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Pixel Buds Pro 2 get Adaptive Audio, gesture controls and more in latest update

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Google first teased some enticing upgrades for its Pixel Buds Pro 2 during the Made by Google event in August. More than a month later, Google is finally rolling out the update that makes its wireless earbuds earn the Pro label.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 now get an Adaptive Audio feature in the Active Noise Control section of the Pixel Buds app. This ANC mode automatically adjusts the volume depending on your surrounding environment, balancing between hearing your music or podcasts and the world around you. If you want to drown out the outside world a little more, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 now also have the Loud Noise Protection feature, which can detect and reduce any sudden loud noises, like a passing ambulance siren or construction work. While these two features are already found in Apple’s AirPods Pro 3, they’re a welcome addition to the more affordable Pixel Buds Pro 2.

For anyone who frequently uses Gemini Live, you’ll notice that the AI assistant will be able to hear you better in noisy environments thanks to advanced audio processing that prioritizes your voice and eliminates background noise. For a truly hands-free experience, the update even adds gesture controls that let Pixel Buds Pro 2 users nod their head to answer a call or start dictation for a text reply and shake their head to decline a call or dismiss a text. Google is rolling out its 4.467 update to its users gradually, which takes about 10 minutes to download and another 10 minutes to install.



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Apple’s Best New iOS 26 Feature Has Been on Pixel Phones for Years
Gaming Gear

Apple’s Best New iOS 26 Feature Has Been on Pixel Phones for Years

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Ever since I was a child, I’ve despised answering the phone when an unknown number calls. Who could be on the other end? Literally anyone: an acquaintance, a telemarketer, a serial killer who’s menacingly breathing into the mouthpiece.

While Apple’s upcoming Liquid Glass refresh in iOS 26 is likely to be the most immediately noticeable aspect of the software update as it starts rolling out to the public on September 15, I believe a smaller addition in iOS 26 might even have a bigger impact on how iPhone owners use their devices.

The iPhone is finally getting call screening. Hallelujah. At launch, the feature will support calls coming in from nine languages, including English, Spanish, and Japanese.

Once your iPhone updates to iOS 26, you can opt in and have the software automatically screen calls that come from unknown numbers. In this case, an unknown number is any phone number you haven’t interacted with before.

When your phone automatically picks up the call, a robotic voice asks the caller for their name as well as why they want to get in contact with you. Only after that information is collected, the iPhone will ring and show you these details in a notification bubble so you can decide whether to answer.

I was ecstatic to see this new option as I experimented with a beta version of iOS 26. I’m constantly getting calls from so many unknown numbers that I’ve completely given up answering the phone for anyone not saved in my contacts list.

With the imminent release of iOS 26, I can make informed decisions to ignore or answer these calls. And while most of the calls will still be ignored, I no longer have to wait until the caller starts leaving a voicemail and the live transcription appears on the screen to make a decision.

Call screening will be new for iPhones owners this fall, but users of some Android smartphones, like Google’s Pixel, have had a version of this tool, named Call Screen, available to them for years. Lyubov Farafonova, a product manager at Google, says in a statement emailed to WIRED that millions of Pixel users are using the feature in the US alone. “It is one of our fan favorite features,” she says.

Since its release of call screening in 2018, Google has worked to make the synthetic voice sound more natural for incoming callers. It’s also started showing relevant replies as tappable options while the screening is in progress so users can easily communicate with unknown callers without actually answering the phone. Further leaning into this feature, Google plans to roll out call screening to additional markets this fall.

“Pixel 10 owners in India can start experimenting with the beta version of manual Call Screen. This feature will be initially working in English and Hindi, with more languages and dialects on the way,” Farafonova says. “It will have a functionality to not only transcribe but also translate what the caller says to the Call Screen bot, to make life easier for those who don’t speak the same language as the caller.” Options for call screenings, manual or automatic, are coming soon to Pixel owners in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the UK as well.



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The Best Pixel 10 Cases and Accessories (2025)
Product Reviews

The Best Pixel 10 Cases and Accessories (2025)

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Enter the MagSafe Accessory World

Joby

GripTight Tripod Mount for MagSafe

I have been testing MagSafe accessories for years, and you should totally take advantage of the vast ecosystem with your new Pixel. Whether you want a magnetic wallet or phone tripod, we have plenty of WIRED-tested recommendations in our guides. Most of them should work without fail on the Pixel 10 series. Here they are:

Other Cases and Accessories We Like

Mous Clarity Pixelsnap Case for $70: This is my second favorite clear case after Dbrand’s Ghost 2.0. There’s a thick bumper around the phone to absorb impacts, a solid magnetic connection, and a nice lip around the screen to keep it off the ground. The buttons are clicky, too.

OtterBox Symmetry Clear Pixelsnap Case for $60: This is a nice, clear case that’s also Pixelsnap-certified. The cutouts are accurate, the edges are slightly raised over the screen, and it offers a decent grip. If you prefer a completely clear case without a separate bumper, this will satisfy.

Spigen Parallax, Nano Pop, and Liquid Air Pixelsnap Cases for $19: I’ve tried several Spigen cases, and the Rugged Armor is my favorite this year (see above). These other options have different designs, but they’re solid cases for the money. I found the Parallax slippery, and the sides also felt a bit cheap. The Nano Pop had a decently grippy texture on the edges, but the Liquid Air is one of my favorite Spigen designs. The buttons are just a little stiffer than I’d like. These are minor nitpicks, though. They’re great cases for under $20, especially considering they’re all Made for Google-certified.

Spigen GlasTR EZ Fit Tempered Glass Screen Protector for $20 (2 Pack): This is the best bang for your buck when it comes to screen protection. Spigen gives you two in the box, and its application tool makes it impossible to make a mistake when installing the tempered glass protector. There’s even a squeegee tool to push out air bubbles. All that for $20.

UAG Pathfinder Pixelsnap Case for $60: Someone probably likes how this case looks. That person is not me, but clearly, there’s a market for this styling. If you fall in that camp, there’s not much to complain about the Pathfinder, except I found the buttons slightly stiffer than usual. It checks off all the other boxes, with a raised lip over the screen, but I just don’t find it that attractive (sorry).

UAG Glass Shield Screen Protector for $40: UAG includes the usual wet wipe, dust removal sticker, and microfiber cloth, and there’s a plastic shell you place on top of your Pixel to use as a guide when applying the tempered glass screen protector. It’s not the easiest method I’ve tried, as there’s room for some error (and potential to get grime or a smudge on the underside as you apply), but it was fairly quick and painless, and the air bubbles disappeared quickly.

Burga Tough Case for $50: This is one of the few non-magnetic cases I’ve tested for the Pixel 10 series. Burga doesn’t have its Pixel 10 cases listed on the website yet, but says it plans to add them soon. If you absolutely don’t care for Qi2 and magnets in these phones, this is a perfectly fine case, and Burga has tons of designs you can choose from. The exterior is a hard plastic shell, but the phone is wrapped in a soft rubbery shell that absorbs impacts. The buttons are fairly clicky—not the most responsive—and there’s a solid lip around the screen.

Poetic Guardian and Poetic Revolution Case for $25: Poetic sent me two of its cases to test for the Pixel 10 series. One thing to note is that Poetic includes a screen protector that embeds itself into the case, like old-school cases that offered full protection. Unfortunately, the screen protector quality is really not great (there’s a visible circle cutout for the fingerprint sensor, and it looks jarring. Sliding your finger on it just doesn’t feel great. You can thankfully opt not to use it; use the plastic frame that comes in the box instead. The Revolution doesn’t have any magnets but has a built-in kickstand and a cover that can completely protect your cameras; I find this a little extreme, so I don’t care for it. It also, in my humble opinion, looks hideous. The Guardian looks much better, with a thick bumper, raised edges, and a covered port. The buttons are a little stiff, but at least it has built-in magnets for Qi2 (not certified).



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Google Pixel 10 on blue background with big savings text overlay
Gaming Gear

This Pixel 10 deal at Visible Wireless gets you $480 off without the annoying trade

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Tempted by the latest Google Pixel 10 series of devices, but don’t want to trade-in or sign up for a hefty postpaid plan? Visible Wireless’ latest deal might just fit the bill.

The carrier his currently offering an excellent $480 rebate on all three devices when you pair one up with a Visible Plus Pro plan – an excellent saving that doesn’t require the usual trade-in criteria.

This particular deal is currently only available with new lines, so existing customers will have to sit this one out, unfortunately. It’s also worth noting that this discount comes in the form of a $20/mo rebate over the duration of a two-year period, so it’s definitely one that’s aimed at those in it for the long haul.

If you are interested, however, then Visible Wireless is definitely one of the better options available for prepaid plans. The Visible Plus Pro plan comes with completely unlimited data on the super-speedy Verizon 5G Wideband network, HD video streaming, and unlimited mobile hotspot allowance, so it’s a great alternative to the bigger carriers. At $45/mo ($25 with this deal), it’s also much easier on the pocket.

Google Pixel 10 deal at Visible Wirless

Other great Pixel 10 deals to consider



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Google Pixel 10 review: perfectly fine
Product Reviews

Google Pixel 10 review: perfectly fine

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Asking the Pixel 10 to be more than what it is feels greedy.

Google’s non-Pro Pixel is priced fairly at $799, which is significantly less than the $999 Pixel 10 Pro. It comes with some handy upgrades, like Qi2 charging with built-in magnets. Its AI features finally show promise. It includes a dedicated telephoto lens for the first time. It’s a proper flagship and an all-around easygoing Android phone. But if I’m being greedy, then I do have one request: better cameras.

The rear cameras on the Pixel 10 are totally fine. For someone who’s not picky about image quality, they’d be better than fine. And maybe I’d think they were fine, too, if I wasn’t cursed with the knowledge that the cameras on last year’s model are better. And that’s because up until this year, the non-Pro Pixel came with the same main and ultrawide camera hardware as the Pro. But we can’t have everything, and when Google added that telephoto lens this year, it downgraded the other two rear cameras to essentially what’s in the midrange Pixel 9A. So the Pixel 10 has a perfectly fine camera system, as long as you’re not too greedy.

$799

The Good

  • Qi2 wireless charging with magnets is great
  • AI is actually kind of useful, finally
  • Telephoto camera is a nice addition

The Bad

  • Main and ultrawide cameras aren’t quite as good as the Pro
  • Battery life is just okay

Outside of the camera situation, the Pixel 10 comes with the same major upgrades as the Pro phones this year: a new chip and some magnets. Tensor G5 is the new processor on the 10 series, which I’ve found to run a tad cooler than previous versions. The G5 is Google’s first custom chipset made by TSMC, and it handles heavier workloads well. The regular 10 comes with 12GB of RAM compared to 16GB in the 10 Pro, and I did notice a little more stuttering on dense web pages than on the Pro. But for the non-professional phone user, it handles most tasks just fine.

Google Pixel 10 specifications

  • Tensor G5 chipset with 12GB of RAM | 128GB or 256GB of storage
  • 6.3-inch 1080p 60-120Hz OLED
  • 48-megpaixel f/1.7 main camera | 13-megapixel ultrawide | 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto | 10.5-megapixel selfie camera
  • 4,970mAh lithium-ion battery
  • Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W; 55 percent charge in 30 minutes with wired 30W charger
  • IP68 dust and water resistant

There’s a whole lot of on-device AI running on the new chip — which you can read more about in my Pixel 10 Pro review — and I suspect it contributes to the Pixel 10’s just-okay battery life. A full day of moderate use is no problem, but if you add some intensive activities like an extended hotspot or gaming session, then you might start looking for a charger in the late afternoon. The average person probably won’t be bothered by it, but power users will want a charger or power bank handy to avoid battery anxiety at the end of the day.

AI is still hit-or-miss, but the hits are getting better.

AI is still hit-or-miss, but the hits are getting better. The Pixel 10 doesn’t offer the generative AI-assisted camera zoom feature that the Pro and Pro XL have, but you do get Magic Cue, which fetches helpful information based on what you’re doing. And it actually does work. It’s only in a handful of Google apps right now, but it can help put something on your calendar as you hash out plans in Messages or suggest a destination when you open Google Maps based on something you saved in your screenshots. I had a few more false positives while testing it on the Pixel 10 than I did with the 10 Pro; there were times when it suggested information that wasn’t relevant or it offered to create a calendar event when I told a friend I’d “be there in 30.” I still found it more useful than not, and it’s easy enough to ignore when its suggestions are off the mark.

The Pixel 10 gained a telephoto camera but lost a little image quality in the process.

The Pixel 10 has Qi2 with built-in magnets, and it’s a delight. There’s no case required (unlike with the Samsung S25 series phones), and I thoroughly enjoyed thwacking the phone onto a bedside PixelSnap charger at the end of each day. With the addition of what is essentially MagSafe, the Pixel series is looking like a pretty complete alternative to the iOS ecosystem these days. Each night when I put my phone on the charger, triggering bedtime mode, my Pixel watch followed suit and changed modes, too. That’s not a new feature, but little moments like that add up throughout the day.

I spent a week with the Pixel 10 Pro before switching to the regular 10, and there’s not much that feels radically different on the cheaper model — except the display. The standard 10 comes with a 6.3-inch 1080p screen with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, compared to the 1280p display on the 10 Pro. Its peak brightness of 3,000 nits is enough to keep the phone usable on a sunny day, and 1080p is just enough resolution for a screen that size. The screen seems more prone to dropping from its top 120Hz refresh rate, which is fine but a little jarring when you’re scrolling the NYT Games app and suddenly looking at 60Hz.

I also noticed some vignetting when using the phone in bright light — darkness around the edges of the screen, like you might see in a photograph. This turns out to be a known issue, resolved by switching to the “natural” display color profile. Overall, it’s a fine display but you definitely get more by spending more on the Pro.

On the subject of getting more for more with the 10 Pro: cameras. The Pixel 10’s 48-megapixel f/1.7 main camera doesn’t seem all that different from the 10 Pro’s 50-megapixel f/1.7 camera — until you get to the sensor size. The regular 10 uses a 1/2.0-inch type sensor that’s about half the size of the 1/1.31-inch type sensor in the Pro models. A bigger sensor will produce cleaner images with better dynamic range, and it’s a difference I felt, especially in portrait mode. Particularly if light is low, your subject is moving, and if you’re using the 2x zoom option, portrait mode on the regular 10 isn’t as good as on the Pros. Images show more noise, fine detail like hair looks crunchy, and subject isolation isn’t as precise.

A portrait-mode photo with the subject moving toward the camera at high speed is about as tough a scenario as you can throw at a phone camera, so it’s not too surprising that the Pixel 10 can’t handle it well. But it’s one way that the smaller camera sensor results in noticeably worse performance. Outside of portraits, the Pixel 10 takes perfectly nice photos. The ultrawide — also a smaller sensor than on the Pros — handles dim indoor lighting acceptably. The 5x telephoto lens is handy and definitely an upgrade over using 5x digital zoom. Maybe a telephoto lens and a killer main camera are too much to ask for in a $799 phone, but I’ll keep wishing for both anyway.

Gotta admit the blue color is nice.

Last year, the Pixel 9 felt like the phone that Android had needed for a long time: something elegant, simple, and durable. The Pixel 10 takes that same model and mostly improves it, adding Qi2 and a telephoto lens. The price stayed the same, which is nothing to sneeze at when the prices of everything else keep going up.

Losing the higher-end camera might not be a dealbreaker for most people, but it’s a little tough to swallow if you know what you’re missing out on. Most people who buy this phone won’t be burdened with that knowledge, and I think the Pixel 10 will make that group perfectly happy.

Photography by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Agree to Continue: Google Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro XL

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.

To use a Pixel 10 series phone, you must agree to:

The following agreements are optional:

  • Provide anonymous location data for Google’s services
  • “Allow apps and services to scan for Wi-Fi networks and nearby devices at any time, even when Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is off.”
  • Send usage and diagnostic data to Google
  • Talk to Google hands-free: “If you agree, Google Assistant will wait in standby mode to detect ‘Hey Google’ and certain quick phrases.”
  • Allow Assistant on lock screen

Additionally, if you want to use Google Assistant, you must agree to let Google collect app info and contact info from your devices. Other features like Google Wallet may require additional agreements.

Final tally: five mandatory agreements and at least five optional agreements

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Three Pixel 10 phones with the phrase "vs" between them on a colorful background.
Gaming Gear

Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: How Google’s Latest Phones Compare

by admin


Google’s new Pixel 10 phones are here, and they boast a handful of spec upgrades over their predecessors, as well as more AI features.

The three models look very similar to last year’s Pixel 9 phones. There’s a standard Pixel 10, a higher-spec Pixel 10 Pro and a large Pixel 10 Pro XL. 

There are still some differentiators between the baseline and Pro models, but that lead is shrinking with more top-level features trickling down. All in all, they’re powerful handsets that rank among the year’s best phones.

Pixel 10 price comparison

  • Pixel 10: $799. The Pixel 10 didn’t get a price increase from last year’s standard model despite getting more features.
  • Pixel 10 Pro: $999. The Pixel 10 Pro also kept its predecessor’s price, though it hasn’t changed much from the Pixel 9 Pro.
  • Pixel 10 Pro XL: $1,199. The top-end Pixel 10 Pro XL got a $100 price hike this year, with a handful of spec upgrades.

Both the Pixel 10 ($799) and Pixel 10 Pro ($999) retain the prices of their predecessors, keeping them in line with their equivalents from other brands, like the Samsung Galaxy S25 ($799) and Galaxy S25 Plus ($999). 

But the Pixel 10 Pro XL got slightly more expensive this year, getting a $100 price bump to $1,199 (up from the $1,099 Pixel 9 Pro XL with 128GB of storage), likely to account for the higher 256GB starting storage option. 

The Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET

Pixel 10 lineups’ design and display changes, compared

  • Pixel 10: Unchanged, but additional camera. The baseline model got an extra camera, widening the lens part of its camera bump, and the display is slightly brighter.
  • Pixel 10 Pro: Unchanged. The smaller Pro model looks almost exactly like its predecessor, and the display is slightly brighter.
  • Pixel 10 Pro XL: Unchanged. The larger Pro XL looks just like its predecessor, and the display is slightly brighter. 

The Pixel 10 lineup looks virtually the same as last year’s Pixel 9 phones, leaving most of the upgrades under the hood. 

All three phones retain the general design of last year’s phones: a metal back with a pill-shaped camera bump. The only major difference is that the glass on the Pixel 10’s camera bump is slightly wider, owing to the third, telephoto camera fit into it. All three models are ever-so-slightly heavier than their predecessors (from 6 grams on the Pixel 10 to 11 grams on the Pixel 10 Pro XL), possibly due to their nominal battery capacity increases. 

The standard Pixel 10 retains its predecessor’s 6.3-inch OLED display, though its maximum brightness has been increased to 3,000 nits (up from 2,700). Likewise, the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL inherit their 6.3-inch OLED and 6.8-inch OLED displays from their predecessors, but they also get maximum screen brightness increases to 3,300 nits (up from 3,000). 

The Pixel 10’s rear cameras.

Celso Bulgatti/CNET

Comparing Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL cameras

  • Pixel 10: Added rear camera, for a total of three. A 48-megapixel main, 13-megapixel ultrawide and new 10.8-megapixel telephoto make up the rear cameras, plus a 10.5-megapixel selfie camera.
  • Pixel 10 Pro: Same trio of rear cameras. A 50-megapixel main, 48-megapixel ultrawide and 48-megapixel telephoto make up the rear cameras, plus a 42-megapixel selfie camera.
  • Pixel 10 Pro XL: Same trio of rear cameras. A 50-megapixel main, 48-megapixel ultrawide and 48-megapixel telephoto make up the rear cameras, plus a 42-megapixel selfie camera.

As with other brands, Google has previously differentiated its standard and Pro models by reserving an extra zoom camera for its top-end phones. That changes this year, as the standard Pixel 10 gets a telephoto lens, shrinking the feature gap between the phone tiers.

The Pixel 10 packs a 48-megapixel main camera, though its 13-megapixel ultrawide is a slight downgrade from the 50-megapixel ultrawide shooter in the Pixel 9, which means the new phone may not take as sharp of photos when set to its widest capture settings. The trade-off is the addition of a 10.8-megapixel telephoto with 5x zoom that still adds a lot of functionality, even if it may not take as high-resolution photos as the zoom cameras on its Pro siblings.

The Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL retain their predecessors’ trio of rear cameras: a 50-megapixel main, a 48-megapixel ultrawide and a 48-megapixel telephoto with 5x zoom. Ostensibly, not much has changed here, though they still take up to 8K video (better than the 4K video maximum on the Pixel 10).

The selfie cameras on all three phones are unchanged from last year, but represent a boost when going from the 10.5-megapixel front-facing camera on the Pixel 10 to the 42-megapixel selfie shooters on the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL with an Android logo.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET

All Pixel 10 model specs, compared

  • Pixel 10: Better CPU, slightly bigger battery. The Pixel 10 gets the Google Tensor G5 chip, as well as a 4,970-mAh battery.
  • Pixel 10 Pro: Better CPU, slightly bigger battery. The Pixel 10 Pro gets similar spec upgrades, including the Google Tensor G5 chip, as well as a 4,870-mAh battery.
  • Pixel 10 Pro XL: Better CPU, slightly bigger battery. The Pixel 10 gets the Google Tensor G5 chip, as well as a 5,200-mAh battery.

This year’s Pixel 10 lineup got the usual set of incremental upgrades along with slight boosts to battery capacity, which could have an impact, however small, on increasing battery life.

Like the other models, the Pixel 10 gets the new Google Tensor G5 chip, which Google promises will perform better than its predecessor, last year’s Tensor G4. The new handset inherits the Pixel 9’s 12GB of RAM and baseline storage options of 128GB or 256GB. If you want more, you’ll have to use cloud options or pay more for a Pro or Pro XL model.

The Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL also have the Tensor G5 chip, which helps power new AI features. Similar to the base model, the Pro versions inherit the same specs as their predecessors: 16GB of RAM and the options of 128GB (Pixel 10 Pro only), 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of storage.

Across the board, all models got slight battery capacity increases, though curiously, the Pixel 10 Pro has the least with 4,870-mAh (up from 4,700-mAh in the Pixel 9 Pro). The next largest is the standard Pixel 10, which got an increase to 4,970-mAh (up from 4,700-mAh in the Pixel 9). The Pixel 10 Pro XL has the largest battery with a 5,200-mAh capacity (up from 5,060mAh).

The Pixel 10 Pro XL also has the edge in juicing up its battery, with a maximum 45-watt wired charging, compared to 30 watts on the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro. All three support Qi2 wireless charging.

All three Pixel 10 phones receive Android 16 out of the box. It was released in June, a month after Google I/O 2025, far earlier than when it typically comes out (usually alongside that year’s Pixel phones). They also get a slew of new AI features like Magic Cue, which scrapes data from Gmail, Google Messages, Google Calendar and other information sources to surface timely details and events.  

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL

Google Pixel 10Google Pixel 10 ProGoogle Pixel 10 Pro XLDisplay size, tech, resolution, refresh rate 6.3-inch OLED; 2,424×1,080 pixels; 60 to 120Hz variable refresh rate6.3-inch LTPO OLED; 2,856×1,280 pixels; 1 to 120Hz variable refresh rate6.8-inch LTPO OLED; 2,992×1,344 pixels; 1 to 120Hz variable refresh ratePixel density 422 ppi495 ppi486 ppiDimensions (inches) 6 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches6 x 2.8 x 0.3 in6.4 x 3 x 0.3 inDimensions (millimeters) 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mmWeight (grams, ounces) 204 g (7.2 oz)207 g (7.3 oz)232 g (8.2 oz)Mobile software Android 16Android 16Android 16Camera 48-megapixel (wide), 13-megapixel (ultrawide), 10.8-megapixel (5x telephoto)50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (5x telephoto)50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (5x telephoto)Front-facing camera 10.5-megapixel42-megapixel42-megapixelVideo capture 4K8K8KProcessor Google Tensor G5Google Tensor G5Google Tensor G5RAM + storage 12GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB16GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB16GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TBExpandable storage NoneNoneNoneBattery 4,970 mAh4,870 mAh5,200 mAhFingerprint sensor Under displayUnder displayUnder displayConnector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoneNoneNoneSpecial features Gorilla Glass 2 Victus cover glass; 3,000 nits peak brightness; Satellite SOS; Dual-eSIM; Wi-Fi 6E; NFC; Bluetooth 6; 30W fast charging (wall charger not included); Qi2 15W wireless charging; support for PixelSnap magnetic accessories; Google VPN; Super Res Zoom up to 20x; Camera Coach; Add Me; Macro mode; Face Unblur; Auto Best Take; IP68 rating for dust and water resistance; 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates; Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 polished back with satin finish aluminum frameGorilla Glass 2 Victus cover glass; 3,300 nits peak brightness; Satellite SOS; Dual-eSIM; Wi-Fi 7; NFC; Bluetooth 6; 30W fast charging (wall charger not included); Qi2 15W wireless charging; support for PixelSnap magnetic accessories; Google VPN; Pro Res zoom up to 100x; Camera Coach; Add Me; Macro mode; Face Unblur; Auto Best Take; High-Res Portrait mode; IP68 rating for dust and water resistance; 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates; Corning Gorilla GlassVictus 2 silky matte back with polished finish aluminum frame; ultrawideband chipGorilla Glass 2 Victus cover glass; 3,300 nits peak brightness; Satellite SOS; Dual-eSIM; Wi-Fi 7; NFC; Bluetooth 6; 45W fast charging (wall charger not included); Qi2.2 25W wireless charging; support for PixelSnap magnetic accessories; Google VPN; Pro Res zoom up to 100x; Camera Coach; Add Me; Macro mode; Face Unblur; Auto Best Take; High-Res Portrait mode; IP68 rating for dust and water resistance; 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates; Corning Gorilla GlassVictus 2 silky matte back with polished finish aluminum frame; ultrawideband chipUS price starts at $799 (128GB)$999 (128GB)$1,199 (256GB)UK price starts at £799 (128GB)£999 (128GB)£1,199 (256GB)Australia price starts at AU$1,349 (128GB)AU$1,699 (128GB)AU$1,999 (256GB)

Watch this: The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL’s Camera Is So Smart, It Almost Took the Photos for Me

07:57



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Pixel phones can now stream music for you and a friend at the same time
Gaming Gear

Pixel phones can now stream music for you and a friend at the same time

by admin


Pixel phones will now be able to stream audio to multiple headphones at once thanks to expanded Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast support. If you have a Pixel 8 or newer, you’ll now be able to pair two headphones at a time. That means you can make your friend listen to the new Nourished by Time single with you on the bus, or catch up on Alien Earth with your significant other on a plane.

You’ll be able to create a private broadcast and share it to multiple headphones with a QR code or using Fast Pair — perfect for those times when you’re insisting to a room full of people that they absolutely have to listen to Disintegration Loops on headphones to appreciate it.

Of course, if you want to host a depressing silent disco, your friends will need headphones that also support LE Audio. Google is expanding Android support to multiple Sony models, including the LinkBuds S, WF-1000XM5, InZone Buds, LinkBuds Open, LinkBuds Fit, WH-1000XM6, and InZone H9 II. That’s in addition to existing support for hearing aids, Samsung’s Galaxy phones, and certain Xiaomi devices.

In addition to LE Audio support, Google is also updating the Pixel Buds Pro 2 with Adaptive Audio. That means you can take advantage of active noise cancellation, but still stay aware of your surroundings. So, you won’t hear the constant din of traffic while out for a walk, but if someone honks their horn as you’re about to step out into the street, it’ll cut through. It will also include Loud Noise Protection, which will save your precious eardrums in case a firetruck goes screaming by, sirens blaring.



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Key Pixel Settings to Change on Your Google Phone
Gaming Gear

Key Pixel Settings to Change on Your Google Phone

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While we’re talking about the display, make sure your Pixel is using the highest screen resolution. In Display & touch, scroll down to Screen resolution and choose Max resolution. It may eat up more battery life, but you paid for a high-quality display! Use it. Smooth display sits right below, but it’s finally enabled by default, allowing your phone to hit a 120-Hz screen refresh rate.

Enhance Your Lock Screen

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

The lock screen is fairly customizable. Head to Settings > Display & touch > Lock screen to customize how notifications appear (compact or full list), hide silent notifications, hide sensitive content, and add shortcuts to the left or right corner (like Flashlight or Wallet). You should also enable Dynamic clock, which changes the size of the clock based on what’s on the lock screen. To change the appearance of the lock screen clock, head to Settings > Wallpaper & style and Clock (on the lock screen tab). There are several styles to choose from, and you can adjust the colors and size.

As for your lock screen wallpaper, tap on a photo and then tap Effects. You can customize how photos of your loved ones appear—within shapes, a fresh background color, with real-time weather animations, or a Cinematic look that adds depth.

Change the Power Button Behavior

If you want to restart your Pixel or turn it off, you have to pull down the notification drawer and tap on the digital power button. What about the physical power button? Google defaults it to triggering its Gemini voice assistant. You can actually get the power menu back by pressing the power button and the top volume button simultaneously, but if you want the old-school behavior back, head to Settings > System > Gestures > Press & hold power button.

If you go this route but still want to access Gemini, you can just say, “Hey Google,” to set up voice commands, or use the Gemini widget on the home screen to activate it. To add a widget, press and hold anywhere on the home screen, tap Widgets, and scroll to Gemini.

Switch to the AV1 Codec and Use Video Boost

This is for the Pixel 10 series, but these phones can now record in the AV1 video format. This greatly saves storage space, so if you’re someone who takes a lot of video, it’s the smart approach. However, AV1 isn’t supported universally. You shouldn’t have issues uploading AV1 videos to Instagram, for example, but you’ll want to check if the source you want to upload to supports it. To switch to AV1, open the camera app, click the gear icon on the left, then tap the three dots at the top right. Scroll to the bottom, tap on Video format, and choose AV1.

Speaking of video, Google’s Pro Pixel phones, since the Pixel 8 Pro, have been able to use a feature called Video Boost. This sends your footage to the cloud for processing, improving color, brightness, and stabilization, while reducing noise. Depending on the length of the video, the processing can take 20 minutes, several hours, or even a day. You’ll be notified when it’s ready, and until then, you can use the native footage you originally shot. It’s a smart way to level up the video quality (the Pixel 10 Pro can even upscale it to 8K), even if it’d be nice if Google just improved native video capture. To enable Video Boost, switch to the Video tab in the camera app, tap the gear icon in the camera app, and toggle it on.

Disable Pro Res Zoom and Camera Coach

Courtesy of Joel Chokkattu

Another one for Pixel 10 users, Pro Res Zoom is available on the Pixel 10 Pro models, and Camera Coach is on all Pixel 10 phones (though there’s a chance one of these could come to older Pixels). You can learn more about how these camera features work here, but Pro Res Zoom essentially stitches hundreds of frames together once you go past 30X to 100X digital zoom, and employs generative AI to fill in the details of the image. That results in spectacularly sharp zoomed-in photos, but it may leave a weird taste in your mouth because parts of it were AI-generated. You can turn it off! Open the camera, press the gear icon on the bottom left, and tap the three-dot menu icon. Tap Model download and then the trash icon next to Pro Res Zoom.



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Google’s Pixel Care Plus includes free screen and battery repair
Gaming Gear

Google’s Pixel Care Plus includes free screen and battery repair

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Google is phasing out its Preferred Care extended warranty plan for the Pixel Care Plus program. Pricing between the two is pretty similar. You’ll still pay $8 per-month, or $159 for a two-year plan on a Pixel 9. For a Pixel 10 Pro Fold, that jumps up to $339 for two years, or $18 per-month, with the optional loss and theft package for a small extra charge.

The big changes here are that screen and battery repairs are free, and service fees for other accidental damage are much lower. Under the old Preferred Care program, replacing a cracked screen would run you $29. Under Pixel Care Plus a cracked front screen or battery running at under 80-percent capacity will get swapped out for $0. Unfortunately, if you happen to mess up the internal screen on your 10 Pro Fold, you are not covered.

Other accidental damage fees vary depending on model, ranging from $49 on some older models like the Pixel 8a and 9a, to $99 on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. On average they’re lower though, with service fees reaching $129 for the Pixel 9 Pro and Fold models. The new loss and theft option, which adds $1 or $2 a month to the plan, also varies per model with deductibles ranging up to $149 on the high end.

The new plans bring Google more inline with the likes of Samsung, which ditched screen replacement fees under its new extended coverage plans back in January.



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Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL Review
Product Reviews

Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL Review

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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

However, Camera Coach—which launches in a preview (sort of like a beta)—has a Get Inspired button that uses generative AI to deliver some photos it thinks you might like to try and mimic. These photos are often quite a bit different from the originally scanned image, and I found these less helpful. I think Camera Coach is a great way to teach someone about their phone’s camera capabilities, because most people barely scratch the surface, but I don’t think this generative add-on was really necessary.

Then there’s Pro Res Zoom, which is conflicting. On the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL, you can digitally zoom in anywhere from 30X to 100X, and the phone runs through more than 200 frames, blending images, and using generative AI to fill in the details. The results are spectacular. Take a look at the image of the Chrysler building in Manhattan, which I captured from Greenpoint, Brooklyn, across the water at 100X zoom. I’ve compared the image with real photos of the Chrysler building, and the results match up. It still leaves a weird taste in my mouth. The composition is mine, but a part of me feels like it isn’t my photo. (Note: Google says it’s not designed to work on people.)

Pro Res Zoom (100X) on Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Camera Coach on Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Lastly, there’s video capture. Google has made strides over the years in improving the video output of its phones, but it has largely started relying on Video Boost. Once enabled, this sends your footage to the cloud for processing, making the clips brighter, sharper, more colorful, and better stabilized. (It’s exclusive to the Pro models.)

The videos I’ve shot in the past week do genuinely look great once they’ve been put through the Video Boost ringer, but I still find the iPhone delivers better native footage, with better stabilization. You also have to account for the fact that some of these boosted videoclips arrived the next day for me (though you still have access to the original). It’s a smart solution, but I’d like to see Google improve the native video capture. Case in point: The Galaxy S25’s video footage was brighter, less grainy, and better stabilized than the Pixel 10’s.

The AI Assist

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Finally, on to the software. It’s probably not a coincidence, but both Google and Apple redesigned their operating systems this year, and I think Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language came out on top. It’s bubbly, colorful, fun, and playful. Apple’s Liquid Glass feels a bit more stale to me.



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