Enetering as the second flagship Google phones (after the Pixel 9 series) to be officially available in Malaysia, the long awaited Google Pixel 10 series saw three three compelling variants offered in the market: the compact Pixel 10, the feature-packed Pixel 10 Pro, and the powerhouse Pixel 10 Pro XL.
After having spent some time with the series, we think they are a good introduction into the premium and unique feel that Google phones have to offer to Malaysians who have always been interested in them, but could not obtain older generations previously.
Google's clean, sophiticated pure Android experience, equipped with the latest Tensor G5 silicon and refined approach to smartphone photography and AI integration puts the series at a unique spot of in between top smartphone brands. Yet, they do not have an exact opponent yet in the local market that's already saturated with big Asian and Western brands.
They also have some quips you should seriously think about, as they affect practicality for the typical busy Malaysian.
Editor
Jodee Tan chevron_right
Table of Contents
Powering Pixel 10 Series: Tensor G5
Giving a boost to these phones is undoubtedly Google's custom Tensor G5 chip, which represents the most significant upgrade to Google's silicon since Tensor's debut. Built on a cutting-edge 3nm process, this processor delivers snappy performance while maintaining excellent battery efficiency.
All three models benefit from this upgrade. As expected, the Pro variants would be able to utilise the chip's full potential when paired with the generous amounts of RAM.
Pixel 10 already comes with a respectable 12GB RAM, but the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL generously come with 16GB of RAM. The extra memory enables more sophisticated AI processing and better multitasking performance.
6.3-inch or 6.8-inch
Surprisingly, the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro have the same compact 6.3-inch display footprint, which means you can choose between a more affordable option (Pixel 10 from RM3,999) or the full-featured Pro (from RM4,999) without sacrificing portability. For those who prefer a larger canvas, the Pixel 10 Pro XL (from RM5,999) steps up with its bigger screen real estate and enhanced feature set.
The displays across all models are also brighter than their predecessors, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection ensuring they can handle the rigors of daily life. While we can't be sure, Google claims these phones are twice as durable as the Pixel 8 series, which should provide peace of mind for users who tend to be hard on their devices.
Triple Camera Setup with AI Coaching
Photography has always been a Google Pixel strength, and we're seeing the Pixel 10 series pushing themselves to the limit. In several casual shots, we're pleased with the colour tone palette and performance of the lenses themselves, with images sharp and AI-perfected scenes garnering 80% perfection of accurate focus (portrait).
All models feature a new triple rear camera system, with the Pro variants getting a proper 5x telephoto lens that should make portrait shots and distant subjects much more accessible.
Pixel 10 Camera Specifications:
- Rear Camera:
- 48 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide)
- 10.8 MP, f/3.1, 112mm (telephoto)
- 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)
- Front Camera:
- 10.5 MP, f/2.2, 95˚, 20mm (ultrawide)
Pixel 10 Pro & Pro XL Camera Specifications:
- Rear Camera:
- 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide)
- 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 5x optical zoom
- 48 MP, f/1.7, 123˚ (ultrawide)
- Front Camera:
- 42 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide)
But most interestingly, part of the Google Photohraphy experience is the AI-powered features. With Camera Coach, you get real-time guides on how to capture better shots just by "verbally asking Google Gemini", accompanied by Guided Frame that helps ensure perfect composition. Pixel 10 Series also has Auto Best Take that automatically selects the best shot from a series, and the new Ask Photos feature lets you have conversational AI interactions for editing and organizing your photo library.
Check out how the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL fared here:
Gemini Integration: Latest AI Package
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the Pixel 10 series is the deep integration of Gemini AI directly on-device. More than just having a "Google Assistant", it's about utilising the latest Google Gemini version as an intelligent companion that understands context and can help with complex tasks without needing an internet connection.
In the latest Android 16 OS, users will be able to enjoy enhanced real-time translation, get better Generative AI results and seamless AI capabilities on other apps such as Camera.
Battery & Storage is... Standard
Google has equipped all models with... underwhelming battery cell and storage sizes.
In the base Pixel 10 is a 4,970mAh battery. Meanwhile Pixel 10 Pro gets an underwhelming 4,870mAh whereas the Pro XL gets 5,200mAh. Not to mention, the storage Pixel 10 would only enjoy either a 128GB or 256GB ROM, whereas the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL would be able to have storage from 128GB up to 1TB in size.
Scrutinising this further is that the newest Apple iPhone 17 series now comes with a starting storage size of 256GB. Now to give Google some credit; the battery management was actually on par with today's standard. The Pixel 10 Pro (as our guinea pig) drained about 5% for some casual photography and gaming in 15 minutes. This will definitely vary according to usage patterns, so it'll differ for you too. But from this experience, the battery management is average on Pixel 10 series. In fact, Tom's Guide said their Pixel 10 Pro lasted about 13 hours of use.
On a more competitive scale, there is fast wired charging across the lineup which means less time tethered to the wall. The Pro XL in particular supports 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging – complete with magnetic accessory support that brings a bit of that iPhone MagSafe experience to Android.
Pixelsnap magnetic accessories are also considered part of the appeal to the series, as the support opens up possibilities for a whole ecosystem of add-ons, from car mounts to wireless chargers that snap on effortlessly.
What to Think About Pixel 10 Series?
All in all, the series delivers a very smooth Android experience, with Tensor G5 delivers the performance promises, the cameras continue to impress with AI-enhanced capabilities, and the build quality feels as well as look premium across all models. UI is also an eye candy, with a clean and punchy, timeless aesthetic. Pixel 10 series is also scheduled for up to 7 years OS support, so it's primed to last you with a smooth experience for under a decade (we've witnessed some happy users still reporting smooth performance on their Google Pixel 6 series).
Underhwleming were battery and storage options. When compared to other Android options, Google Pixel 10 series' storage pales as we are already seeing many other brands already moving away from offering under 5,000mAh and 128GB ROM as a starter options in their flagships. For the latter; although it is easy to get Cloud storage subscriptions, we can understand how most Malaysians are still very much guarded about online security, and would prefer native storage instead.
Aside from those quips, pricing and quality is aggressive enough to challenge Samsung's Galaxy S25 series, and the pure Android 16 experience with Material 3 Expressive UI theming feels fresh and responsive. But honestly, Samsung is just a tip of the iceberg, as we are seeing many more bigger China smartphones brands (Xiaomi, HUAWEI, OPPO, vivo) actually relciaming the interest of Malaysians; often offering more competitive pricing, a seamless OS interface with several years of support, and durable as well as premium materials and finish to their aesthetics.
For tech enthusiasts in Malaysia looking for a flagship Android experience with cutting-edge AI capabilities, the Pixel 10 series presents an interesting proposition. Whether you opt for the Pixel 10, Pro or Pro XL, you're getting Google's vision of what a modern smartphone should be. And based on our extended impression, Pixel 10 presents themselves as concepts that offer a pure and fast Google experience, as well as cleanest Android experience ahead of other Android phones.
To purchase the Google Pixel 10 series, visit this Google Malaysia page here. Stay updated with ProductNation on here, Instagram & TikTok as well.
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