Google Pixel 10 vs Pixel 10 Pro: Which is Better?

As dedicated phone enthusiasts, we must confess that sometimes the hype gets to us. At Ghostek, we love technology, and were very excited about Google’s Pixel 10 series. When it came out last year, we adored it. However, six months have passed and the adrenaline rush of getting a new gadget has worn off. Did we overreact?  

Frankly, no. The Google Pixel 10 is a really good phone. Even without Google’s publicity machine overriding the more logical parts of our brain, we think it’s a fantastic smartphone with a lot to recommend.

But revisiting the series led to a minor debate in the Ghostek office, specifically over which is the better choice: the standard Pixel 10 or the Pixel 10 Pro? Our team was split roughly down the middle.

We’ve previously compared the entire line to the Pixel 9 and Pixel 8, but figured it was time for the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro to have a proper head-to-head. For this, we compared:

• Performance

• Battery Life

• Camera

• Design

• Display

Then tallied it all up, and looked at overall value for money. Here’s what we found.

Performance

If you were to examine the tech specs for both models side by side, one notable difference immediately stands out: the RAM. The standard Google Pixel 10 is fitted with an impressive 12GB of RAM, but its more expensive sibling packs a hefty 16GB!

So…debate over? Not yet. The Pixel 10 Pro might have the edge in RAM, but that doesn’t mean it gets to instantly waltz home with the winner’s trophy. It has a clear advantage on paper, but on a purely practical level, the average phone user might not need that extra boost. We experimented by downloading various apps onto both models and using multiple features at the same time. There was no discernible difference. Each device uses the Tensor G5 Processor, and the operating speeds were essentially the same.

The Pixel 10 might be 4GB leaner than the Pixel 10 Pro, but it handled everything we asked of it with no difficulty. We’d wager good money that the majority of phone users won’t need that extra RAM in their everyday use. The Pixel 10 Pro will be worth the investment if you regularly run demanding games, but the standard model isn’t far behind.

Battery Life And Charging

The two devices are very similar when it comes to battery as well. Both promise up to 30 hours of usage on a full charge, and from our experience, that looks accurate. This is an improvement on earlier Pixel phones.  

Surprisingly, the Pixel 10 has the larger capacity, with its 4,970mAh battery outdoing the Pixel 10 Pro’s 4,870mAh. The Pixel 10 Pro’s display is more demanding too, so the standard model has a minor advantage. Granted, it is only a slim margin, but it is there nonetheless.

They also support identical charging speeds. Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro support up to 30W wired charging. In real-world terms, that means they take just over an hour and a half to fully recharge from zero.

But what about wireless charging? Here, the Pixel 10 series has a notable difference compared to the earlier models. It incorporates a magnetic accessory system called Pixelsnap, which you can use to attach wireless chargers with ease. They both support 15W wireless charging, and there’s a satisfying snap when they align with the charger. That won’t be a deal breaker, but it is a nice little quirk.  

Camera

It’s when you get to the camera that the difference between the two Pixel phones becomes clear. The Pixel 10 Pro incorporates a 48MP periscope zoom, which positively laps the Pixel 10’s 10.8MP equivalent. Compare the snaps side by side, and the Pixel 10 Pro’s are just better. They’re sharper and more detailed.

That’s not the end of the matter either. The Pixel 10 Pro features:

• A superior 11MP telephoto lens.

• A wider field of view on the selfie camera.

• The ability to save photos in full 50MP.

• Superior low-light performance.

• 8K video recording.

• Video boost and night-side video.

You can even adjust settings like the shutter speed and ISO through the Pro Shooting mode. All of which makes the Pixel 10 Pro into a photography rock star. The Pixel 10 just can’t compete. If you’re not fussy about camera performance, the Pixel 10’s setup is perfectly adequate, but otherwise, the Pixel 10 Pro is a clear winner.

Design

In terms of physical design, there’s not much to differentiate them. They are an identical size and shape, and the only major giveaway is the colour schemes.

Pixel 10 comes in:

• Obsidian (black)

• Indigo (bright blue)

• Frost (silvery grey)

• Lemongrass (green)

Pixel 10 Pro is available in:

• Porcelain (white/cream)

• Moonstone (grey)

• Jade (pastel green)

• Obsidian (black)

Colours aside, there is a subtle detail that tells them apart: the aluminium side rails. The Pixel 10’s rails have a matte finish, whereas the Pixel 10 Pro has a polished look. If pushed, we’d say the non-Pro Pixel phone wins here. The rails match the camera bar, and it has a more cohesive look. Plus, the Pixel 10 Pro’s rails are a little harder to grip and tend to show fingerprints a bit too easily for our liking.

This is only a slight difference however, and we imagine it’ll go unnoticed for the most part. Differing finishes on the side rails would hardly be a deal breaker for most people. But there is a big benefit to the two phones having the same dimensions: the cases are interchangeable. If you see an attractive new Pixel 10 Pro phone case, it’ll fit your Pixel 10 just fine.

Display

Let’s round this short comparison off by looking at the display screen. There are a few technical differences between the models, although again, this is something that we imagine most users won’t notice. It’s extremely enticing for phone nerds like us though, so which has the better display screen?

The Pixel 10 Pro is the winner here, too. It has a 1440p panel, compared to the standard model’s 1080p. The Pixel 10 Pro has a faster refresh rate, and it has an advantage in power usage. It features an LTPO OLED 'Super Actua' display that can scale from 1Hz to 120Hz for battery efficiency, whereas the standard model can drop to 60Hz. It has a better brightness scale and is overall the superior choice.

However, that doesn’t mean the Pixel 10 has a poor display screen. The Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro both have 6.3-inch displays, and they’re amazing! They’re vibrant and easily legible, and they offered a perfectly fluid experience when we tested them on various apps.  

Which Is The Better Value For Money: The Standard Model Or The Google Pixel 10 Pro?

Crunch time then, which is the better phone? And let’s not ignore the elephant in the Android store: the price tag.

At the time of writing, the Pixel 10 is priced at $799 and the Pixel 10 Pro at $999. The Pixel 10 Pro is undeniably the better phone, but that’s an extra $200. Is it worth putting down an extra wad of cash?

Well, if you’re a photography enthusiast, absolutely. Forgive us for repeating ourselves here, but the Pixel 10 Pro’s camera is really, really good. For budding photography pros or dedicated videographers, there’s no question that extra $200 is worth it.

But if photography isn’t a deal breaker, the Pixel 10 may be the better option. If you’d rather use it for social media or watching YouTube, for instance, you’ll be perfectly fine. We were thoroughly impressed with the non-Pro variant, and it compares well to other premium Android devices on the market. The two models aren’t worlds apart, and you still get a remarkable phone, but for a lower price tag.

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If nothing else, the end result of this comparison was quite reassuring. We had some doubts about our previous adoration of the Pixel 10 series, especially given the controversy over the battery capacity. But this revisit brushed the doubts away; the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro models are terrific phones. And we didn’t even touch on things like the integrated AI features.  

If all this talk has you thinking about accessorising your Pixel 10, we’ve got you covered. We have an eye-catching selection of cases available, along with headphones and other cool extras to enjoy. And if you’d like to keep up with all the latest phone industry news, just check back with Ghostek. We’ll keep you informed.