Pixel 10 Pro after 100 days — just get the Pixel 10

Google Pixel 10 Pro is a great phone. I've been using it for 100 days now and it's been reliable the entire time. Not perfect, but very good. The point is, most people are probably better off saving some money and buying the Pixel 10 instead.

On paper, the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro have a few notable differences and a ton of similarities. The phones are the same size, almost the same weight (the 10 Pro is three grams heavier), have the same Tensor G5 chip, are both made of glass with metal sides, and have a huge pill-shaped camera bump on the back.

The displays are slightly different, with the 10 Pro being slightly better at 1280×2856 pixels instead of 1080×2424, a refresh rate of 1-120Hz instead of 60-120Hz, and peak brightness up to 3300 nits instead of 3000 nits. When both phones are actively used, these differences are in most cases unnoticeable.

Other differences include that the Pixel 10 has a slightly larger battery than the 10 Pro (4,970 mAh to 4,870 mAh), less RAM (12 GB vs. 16 GB), and less storage options, maxing out at 256 GB, while the 10 Pro can go with 512 GB or 1 TB. Again, none of this matters much since RAM potentially impacts AI performance if you care (I don't).

As a result, the camera hardware is the only part of the device that has significant differences. Below I've listed all the cameras and highlighted the noticeable differences, with all other specs being the same (or close enough to not matter):

• Main camera: 48-megapixel on Pixel 10 versus 50-megapixel on 10 Pro.
• Ultra-wide: 13MP f/2.2 vs 48MP f/1.7
• Telephoto: 10.8 MP f/3.1 vs 48 MP f/2.8
• Selfie: 10.5MP camera with 95-degree field of view vs. 42MP camera with 103-degree field of view

In my experience, the Pixel 10 Pro's camera definitely has an edge over the Pixel 10 due to its better hardware. However, this difference is most noticeable in specific scenarios such as low-light photography and zoom shots—in most cases, the Pixel 10 can produce excellent results that are very comparable to the 10 Pro. (And as proof I will give point me to my Pixel 10 review where I have included some comparison shots).

Having used the Pixel 10 Pro for 100 days now, I can confidently say that the only reason to shell out extra money for it over the Pixel 10 is its niche camera performance. In other words, if you don't regularly use your phone for high-level (like professional) photography, the Pixel 10 is for you.

Again, the Pixel 10 Pro is a decent phone. To be honest, I like a lot about it. I'm a big fan of this year's 'Jade' color scheme, and the soft-touch back is great, although not significantly different from the 9 Pro. Battery life was solid for me, easily getting through most days and sometimes even stretching by a second. There's not enough difference between the Pro and the regular 10 to justify the extra cost.

Typically, the Pixel 10 Pro retails for $1,349, while the Pixel 10 retails for $1,099. But at the time of writing both devices retailed for $1,099 and $849, respectively.. So, right now you can get the Pixel 10 Pro for the price of the Pixel 10, which is pretty respectable. However, I think most people would be better off saving their money and buying the Pixel 10 on sale.