Google Pixel 10 Pro XL Review: The Camera Is Still the Best Reason to Buy a Pixel, the Chip Still Isn't
The Pixel 10 Pro XL brings Tensor G5 on TSMC's process and a bigger battery, but independent benchmarks show the chip still trails Snapdragon and Apple silicon by a wide margin — genuinely excellent computational photography is what keeps this phone competitive.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is the large-screen flagship in Google's current lineup, sitting alongside the newer Pixel 11 series covered elsewhere on this site. GSMArena's review summed it up bluntly: familiar on the outside, with the real story happening in the chip Google chose to build it around.
Design and Build
Available in Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, and Rose Quartz, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back on an aluminium frame, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is visually near-identical to its predecessor — GSMArena noted you could easily mistake it for last year's model. One first-look reviewer measured it at 232g, 12g heavier than the Pixel 9 Pro XL despite unchanged 8.5mm thickness, attributing the added weight to the bigger battery or upgraded cooling system.
Display
A 6.8-inch LTPO Super Actua OLED panel runs at 1–120Hz adaptive refresh with 3,000 nits peak brightness, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. GSMArena specifically noted the maximum brightness has been increased slightly from what was already an industry-leading level — a genuine, if incremental, improvement rather than a generational leap.
Camera
This remains the Pixel 10 Pro XL's clearest strength. The 50MP main sensor, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP 5x periscope telephoto are largely carried over from the previous generation on paper, but the new Tensor G5's Image Signal Processor enables genuinely new computational features — Thurrott specifically highlighted the new 100x "Pro Res Zoom" capability as the marquee addition, alongside improvements to Real Tone, motion deblur, and 10-bit video. GSMArena's review flagged a telephoto camera change that isn't obvious from the spec sheet alone, suggesting the upgrade here is more about processing than headline hardware.
Performance
This is genuinely the most contested part of the phone. Tensor G5 is the first Google chip fabricated by TSMC rather than Samsung, and Google claims a 34% faster CPU and 60% faster AI task performance over the Tensor G4. In practice, independent benchmark testing tells a more complicated story: 91mobiles' testing found the Pixel 10 Pro XL scoring under 15 lakh on AnTuTu, while Snapdragon 8 Elite and Dimensity 9400-powered rivals surpass 20 lakh — a real, substantial gap. Android Police was blunt about it: "Pixel 10's Tensor G5 shows Google still has a lot to learn," specifically noting other chips from Qualcomm and Apple still deliver far better efficiency. The chip does run cooler than previous Tensor generations, a genuine and welcome improvement, even if it doesn't close the raw performance gap.
Battery and Charging
A 5,060mAh battery with 37W wired and 23W Qi2 wireless charging delivered results that surprised several reviewers given the underwhelming benchmark story — Nasi Lemak Tech's testing reached nearly 16 hours in a standardized battery-life test, and one first-look review specifically noted roughly 20% more battery life than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It's a genuine bright spot: the efficient, if not fast, Tensor G5 appears to trade raw speed for real endurance gains.
Verdict
GSMTechTok Verdict
The Pixel 10 Pro XL remains the phone to buy if computational photography and battery endurance matter more to you than benchmark numbers — the camera system and its new processing capabilities are genuinely excellent, and real-world battery life is a clear strength. The Tensor G5's continued benchmark gap against Snapdragon and Apple silicon is real and consistently documented across independent testing, not a minor footnote. If raw performance is your priority, look elsewhere; if photography and software are, this remains one of the best options available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did switching Tensor G5 production to TSMC actually fix Pixel's performance problems?
Only partially. 91mobiles' detailed benchmark testing found the Pixel 10 Pro XL scoring under 15 lakh on AnTuTu, while Snapdragon 8 Elite and Dimensity 9400-powered rivals surpass 20 lakh, with even the previous-generation iPhone's A18 chip crossing 17 lakh. The TSMC move did measurably improve thermal behaviour and efficiency, but raw performance still trails the field by a wide margin.
Is the battery life actually better this generation?
Genuinely, yes, and by a meaningful margin — reviewers consistently praised the 5,060mAh battery's real-world endurance, with one first-look review specifically citing roughly 20% more battery life than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. This is one area where the Tensor G5's efficiency gains translate into a clear, measurable win.
What's the hidden telephoto upgrade GSMArena mentioned?
GSMArena's review noted a telephoto camera change that isn't obvious from the spec sheet alone, tied to processing rather than a headline hardware swap — worth checking their full review if zoom photography specifically is a priority for you, since the exact nature of the change wasn't spelled out in a single easily-summarized spec line.
Price history · 90 days · GBP
Pixel 10 Pro XL
Current
£1,099
90d Low
£1,028
7 Jul
90d High
£1,121
5 Jun
Launch price
£1,099
All-time low ↓
Price tracking from major UK retailers. Updated daily. Prices may vary.
How it compares: Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Pixel 11 Pro XL
Pixel 10 Pro XL
From £1,099
Pixel 11 Pro XL
From £1,279
Tensor G5
Chip
Tensor G6
50MP + 5x telephoto
Main cam
Larger Pro camera array
5,060mAh · 37W
Battery
—
From £1,099
Price
From £1,279
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