Pixel 10 Pro XL after a week: surprises, disappointments, and intriguing questions

Here I am, a week into using the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, and although I’m enjoying it, I don’t feel that’s a suitable amount of time to review a phone that is going to cost you $1,200. Yes, it really is that expensive, and when you study the specification, it’s not dramatically different to the $1,000 Pixel 10 Pro. I’m giving the phone plenty of time to impress for another reason, too, because one of the major spec differences hasn’t lived up to my expectations yet. In the meantime, here’s what has stood out to me so far, and why I shouldn’t be surprised by the one thing letting it down.

The magnets are very welcome

Everyday convenience

How can magnets in the back of the Pixel 10 Pro XL, a simple feature on its own, be so game-changing? It’s all about convenience. In my case, I have a collection of accessories that use Apple’s MagSafe system, and they all now work with the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The reason I use MagSafe products with my iPhone? They’re really useful and should not be underestimated.

In the car, I use a Belkin MagSafe BoostCharge mount, which securely holds the Pixel 10 Pro XL in place, just as it does my iPhone. I used it for several hours over the weekend, and despite the car not having the most compliant suspension, it never came loose. The Pixel 10 Pro XL also works with the Anker Qi2 Nano Power Bank, which firmly attaches to the back of the phone.

While I have these accessories already as I also use an iPhone, newcomers to the Pixel 10 Pro can purchase MagSafe accessories with confidence, opening up a world of products beyond Google’s own Pixelsnap accessories. Unfortunately, Google has not added its own version of iOS’s StandBy Mode, so when you place the Pixel 10 Pro XL on a wireless charger, it doesn’t turn the display into a lovely bedside clock. There are apps available that introduce a similar feature, but what a shame it’s not part of Android 16 itself.

Android 16 is brilliant to use

Not sure the design is a selling point

I’ve already used and enjoyed Android 16 on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, and it’s just as good on the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The days when Android felt ponderous or laggy have long passed, and because it’s so logical and free of silly design or interface issues, it’s effortless to use.

Google’s Material 3 Expressive design has been talked up a lot, but I’d be lying if I said I’d noticed huge differences between it and Android on the Pixel 9 Pro. Yes, it’s a bit springy, there’s more blur, and various buttons and sliders have been redesigned, but it hasn’t felt transformative or dramatically different yet.

I take this as a good thing. I don’t want to pick up a new phone and instantly have to learn new ways of doing basic things, or be faced with an interface that has moved everything around just for the sake of it. Android 16 on the Pixel 10 Pro XL is superbly judged, smooth, fast, and easy to learn and understand. Once I started using Material 3 Expressive and Android 16, I really didn’t want to swap to another version of Android.

100x zoom is like magic

Yes, really

Rarely is there any point in using a phone camera zoom that goes beyond 10x, as the quality decreases to such a point where you have to look past the pixelation to see the subject. Now, I’m not going to say the 100x zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro XL is perfect, but it’s definitely a wow moment when you first try it out.

When you shoot a 100x photo the result, initially, is pretty poor. But give Google’s AI software a moment, and the photo suddenly turns into something, well, actually rather good. It’s obvious software is filling in the blanks, but it does so without too much smoothing or taking too many liberties.

I’m not convinced it’s a feature I’ll use that often, but it’s worth trying out just to see the magical switch between the photo it took, and the final AI-enhanced version. It’s a fun party piece, particularly as the edit takes just a few seconds, and everyone I’ve shown it to has said wow when the final photo is revealed.

Fantastic hardware

You won’t feel short changed

The Pixel 10 Pro XL is beautifully made, and there’s no question you’re holding an expensive smartphone. The Moonstone color of my review version looks excellent, although it doesn’t pop quite as much as I’d hoped, making it still a somewhat conservative choice. The Indigo version is a cool option, especially if you’re a keen Pixel historian.

At 232 grams, it’s heavy though – the fact it’s heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will surprise many – and it’s almost identically sized to the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, meaning it takes up plenty of room in your pocket.

All this said, the design is such a winner you won’t care. No, it doesn’t look any different to the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but it’s fine, because the Pixel has its own eye-catching style that’s unlike any other brand, and I love how Google continues to run with it. This is a thick and heavy phone, and therefore the anti-Galaxy S25 Edge, but I think a lot of people will love it for that reason alone.

The battery situation never changes

Will it ever be a Pixel strong point?

Now we get to my problem with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and also why I don’t feel quite ready to give it a final review score yet. So far, the battery has only returned around four to five hours of screen time on a single charge, and considering it has a larger capacity cell than the Pixel 10 Pro, I don’t think this is very good. However, because the phone is still settling down after setup, it may improve, and I want to give it that chance.

The battery performance does call into question any advancements Google has made in efficiency with the Tensor G5 processor. I’m concerned because I haven’t been pushing the phone that hard, with this battery usage resulting from tasks like a little over two hours of GPS navigation, taking photos, and some general app use. Not exactly hardcore usage, yet I’m seeing it draw around 75% of the battery.

The 3DMark gaming benchmark app is blocked from use on the Pixel 10 Pro XL (not uncommon for pre-release devices), making deeper insight into efficiency harder to assess at this time. A Google Pixel phone has never been the one to choose if long battery life is important to you, and it doesn’t look like the Pixel 10 Pro XL is going to change that. It also doesn’t bode well for the smaller battery cells in the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro either.

Is it upgrade material?

Think carefully before deciding

While I continue working on my review, there’s something else on my mind about the Pixel 10 Pro XL: who should be upgrading to get it? If I owned a Pixel 9 Pro or a Pixel 8 Pro, I don’t know if I’d be looking at it with envious eyes. A Pixel 7 Pro and earlier? Those may make me take a quick look at my bank balance.

Taking this into consideration, alongside how much the Pixel 10 Pro XL costs and the modest changes between it and the Pixel 10 Pro, and Google has given us a lot to think about before we recommend you hand over the cash for its largest, non-folding Pixel 10 phone. Our review is coming very soon, when we’ll have the definitive answer on whether this is the Pixel 10 to buy or not.