In 2024, Google launched four flagship phones for the very first time.
The regular Pixel 9 was joined by the Pixel 9 Pro, new Pixel 9 Pro XL and a rebranded foldable in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and there was a clear reason to buy each one.
At £799/$799, the standard Pixel 9 was the most affordable of the quartet by a full £200/$200. Stepping up to the 9 Pro got you a dedicated 5x telephoto lens and upgraded selfie camera, without changing the compact 6.3-inch display.
For an extra £100/$100, the top-spec 9 Pro XL increased the screen size to 6.8 inches, adding a bigger battery and faster charging in the process. And the 9 Pro Fold was in a league of its own, both in terms of design and price tag.
However, that looks set to change on the upcoming Pixel 10 series, which is set to launch at Google’s upcoming event on 20 August. While the 10 Pro XL and 10 Pro Fold’s positions seem secure, the Pixel 10 Pro’s status is under threat…from the regular Pixel 10.
Why? Well, all signs point to the Pixel 10 getting a telephoto lens, the main selling point of the Pixel 9 Pro. The move was first reported by Android Authority back in April, before Android Headlines got more specific, suggesting it’d be a 10.8Mp sensor.
Android Headlines
In case you needed any more evidence, Android Authority got an early look at a Pixel 10 lineup poster, which clearly shows at least three rear lenses across all models.
The only thing we don’t know so far is the level of optical zoom it’ll be capable of. But if it’s anything more than a basic 2x, the 48Mp, 5x sensor on the Pixel 10 Pro (rumoured to be unchanged compared to the 9 Pro) is unlikely to be a big step up.
Google is expected to counteract this by downgrading the other cameras on the Pixel 10. However, the rumoured 48Mp main and 13Mp ultrawide lenses would be the exact same ones which impressed me on the Pixel 9a.
For most people, these small camera upgrades on the Pixel 10 Pro simply won’t justify the significant extra expense. If prices stay the same as the Pixel 9 series, as has been rumoured, the £200/$200 difference between the 10 and 10 Pro will remain.
Android Headlines
The other upgrades on the Pro are likely to be even more minor, with a potential for faster wireless charging, plus support for the Thread smart home standard and Ultrawideband (UWB) for precise location tracking and remote door unlocking.
But all the fundamentals are likely to remain the same, including display, chipset, battery capacity, and, of course, software. And, if the renders posted by Android Headlines are accurate, the Pixel 10’s colour selection is probably more interesting than the Pixel 10 Pro’s. See how we ranked every Pixel 10 colour.
So, unless Google pulls something surprising out of the bag, you can safely skip the Pixel 10 Pro this year. Your bank balance will thank you.
