I've bought every flagship Google Pixel phone since the first - but 2025 has me reconsidering

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Google Pixel 10 is expected to person important upgrades this year, including a dedicated telephoto lens.
• Greater diagnostic parity with the Pro models, combined with nary expected terms increases, makes the modular Pixel an enticing option.
• It inactive won't beryllium the champion enactment for powerfulness users, particularly if you privation the astir susceptible camera strategy from Google.

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Google's non-Pro Pixel telephone has ever been the "safe pick." It's the exemplary I urge to astir users, truthful agelong arsenic they tin unrecorded without the Pro features -- whether that's an other telephoto camera, much RAM, oregon amended hardware.

Also: This rumored Pixel 10 diagnostic puts Google supra Samsung and OnePlus for maine - here's why

While there's small near to the imaginativeness arsenic acold arsenic what the upcoming Google Pixel 10 phones volition look like, if the leaks and rumors are true, determination volition beryllium a notable displacement successful dynamics this year. I'll accidental it now: The Pixel 10, not the Pixel 10 Pro, volition beryllium some the harmless prime and the champion prime successful 2025. I'm not alone successful that belief, and here's why.

1. A telephoto lens to zoom further

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

An aboriginal look astatine marketing renders suggests that the base-model Pixel 10 volition yet get a dedicated telephoto lens, rounding retired the accepted main and ultrawide sensors. Whether it's pulled from past year's Pixel 9 Pro Fold oregon different older model, having a greater optical zoom scope volition let users to seizure distant subjects with much clarity and detail. 

It's a large win, whether you often seizure photos of your kid oregon favored moving astir from afar, oregon privation to sphere the liveliness of an creator from your nose-bleed seats.

Also: Google volition denote its adjacent lineup of Pixels connected August 20 - Here's what we know

There is 1 notable trade-off with this plan decision: Google is reportedly downgrading the main and ultrawide sensors of the Pixel 10 to lucifer the Pixel 9a (which had an inferior camera strategy to past year's Pixel 9) successful bid to integrate the further telephoto sensor. While I recovered the Pixel 9a's 48MP shooter susceptible capable for astir environments, camera buffs whitethorn beryllium much drawn to the Pixel 10 Pro for this reason.

2. The aforesaid Tensor G5 spot arsenic the Pro

Adam Breeden/ZDNET

Google's in-house Tensor chipset doesn't needfully person the best way record for performance, cellular connectivity, and efficiency, but things are looking up with the upcoming G5 model. If the rumored 3nm plan and TSMC-based manufacturing (versus Samsung Foundry) are to beryllium realized, we whitethorn yet beryllium looking astatine a strategy processor that delivers snappy day-to-day show portion besides reliably maintaining vigor and powerfulness usage.

Also: Google's latest spot is each astir reducing 1 immense hidden outgo successful AI

To beryllium clear, I'm not expecting the Tensor G5 to acceptable caller benchmark precocious scores oregon vie intimately with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra oregon OnePlus 13; that's ne'er truly been the gully of Google's in-house silicon. 

Instead, having the aforesaid processor arsenic the Pro models should springiness the modular Pixel 10 entree to each of Google's latest AI tools, galore of which person landed good with consumers implicit the past year. Perhaps astir importantly, Google volition inactive person afloat rein implicit the Pixel line's bundle and information updates, allowing the devices to enactment much feature-relevant than immoderate different Android phone connected the market.

3. The flashiest features volition besides beryllium connected the non-Pro model

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

From the diagnostic parity that includes magnet-based Qi2 wireless charging capabilities to a charming caller Indigo bluish color, it's apt that the Google Pixel 10 volition beryllium the exemplary that appeals to astir people. It surely has for me, overmuch similar however the ultramarine iPhone 16 stuck retired successful the dispersed of subdued, monotone Pro exemplary handsets past year.

Also: The champion Android phones to bargain successful 2025

Another hardware quality betwixt the regular and Pro Pixel phones this twelvemonth volition beryllium the textured sides, with the erstwhile being matte-treated and the second having a glossy finish. From having tested assorted handsets with assorted concern designs implicit the years, I've recovered that matte-treated broadside rails are the astir effective. The decorativeness resists retaining lipid and fingerprint smudges, keeping the telephone looking cleaner.

Alas, the Pixel 10's little terms point, projected to inactive beryllium $799 for the 128GB configuration, makes it a compelling upgrade for anyone coming from an older handset. We'll larn much astir the caller Pixel 10 phones during the Made by Google event tomorrow, truthful enactment tuned.