Google Pixel 10 Pro Obsidian 128GB

The Pixel 10 Pro's Tensor G5 CPU pushes it into the top 8% of phones for performance, making it absurdly fast. But it's hobbled by 4G-only connectivity and a battery that lasts just about average, so only buy it if speed is your sole obsession.

The Pixel 10 Pro is, without a doubt, one of the fastest phones we've ever tested. Its Tensor G5 chip pushed it into the 92nd percentile for performance, meaning it outruns nearly all rivals in raw CPU muscle. Paired with 16GB of RAM, this thing chews through multitasking and demanding apps like butter. But Google cut some serious corners to get there. The display is nice and bright at 3300 nits, but connectivity is stuck at 4G, battery life is a weak spot, and the build quality doesn't inspire confidence. It's a phone that excels in one area while whiffing on others.

If you're peeking at the camera, it's a solid shooter with a 50MP main sensor and that insane 100x zoom, though our tests put it in the 76th percentile, well above average but not segment-leading. The software experience is classic Pixel: clean Android 16 and all the AI-powered tricks you'd expect. You'll just have to decide whether screaming-fast performance outweighs a disappointing lack of 5G and a battery that barely hangs on.

We can't overstate how quick this phone feels. The Google Tensor G5 clocked at 3.78GHz, combined with 16GB of RAM, pushed it into the top ranks of our database. In everyday use, apps launch instantly, and it handles 8K video editing without breaking a sweat. Our gaming score was 47.1 out of 100, translating to a smooth experience in most titles, though it won't dethrone dedicated gaming phones. The phone's benchmark standing is the big story here, landing it among the best you can buy right now.

But there's nuance. While the performance is exceptional, the display and battery don't match that firepower. The 120Hz panel is silky, but it's only a modest 6.3 inches and sits in the middle of the pack for our display rankings. The phone gets bright enough outdoors, but if you're expecting a buttery visual experience on par with the top Samsung panels, you'll be slightly let down. Still, for sheer computational grunt, the Pixel 10 Pro is a standout.

Pricing is all over the map for this Pixel. We've seen it listed from $939 up to a laughable $17,191 across vendors. The sweet spot is definitely the $939 price you can snag from Newegg if you act fast, because at that level, you're getting a performance monster for less than many flagships. But once you creep over a grand, the missing 5G and average battery life become harder to swallow. If you can lock in the lower price, the value is decent; just don't overpay for a phone that lacks future connectivity.

Stacked against heavyweights like the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Apple iPhone 17, the Pixel 10 Pro holds its own on raw speed, outperforming both in our CPU-centric tests. But where Samsung and Apple pack 5G, stellar build quality, and full-day-plus batteries, the Pixel stumbles. The OnePlus 15 brings similar performance bravado but adds 5G and a higher battery percentile for a few bucks more. Meanwhile, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro destroys it in gaming and battery, though at a higher cost. Simply put, the Pixel 10 Pro is a one-trick pony, its stunt is phenomenal speed, but the competition is more well-rounded.

Skip the Pixel 10 Pro if you rely on 5G for work or travel, because its lack of modern connectivity puts it well behind nearly every competitor. The battery life is lackluster, so power users and anyone who hates charging mid-day will be frustrated. The build quality is also not up to scratch for rough environments; our rugged score plummeted to 16.3 out of 100, so it's not a phone for klutzes or outdoor enthusiasts. If you want a more balanced flagship, look at the Galaxy S26 Ultra or iPhone 17 instead.

If you're an Android purist who craves benchmark-topping performance above all else, and you don't mind sticking to 4G networks for the foreseeable future, the Pixel 10 Pro delivers a uniquely snappy experience at a sometimes-reasonable price. The AI integration is smart, and the camera is versatile. But for most people, the battery, build, and especially the lack of 5G are dealbreakers. It's a phone for a very specific buyer, and we'd only recommend it if you can find it near that $939 mark and don't need a rugged device.