Google Pixel 10: same design, now with magnets and more AI

Google's new Pixel 10 smartphones are here, and they look a lot like the Google Pixel 9 and 8. And that's a good thing! In a market where manufacturers always change their smartphone design to follow trends and leverage aesthetic novelty, Google - like Apple with the iPhones - stays true to the course, and iterates on a successful and distinctive design. On all new Pixel 10 models the camera unit sticks out horizontally from the back, giving the smartphones their distinctive look. On the back, Google added a magnetic attachment for wireless charging, and Gemini AI models have infiltrated even more areas of the Android user experience.
Here are the five things you need to know about the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Look, forget about anyone telling you the new Pixels look exactly the same as the previous ones. They do, and that's the entire point. Let us stress this again: design is iteration, not constant overhaul. Google's designers know this, and somehow they're able to communicate this effectively to their upper management. The result are new phones that look familiar, which is a very powerful thing to look like when you need to convince customers to buy your product. Just look at the iPhone, if you need a crystal clear example of this philosophy. The lines are simple and elegant, and the new color combinations are tasteful and in-brand. The entry level Pixel 10 comes in Obsidian, Frost, Indigo, and Lemongrass. The Pro (6.3-inch display) and Pro XL (6.8-inch display) are available in Obsidian, Porcelain, Moonstone, and Jade.

The Pixel 10 comes equipped with Google's new Tensor G5 chip. The component is the biggest leap forward in custom chip technology for the company since the Tensor debut five years ago. Built on advanced 3nm manufacturing technology, the G5 delivers up to 60% more powerful AI processing and 34% faster overall performance compared to previous generations. What sets it apart is its partnership with Google DeepMind to run the latest Gemini Nano AI model directly on the phone, enabling features like real-time voice translation, enhanced camera capabilities, and smarter assistant functions without needing an internet connection.

With a bit of an unexpected twist, Google added a new MagSafe-style magnet to the back of the new Pixel, called Pixelsnap. It's pretty strong, and works with Qi2 compatible accessories. Google has launched a series of branded Pixelsnap accessories including a charger with stand, a ring stand, and compatible cases. While the addition is cool in itself because, you know, magnets, we're also happy to report that basically every iPhone MagSafe accessory seems to be more or less compatible with the Pixelsnap too, including most of the iPhone charger stands that you or your partner might already have at home.

The Pixel 10 comes with an upgraded UI based on Google's Material 3 Expressive design language. The new interface brings more fluidity and smooth interactions. It definitely stays on the minimalistic and flat side of the UI world, in quite a stark contrast with Liquid Glass, iOS 26's new bold and glass-style UI that will debut on iPhone and iPad in September. The interface is also deeply integrated with Google's AI, thanks to a new feature called Magic Cue, a series of contextual AI-generated suggestions that pop up in apps like Messages or Phone, with the intent of giving the user the information they might need at the same time. It works by reading and processing a lot of sensitive information from your Google properties, of course, so classifying it as "useful" or "creepy" is an exercise we gladly leave to the personal sensitivity of the reader.

Along with Magic Cue, the Pixel 10 smartphones come packed with a lot of other AI-first functionalities, thanks to the capability of the new Tensor G5 chip. To name a few: Call Transcript provides a transcript of missed calls; Daily Hub uses Magic Cue to give the user a daily digest of upcoming events, news, topics, recommended playlists, and more; Pixel Journal is a new journal app that uses AI to suggest topics and content. Google also doubled down on AI integration in its photography-related apps. The Pixel 10 and 10 Pro Camera now comes with a Camera Coach function, which guides users to take better pictures by suggesting composition and lighting tips. Auto Best Take can analyze up to 150 frames in a few seconds to pick the better shot of a group of people, picking the one where everyone's looking at the camera. In the US, Google Photos also adds a conversation-based photo editing feature which lets users correct the lighting, contrast, or exposure of a photo just by telling their phone what to do.