This year is the second year that the Google Pixel series has been marketed in Malaysia, with it facing serious challenges from Apple and other Android device manufacturers. Last year, I said that the Pixel 9 Pro XL was less competitive for the Malaysian market due to its lack of power and feature set that was not unique enough. With the Pixel 10 Pro XL, I feel like I finally saw what the true uniqueness of the Pixel is.
It is not the power to offer 100FPS gaming graphics, it is not the support of the Apple ecosystem and it is not the fastest charging power. Instead, it is a true artificial intelligence (AI) device for those looking for a device with the best AI integration.
Specifications
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
6.8″ LTPO OLED screen, 120Hz
Super Actua Display, HDR10+
Google Tensor G5 processor (3nm)
1 X 3.78 GHz Cortex X4 chip
5 X 3.05 GHz Cortex A725
4 X 2.25 GHz Cortex A520
PowerVR DXT-48-1536 Graphics Chip
RAM 16GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage 256/512/1000 GB UFS 4.0
Primary Camera 50MP f/1.7, OIS (Primary)
48MP f/1.7 (Ultra Wide)
48MP f/2.8, OIS (Telephoto)
42MP f/2.2 Selfie Camera
5200 mAh battery
45W wired charging
Wireless charging 25W Pixel Stand
Wireless charging 25W Qi
Reverse charging
SIM/Telephony 1 Nano, 1 eSIM
5G Sub 6
NFC Yes
Audio jack None
Waterproof IP68
Scanning system Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner
Face scan
Selling price RM 5999 (16/256GB)
RM 6599 (16/512GB)
RM 7799 (16/1000GB)
Screen
Pixel 10 Pro XL is equipped with a 6.8″ LTPO OLED 120Hz screen from the Actua Display type that feels smooth when used and supports HDR10+. Dolby Vision still does not put Google as low as it refuses to support this more popular HDR format. HDR10+ support can be enjoyed in the Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube applications.
The screen is flat so there is no issue with content overflowing to the sides. Viewing angles are also good and every touch is detected well. Even under the hot sun, content can be seen clearly. Some say the Pixel 10 Pro XL's bezels are too thick compared to its competitors, but I personally have no issues with them.
Biometrics
The biometrics system is a fast ultrasonic under-screen fingerprint scanner and face recognition. The fingerprint scanner is positioned high enough to make unlocking easy. The face recognition system is also no less fast than its predecessor in good lighting.
Design
The Pixel 10 Pro XL has a body that feels sturdy and premium in the hand. The shiny metal frame gives it a luxurious look and feel. Not only is the screen the same as last year, the body of the device has also been redesigned. This is not a negative as the body of the device feels balanced even with the large camera bump on the back.
The power button and volume rocker are placed on the right side. The arrangement is the power button on top and the volume rocker on the bottom, which is reversed compared to other Android devices on the market. It's a change, but after 3 weeks of use, I still haven't gotten used to it.
Below is the USB-C charging port, sandwiched between two audio grilles on the left and right. Moving up there is a microphone hole and a physical SIM tray. The SIM tray only supports one physical SIM with support for the second SIM being in the form of an eSIM only. The 5G mmWave network window that was included on the Pixel 9 Pro XL is no longer included.
The flat sides make the device look a little thick but I'm not the type of user who complains about devices being a little thick. It's not a big issue. This thick body is because of the 5200 mAh battery capacity that comes with it. It's larger than the 5060 mAh on the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
This makes the device feel heavy in the hand. The weight here doesn't come with a negative connotation but rather makes the device feel more luxurious. The Pixels I've used before felt cheap due to their plastic and polycarbonate finish.
The back panel is made of glass which is not shiny and doesn't trap dirt easily. It also allows the device to support Qi2 wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. The oval-shaped camera bump dominates the rear design. It's quite large and thick making the device not easy to lay flat on a table.
It houses a 50MP wide-angle lens, a 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 48MP telephoto lens that can do up to 5X optical zoom. No changes have been made to the sensor. Perhaps Google, like Samsung, believes recycling is good for the environment and doesn't discourage buyers. Finally, the bodies of all three models pass the IP68 waterproof and dustproof standards.
Software – The Most Original Google Android
Software – The Most Original Google Android
The software is why many people want to use the Pixel. It is the purest version of Android 16 without bloatware and uninteresting third-party launchers. The software runs quite smoothly with it being matched with the Google Tensor G5 chip, 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. Google does not offer additional virtual RAM features like other manufacturers and I personally feel that the 16GB included is more than enough.
It is the first device to use Material 3 Expressive which is much easier to use with cheerful elements. I did not like the Android 15 of last year which felt a bit empty. This year the interface elements feel more in line with the needs of the modern world.
In addition to the lightest software, it comes with exclusive Pixel features and receives 7 Android version update support and 7 years of security patches. For those looking for a phone that will be used for a long time, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is a good choice.
Another interesting feature is that Gemini Nano runs directly on the device for various AI tasks such as the Reimagine and Pixel Studio features. Pixel Studio generates images using generative AI directly from the device without the need for internet. Therefore, images can be generated in about 10 seconds.
Pixel Studio
Reimagine also modifies images by inserting proms in Google Photos. For example, you may want to change the blue sky to a red sky like a sunset. Turn a road into a fast-flowing river. The image can also be re-composed with parts that Gemini did not generate.
Screenshot
There is also a new Screenshot feature that saves all screenshots in a special application. AI then reads all the information in the screenshot such as phone numbers, WiFi passwords, flight reservation numbers and event venue addresses. From within the application, users only need to ask the question they want to know the answer to and Screenshot will provide it based on the information collected.
Gemini Voice
What is more useful in my opinion is Recorder which can automatically generate audio transcripts of interviews. Over the course of more than 4 weeks of use, this feature has reduced the working time for writing articles. NotebookLM is also installed on the Pixel 10 Pro XL to make it easier for documents to be processed, digested and then automatically converted into podcasts.
The best features are still Google Circle to Search, Gemini and Gemini Voice which are finally getting smarter. But these three features are not exclusive to Pixel devices. Google is giving away a 12-month Google AI Pro subscription for free which gives access to image generation, Notebook LM and Google Gemini which are more comprehensive than using a free account.
The Magic Cue and Call Screening features did not work at all during the review period. I feel that this feature is still not activated in Malaysia. Just like the feature of editing Photos using voice commands is also limited to users in the United States.
BENCHMARKS
Here are the Antutu 3D, Geekbench 6 and 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme benchmark scores. I compare the Tensor G5 chip used by the Pixel 10 Pro XL with the flagship chips below.
Apple A19 Pro – Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy – Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7
Exynos 2500 – Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7
Snapdragon 8 Elite – Honor Magic V5
Snapdragon 8 Elite (7 Core) – Oppp Find N5
Snapdragon 8 Elite – Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy – Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
MediaTek Dimensity 9400 – Oppo Find X8 Pro
Apple A18 Pro – Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
AnTuTu 3D
Chip Score
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL 1,214,735
Apple iPhone 17 Pro 2,634,345
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 1,542,966
Oppo Find N5 2,157,718
Xiaomi 15 Ultra 2,341,598
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 1,946,864
Oppo Find X8 Pro 2,629,017
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 1,720,751
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 1,016,712
Geekbench 6
Single Core Multi Core Chip
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL 2303 6134
Apple iPhone 17 Pro 3560 8835
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 2236 7627
Oppo Find N5 2866 7987
Xiaomi 15 Ultra 2918 8917
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 2957 9435
Oppo Find X8 Pro 2663 8959
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 3359 8129
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 1916 4644
3DMark Wildlife Extreme
Chip Score
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL 3266
Apple iPhone 17 Pro 5873
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 5201
Oppo Find N5 5507
Xiaomi 15 Ultra N/A
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 6135
Oppo Find X8 Pro 6251
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 4560
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 2567
In all tests, the Tensor G5 scored lower than the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Apple A19 Pro, Apple A18 Pro and Dimensity 9400. It was only able to beat the Tensor G4 which was last year's weakest flagship chip on the market.
The performance of the device is satisfactory with everything running smoothly. Common applications launch quickly without any issues. But when the launcher and camera are launched, the issue arises. The device heats up quickly to the point of being very annoying. Take 10 photos and the device remains warm. Take a screenshot and do some editing in Photos. The device warms up again. Launchers like COD Mobile make the temperature rise. Performance is not affected but when the device warms up in the hand it becomes very uncomfortable.
I am already disappointed with the performance of the Tensor G5 which is not comparable to the Snapdragon 8 Elite launched last year. It will definitely fall behind when the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Exynos 2600 and Dimensity 9500 devices start entering the Malaysian market. Once again, the Pixel device cannot be recommended as a gaming device. Once again, the chip performance is more worthy of being placed in the mid-range.
CAMERA
The camera has been the Pixel's strength since the first iteration. The Pixel's computational photography technology has been further improved this year with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). The result is consistently beautiful photos whether you’re in the scorching UV sun of Kuala Lumpur, in the heavenly paradise of Hawaii or in the dreary weather of Belfast. Check out the sample photos I managed to take in all three locations during the review period.
Photos zoomed in up to 100x still look sharp thanks to the use of generative AI to improve quality. For the best quality, make sure the subject is a building or natural scenery. When there are human faces or vehicles, the illusion of this solid 100x zoom will be destroyed.
My question to you is, do you care if the photos taken by the Pixel 10 Pro XL are generated by AI or is it more important that the photos always look perfect? If you take the latter option, the Pixel 10 Pro XL camera is the greatest I’ve reviewed this year.
I need to test it with the Oppo Find X9 Pro which is currently being tested by Maya, the Vivo X300 Pro which is currently being tested by Amzari and the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max which is yet to be launched in Malaysia to see which device is the 2025 camera champion.
BATTERY
The 5200 mAh battery used this year is better than the 5060 mAh battery last year. There is no problem for the Pixel 10 Pro XL to last a whole day using only the 5G network. However, as I mentioned above, when running the app or using the camera the device gets hot so that the battery performance drops to around 10-12 hours only. This is a less than ideal situation as other devices with Snapdragon 8 Elite do not have the same issue.
Recharging takes 80 minutes wired using a 45W charger. Charging to 50% takes around 30 minutes. This is a shortcoming of the Pixel 10 Pro XL compared to flagship devices from Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi which can charge faster and have larger battery capacities.
AUDIO
The two stereo speakers used are merely satisfactory. The Pixel's camera may be solid, but the speaker performance is about the same as the Pixel 9 Pro XL. It's not as clear at maximum volume and the audio isn't as balanced. For the best audio experience, you'll still need to pair the phone with earphones.
IN THE BOX
Here's what's in the box.
1x Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
1x USB-C to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
1x SIM Pin.
Conclusion
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is a phone with the most native Android 16 operating system with a variety of interesting AI features. The finish of the device is very premium and it feels very comfortable and balanced in the hand. All common apps launch quickly and without issues. The camera performance is also very good in taking pictures and recording videos. If the Pixel 10 Pro XL is judged in a vacuum, it's a very good device to buy.
But like last year, there's no denying that the Tensor G5 is a mid-range processor for a flagship device. Its performance is lower than the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The heating issue also persists, making it uncomfortable to hold using the camera and running the phone. Another issue is that not all of the Pixel's AI features are supported in Malaysia.
At a starting price of RM5999, it's comparable to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The Pixel's only advantage is the camera and some Android AI features that the iPhone doesn't have. At this point, it's hard to recommend the Pixel 10 Pro XL because the Oppo Find X9 Pro, Vivio X300 Pro, iQOO 15, Realme GT8 Pro, Redmi K90 Pro Max and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max will be launched in Malaysia with more powerful chips and definitely more competitive prices.
Pros
Premium design is very comfortable in the hand.
The most original Android 16 software.
Pixel camera capabilities are not gimmicks.
7 years of software support.
IP68 water and dust resistance.
Interesting AI features not found on other devices so far.
Cons
Price is quite expensive.
Tensor G5 is not comparable to other flagship chips.
Charging is only 45W which is slow for modern devices.
Device heats up easily.
