GSMArena Team, 16 September 2025

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review

6. Competition, verdict, pros and cons

Competition

The Pixel 10 Pro XL is priced at $1200/€1300 for a base 256GB version, and that's about what you can expect to pay for a top-of-the-line smartphone from a big-name manufacturer in 2025. Google is fighting Apple and Samsung, mostly, but there's an additional in-house battle to be decided first.

Pixel 10 Pro XL (left) next to Pixel 10 Pro

Because if the XL brings zero battery life benefits, is it really worth $200/€200 extra on top of the regular Pixel 10 Pro, particularly when Pixels do scaling so well? We think not, but maybe you do insist on lugging around the XL for its larger viewing area. Truth be told, that price difference does come with a catch - matching the two phones' storage does shrink the gap to a less meaningful in this context $100/€100. It's otherwise all the same between the two.

You could entertain the idea for last year's 9 Pro XL. Google doesn't have it in stock in its own store in all regions and list prices may be the same as the 10 Pro XL's where they do sell it, but it's safe to say that you could probably still find the 9 Pro XL at reputable retailers for less money than a 10 Pro XL. There will be two sacrifices going that route - the close focusing on the telephoto camera and the Qi2 magnets. You will be saving money though, and you just might get better endurance out of the older model.

Google Pixel 10 Pro • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Only then do you get to look at the iPhone and the Galaxy. There's a new iPhone, and while it may be a lot like the old one in many ways, the 17 Pro Max is different enough to be the more obvious first option. It'll bring a new telephoto camera that's very close in specs to the Pixel's, the iPhones have had magnets on their backs for several years now, and you can expect the 17 Pro Max to outlast the 10 Pro XL by a lot on one charge. The two are the same price in the US, while in Europe the iPhone is some 10% more. Similarly to the year-old Pixel 9 Pro XL, you could scout an iPhone 16 Pro Max, save a little, and only really miss out on the new unibody design.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the other default alternative to the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Samsung's largest non-bendy phone (come to think of it, it's larger than their current bendy phones too) offers an S Pen, longer battery life, and at least as much software functionality and polish. It's probably cheaper in many parts of the world too.

There are many capable cameraphones outside of these big three brands - you could even say that the most capable cameraphones are outside of these big three brands. But if you're into a Pixel, you probably wouldn't be too interested in a Chinese software build and sideloading the Play Store. So maybe focus on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra - possibly the finest camera hardware packed in a handset with fully capable international software. For roughly Pixel 10 Pro XL money. Not easily obtainable everywhere, though - certainly not in the US.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max • Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra • Xiaomi 15 Ultra

Verdict

The list of generational improvements on the Pixel 10 Pro XL is short and while a couple of them do make a difference, a lot of the usual downsides of the lineup remain. Slow charging, non-competitive battery life, troubled chipset - Google's priorities don't seem to include addressing these in ways that we hope they do.

There's also the plateau in camera hardware development, seemingly to be replaced by AI-made-up imagery. Still, one of the things that sparks interest in the Pixel 10 Pro XL over the previous-gen model is to be found in the camera - the close-focusing capability of the telephoto, which is still not the best, but at least there's some of it. Of course, the camera experience in general is pretty great, but Google has long since lost its leading position in the field.

The other semi-exciting new feature is the Qi2 wireless charging with magnetic attachment capability - speed is, of course, not the key factor, but convenience and accessories might be. The super bright display doesn't hurt, and the ultra-wide selfies are nice. The Pixel design is also pretty appealing in its own way.

As always though, it's really the software where the Pixel 10 Pro XL's main appeal lies. It's the AI-based features (both new and established ones) and the smoothness and attention to subtleties in the UI that make it feel special - that's why you get a Pixel (XL or otherwise). If you don't care as much for these things, it's only natural that you'd find better value elsewhere.