5 surprising day-one Pixel 10 changes that made me love this phone

It’s been over a couple of weeks since Google officially unveiled the Pixel 10 series, and as a Pixel 9 owner, I was excited to see how Google refined the smartphone lineup.

While the Pixel 10 series doesn’t look much different on the outside compared to the Pixel 9, Google added useful changes such as MagSafe-like magnetic charging, the TSMC-made Tensor G5, and new AI features under the hood.

I have been using the Pixel 10 Pro for just over a day, and here are some changes that genuinely surprised me as a Pixel 9 user.

5

Qi2 ‘Pixelsnap’ finally brings MagSafe-level convenience

I can now use magnetic accessories on my Pixel without hacks

One of the major additions to the Pixel 10 series this year is Qi2 magnets on the back.

While the Pixel 10 phones may not look different from the Pixel 9 series, they now come with Qi2 magnets built in, meaning you can use all MagSafe and Google’s Pixelsnap accessories without a third-party case or magnetic sticker.

All MagSafe accessories now attach to the back of the phone natively, just like they do on the iPhone — and this has turned out to be a major upgrade for me.

I can finally use all the MagSafe accessories I’ve collected, such as the Rokform magnetic charging stand shown above, along with other accessories like a wallet, wireless power banks, and car mounts natively on my Pixel 10 Pro without needing third-party add-ons.

While this may seem like a small addition to some, in just one day, I’ve already used it to charge my Pixel 10 Pro wirelessly in the car, for a video call at my desk, and I’m planning to use it with the stand on my flight next week.

4

The Pixel 10 display feels far brighter in outdoor use

Especially compared to the Pixel 9 Pro side-by-side

While this was never an issue for me on the Pixel 9 Pro, the Pixel 10 Pro comes with a 10% brighter display than the previous generation.

The Pixel 10 Pro offers up to 2,200 nits of peak brightness in HBM mode, while it goes up to 3,300 nits when playing HDR content.

I initially thought of this as a minor improvement, but I didn’t realize how much it mattered until I put the two phones side by side outdoors.

You don’t notice it immediately, but the Pixel 10 Pro’s text and display are slightly brighter than the Pixel 9 Pro, making it easier on the eyes outside.

It’s not a make-or-break feature, but this may be the kind of change I value more the longer I use the phone.

3

Camera Coach could actually make me a better photographer

It’s not gimmicky — the prompts feel practical and genuinely useful

As always, Google’s focus on the Pixel 10 series was more about new software features than the powerful hardware inside.

While the series comes with many AI features under the hood, the one I was most excited to try was the Gemini-powered Camera Coach.

This feature allows Gemini to scan the frame of the subject you’re about to photograph and, using AI, provide suggestions for the best shot.

It can recommend things like changing the camera angle, switching to another mode, zooming in, or adjusting lighting.

From my first few uses, it seems handy. I’ve used Camera Coach to take photos of plants, indoor artifacts, and family members, and it has proven helpful several times.

Yes, it sometimes takes a moment to scan the frame, but I’ve found the suggestions to be genuinely useful.

This could be one of the best features for those unsure about capturing the shots or simply wanting some coaching. I’ll share more photos I’ve taken using Camera Coach in another article soon.

2

Pro Res 100x zoom shows how good Google’s AI can really be

Zoom shots aren’t just usable, they’re impressively sharp

While Google may not have upgraded the camera sensors on the Pixel 10 Pro, the company is making full use of Gemini models this time to provide up to 100x zoom shots. For comparison, the Pixel 9 Pro offered only up to 30x digital zoom.

While I’ll need to test this feature more, my first quick uses of the 100x Pro Res zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro left me pleasantly surprised.

You can see the 100x zoomed shot of a flower above, with and without Pro Res zoom, and notice how clear and sharp the Gemini AI-enhanced image is.

This will definitely make it easier (and fun) for me to capture more zoomed-in shots with my 10 Pro.

Our in-house senior mobile reporter, Andy Boxall, has already put the Pro Res zoom to the test.

1

The new Tensor G5 seems to be holding up surprisingly well

It’s fast, efficient, and surprisingly reliable so far

While a day isn’t enough to truly test the chipset, my early impressions of the new Tensor G5 on the Pixel 10 Pro have left me impressed.

One of the reasons Pixel phones haven’t caught up with the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra or OnePlus 13 is Google’s use of its own Tensor processors.

Previously, Google relied on Samsung Foundry for Pixel chipsets, but this year it switched to TSMC.

This means the Tensor G5 should theoretically be more powerful and efficient than past generations, and while a day’s use doesn’t reveal everything, especially with background processes like updates, AI model downloads, and app installs, my initial impressions are quite positive.

The Pixel 10 Pro, after two to three hours of setup, hasn’t overheated, and the battery also seems to be holding up well.

The phone isn’t getting as hot as the Pixel 9 did with similar usage, so I’m assuming Google has made some serious changes under the hood.

The animations and UI still feel a step below compared to One UI 8 and even OxygenOS 15, with things taking their own time to load and render, but that’s more down to Google using its own flavor of Android.

More time with the device will tell the full story.

Pixel 10 just feels right from the start

All things said, something about the Pixel 10 Pro feels right from the start.

While I had to tweak some settings on my Pixel 10 initially, I love what Google has done here: not taking a drastically different approach from the Pixel 9 series and instead adding quality-of-life upgrades on top.

What this means long term, however, remains to be seen.