had similar software glitch problems. You hate to see it.

Software score: 3 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review: Cameras

Not the best camera phone, especially for a Pixel
Camera Coach is fascinating and worth exploring

In the past, I might have been more forgiving of sub-par image quality from a foldable phone, but Samsung had to destroy expectations by slapping its full-grown 200MP sensor on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. So, now I want my $1,800 phones to have a good camera, is that so wrong? The Pixel 10 Pro Fold camera is fine, but it isn’t very good.

Google is using the same sensors as last year, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Apple famously uses the same Sony sensors for years on its iPhone models, and with experience, its Camera developers continually refine the images you get from those cameras. That’s not the case with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

What I like about the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, like the Pixel 9a, is that Google seems to be carefully tuning its cameras so they produce images that all look alike. A photo taken with the Pixel 10 Pro XL will have the same color balance and lighting as a photo taken with the Pro Fold. Zoom in close and you’ll see the problems.

Google is applying a heavy dose of AI enhancements to its photos. So much so that I wonder if every photo from the camera shouldn’t come with Made with AI Content Credentials.

When you zoom in on a photo, especially photos taken at night, it looks smoothed out and painted over. On the phone screen, images look clearer when taken with the Pixel Fold versus other foldable phones, like the Galaxy Z Fold 7. When you zoom in, however, that clarity starts to look artificial.

If you don’t need the absolute best photos from your smartphone camera, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a fascinating new Pixel feature that could make you a better all-around photographer. When you have your shot lined up, instead of pressing the shutter, press the Camera Coach button, and Google will use its AI to analyze your photo and offer advice.

I don’t mean simple advice, either, like ‘use Portrait mode.’ Rather, Camera Coach is an AI instructor. First, it gives you three or four suggested themes for your photos. Then, it takes you step by step through the shot. It highlights the right camera mode to select, and it tells you where to move for the best angle.

In the end, it really did help me take better photos if I was willing to take the time to walk through the steps. Camera Coach is one of Google’s newest and most advanced AI features. Sometimes it simply would not load, complaining of bad network problems, even though I had a few bars. Other times, I just got a generic error.

When it did work, Camera Coach was impressively astute, and it produced interesting results, so I’m willing to be patient and hope this feature improves over the next few updates.

Camera score: 5 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review: Camera samples

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Photos taken with the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold camera sample of a flower in portrait mode — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review: Performance

Better benchmarks than the rest of the Pixel 10 family, for what it’s worth
Some performance lags on the camera and AI features

Pixel phones aren’t known for top performance, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is unimpressive if you rely on benchmark scores alone. In my real-world testing, I found the Pro Fold to be smooth and responsive, especially when switching apps back and forth between the outer and inner displays. That doesn’t mean there weren’t hiccups.

Google’s biggest performance offense is letting the camera lag. If you have too many features enabled, the camera shutter button will stop working between one photo and the next while the phone thinks about things. It happened fewer times on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold than on the Pixel 10 Pro, but that’s probably because the Fold doesn’t have as many megapixels to count.

I also saw things slow down considerably when I tried to use the new AI features. Perhaps someday these AI tools will be a natural extension of the Android OS, but for now, every time I used one of the more advanced AI features, it felt like an event. An event with a line out front and a bouncer who has to check my name off a list.

I can’t blame the network because I had plenty of bars on AT&T, and the phone performed admirably on my new Wi-Fi 7 network. As more of these AI tasks are handled on the phone itself, hopefully we’ll see those response times improve.

Performance score: 3 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold review: Battery

Battery life wasn’t great, but it beats the competition
I love having wireless magnetic charging on a foldable

I’ll admit that battery life isn’t a huge priority for me these days as my home, car, and office are littered with wireless chargers, so I’m continually topping up my battery. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold makes doing so especially easy with Google’s Pixelsnap magnetic charging. It’s the first foldable that will stick to my iPhone’s MagSafe charging gear without a special case.

Magnets aside, battery life wasn’t terrible, but a smaller battery is the second sacrifice every foldable tablet makes, after the cameras. Well, a smaller battery than you’d want on an 8-inch tablet. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold actually packs a capacity of around 5,015mAh, which is a big battery, but having two displays will drain that juice quickly.

In our Future Labs battery tests, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold lasted 12 hours and 16 minutes. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 lasted only 10 hours and 44 minutes, but the Pixel Fold comes with an ounce more weight and an extra millimeter around the waistline.

An Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is thinner than a closed Pixel Fold, weighs more than an ounce less, and managed 5.5 extra hours of battery time – 17 hours and 54 minutes, in fact – in our rundown tests. That’s how long an expensive smartphone should last.

Battery score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold?

Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold scorecard
Value	Not the most expensive phone you can buy (more like 2nd-most expensive), but it does little to justify its sky-high price tag.	2/5
Design	Doesn’t just have the Pixel 10 Pro’s good looks, it also has IP68-rated durability that means dust and lint won’t ruin the hinge. The Galaxy Fold can’t say that.	5/5
Display	Excellent displays inside and out. The outer display feels like a great Pixel phone, and the inner display is the biggest on any foldable tablet.	5/5
Software	The best Android software makes this a great all-around phone, but not enough features take advantage of the unique dual-display design, or even the bigger inner screen.	3/5
Cameras	Cameras get a big boost from AI processing and it shows when you see them up close. Camera Coach is a fascinating feature, especially when you’re using the big inner display to take pics (like a Boss!).	4/5
Performance	Pixel performance keeps lagging behind the competition. You may not notice, unless you use the camera, or the AI features, or… okay, you’ll notice.	3/5
Battery	Good battery life for a foldable phone, but its the Pixelsnap magnets that push this phone over the finish line every day. Magnetic charging on a foldable tablet - it’s about time.	3/5

Buy it if...

You must have a foldable tablet
If you want a big foldable, the Pixel is more refined and nicer to use than the competition, despite its performance drawbacks.

You want to do AI stuff on a bigger screen
For AI features like photo editing, live language translations, and talking to Gemini, the Pro Fold gives you the biggest and best experience.

You’ve waited too long for the iPhone Fold to arrive
Are you an iPhone fan thinking of converting? All your MagSafe gear will work with this phone, and you might even love the software.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t have enough money to buy two phones
This phone costs more than twice as much as most phones I recommend, and it doesn’t work hard to justify that high price tag.

You want to play games on a big phone screen
The Pixel Fold has advantages over the Galaxy, but raw performance and graphics aren’t among them. It kind of lags.

You’re already a good photographer looking for the best camera
These cameras aren’t great, but Camera Coach might be a cool tool for novice photographers looking to improve.

Also consider...

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
If you want a foldable that actually has great cameras, try the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, though you’ll also pay dearly for that privilege.

Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review

Google Pixel 10 Pro
If you can skip the big inner display, the Pixel 10 Pro has everything you get on the Fold, plus better battery life and better cameras.

Read our in-depth Google Pixel 10 Pro review

	Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7	Google Pixel 10 Pro
Price	$1,799 / £1,749 / AU $2,699	$1,999.99 / £1,799 / AU$2,899	$999 / £999 / AU $1,699
Display(s)	6.4-inch OLED 8-inch OLED	6.5-inch LTPO AMOLED 8-inch LTPO AMOLED	6.3-inch Super Retina
Main Camera	48MP, f/1.7, 0.5-inch sensor	200MP, f/1.7, 0.76-inch sensor	50MP, f/1.7, 0.76-inch sensor
Battery Test Results (HH:MM:SS)	12:16:31	10:44:44	13:43:30

How I tested the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold

I used the Pixel 10 Pro Fold for a week as my primary work phone, transferring my AT&T eSIM from my Pixel 10 Pro XL to this phone. I used the phone almost equally open and closed, for similar tasks including messaging, reading, playing word games, taking photos, and much more.

I connected the Pixel 10 Pro Fold to my car through Android Auto using USB-C and wirelessly. I connected Bluetooth headsets and my Xbox wireless controller. I also attached the Pro Fold to a large number of MagSafe accessories, including charging docks from Anker, magnetic wallets, and more.

I tested Google AI features using a Google One AI Premium account for Gemini Live Pro 2.5 and other Pro features.

I've been testing phones for more than 20 years, since the days of BlackBerry and Palm OS smartphones and Samsung flip phones. I've tested hundreds of devices myself, and our Future Labs experts have tested hundreds more.

Future Labs tests phones using a mix of third-party benchmark software and proprietary, real-world tests. We use Geekbench, CrossMark, JetStream, WebXPRT and Mobile XPRT, and 3DMark for performance testing. We test a phone's performance on video editing tasks using Adobe Premiere Rush. We also measure display color output and brightness.

For battery testing, we have proprietary rundown tests that are the same for every phone, which we use to determine how long it takes for the battery to run down.

First reviewed October, 2025

I reviewed the Google Pixel 10 and it’s the closest Google has come to hitting the iPhone bullseye

7:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Google Pixel Phones Phones | Tags: AI, Google Pixel, RAM | Comments: Off

Google Pixel 10: Two-minute review

The Google Pixel 10 is Google’s best Pixel yet, and the most competitive Pixel so far if you’re considering switching from an iPhone to Android. The design is cool and refined inside and out, from the great colors to the sharp design to the appealing interface and easy software. This is a great Pixel that nails everything Pixel phones do well.

The display on the Pixel 10 is spectacular. It’s really one of the best displays you’ll see on any smartphone, and I don’t think Google brags enough about the bright, clear screens on all of its Pixel phones. The Pixel 10 was easy to use in any conditions, and the bright display is especially helpful for seeing the screen when I’m taking photos in bright sunlight.

The Pixel 10 also takes fantastic photos, and Google has done a great job of tuning the cameras on this less-expensive Pixel, to the point where it takes photos that look remarkably like images captured with the Pixel 10 Pro XL – which is one of the best camera phones you can buy, and maybe the best overall.

There are new AI features, and some of them are simply mind-blowing. Like the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 10 has the new Live Translation feature that not only translates your voice into another language, but makes that translation sound like your original voice. This feature works shockingly well, even though the processing is all handled on the Pixel 10 itself, and none of your conversation or the sound of your voice are kept on Google’s servers.

There’s also Magic Cue, which is Google’s quiet attempt to insert AI into many, many more screens in the Android interface. When it works, it's imminently useful, and it might save you a load of frustration and time. Unfortunately, like most AI features phone companies have made extravagant claims about over the past couple of years, Magic Cue doesn’t deliver on everything it’s supposed to do; and if it isn’t consistent (and may not be accurate), why does it exist?

Google Pixel 10 in Lemongrass against a bubbly backsplash — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Of course, this isn’t the best Pixel you can buy this year; however, despite this being the cheapest handset in Google's lineup I'm disappointed that it misses out on so many of my favorite Pixel 10 Pro features.

Phone calls on the Pixel 10 Pro get some great AI assistance, like call screening for numbers you don’t recognize, and Call Notes that will transcribe notes during a call – great for talking to the doctor, or getting an athletic practice schedule over the phone. The Pixel 10 gets none of those features, which is troubling in more ways than one.

It's not just that I miss those features. What troubles me is the Pixel 10 is supposed to get seven years of major Android OS updates, but it’s already being left behind. If the Pixel 10 can’t even handle AI call-screening features like the Pixel 10 Pro, what happens in four years when my phone’s AI is even more amazing? How much farther behind will the Pixel 10 be?

If you like the Pixel 10, you’d be wise to hold off on buying if you can, because Google tends to drop the price of its base-model Pixel phone throughout the year. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 8 often saw discounts of $150-$300 in the US, and both spent about half of their first year on sale at a discounted price.

The Pixel 10 is a great phone with a unique look that's durable and functional, and it’s one of the easiest Android phones to use and enjoy. It takes great photos, and it has some (but not all) great AI features that make AI seem useful, not frightening.

The Pixel 10 Pro is the better phone to buy, not just for its better cameras but also because it already seems more future-proofed, but it’s much more expensive. If the Pixel 10 is on sale for a great price, I’d recommend buying it with confidence; but if you can swing the Pixel 10 Pro instead, that’s the phone that will pay off in the years to come.

Google Pixel 10 review: Price & availability

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL in Porcelain against a blue background with a green neon Android figurine in the background — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,349 for 128GB and 12GB of RAM
Bright colors include Indigo and Lemongrass, alongside black and white

The Pixel 10 starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,349, which is the same price as last year’s model. That’s a relief, as phone prices have crept up this year. The phone still packs only 128GB of storage at this price, which is enough if you don’t load too many apps or games, and you keep your photos and videos stored in the cloud.

You can get the phone with 256GB of storage, though for only a bit more you can get the Pixel 10 Pro model, and that’s the upgrade you really want (unless you want bright colors, in which case I’d stick with the Lemongrass Pixel 10, like my review unit, or the Indigo color that most Googlers I met were carrying).

The Pixel 10 price is fine, but I like this phone better at a discount, and every Pixel phone before has dropped in price around the November US holiday shopping season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a $150 discount later this year – so if you don’t need a phone immediately, you may want to wait.

Google Pixel 10 pricing
Storage	US Price	UK Price	AU Price
128GB	$799	£799	AU $1,349
256GB	$899	£899	AU $1,499

Value score: 3 / 5

Google Pixel 10 review: Specifications

The Pixel 10 gets a big boost over last year’s Pixel 9 – on paper at least. The phone gets magnetic charging built-in with the new Pixelsnap feature. It has a larger battery than before, and it even gets a new camera, a telephoto option that you won’t find on the competing iPhone 16.

This year’s Pixel phone features a 5x zoom camera, a third lens in addition to the wide and ultra-wide cameras. Unfortunately, all of the cameras are shrunk a bit to make room, both in terms of megapixels and sensor size. In my experience, the photos were still very good, but if you want the absolute best Pixel photos get the Pro model.

Google Pixel 10 specifications
Dimensions:	152.8 x 72.0 x 8.6mm
Weight:	204g
Display:	6.3-inch Actua display
Resolution:	1080 x 2424 pixels
Refresh rate:	60-120Hz
Peak brightness:	3,000 nits
Chipset:	Google Tensor G5
RAM:	12GB
Storage:	128GB / 256GB
OS:	Android 16
Wide camera:	48MP; f/1.7; 0.5-inch sensor
Ultrawide camera:	13MP; f/2.2; 0.33-inch sensor
Telephoto camera:	10.8MP; f/3.1; 0.31-inch sensor
Selfie camera:	10.5MP; f/2.2
Battery:	4,970mAh
Charging:	25W wired; 15W wireless Qi2
Colors:	Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, Obsidian

Google Pixel 10 review: Design

Sleek and durable, just like last year’s Pixel 9
Actually, it’s exactly the same as the Pixel 9 – and that’s good!

The Pixel 10 is a sleek, attractive phone that keeps the same design as last year’s model. Actually, it’s pretty much the same as last year’s Pixel 9 and this year’s Pixel 10 Pro – so close that you can use the same case for each of those phones. That’s not a problem – the Pixel 10 has a great design, and it’s one of the more appealing smartphones you could carry.

The biggest difference between last year’s model and the Pixel 10 are the magnets inside the new phone. You can’t see the magnets, and the Pixel 10 isn’t thicker, but you can feel them. Google has made its Pixelsnap feature with very strong magnets, and Googlers demonstrated the phone’s ability to hold fast to the various Pixelsnap accessories, even if you shake it around a bit.

Surprisingly, the Pixel 10 isn’t thicker than the Pixel 9, but it did gain 6g of weight. It’s a heavy phone. The Pixel 10 is more than an ounce heavier than the iPhone 16, and an ounce-and-a-half heavier than the Galaxy S25.

The Pixel 10 also has a slightly larger display and a larger battery than the iPhone 16 or Galaxy S25, but the larger battery doesn’t equate to longer battery life, so I can’t give Google credit here.

Google will be marketing the bright blue Indigo color heavily, but I prefer the bright green Lemongrass, which was the color of my review sample. The Frost color is more of a very light blue than a white; kind of a friendlier version of the Pixel 10 Pro’s Moonstone color.

Design score: 5 / 5

Google Pixel 10 review: Display

Incredibly bright and very clear
Not as sharp or colorful as the Pixel 10 Pro display

The Google Pixel 10 has a remarkable display, one of the brightest you’ll find on any smartphone today. In our Future Labs tests, the Pixel 10 was brighter by far than the iPhone 16 or Galaxy S25, and in my real-world time with the phone it was incredibly easy to read in every situation, especially when I was taking photos in bright outdoor sunshine.

Google’s Pixel displays have quietly taken the crown as the best screens you’ll find – at least on the day they're launched. Screens are getting brighter with every new phone, but for now Google’s Pixel 10 phones have the brightest, most pleasing displays you’ll see.

The Pixel 10 Pro does have an edge in our testing: it was more colorful than the Pixel 10, and it’s more sharp with a higher pixel density. The Pixel 10 is still no slouch, and the display is a standout feature on this phone. If you mostly read and watch videos with some gaming on the side, the Pixel 10 would be a great choice for you.

Display score: 5 / 5

Google Pixel 10 review: Software

New Magic Cue has promise, but isn’t fully baked
Pixel 10 misses out on some important AI features

Software on the Pixel 10 isn’t just about AI, though there is more AI working on this phone than you might think. From the start, the latest Pixel 10 phones are about simplicity, and more elegance than you’d expect from an Android phone. Google has been improving Android for its phones, and unlike some competitors it hasn’t been afraid to remove useless features and unnecessary bloat to make the experience better (I’m looking at you, Samsung).

The home screens are easy to set up with app shortcuts and plenty of great-looking widgets. I love that Google’s widgets now color-coordinate to the theme of your phone, and can even change color to darker hues as the sun sets and night begins.

Settings menus are still a mess, with a jumble of disorganized features popping up in long lists of options. You can avoid most of it, but not every feature Google talks about is turned on from the start, so you might miss out on some AI tools if you don’t dig through the Settings menu, for better and for worse.

Every Pixel 10 phone gets the latest Google AI, of course, and that includes the fascinating new Magic Cue feature. When it comes to AI assistants, every phone maker starts with this same basic promise: the phone will now read your messages and listen to your conversations so that it can help you recall important information about your life.

Mostly these features have flopped. Apple ran advertisements for its version starring the actor Bella Thorne, then had to pull the ads because the features didn’t exist. Other phone makers like Motorola and OnePlus rely heavily on screenshots and other information gathering.

Google, with its access to your Gmail, your Google Calendar, and many other Google tools, has a unique advantage… as well as a unique challenge. Thankfully it doesn't read all of my Gmail. I think I’ve had my account for 20 years – that’s a lot of messages.

In practice, Magic Cue is kind of… charming? For an AI, at least. I’m used to AI features that are pushy and obtrusive – many of the Google Gemini features get in the way by constantly asking if I want to revise my email or ask questions about my own photographs. Magic Cue is quiet, almost anonymous. You may use it without knowing you’ve used an AI feature at all, and that should be the goal of every AI feature.

What can Magic Cue do? The list of things is growing, but you don’t have to do anything at all. Magic Cue will simply make suggestions in a small oval window in a place you can see them. They won’t be in the way. They will light up with a rainbow for a second or two, then they will sit quietly.

If a friend sends you a text message asking about a dinner reservation you made, it might offer you a button that opens the email you got from OpenTable, or a link to Google Maps where it will locate the restaurant’s address.

If your friend John wants to meet your friend Susan, Magic Cue will give you Susan’s phone number and contact card to send to John, if you wish. It will save you some steps.

In some ways, Google may have overpromised Magic Cue’s abilities. Google said it would offer relevant information about travel, but when I had a conversation about an upcoming trip, I got no suggestions from Magic Cue. I asked Google about this, and Magic Cue experts told me it only looks through a month or so of my email. My travel reservations were made three months back – perhaps if I forward the email from Vrbo.com back to myself, Magic Cue might pick it up again and start offering that information. We shall see.

Google Pixel 10 Pro — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Even if it isn’t perfect, I’m not mad about it because it isn’t in the way. It isn’t rewriting my News headlines with fake news, or summarizing my notifications in hilariously inaccurate ways. It’s just giving me a button here or there that I can press to recall more information, or take a quick action that would normally involve opening a second app.

I expect Magic Cue's capabilities will expand dramatically, to the point where it will someday be a major part of the Android interface. My hope is that it will work so reliably well that I won’t ever need to know what it can do; I'll just assume that it will offer me the information I need and help with the actions I want to take.

Unfortunately, the Pixel 10 doesn’t get all of the software features that the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL phones can run. The biggest disappointment for me was losing all of my favorite calling features. I will often use my Pro Pixel to screen calls from numbers I don’t recognize, or take notes during important work conversations. The Pixel 10 Pro can also do these things, but the Pixel 10 cannot.

This has me worried. The Pixel 10 is scheduled to receive seven years of major Android OS updates and security patches. I’ve always wondered what those updates would look like – will the Pixel 10 still get the same version of Android as the Pixel 15? Or the Pixel 17? I worry about what features will be missing, and whether it will still be recognizable as Android.

The Pixel 10 has already been left out. It can use Magic Cue and the amazing new live translation features, but it can’t do everything. The Pixel 10 can’t listen to phone calls that might be a scam and warn you when it thinks you’re being conned. It can’t take notes during a call with my doctor.

These features don’t seem that advanced – so why can’t my Pixel 10 do these things? I worry about what it won’t be able to do in the future, and how Google’s seven-year promise might change over time.

Software score: 4 / 5

Google Pixel 10 review: Cameras

Takes photos that look almost as good as those from the Pro Pixel phones
Camera Coach offers useful tips… but where are they from?

The Pixel 10 isn’t the best camera phone of the new Pixel bunch, but you might not notice the difference. Google has done a great job of tuning its least-expensive Pixel so that it takes photos that look just like similar shots from the Pro models. You don’t get the same resolution, but the color and lighting on these photos looks remarkable, and nearly identical to the balance you’d get shooting with a Pixel 10 Pro.

There’s a fascinating new Camera Coach button in the Pixel 10’s camera app, in addition to an improved version of last year’s Add Me feature, which can add the photographer back into a group photo using some AI cut and paste tricks.

The Camera Coach is more passive than I expected. I thought it would interrupt my photography with useless AI tips, but that’s not what it does at all. When you line up your shot, if you press the Camera Coach button instead of the shutter button it will create a step-by-step process to help you improve your shot, and your photography in general.

First, it will suggest a theme for your scene. Take a photo of a flower and it might ask if you want a close-up on the flower’s details, or a photo that highlights the flower growing amongst the roadside clutter, or a photo that skips the flower and focuses on the blooming buds the AI noticed at the bottom of your frame.

Then it thinks for a few seconds, and soon suggests steps. Move your camera there. Aim up instead of down. Zoom in close, or get farther away. After four or five steps, it leaves you to take the photo… and that’s it. Then it goes away until you press the button next time.

I actually liked the Camera Coach, but as with all generative AI features, I have to wonder about the cost. Sure, it might make interesting suggestions for framing, or teach me to use the zoom lens on my phone more often, but where did it learn those tips?

Camera Coach doesn’t offer links to its sources, and I have to wonder if experts at sites like TechRadar unwittingly fed their tips to a generative AI that's now being used to replace them. I could have read an article about taking better flower photos, but instead I let the Camera Coach tell me what to do, and the expert doesn’t get my clicks.

So I’ll pass on Camera Coach, but I won’t judge you for using it. It really does work, and it sometimes offers suggestions I hadn’t considered. I’ll bet our Cameras Editor considered them, though.

Camera score: 4 / 5

Google Pixel 10 review: Camera samples

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Google Pixel 10 camera image samples — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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Google Pixel 10 review: Performance

Slow performance, on par with phones from a couple years back
Not slower than the Pixel 10 Pro in our benchmarks

The Pixel 10 is a slow phone by benchmark standards, but most users will never notice. For daily tasks and navigating the phone’s menus, it felt plenty fast to me, even zippy. It opened apps quickly, and the menus and home screens flashed by as I swiped through them.

There was some slowdown when playing intense games that require a lot of graphics or processing power. The Pixel 10 stutters if you try to play Call of Duty Mobile with all of the performance settings maxed out, or if you run through Vampire Survivors with hundreds of enemies on the screen at once. If you don’t play a lot of games, I promise you won’t notice any performance problems.

Google’s AI features load more snappily on this phone than on previous ones, and that’s probably because the Pixel 10 is running many more machine-learning models on the device itself – using Google's Tensor G5 platform – than we’ve seen on previous Pixels. The more the phone can rely on its own power instead of tapping the cloud for help, the faster the phone will feel.

Strangely, the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL did not outperform the Pixel 10 in our benchmark tests, even though they have 16GB of RAM instead of 12GB, and they use a faster storage technology. In some cases, the Pixel 10 was actually faster than both of those phones. There are other tangible benefits to buying the Pro models, but it makes me wonder why Google held back great features, like the call-screening tools that I use every time I get a spam call, from the Pixel 10.

Too many AI features are only available on the Pixel 10 Pro, even though benchmarks suggest that the Pro model has no apparent benefit… yet. That extra RAM may come in much more handy over the next seven years of software updates as more AI features are added – so if you care about the longest long term, you may want to go Pro instead of buying the Pixel 10.

Performance score: 3 / 5

Google Pixel 10 review: Battery

Battery life is fine, but not excellent
Qi2 is very convenient for keeping the phone charged

Google Pixel 10 blue showing USB-C port — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

If you buy a Pixel 10, do yourself a favor and get a magnetic Qi2 (or MagSafe) charging stand. It’s so easy to simply pop your phone on and off a magnetic stand that you’ll make a habit of it, and you won’t worry about the disappointing battery life or slower charging speeds you might otherwise experience.

The Pixel 10 battery life is fine – it usually lasted through a full day of testing, unless I was hitting the Camera app extra hard. Excessive AI use didn’t seem to drain the phone any faster than normal.

In our Future Labs tests, the Pixel 10 was about average, but other recent Android phones have been exceptional. Every phone with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset inside has lasted hours longer than the generation before, while the Pixel 10 shows no improvement over last year’s Pixel 9.

In Future Labs tests, the Pixel 10 lasted around 13 hours and 15 minutes, which was a few minutes less than the Pixel 9 managed. The Samsung Galaxy S25, which has a smaller battery inside, lasted two hours longer than the Pixel 10. At least the Pixel 10 beat the iPhone 16 by over an hour, because the iPhone has a much smaller battery inside.

Why do iPhone fans accept paltry battery life? Because MagSafe makes it easy to top off your phone throughout the day and forget about long charging sessions. You don’t need to worry about how long the battery lasts if you charge it for 15 minutes twice a day – you’ll have more than enough power to last.

Battery score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Google Pixel 10?

Google Pixel 10 scorecard
Value	The Pixel 10 isn’t bad value, but Google has a strong history of discounting its Pixel phone around the US holidays, so maybe wait for the best deal. The Pixel 9 was discounted for half of its first year.	3/5
Design	Not much has changed since the Pixel 9, and that’s a good thing because the Pixel design is stellar. The brighter Indigo and Lemongrass colors are especially appealing. Hidden magnets add weight but not thickness.	5/5
Display	One of the best smartphone displays you’ll see (until you see the Pixel 10 Pro). This screen is very bright and sharp, and a joy to use. Google should brag more about its screens.	5/5
Software	The interface design is crisp and colorful without looking silly, and many of the latest AI features are actually useful without being annoying. Watch out, Apple – Google is delivering on software promises the iPhone couldn’t keep.	5/5
Cameras	The Pixel 10 isn’t the best Pixel camera, but it takes photos that could have come from a Pro model (if you don’t zoom in too close). Camera Coach offers a unique and helpful tool, but I worry it’s putting experts out of work.	4/5
Performance	Not a top performer, though the Pixel 10 does all the Pixel stuff very quickly. The interface and features are super-snappy, but don’t expect to dominate mobile games that require a heavy graphics load.	3/5
Battery	Battery life should be much better – there’s no improvement over the Pixel 9. Thankfully, Pixelsnap (and MagSafe) charging make a big difference and will help you keep this phone powered up all day and then some.	3/5

Buy it if...

You liked the Pixel 9 but wish it were more iPhone-y
With magnetic charging and its sleek, simple interface, the Pixel 10 should be the first stop for iPhone switchersView Deal

You see it discounted
The Pixel 10 is competitive at this price, but Google often gives its base-model Pixel phones strong discounts throughout the year – we’ll keep you posted if we see a good deal.View Deal

You want Pixel cameras for less money
The Pixel 10 doesn’t have the resolution of the Pro Pixel cameras, but it takes photos that look very similar to shots the Pro phones take.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You can afford the Pixel 10 Pro instead
The Pixel 10 Pro is a big step up, and not just in terms of camera hardware. It gets some very useful AI features that the Pixel 10 lacks.View Deal

You have a Pixel 9 already
The differences between last year’s model and the Pixel 10 are minor, and you can copy the magnet features with a magnetic case.View Deal

You play a lot of hardcore mobile games
I didn’t have a big problem with the Pixel 10’s lackluster performance, but if you’re looking for the top performer, keep looking.View Deal

Also consider...

Apple iPhone 16
The iPhone 16 is about to be superseded, but it's still a great iPhone, with all the best iOS 26 features coming.

Read our in-depth Apple iPhone 16 reviewView Deal

Samsung Galaxy S25
The Galaxy S25 gets better battery life and performs faster than the Pixel 10, so if you want a gaming powerhouse, I’d check out Samsung’s latest.

Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S25 reviewView Deal

	Google Pixel 10	Apple iPhone 16	Samsung Galaxy S25
Price	$799 / £799 / AU$1,349	$799 / £799 / AU$1,399	$799 / £799 / AU$1,399
Display	6.3-inch Actua display	6.1-inch Super Retina display	6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display
Cameras	48MP wide, 10.8MP 5x zoom, 13MP ultra-wide	48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide	50MP wide, 10MP 3x zoom, 12MP ultra-wide
Battery Results (HH:MM:SS)	13:13:01	12:13:28	15:22:06

How I tested the Google Pixel 10

I tested the Google Pixel 10 for a week, alongside the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL. I used the Pixel 10 as my primary work phone for half of that time, and as a backup phone and camera for the remainder. I loaded the phone with more than a hundred apps, and multiple Google accounts.

I used the Pixel 10 as a camera, testing every photography feature. I used AI features to ask questions and generate sample images. I connected Magic Cue to all of my personal Google account information, and I fed the Pixel 10 a regular diet of screenshots of all of my personal dealings for the Screenshots app.

I connected the Pixel 10 to my Pixel Watch 3, my Pixel Buds Pro, and various other Bluetooth headsets and devices. I used Android Auto in my Kia and my friends’ Acura and Subaru cars, and connected to Bluetooth in an older BMW.

For battery testing, we have proprietary rundown tests that are the same for every phone, which we use to determine how long it takes for the battery to run down.

First reviewed August 2025

I spent a week testing the Pixel 10 Pro and it’s worth the premium over the Pixel 10 thanks to bonus AI features I didn’t expect to love

7:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Google Pixel Phones Phones | Tags: AI, Google Pixel | Comments: Off

Google Pixel 10 Pro: Two-minute review

The Google Pixel 10 Pro is the phone I never expected Google to make – a smartphone that is more desirable than the best iPhone. In almost every way, Google’s flagship smartphone takes aim at its biggest competitor (and business partner) and hits the mark. It looks stunning, it takes stellar photos, and it’s a joy to use, with surprising features that make life easier. The Pixel 10 Pro delivers on promises Apple has failed to keep, and iPhone fans should take note – it might be time to consider an Android.

The Pixel 10 is also a nice phone, but the Pixel 10 Pro is a big step up in every way, inside and out. You don’t just get better hardware; even Google’s software is more capable on the Pixel 10 Pro, and the bonus features are ones I use all the time.

I’ve only had the Pixel 10 Pro for a week before this review posted, but I say all the time because I’ve been using the Pixel 9 Pro as my primary work phone for most of the past year. It doesn’t have all of the features or customization you’ll find on a Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, but it offers the most useful tools I’ve found – and they actually work.

Remember when that used to be the saying for Apple: it just works? Not any more. My Pixel 10 Pro is the phone that makes my life easier. It screens my calls effectively, takes notes on important calls, and even translates my voice into another language seamlessly – in a voice that sounds eerily like my own! It really works – I tried it and it blew me away.

The new Magic Cue tries hard to be helpful. Mention a dinner reservation in a text message and a small, totally unobtrusive bubble will link to your OpenTable email. If somebody asks you for a friend’s phone number, Magic Cue will bring it up from your contact list in a small window, right in Messages.

You might not even notice it’s happening, and that’s the way AI on a phone should be. It should happen in the background and make my life easier. It shouldn’t make silly photos or rewrite my notifications. It should be helpful, but limited. So far, that’s Magic Cue.

I’ve seen more extravagant AI promises from Apple, Samsung, and even Motorola, but Google is delivering the most useful AI to help me get things done with my phone. I’ve talked to Google about how Magic Cue will improve in the months ahead, and I think it might be one of the most useful AI tools you’ll use – even if you won’t always know you’re using it.

The Pixel 10 Pro isn’t just a software powerhouse; it delivers on the best Pixel hardware features. I don’t think Google gets enough credit for its amazing phone displays, and the Pixel 10 Pro somehow improves over last year’s Pixel 9 Pro with a display that's brighter and more sharp than any other phone screen you’ll see. It looks great in all conditions, even when I'm taking photos outdoors in bright sunshine.

Those photos will look fantastic as well, and the Pixel 10 Pro (and the Pixel 10 Pro XL, which has the exact same cameras) might be the best camera phone you can buy. I tested the Pixel 10 Pro against the iPhone 16 Pro Max in my review period, and the Pixel took photos that were just as colorful and often more detailed. It handled low-light night photography like it was broad daylight, creating the clearest nighttime photos I’ve ever taken.

I haven’t even gotten to the magnets! I love the magnets in the Pixel 10 Pro, and I used the magnet Pixelsnap features every day during my testing. Google sent along a Pixelsnap charger in addition to the phones, and I used that charger on my desk, but I have plenty of other MagSafe chargers for my iPhone, and the Pixel 10 Pro worked with all of these.

It’s a delight to snap my Pixel 10 Pro onto my fancy Anker MagSafe charging stand, then pull it off and attach my UAG kevlar wallet when I leave. If I run out of battery when I’m out, I can use a MagSafe battery pack – even the original Apple MagSafe battery works with the Pixel 10 family.

It feels like a good time to be a Pixel owner, and the Pixel 10 Pro is definitely a better choice than the base-model Pixel 10. I still think the Pixel 10 Pro XL offers enough extra benefits, with its larger display for great photography work, and its slightly faster charging, that I’d opt for Google’s biggest Pixel if money was no concern. But the Pixel 10 Pro is just as capable in all the ways that count, and it’s the most refined and appealing Pixel phone I’ve ever used.

Google Pixel 10 Pro review: Price & availability

Starts at $999 / £999 / AU $1,699 for 128GB of storage and 16GB RAM
Available in muted, professional-looking colors

The Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999 / £999 / AU $1,699 for 128GB of storage and 16GB of RAM. It's avaiable to order immediately. You can get the Pro models with up to 1TB of storage inside, but that capacity is only available on the (boring) black Obsidian model.

While I like the Pixel design very much, I do miss the days when Pixel phones came in unique color combinations, with two-tone options and unique shades. Today’s Pixel 10 Pro comes in a nice Lemongrass green, the color of my review sample, as well as a bunch of muted tones. Googlers seemed to like the Moonstone color best.

Unlike the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the Pro model starts with only 128GB of storage inside, and I’d recommend an upgrade – especially if you shoot a lot of photos and videos. You can get away with 128GB if you mostly use cloud storage and don’t download large gaming apps, but the Pro model should really start at 256GB. The 1TB model would surely be overkill unless you really have a need for that much storage, like video production.

Thankfully the Pixel 10 Pro has 16GB of RAM inside, though I didn’t see a huge performance boost over the 12GB Pixel 10 model. I suspect that RAM will be even more useful down the road, as AI features that bounce between the phone’s chipset and the cloud for computing tend to use a lot more RAM than basic apps.

The Pixel 10 Pro is priced competitively considering it has almost all of Google’s best features (I wish the charging speed was faster). It costs the same as an iPhone 16 Pro, and it’s less expensive than a Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge or Galaxy Z Flip 7.

Google Pixel 10 Pro pricing
Storage	US Price	UK Price	AU Price
128GB	$999	£999	AU $1,699
256GB	$1,099	£1,099	AU $1,849
512GB	$1,219	£1,219	AU $2,049
1TB	$1,449	£1,440	AU $2,399

Value score: 4 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro review: Specifications

Google Pixel 10 Pro in Jade with checkered tile backsplash background — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

After the Pixel 9 Pro overhauled the Pixel design last year, I didn’t expect a major spec bump this year. Instead, we get minor, meaningful improvements like the Pixelsnap magnetic features, which a great upgrade, even if they don’t make the phone faster.

The camera lenses and sensors have remained unchanged, but Google says the new Tensor G5 chipset features an improved image signal processor, which results in better photos and a better shooting experience.

Compared to other phones at this price, the Pixel 10 Pro holds its own. The iPhone 16 Pro also has three cameras, but it uses smaller sensors on the ultra-wide and telephoto lenses. If you really care about specs, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus gives you a bigger, sharper display, and all the cameras and features you might want – that doesn’t make it a better phone, though.

Google Pixel 10 Pro specifications
Dimensions:	152.8 x 72.0 x 8.6mm
Weight:	204g
Display:	6.3-inch Actua display
Resolution:	1080 x 2424 pixels
Refresh rate:	60-120Hz
Peak brightness:	3,000 nits
Chipset:	Google Tensor G5
RAM:	12GB
Storage:	128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
OS:	Android 16
Main cameras	50MP wide; 48MP ultra-wide; 48MP telephoto (5x zoom)
Selfie camera:	42MP
Battery:	4,870mAh
Charging:	30W wired; 15W Qi2 wireless (magnetic)
Colors:	Obsidian, Porcelain, Jade, Moonstone

Google Pixel 10 Pro review: Design

Nearly identical to the Pixel 10, which is a good thing
Keeps things simple (with one little exception) – also a good thing

The Google Pixel 10 Pro has a polished, solid feeling that exudes a premium quality. With every generation of Pro Pixel phone the edges seem more polished, the gaps between components more tightly aligned.

I’m using the case that Google supplied with the Pixel 10 Pro – a lemongrass case perfectly matched to my green Pixel 10 review sample. The same case fits both phones, and in fact even my older Pixel 9 case fits the Pixel 10 Pro perfectly. It’s a good design, and I’m happy to see it stick around for another year or so.

The Pixel 10 Pro seems unfussy compared to the latest iPhone 16 Pro. There’s a volume rocker button and a main button that activates Google Gemini, or opens the camera with a double-press. There’s no Action Button, no wonky Camera Control. When did the Pixel become the exemplar of ease and simplicity, and the iPhone the epitome of excess?

To be fair, the Pixel 10 Pro still has the temperature sensor, which is one of the most useless bits of hardware on any smartphone today. It does not work properly. I heated a pan in my oven to various temperatures and checked with a cheap infrared thermometer as well as the Pixel 10 Pro. The Pixel 10 Pro never got the temperature right, and the $15 thermometer was always more accurate.

At least I can ignore that sensor, unlike the extra buttons on my iPhone 16 Pro. I hope Google some day adds a real shutter button to its Pixel phones to complement the excellent cameras – I also hope Google does it right, unlike Apple’s overwrought Camera Control.

Design score: 4 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro review: Display

Excellent display is very bright and colorful
Even more sharp than the Pixel 10 Pro XL

I can’t recommend the Pixel 10 Pro display strongly enough – it exceeds expectations and makes the Pixel 10 Pro one of the top phones for screen quality. Whether you’re watching clips, taking photos in bright sunlight, or just scrolling through menus and doom, the Pixel 10 Pro is one of the best displays you’ll use.

I do prefer the Pixel 10 Pro XL overall, because I just want more display on my Pixel, but the Pixel 10 Pro has its advantages. Google has packed more pixels per inch onto the 10 Pro, making the display technically more sharp than the Pro XL's screen. I didn’t really notice the difference, though, and both displays are very crisp.

The Pixel 10 Pro also performed admirably in our Future Labs tests, and roasted the competition with its display power. All phone makers brag about a theoretical peak brightness: Google claims the Pixel 10 Pro can hit 3,300 nits, Samsung claims its phones can peak at 2,600 nits, while Apple says the iPhone 16 Pro can reach 2,000 nits. None of those numbers are real.

Under our most stringent lab conditions, we got the Pixel 10 Pro to blast more than 2,500 nits of brightness from the display. That’s far from the 3,300 claim, but much brighter than the competition. The Galaxy S25 Ultra couldn’t reach 1,900 nits, and Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro was stuck at just above 1,500 nits.

In other words, it wasn’t just my eyes seeing a brighter screen on the Pixel 10 Pro; our tests prove that Google’s Super Actua display is the brightest smartphone screen among all the best phone makers.

Display score: 5 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro review: Software

Useful AI features you won’t find elsewhere (not even on the Pixel 10)
Magic Cue seems useful, or you can just ignore it

The Pixel 10 Pro has a polished interface that complements the thoughtful hardware design. It’s very easy to set up the phone and use every feature. Google continues to enhance and improve its Pixel version of Android in subtle but meaningful ways, like the surprisingly fun AI wallpaper maker, and the dramatic themes that slowly change the colors of your widgets and app icons as the day progresses.

Google’s latest AI feature is Magic Cue, a tool that offers helpful suggestions with information straight from your Google apps. It will read your messages, your email, your calendar, and many other sources you specify. Then, when you need a specific phone number, or you need the address of the restaurant where you have a reservation, Magic Cue will offer a quick button to that info. You can tap the button or ignore it, that’s that.

Magic Cue works directly on your phone, so you don’t have to share anything with Google – it scans your Gmail, and other apps and data, but the AI modeling is handled on your phone. That means it consumes less power and less cellular data, and it keeps your information private.

I wish it all worked as advertised. Unfortunately, a few of the promised Magic Cue features never worked for me – it could never find my hotel reservations for an upcoming trip. Google thinks I might have made those reservations too long ago – Magic Cue only searches the last month or so of your Gmail, not your whole history.

Is Magic Cue a big feature? I think it’s one of the biggest steps forward for a phone interface that integrates AI, and the best thing about it is that you may never know you’re using it. Unless you long-press on one of its suggestions, you won’t even see the name ‘Magic Cue,’ or have to open a Magic Cue app to make it work. It happens quietly, and it offers useful tools. I think this is the future of smartphone AI, and I’m excited to see where it goes.

In addition to Magic Cue, the Pixel 10 Pro and the Pixel 10 Pro XL get some AI features the Pixel 10 doesn’t have, and I find these invaluable. I've been using a Pixel 9 Pro as my primary work phone this past year, and I let it answer and screen all of the calls from phone numbers I don’t recognize.

The Pixel 10 Pro has the same great call-screening feature, as well as an effective note-taking tool that will transcribe your phone conversations as easily as it transcribes a business meeting. It warns everybody on the call that it’s taking notes, so there are no privacy concerns.

Google’s Pixel 10 Pro is packed with features, but unlike on Samsung’s Galaxy S25 devices these don’t get in the way. While Samsung literally has pop-up windows and slide-in panels that appear from nowhere and take up screen space, I appreciate that you can take or leave most of Google’s latest features, and they won’t bug you too much. Even Apple can get tiresome with its Journal app reminders, while the new Google Journal app didn’t seem to bother me as often.

Software score: 5 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro review: Cameras

Cameras make better images than my iPhone 16 Pro
New AI features are interesting, but have too many drawbacks

The Pixel 10 Pro features some of Google’s best cameras ever on a Pixel phone, which makes this one of the best camera phones you can buy. I tested this phone against my iPhone 16 Pro, and it usually produced images that were just as colorful but more detailed than what the iPhone cameras could manage.

For low-light photos, there was no contest. The Pixel simply blew the iPhone away with more visibility, sharper focus, and better colors at night.

The Pixel 10 Pro has a 5x optical zoom lens, and you can use AI to zoom in much further. If you switch to the 12MP resolution, the Pixel 10 Pro will zoom in to 100x, which is honestly farther than the phone can handle – at that range, there was not enough image stabilization to keep my subject in frame while my hands shook slightly.

The Pixel 10 Pro created zoomed images that looked more clear with less noise than similar shots taken with the iPhone 16 Pro and its 5x lens and 25x digital zoom.

Sometimes the Pixel 10 camera went too far and smoothed textures I would have liked to keep, but the end results were always more pleasing and more impressive for sharing than my iPhone and Galaxy shots, in spite of what was lost.

There’s a new Camera Coach feature that uses an AI tool to analyze your shot and offer suggestions to make it better. I talk about this in much more detail in my Pixel 10 review, but the upshot is that it’s an interesting teaching assistant that can give you some useful photo framing tips. The usual AI warnings and caveats about stealing human knowledge without attribution still apply.

Google has also improved its editing tools in Google Photos. Instead of editing a photo yourself, you can use natural language to describe to Google’s AI what you want done to your photo. You might say “remove that bystander” or “make the sky more dramatic,” and Google will do its best to match your request. In my experience, it got two-thirds of my edit suggestions right.

The final results are still very good, but if you have any experience with photo editing you can probably perform simple edits and tweaks faster yourself. The delay waiting for the edits was frustrating when the final results weren’t what I wanted.

Camera score: 5 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro review: Camera samples

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Camera image samples taken with the Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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Google Pixel 10 Pro review: Performance

Performance lags behind all other phones at this price
It’s not even faster than the Pixel 10? Not so Pro…

Like every Pixel for the past five years or more, the Pixel 10 Pro will disappoint smartphone buyers looking for the fastest phone around. The Tensor G5 chipset inside is frankly a bit slow, and while it doesn’t make a difference in most use cases, there are times when the Pixel 10 Pro suffers.

Browsing the new Material 3 Expressive interface designs, swiping through long menus of apps and lists, and launching my apps were all remarkably fast. I was expecting more delay, but the Pixel 10 Pro navigates its own interface like a race car.

The only real delay I saw was when using the more advanced camera features. Shooting basic photos at 12MP resolution, I had no trouble, but when I upped the resolution to 50MP, or if I added more features like Top Shot or motion photos, there was often a long delay.

After I pressed the shutter button, I couldn’t take another shot for a few seconds, which feels like a lifetime when I’m trying to snap the perfect picture. I definitely missed shots because of this delay.

This isn’t a new thing for Pixel phones. I noticed the same problem on my Pixel 9 Pro last year, though it happened more frequently on last year’s phone. Maybe Google’s performance is improving, but if the Tensor G5 isn’t even fast enough to keep up with the Pixel 10 Pro’s camera, then Google needs to seriously rethink its processor strategy. It’s time to ask Qualcomm for some help, or maybe even MediaTek. Anything would be better than another Tensor chip in a Pixel phone.

The strangest performance anomaly is the Pixel 10 Pro’s benchmark scores compared to the Pixel 10 base model. With less RAM – 12GB instead of the 16GB on the Pro model – the Pixel 10 still beat the Pixel 10 Pro in many benchmark tests.

On CPU tests like Geekbench 6.4, and on graphics tests like the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited test, the Pixel 10 scored higher than the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL. That seems like terrible tuning on Google’s part. There should be no reason why the less expensive phone beats the Pro models with more RAM, faster storage technology, and other supposed benefits.

Performance score: 3 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro review: Battery

Battery life should be much better – I blame the Tensor chips
Magnetic charging helps a lot, but charging is still a problem

The Pixel 10 Pro lasted through a full day of use on most days in my week testing the latest Pixel phones. There were only two days when I needed to charge the phone before bed time, and those were both days with lots of video shooting, such as my day at the Orange County, New York air show – shooting airplane videos drains the battery faster, apparently.

What makes this so frustrating is the Pixel 10 Pro hasn’t improved much over the Pixel 9 Pro. In Future Labs battery tests, the 10 Pro lasted about 15 minutes longer than last year’s Pro model. I expected much more improvement.

Why? Because every other Android phone has improved dramatically this year, if they are packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite inside. Phones like the Galaxy S25 or OnePlus 13 that upgraded to Qualcomm’s latest chip also saw hours of battery life improvements.

Qualcomm changed my expectations for what a new chipset could offer, and if I was already disappointed by the Tensor G5’s performance then the mediocre battery life is just the double whammy that should put the nail in the Tensor coffin. Let’s try something new next year, okay, Google?

Having magnetic charging helps, mostly because I also have an iPhone and I’ve been collecting MagSafe chargers and accessories for a few years. They all work perfectly with the Pixelsnap magnets in the Pixel 10 Pro, so it was easy to keep my phone topped up with power throughout the day. I just popped it onto my desk charger, or connected to my bedside charging stand.

I have these magnetic stands everywhere, and the convenience outweighs the slower charging they offer. Stock up when they go on sale, you’ll be thankful when your phone always seems to have just enough juice.

Battery score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Google Pixel 10 Pro?

Google Pixel 10 Pro scorecard
Value	A more refined and interesting phone than similar flagships like the iPhone 16 Pro or Galaxy S25 Plus, but there is plenty of scope for Google to offer more (or drop the price for the holidays).	4/5
Design	Excellent design refines the Pixel look even further, with great materials and color options that are classy and durable. No need to change anything here; the Pixel was already a great-looking phone.	4/5
Display	The Pixel 10 Pro’s standout feature. Google’s phone displays are always a knockout, and this screen is brighter and more sharp than any other display I’ve seen (and I’ve seen them all).	5/5
Software	A mix of useful new tools and questionable AI additions. The Pro model is worth the upgrade, thanks to AI features you won’t find on cheaper Pixel phones, but some new features like Magic Cue didn’t work the way Google promised.	5/5
Cameras	Some of the best camera you can buy on a smartphone, with unique AI tools and helpers. The AI goes too far sometimes, but the end results are more impressive than what your friends are shooting.	5/5
Performance	Lackluster performance from the Tensor G5 chip. Most features run fast enough, but I found lag in the camera between shots, and the chipset wasn’t as fast or efficient as any other recent Android flagships.	3/5
Battery	Battery life was fine, but every other Android phone saw major gains with faster chips inside, while the Tensor-powered Pixel was left behind. Pixelsnap and magnetic charging help bridge the gap, and keep the phone charged enough to last you a day.	3/5

Buy it if...

You want to be productive with your Pixel
The Pixel 10 lacks some of the best Pixel 10 Pro features, like AI call screening that takes notes and makes sure you don’t miss detailsView Deal

You can’t be seen with a brightly colored phone
These days, Pro means subdued, and the Pixel 10 Pro comes in colors that are appealing but not as bright as the Indigo or Lemongrass Pixel 10View Deal

You want the best camera phone… maybe
The Pixel 10 Pro took photos that were better than the shots my iPhone 16 Pro took… most of the time. We’ll do a lot more testing before we call this the best, though.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You don’t plan on buying any magnetic accessories
Pixelsnap charges slower, but the convenience makes the Pixel 10 Pro a much better experience, especially considering its poor battery showing.View Deal

You play a lot of mobile games with intense graphics
I didn’t have too much trouble with the slow performance of the Tensor G5 chipset, but serious gamers may want a Snapdragon instead.View Deal

You really want the best camera phone
The 10 Pro has the same cameras as the Pro XL, but the XL’s larger screen and battery make the bigger phone the better camera pick.View Deal

Also consider...

Pixel 10 Pro XL
For a bit more moolah, you get a bigger display and battery, faster charging, and more storage inside. The XL is my first choice for Pixel fun.

Read our in-depth Google Pixel 10 Pro XL reviewView Deal

Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Apple has stiff competition, but if all your friends carry iPhones, you’ll miss the iOS-specific features that keep the cult of Apple together.

Read our in-depth Apple iPhone 16 Pro reviewView Deal

	Google Pixel 10 Pro	Google Pixel 10 Pro XL	Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Price	$999 / £999 / AU $1,699	$1,199 / £1,199 / AU $1,999	$999 / £999 / AU $1,799
Display	6.3-inch Super Actua	6.8-inch Super Actua	6.3-inch Super Retina
Charging	30W wired; 15W wireless	45W wired; 25W wireless	30W wired; 25W wireless
Battery Results (HH:MM:SS)	13:43:30	14:20:57	14:07:53

How I tested the Google Pixel 10 Pro

I tested the Google Pixel 10 Pro for a week, alongside the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro XL. I used the Pixel 10 Pro as a work phone with my high-security work accounts. I loaded the phone with more than a hundred apps, and multiple Google accounts.

I used the Pixel 10 Pro as a camera, testing every camera feature. I used AI features to ask questions and generate sample images. I connected Magic Cue to all of my personal Google account information, and I fed the Pixel 10 Pro a regular diet of screenshots of my personal dealings for the Screenshots app.

I connected the Pixel 10 Pro to my Pixel Watch 3, my Pixel Buds Pro, and many other Bluetooth headsets and devices. I used Android Auto in my Kia and my friends’ Acura and Subaru cars, and connected to Bluetooth in an older BMW.

For battery testing, we have proprietary rundown tests that are the same for every phone, which we use to determine how long it takes for the battery to run down.

First reviewed August 2025

Apple is working on AI robots with Siri personality

11:14 am | August 19, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: AI | Comments: Off

This is not the first time we have heard about Apple working on AI robot assistants at home. There was a report back in May suggesting that the company is working on two smart robots, one of which has a robotic arm. The new report from Bloomberg builds upon the earlier leak. The new findings confirm that Apple is working on not one, but several robot projects. The one that's going to be particularly interesting to the end consumer is an iPad-like device with a robotic arm that can naturally respond to human interaction. It can even turn to the person speaking to it. The small robot...

Minisforum AI X1 – Ryzen 9 AI mini PC review

11:01 am | August 18, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: AI, PC | Comments: Off

Introduction and unboxing If you're looking for a powerful Windows mini PC, the Minisforum AI X1 is definitely worth consideration. Coming in at just 0.6 kg and configurable up to a 4nm AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 CPU with 64 GB or even 96 GB of DDR5 RAM, and priced below $900/€1,000 it sounds impressive on paper. Minisforum is a PC maker with a good track record and a diverse product lineup. You can find its products on Amazon in the the US , the UK , and Germany, which is very good. The AI X1 is in its flagship class of mini PCs. It ships with an HDMI cable, a power supply, a mounting...

LogicMonitor review

1:50 pm | August 15, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: AI, IT | Comments: Off

If you’re searching for a network monitoring platform that can handle hybrid, cloud, and on-premises IT environments without breaking a sweat, LogicMonitor deserves some serious consideration. We’ve spent weeks comparing the best network monitoring tools of 2025 and LogicMonitor consistently leads the pack for the enterprise crowd.

At TechRadar Pro, our reviewers dive deep into every major IT platform, evaluating features, integrations, and real-world usability. We look for the things that IT teams actually need, beyond the elevator pitch and the blown-up promises.

For 2025, LogicMonitor is our pick among network monitoring tools. Its AI-powered suite can automate many day-to-day IT workflows, reducing manual effort and helping teams focus on what matters. If your organization values proactive issue detection, automated insights, and seamless scalability, LogicMonitor is well worth a closer look.

LogicMonitor: Features

LogicMonitor is loaded with features for modern IT teams managing complex hybrid environments. It’s best suited for medium-to-large organizations that need precise visibility, automation, and scalability. Execution is generally excellent, with AI-driven insights and 3000+ integrations being a major upside.

But we’d still like to see more intuitive onboarding for new users and some advanced analytics that competitors like Datadog already offer. Given its features, the price feels justified, but only if you plan to use all the features.

Infrastructure monitoring

LogicMonitor tracks the health and performance of all your devices, like servers, storage, VMs, and more, across both on-premise and cloud environments. It automatically discovers devices and provides detailed metrics for each one.

Network monitoring

Their platform continuously monitors network traffic, device status, and bandwidth usage. It auto-discovers devices, maps network topology, and uses intelligent alerting to notify you of anomalies in real time.

Log analysis

LogicMonitor centralizes log data from across your infrastructure, correlating it with metrics to give you context for troubleshooting. Flexible retention options let you choose how long to keep your data.

Synthetic monitoring

You can simulate user interactions and monitor website uptime and performance, helping ensure a smooth end-user experience.

AI and automation

LogicMonitor’s AI features automate anomaly detection, event correlation, and alert prioritization. This reduces alert fatigue and helps teams focus on what matters most.

Dashboards and reporting

Customizable dashboards and automated reports make it easy to visualize trends, share insights, and keep stakeholders informed.

Integrations

With over 3,000 integrations as of right now, LogicMonitor works with nearly every major device and cloud service, so you can monitor your entire stack from one place.

LogicMonitor: Ease of use

LogicMonitor’s interface is modern and intuitive, especially after its recent UI overhaul. The new design focuses on usability, with resource-level dashboards, streamlined navigation, and a consistent look across the platform. The resource explorer and enhanced topology mapping make it easier to manage complex environments and troubleshoot issues quickly.

However, there’s still a learning curve, especially for users new to network monitoring. Some advanced features and customizations require time to master, and a few UI elements can feel clunky or buried under menus. While onboarding guidance has improved, junior engineers may still need extra training to get comfortable. On the plus side, LogicMonitor offers live training webinars and plenty of documentation to help teams ramp up faster.

LogicMonitor: Pricing

Plan	Starting price (paid annually)	What’s included
Infrastructure Monitoring	$22/resource/month	Standard events and metrics, 900+ integrations, servers, VMs, SD-WAN, storage, network devices, cloud
Cloud IaaS Monitoring	$22/resource/month	AWS EC2, Azure VM, cloud infrastructure, standard integrations
Wireless Access Points Monitoring	$4/resource/month	Juniper Mist, Cisco Meraki devices, wireless network monitoring
Cloud PaaS & Container Monitoring	$3/resource/month	AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, MongoDB Atlas, Docker
Log Intelligence	$2.50–$7/GB/month	Log analysis, 7-day to 1-year retention
Edwin AI	Contact sales	AI automation, advanced analytics

*All prices USD/month, billed annually. “Per resource” means each monitored device or instance.

LogicMonitor’s pricing is resource-based, which can add up quickly for large environments. The entry-level plans cover most standard monitoring needs, but advanced features (like AI automation or extended log retention) may require add-ons or higher-tier plans.

Compared to competitors, LogicMonitor is on the expensive side, but the depth and breadth of features help justify the investment for organizations that need them.

LogicMonitor: Customer support

LogicMonitor is known for responsive, knowledgeable customer support. Most users consistently praise the team for proactive communication, regular check-ins, and genuine advice. Support is available via live chat, email, and phone, and there are live training webinars every other week for ongoing education.

Support packages come in tiers: Standard support is included for all customers, while Premier and FedRAMP plans add proactive monitoring, health checks, and remediation assistance. Premier customers get regular account reviews and early alerts about potential issues, plus priority access to senior engineers. The main caveat is that some advanced support features are only available at higher tiers, so small teams may not get the same level of hands-on help.

LogicMonitor: The competition

LogicMonitor sits at the high end of the network monitoring market, best suited for organizations that need deep, automated insights across hybrid and cloud environments. It’s a top pick for enterprises, managed service providers, and fast-growing IT teams who want to future-proof their monitoring stack.

Main competitors include Datadog, Dynatrace, and New Relic. Datadog offers similar AI-powered monitoring and a broader analytics suite, but at a comparable or higher price. Dynatrace is praised for ease of use and tight cloud integrations, making it a good fit for teams focused on cloud-native infrastructure. New Relic stands out for its flexible pricing and developer-friendly tools, but may lack some of LogicMonitor’s enterprise features. For smaller organizations or those with simpler needs, these alternatives might offer a better balance of features and cost.

LogicMonitor: Final verdict

LogicMonitor is a powerhouse for network monitoring, offering unrivaled visibility, automation, and AI-driven insights. Its real-time alerting, deep integrations, and automated topology mapping make it an invaluable tool for IT teams managing complex environments. While the learning curve and premium pricing may give some pause, the overall value is hard to beat if you need best-in-class monitoring.

For 2025, LogicMonitor is our pick for the best network monitoring tool, especially for organizations ready to invest more for reliability and consistency. If you want to automate IT workflows with full transparency, LogicMonitor is well worth the investment.

FAQs

Is LogicMonitor suitable for small businesses?

LogicMonitor is designed for mid-sized to large organizations. Its pricing and feature set may be overkill for small businesses, but it can be scaled down if you only need to monitor a handful of resources.

What kinds of devices can LogicMonitor monitor?

LogicMonitor supports a wide range of devices, including routers, switches, firewalls, servers, wireless access points, storage systems, and cloud resources. It integrates with over 3,000 vendors and protocols.

Does LogicMonitor offer a free trial?

Yes, LogicMonitor offers a free trial so you can test the platform before committing. This lets you explore features and see how it fits your environment.

How does LogicMonitor’s AI help IT teams?

LogicMonitor’s AI automates anomaly detection, alert prioritization, and event correlation. This reduces manual effort, cuts down on alert noise, and helps teams focus on critical issues.

What support options are available?

Standard support is included, with live chat, email, and webinars. Premier and FedRAMP customers get proactive monitoring, health checks, and priority access to senior engineers.

HTC Vive Eagle announced with 12MP camera, AI translation and 36-hour battery life

5:34 pm | August 14, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: AI | Comments: Off

HTC made a big bet on VR years ago when it launched its Vive series headsets, and the maker is now entering a new frontier with its Vive Eagle AI glasses. These are a competitor to the Ray-Ban Meta with the goal of looking like regular glasses but simultaneously offering a FPV camera, on-device AI features and stereo speakers. HTC Vive Eagle Vive Eagle comes in several translucent colors, including Black, Berry, Coffee, and Grey. They sport a 12MP ultra-wide camera, which captures 3,024 × 4,032 px photos and 1,512 × 2,016 px video at up to 30fps. The right frame features an LED...

I reviewed this AI film production tool and I’m torn over how easily it let me storyboard and create professional video projects

9:02 pm | August 8, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Tags: AI | Comments: Off

LTX Studio is an online generative AI service that aims to provide many tool filmmakers needs from storyboarding, and even extending its scope to full-blown video creation. It’s a bold ambition, but does it cut it when it comes to production? I tested it out to see what's on offer.

LTX Studio: Pricing & plans

The free tier’s limitations really make it a trial service, but the paid levels aren’t that expensive when compared to other online services

You’d think such an ambitious goal would demand eye-watering prices, but LTX Studio’s subscription costs are surprisingly reasonable compared to other services.

For one thing, there’s a free tier, which is always welcome, although it does come with restrictions, the worst one being only granting you 800 Computing Seconds (CS). Not each month, or even each year, but for ever. So it’s best to think of this tier as a means to test the service, and put it through its paces.

The other tiers start at $15 a month, and go up to $125, with each offering more tools and options, including an increasing number of CS each month, from 8,640 (2.4 hours) for the cheapest to 90,000 (25 hours) for the top of the line (you can’t as of yet purchase additional ones should you run out in any given month). Paying yearly grants you a 20% discount (i.e., to the equivalent of between $12 to $100 per month).

‘Lite’ comes with a personal licence, while ‘Standard’ and ‘Pro’ have a commercial one. The latter two also include the ability to create ‘Trained Actors’ (digital facsimiles), have access to accelerated rendering, as well as the ability to collaborate with others on a single project.

You can check out LTX Studio by clicking here.

Score: 4/5

LTX Studio: Computing Seconds

LTX Studio during our review — (Image credit: Lightricks // Future)

Referring to Computing Seconds (CS) as an allotment of resources can make sense, but is currently quite opaque as we can’t know off hand how much time an action will take. LTX Studio is working on making this a more transparent transaction

It might be best to pause for a second and understand what Computing Seconds (CS) are: any requests you make, be it to generate an image, rendering videos, changing a character’s appearance, etc, costs computing time, and that comes out of your allotment.

As I was informed, if someone opened a free account, and “used all their tokens generating videos with LTXV, they'd be able to generate around 12-16 videos.” This should be enough to give you an good idea of what the service will offer you, but it is still somewhat opaque, as obviously the more complex the request, the more CS it will need to consume to deliver, and each amendment will cost you additional CS.

As an illustration, in my own exploration of the service, I ended up using around 8,000 CS, asking for a handful of images, videos, and storyboards. LTX Studio is aware of this and are currently working on a way to make it clear how many seconds you’ll be using up for each kind of request.

Score: 3/5

LTX Studio: Getting started

Login in without a password may sound like fun, but it gets tedious after a while if you’re always accessing the service from one computer. Aside from that, the home page is easy to understand and use

You have the option of login in via your Google account or your email address. There’s no password for either, although each and every time you log in with your email (or every day if you work in LTX a lot), you’ll be asked for type in a special login code which is sent to you on request.

OK, fine, there’s no need to remember yet another password, but considering our computers store our passwords for us these days, it can get frustrating.

There is an upside of course: it makes it super easy to log in from any computer, not just yours - as long as you’ve got access to your email on the go (most do, I know, but some don’t).

Once you’re in the interface proper, you’re offered various choices, depending on your subscription level. Creating AI characters, for instance, is not available for the Lite tier. In addition to those artificial actors, you can create images and videos, generate a storyboard using AI, or manually create one instead. All this is offered to you either in the form of giant thumbnails, or through a menu sidebar to the left, which includes your recent projects.

I’ve been told this will all change soon, and the interface will intuitively morph into the right tool, based on what you need to do. Another feature that’s coming soon.

Score: 3/5

LTX Studio: Generative AI

This genAI service acts and feels like any other, with the one major distinction being the in-house algorithm’s speed, which is most impressive

Whether you opt to ‘Generate Images’ or ‘Generate Motion’, you’re taken to the exact same ‘Gen Space’, a section of the service which remembers all the prompts you’ve given it, which you can scroll through at any time. It’s also possible to create multiple sessions so as not to clog your ‘Gen Space’ with too much media.

The concept works like any other generative AI tool you might’ve used in the past: there’s a prompt field where you type in what you’re after, hit ‘Return’, and you’re offered multiple results.

You can’t create a video without a still image to base the motion from. This is achieved either by uploading an image, or by selecting a generated one from your ‘Gen Space’ After that, the process is the same… aside from the choice of algorithm.

By default, you’re offered ‘LTX Turbo’, an extremely fast in-house algorithm. Google’s Veo 2 and 3 are also available, and so is ‘LTX’, a higher quality version of the default choice. Veo takes a lot longer to produce results and hence will cost you more CS. Also, the longest videos you can produce with Veo are 8 seconds, while LTX can make them up to 30 seconds (although 15 and up are still in beta - 9 seconds is the non-beta maximum).

The standard resolution for videos is 1080p, and I’ve been told they’re working on getting it up to 4K.

As is often the case with genAI, it’s not a magic bullet. It doesn’t always work as expected, so you can end up spending a lot of CS to get everything exactly right.

Score: 4/5

LTX Studio: Storyboarding

You have the option of manually imputing each shot you’re after, or let LTX’s AI do it all for you. Place your artificial actors in the scenes, and there’s even a rudimentary video editor to finish your project with (or export the generated shots to a proper video editing tool)

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of LTX Studio is its Storyboarding feature. You can create all the shots you need for the scenes you’re planning on shooting through their ‘Blank Storyboard’ tool. You get to choose the type of shot, its angle, type in a description, and LTX will generate an image for you based on that information.

Remember the digital actors you’re able to create? Well, this is where you can add them to your project. It’s also possible to change the style of your project, from cinematic, to grunge, film noir, anime, and a host of others.

I’m somewhat concerned about how easy it is to create an actor using the likeness of a celebrity or someone you know, but truth be told, that’s the case for pretty much every other genAI service.

Once you’ve built your storyboard, there’s also a Timeline where each shot will be displayed in sequence. You’re free to move them around, or even delete shots (this will be reflected in your storyboard), but it’s also possible to export each shot you’ve created in LTX, and use dedicated video editing software to fine tune your edit.

Story-boarders could use this service to speed up their creation process, no doubt. But it’s also very possible for anyone who knows about shots, angles, etc, to do away with a story-boarder altogether with this service, and even more so with the ‘Generate Storyboard’ tool. With that one, all you need to do is feed it your scene’s script, and AI will create shot after shot for you automatically.

It’s not hard to imagine, with a lot of CS, you could conceivably create an entire video project, from concept to final output, without ever leaving the comfort of your chair, scout for locations, cast actors, hire a crew… It’s certainly the most impressive… But is it a good thing? For the industry, for the professionals? For the individuals?

Score: 4/5

LTX Studio: Environmental concerns

Like any AI data centre, LTX Studio uses a lot of power, and a lot of water. The Google centre they’re hosted by, claim to “care deeply” about reaching net zero by 2030, and that it replenishes around two thirds of the water it uses

On top of that, there’s the growing concern of such data centre’s impact on the environment. LTX Studio is currently hosted in Council Buff, Iowa, and I’ve been told they “deeply care” about reaching net zero by 2030. I was also informed that LTX is the most energy efficient AI model out there (I guess having a really fast generative engine must help in that regard).

Freshwater usage is also known to be a massive problem, what with the huge number of processors these centres need to cool - Google’s Data Centres claim to replenish around 64% of the water they use. Despite that, they still use a heck of a lot of freshwater, mind. But then again, all massive AI centres have the same problem

Should I buy LTX Studio?

Buy it if...

You’re looking for a fast generative AI service that can help you build a project from scratch, creating actors, adding them to your storyboard, even turning images into short video clips, and edit it all in the included (yet rudimentary) video editing section.

Don't buy it if...

You’re not a fan of AI, don’t like the weird images and videos it generally produces, and prefer to deal with human beings to produce projects, and works of art.

For more creative tools, we've tested and reviewed the best video editing software and the best video editing apps for pro-grade results.

The LG B5 is a brilliant, entry-level OLED TV with plenty to like, even though it doesn’t hit the same picture quality heights as its pricier OLED siblings

8:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Televisions | Tags: AI, HDMI, OLED, TV | Comments: Off

LG B5 OLED TV review: Two minute review

The LG B5 is LG’s entry-level OLED TV for 2025. It doesn’t change a great deal from its predecessor, the LG B4, one of the best TVs of 2024, but still delivers the great performance and stacked feature set that you’d expect from an LG OLED TV. At $1,499.99 / £1,699 / AU$1,995 the main competition for the 55-inch model I reviewed is mid-to-premium price mini-LED TVs.

LG B5’s new features are primarily the AI ones associated with webOS 25, such as AI Search, AI Concierge and the improved AI Chatbot. Elsewhere, the B5 carries a lot of the same features as last year’s LG B4, although that is a well-stocked list.

The B5 delivers very good picture quality. Its main strength lies in its detailed textures and punchy, dynamic colors. Its rich contrast and deep black levels are what you’d expect from the best OLED TVs. Where the B5 falls short is brightness, as there has been no upgrade over the B4 in that respect. During testing, I also found its screen to be quite reflective, but its picture quality is still great overall.

With a two-channel, 20W speaker system, the B5’s built-in sound can only go so far. Using the AI Sound Pro preset results in clear sound for such a basic speaker array. Unfortunately, the bass is lacking, and its sound never really escapes beyond the screen. The B5 needs to be paired with one of the best soundbars to get a good cinematic experience.

Gaming is one area where the B5 shines. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports, which support 4K 120Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium, Nvidia G-Sync and HGiG), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming. It also has a measured 9.1ms input lag time, which is up there with the best gaming TVs. There is an odd quirk you may need to navigate if you’re an Xbox Series X user, which you can check in the Gaming section of this review. But other than this, the B5 is a fantastic option for gaming.

LG’s webOS 25 is one of the best iterations of its smart TV platform to date, and although it carries over a lot of what made webOS 24 great, such as Quick Menu, Quick Cards, it adds in new AI features that many should find useful. This is one of the best smart interfaces you’ll find on a TV.

Value is a difficult proposition for the B5. While the B4 is available, it’s easily the better option as the B5 doesn’t provide any major upgrades. Still, for the money, the B5 delivers a very good package with responsive gaming performance, a full suite of features and strong picture quality.

LG B5 OLED TV review: Prices & release date

LG B5 OLED TV with sunset over a city on screen — The LG B5 demonstrates strong contrast and refined detail (Image credit: Future)

Release date: July/August 2025 (UK/US)
48-inch: $899.99 / £1,299
55-inch: $1,499.99 / £1,699 / AU$1,995
65-inch: $1,999.99 / £2,499 / AU$2,695
77-inch: $2,999.99 / £3,499
83-inch: $4,499.99 / £4,499

The LG B5 is the entry-level model in LG’s 2025 OLED TV lineup, sitting below the mid-range LG C5 and the flagship LG G5 and LG M5 OLED models. The 55-inch model I tested launched at $1,499.99 / £1,699 / AU$1,995 compared to the LG C5’s 55-inch launch price of $1,999.99 / £1,899.99 / AU$3,295.

Since its release, prices for the LG B5 have fallen across the lineup in different regions. The 55-inch model is now priced at $1,499.99 / £1,399 / AU$1,995 and the 65-inch model is priced at $1,599.99 / £2,099 / AU$2,695.

LG B5 OLED TV review: Specs

Screen type:	OLED
Refresh rate:	120Hz
HDR support:	Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
Audio support:	Dolby Atmos
Smart TV:	webOS 25
HDMI ports:	4x HDMI 2.1
Built-in tuner:	ATSC 1.0 (US)

LG B5 OLED TV review: Benchmark results

LG B5 OLED TV review: Features

LG B5 OLED TV ports — The LG B5's connections include four HDMI 2.1 ports (Image credit: Future)

Alpha 8 AI Processor Gen 2 and W-OLED panel
4K 120Hz, VRR, ALLM and four HDMI 2.1 ports
AI picture and sound tools

The LG B5 serves as the entry-level model in LG’s 2025 OLED TV lineup. It uses a standard W-OLED panel, and for that reason, it doesn’t offer the same brightness as the LG C5, which has an OLED Evo panel, or the LG G5, which has a new Primary Tandem RGB OLED panel.

The B5 comes equipped with LG’s Alpha 8 AI Processor Gen 2, which features 4K Super Upscaling and AI Picture Pro. It also has AI Sound Pro, which features 9.1.2 surround sound upscaling. The B5 supports Dolby Vision for both movies and gaming, but there is no HDR10+ support.

A built-in two-channel speaker system totaling 20W of power is provided on the B5. Alongside common sound preset modes such as Standard, Cinema, and Sports, there is an AI Sound Pro preset that analyzes the content onscreen and adjusts the sound accordingly. There is Dolby Atmos support, but unfortunately, no DTS support, which is the case for all 2025 LG TVs.

The B5 is well-equipped for gaming. It carries four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 120Hz, VRR (including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Nvidia G-sync and HGiG), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming. It also has a Game Optimizer mode where settings can be changed to improve picture and gaming performance, including an input delay boost.

The B5 uses LG’s webOS 25 as its smart TV platform. This supports all major streaming apps such as Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video, as well as UK-based streaming apps including BBC iPlayer and ITVX. The major new additions to webOS 25 include a number of AI-based tools such as AI Search, AI Concierge, which recommends content based on keyword searches you have used, and AI Voice ID, which recognises users and activates their saved profile with a customized home screen and content.

Features score: 5/5

LG B5 OLED TV review: Picture quality

LG B5 OLED TV with red flowers in a field on screen — The LG B5's superb color is one of its highlights (Image credit: Future)

Detailed, contrast-rich picture
Accurate colors and textures
Middling brightness levels

Starting with some brightness measurements, the LG B5 clocked in at 668 nits in Cinema mode and 637 nits in Standard mode for HDR peak brightness measured on a 10% white window. Those numbers are almost identical to its predecessor, the LG B4. Such brightness figures are to be expected from a TV with a W-OLED display panel, but they are a significant step down from the mid-range LG C5, which hit 1,180 nits and 1,198 nits on the same tests in Filmmaker and Standard modes, respectively.

For fullscreen HDR brightness, the B5 hit 131 nits in Cinema mode and 172 nits in Standard mode, measured on a 100% white pattern. Again, these are low numbers, but typical ones for a TV with a W-OLED panel.

Throughout my viewing, I found myself switching between Cinema and Filmmaker Mode, as the former was better for brighter scenes, and the latter was more accurate for darker scenes.

Starting with some upscaling tests, the B5 did a good job of upscaling textures on an HD stream of Fight Club via Disney Plus, giving pictures a sharper look while also improving contrast. With a DVD of The Amazing Spider-Man, there was some visible upscaling in action, but it didn’t quite take the picture to 4K-like detail levels.

The B5 delivers accurate and rich colors. Watching Elemental on Disney Plus with Dolby Vision Filmmaker Mode active, a scene where Ember makes a glass vase produced shimmering oranges and purples with plenty of vivid punch. In Wicked, during the Wizard & I scene, the pink flowers were vibrant, and Elphaba’s green skin and the blue details on the walls looked true-to-life with plenty of depth.

When I measured the B5’s HDR color gamut coverage, it hit 99.5% for UHDA-P3 and 74.85% for BT.2020. These are excellent results and explain why the B5’s colors appear both accurate and vibrant.

LG B5 OLED TV with gold stopwatch inner mechanisms on screen — The LG B5 delivers deep black levels as you'd expect from an OLED, but its reflective screen means darker scenes are best viewed in dim lighting conditions (Image credit: Future)

The B5’s black levels are as inky and rich as you could hope for from an OLED TV. In the opening crime scene investigation and subway fight in The Batman, the dark areas on screen looked deep and the shadow detail was superb. I did find there were minor instances of black crush in some particularly dark scenes in Filmmaker Mode, but dark scenes overall looked very good.

Contrast was also very good, with an even balance between light and dark tones. In both The Batman and Nosferatu, scenes with deep black backgrounds punctuated by bright light from torches or lamps had powerful depth. The B5’s average brightness meant the range between dark and light tones wasn’t as wide as you’d find on more premium OLEDs, but it was still impressive. And in black and white scenes from Oppenheimer, the B5 showcased a good range of gray tones between the deep shadows and bright highlights.

One thing that became obvious throughout my testing was how reflective the B5’s screen became in bright lighting conditions. Darker movies, such as The Batman and Nosferatu, were best viewed in dimmed or pitch black conditions, as they were difficult to watch with the overhead lights in our testing labs turned on.

Throughout testing, the B5 delivered realistic textures with a 3D-like level of crispness. Skin tones looked accurate, and the B5’s fine detail brought out features such as facial hair and pores.

The B5’s motion handling was accurate and smooth. In a scene from No Time To Die where James Bond walks across a hillside, the B5 handled the slow-panning camera shot with only minimal judder when Cinematic Movement was turned on in the Clarity settings. For sports, I chose Standard Mode with Natural motion turned on, as this produced the smoothest action when watching a soccer game on Prime Video while avoiding motion artefacts such as ghosting of the ball.

Picture quality score: 4.5/5

LG B5 OLED TV review: Sound quality

LG B5 OLED TV with Elphaba on screen — The LG B5's sound is average, and although AI Sound Pro mode does a good job, movies such as *Wicked* (pictured) deserve better (Image credit: Universal Pictures / Future)

Two-channel speaker system
Clear, accurate sound
Limited bass and soundstage

The LG B5 has a two-channel, 20W speaker system, and while it supports Dolby Atmos, it lacks the DTS support found on 2024 LG OLED TVs. A useful AI Sound Pro mode upmixes audio to a 9.1.2-channel configuration that adds a more immersive layer to the B5’s sound.

Another new feature for webOS 25 is AI Sound Wizard, a tool that lets you listen to pre-recorded audio clips to determine a sound profile you like, similar to the AI Picture Wizard. Although I didn’t use this tool for my testing, it may be useful for some.

While I usually choose a Cinema/Movie sound preset for my testing, I found myself using LG’s AI Sound Pro preset most often. It added width and depth to the soundstage and produced a more accurate sound and greater volume levels compared to the Cinema preset.

Watching the Batmobile chase scene from The Batman with AI Sound Pro activated, swerving cars, screeching tyres and spraying bullets were all accurately mapped, with the sounds closely connected to the action on the screen. Sadly, the rumble of the Batmobile's engine was absent as AI Sound Pro sacrifices bass, creating a more thinned-out sound. Even so, when watching Wicked, AI Sound Pro did a good job of creating a wider soundstage for the score while also delivering clear vocals.

One tough thing to ignore is that the B5’s sound doesn’t match up to its picture. I’d recommend adding a soundbar, and thanks to the B5’s WOW Orchestra feature, compatible LG soundbars can work in tandem with the B5’s speakers to create a punchier, more impactful sound.

Sound quality score: 3.5/5

LG B5 OLED TV review: Design

LG B5 OLED TV metal foot on dark surface — The LG B5 uses two metal feet instead of a central pedestal stand. (Image credit: Future)

Sturdy, lightweight design
Solid, metal feet
New AI smart remote

Even though it’s the entry-level OLED TV in LG’s lineup, the B5 has a premium design. It comes with two metal feet that feel reassuringly weighty, and when attached, the B5 is sturdy despite its light weight. It has a marble-effect on the rear panel that again gives it a premium feel.

The B5 is similar in depth to the LG C5, and although it doesn’t have the metal frame of the LG G5, it does have a visually appealing trim profile around most of the frame.

If you’re in the US, you’ll be getting a new streamlined, AI version of LG’s Magic Remote, which gets rid of some buttons in favor of a smaller, sleeker design. If you’re in the UK, the Magic Remote has a near-identical design to previous versions, but some buttons, such as source select, have been omitted in favor of the new AI button.

Design score: 4/5

LG B5 OLED TV review: Smart TV & menus

LG B5 OLED TV with webOS 25 home page on screen — webOS 25 is easily one of the best iterations of LG's smart TV platform to date (Image credit: Future)

LG webOS 25 interface
AI-based tools for content recommendation
Quick Cards and Quick Menu for easy navigation

The B5 uses LG’s webOS smart TV platform. This year’s iteration, webOS 25, adds several AI-centric features including AI Search, a tool that can be used to find specific content; AI Concierge, which uses keywords based on watch and search history to make content recommendations; and an improved version of AI Chatbot, an AI assistant that can help with any TV troubleshooting or queries.

The webOS 25 layout follows the same successful formula from webOS 24. It has Quick Cards on the home screen to house specific apps based on category, such as Game and Sports, and Quick Menu, a useful tool for making settings adjustments without having to move away from the content on screen. Navigation of menus and apps was smooth and responsive on the B5 throughout my testing.

Multiple viewers can create profiles that will have personalized layouts and even tailored comment recommendations. The new AI Voice ID feature can recognize a specific viewer, and the TV will automatically switch to the associated profile.

The B5 doesn’t have as many picture and sound settings as you’d find on some other smart TV platforms, but it now has AI Picture Wizard and AI Sound Wizards serving as useful tools to create your own personal picture and sound profiles.

Smart TV & menus score: 4.5/5

LG B5 OLED TV review: Gaming

LG B5 OLED TV with Battlefield V and game optimizer menu on screen — The LG B5 is a brilliant TV for gaming with responsive performance and handling with games such as *Battlefield V* (pictured) (Image credit: Future)

4K 120Hz, FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync
9.1ms input lag time
Four HDMI 2.1 ports

The B5 is an excellent TV for gaming and has a wide array of gaming features. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports that all support 4K 120Hz, FreeSync Premium, Nvidia G-Sync, HGiG, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM. It also features a Game Optimizer mode where settings such as black level and input lag can be easily adjusted.

Gaming performance on the B5 is snappy and ultra-responsive. Playing Battlefield V on Xbox Series X, chaotic shootouts and battles with quick targeting were handled with ease, with the B5 delivering a judder-free experience throughout. With Boost mode activated in the Game Optimizer, I measured a low 9.1ms input lag time. With Dolby Vision picture activated, Battlefield V’s picture looked detailed with strong contrast and bold colors during a mission in an autumnal forest.

One quirk I did find during my testing was that with Dolby Vision picture, a feature that’s only relevant for certain Xbox Series X games, activated, I could not change the Input Delay in Game Optimizer. To get around this, I turned off Dolby Vision in the Xbox Series X settings, changed the Input Lag setting to Boost and then reactivated Dolby Vision. Not a dealbreaker, but something to note.

Gaming score: 5/5

LG B5 OLED TV review: Value

Image 1 of 2

LG C5 AI Magic Remote — The latest LG AI Magic Remote has a design change from previous generations. But it's only available in certain regions including the US. (Image credit: Future)

Image 2 of 2

LG C5 Magic Remote with AI button — UK users will have to settle for the original Magic Remote with a new AI button instead. (Image credit: Future)

Great features and performance for the price
Almost identical to its predecessor
Better value in the UK and Australia than in the US

The LG B5 is an odd TV to judge in terms of value. The 55-inch model I tested is available for $1,499.99 / £1,399 / AU$1,695, whereas the step-up 55-inch LG C5 is available for $1,399 / £1,599 / AU$3,295. This means if you’re in the US, it’s actually cheaper to buy the C5, though the reason the B5 is more expensive is that it was only recently released in the US and hasn’t yet seen discounts.

There is a significant price gap between the two in the UK and Australia, and while you may not get the C5’s brightness with the B5, you are getting a similar feature set.

The real elephant in the room is that the B5 is nearly identical to its B4 predecessor, with similar picture quality, including brightness levels, and similar features. While the B4 remains available, it is your best option as it’s now selling at a significantly reduced price. Once the B4 stock runs out, the B5 will be the cheapest 2025 OLED TV.

Still, the B5 carries a near-full suite of features and delivers great picture quality and gaming performance, for a competitive price. Once the B5 gets discounts, it will be a steal.

Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the LG C5 OLED TV?

LG B5 OLED TV with parrot on screen — (Image credit: Future)

LG B5 OLED
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	A fantastic list of features for smart TV and gaming	5/5
Picture quality	Great picture quality with rich contrast and colors, but just average brightness	4.5/5
Sound quality	Direct, engaging sound with AI Sound Pro but feels too narrow and bass is underwhelming	3.5/5
Design	Solid build quality with somewhat premium feel for an entry-level OLED	4/5
Smart TV and menus	webOS 25 is packed with new AI features while carrying over everything that made webOS 24 great	4.5/5
Gaming	Full suite of gaming features including 4K 120Hz support and four HDMI 2.1 ports	5/5
Value	Nearly identical to its predecessor, the B4, but still a great overall package	4/5

Buy it if...

You want brilliant picture quality
The B5 has a contrast-rich picture that delivers vibrant colors and realistic textures. It looks more premium than its entry-level status would suggest.

You want a great TV for gaming
Stocked with a near-full suite of gaming features and delivering responsive performance and great picture quality, the B5 is a top-tier gaming TV.

You want the best smart TV platform
webOS 25 is easy to navigate, user-friendly, packed with convenient features and introduces AI tools that can make your life much easier.

Don't buy it if...

You own the LG B4
The B5 is a great TV, but it carries almost no upgrades over last year's B4 other than webOS 25. If you own the B4 or can get a good deal on it, there's no point in upgrading.

You want to watch in a bright room
Due to the LG B5's middling brightness and reflective screen, it can be quite difficult to watch in a bright room, especially with darker scenes. It's best viewed in dim conditions.

You want brilliant built-in sound
The B5 does an admirable job and has a useful AI Sound Pro mode, but there's no denying that the sound doesn't match the picture. A soundbar would make a good addition.

Also Consider

	LG B5	LG B4	LG C5	Samsung QN80F
Price (55-inch)	$1,499.99 / £1,699 / AU$1,995	$1,399 / £1,399 / AU$2,199	$1,999.99 / £1,899.99 / AU$3,299	$1,299.99 / £1,399 (roughly AU$1,991)
Screen type	OLED	OLED	OLED	Mini-LED
Refresh rate	120Hz	120Hz	144Hz	144Hz
HDR support	Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG	Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG	Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG	HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Smart TV	webOS 25	webOS 24	webOS 25	Tizen
HDMI ports	4 x HDMI 2.1	4 x HDMI 2.1	4 x HDMI 2.1	4 x HDMI 2.1

LG B4
The LG B4 is the LG B5's predecessor and the two models are near-identical, with the main difference being the AI-based tools the B5 has received as part of webOS 25. While the B4 is still in stock, it's easily the better deal of the two. Read our full LG B4 review.

LG C5
The LG C5 is the mid-range OLED in LG's 2025 TV lineup. The main upgrades it has over the B5 include much higher peak brightness levels and an improved processor, as well as 4K 144Hz support for gaming. The C5 is arguably the best value OLED in LG's lineup and it's not much pricier than the B5. If you can't stretch your budget, the B5 is still a solid option. Read our full LG C5 review.

Samsung QN80F
The mid-range model in Samsung's 2025 mini-LED TV lineup, the Samsung QN80F is similarly priced to the B5. It carries a similar suite of features and delivers higher brightness, but its overall picture quality can't quite compete with the B5, as the latter offers richer contrast and more accurate colors. The QN80F may be a better option for bright rooms, however. Read our full Samsung QN80F review.

How I tested the LG B5 OLED TV

LG B5 OLED TV with colorimeter, laptop, test pattern generator and Portrait Display Calman software all connected and on display — (Image credit: Future)

Tested over a couple of weeks
Tested using SDR and HDR sources
Measurements taken using Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software

I first began testing the LG B5 with some casual viewing to determine the best picture modes, eventually settling on both Cinema and Filmmaker Mode (depending on the content).

After this, I began my subjective testing, using both Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) sources such as DVD and broadcast TV and HD streaming, and High Dynamic Range (HDR) sources such as 4K Blu-ray and 4K streaming.

With these sources, I used reference scenes to test the B5's picture for color, contrast, textures, motion and upscaling. I also used reference scenes to test the B5's sound quality.

For 4K Blu-rays and other discs, I used a Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player. I also used an Xbox Series X to test the B5's gaming features and performance.

LG B5 OLED TV with testing equipment attached and person testing — (Image credit: Future)

For objective testing of the B5, I used a colorimeter, test pattern generator and Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software to record measurements.

Brightness measurements were taken using both HDR and SDR white window patterns ranging in size from 1-100%, with a focus on 10% and 100% windows, for peak and fullscreen brightness, respectively. I also tested the B5's grayscale and color accuracy, taking an average of the Delta-E values (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what's shown on screen), looking for a result below 3.

I also tested the B5's coverage of the UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces. Finally, I used a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input lag Tester to test the B5's input lag in milliseconds.

You can read an in-depth overview of how we test TVs at TechRadar at that link.

First reviewed: August, 2025
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