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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Pixel 10 Professional faces robust competitors across the $1,000 worth tier.
- Samsung, Apple, and OnePlus supply robust alternate options.
- Final yr’s Pixel 9 Professional nonetheless delivers nice worth.
Google’s newest flagship, the Pixel 10 Pro, brings its Pixelized mix of AI smarts and photographic intelligence to the premium Android house. I am all the time excited for the latest Pixel, however now greater than ever, it faces some robust competitors at $999.
Additionally: I replaced my Samsung S25 Ultra with the Pixel 10 Pro XL for weeks – and don’t regret it
In the event you’re on the fence about whether or not to select up Google’s newest Pixel, you must contemplate that a number of different telephones supply equal or higher worth on your cash, every with its personal distinctive spin on velocity, battery life, cameras, and software program. Apple simply introduced the new iPhone 17 series, in spite of everything. Let’s check out a it and few different alternate options.
1. Samsung Galaxy S25
Samsung continues to supply essentially the most direct various to the Pixel with the Galaxy S25 sequence. The bottom S25 begins at $799, 2 hundred {dollars} lower than the Pixel 10 Professional. Even on the lower cost, it runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a beast of its personal.Â
Simply earlier than the Pixel occasion, leaked Reddit benchmarks instructed the Tensor G5 lagged behind Qualcomm’s chip, and probably even the Pixel 9’s GPU. Whether or not you purchase that or not, it is price ready for official comparisons now that the telephone is unveiled earlier than pulling the set off.
Additionally: I’ve tested every single Galaxy S25 phone – and my favorite isn’t the flagship model
Cameras stay my favourite use of Samsung’s flagships, and the bottom mannequin has a decent triple digicam array, together with a wonderful 10-megapixel telephoto. The Extremely is a steep improve, however going huge means you get Samsung’s spectacular 200-megapixel most important sensor paired with twin telephotos with a alternative between 3x and 5x optical zoom. Google’s 5x telephoto is superb, however the Extremely gives extra flexibility for photographers.
The S25 ships with One UI 7 on Android 15 and comes with seven years of software program and safety help, matching the promise made by Google for its Pixel household. Samsung provides its personal AI touches too, from on-device picture era to helpful contextualization with the Now Bar. In the event you’re not going with a Pixel 10, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 is undoubtedly its closest counterpart.
2. Apple iPhone 17 Professional
In the event you’re keen to courageous an ecosystem change, the iPhone 17 Pro is now official. Preorders start Sept. 12, 2025, with availability on Sept. 19. It begins at $1,099 for 256GB, with greater tiers obtainable (and a 2TB option on the Pro Max).
Modifications from final yr are significant: the brand new A19 Professional chip brings stronger CPU/GPU efficiency and speeds, plus there’s a redesigned aluminum unibody with improved thermals. The digicam system steps as much as three 48MP Fusion sensors (Principal, Extremely Broad, Telephoto) and a brand new 18MP Heart Stage entrance digicam. The ProMotion shows are brighter and extra sturdy with Ceramic Protect 2, and battery life has even improved. Apple rates as much as 33 hours of video playback on the 17 Professional and as much as 39 hours on the Professional Max.
Additionally:Â Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: I compared both models to see if it’s worth upgrading
On paper, the iPhone 17 Professional retains tempo with the Pixel 10 Professional and will even set the bar for some. In the event you’re cross-shopping at $999 to $1,199, Apple’s {hardware}, digicam upgrades, and longer battery life make this a really credible various to Google’s flagship.
3. OnePlus 13
OnePlus continues to push efficiency and charging velocity to the boundaries, and I am right here for it each time.Â
The OnePlus 13 undercuts the Pixel’s worth barely, but it runs on the newest Snapdragon 8 Elite silicon, has a beneficiant quantity of RAM, and packs an enormous 6,000 mAh silicon carbon battery. A full cost takes round 40 minutes to finish, and that new battery expertise stretches battery life to virtually two days beneath average use. For individuals who neglect to cost their telephone at night time, like me, that is an enormous profit.
I discovered the telephone to be extremely quick as properly, because of all that inner horsepower. Digicam operation feels snappier, video games load faster, and the light-weight OxygenOS software program retains issues bloat-free however nonetheless attention-grabbing and customized. The digicam array, co-engineered with Hasselblad, could not fairly equal Google’s computational magic, however it’s versatile sufficient. It is also a number of enjoyable to make use of, and I hardly ever regretted the digicam’s output taking a look at it later.
Additionally: OnePlus’ flagship phone is a solid alternative to the Galaxy S25 Ultra – here’s why
The true compromises are available in software program longevity, maxing out at 4 years of main updates. It isn’t almost as robust as Google’s seven-year dedication, which is able to rightfully matter for some customers. For many who improve each few years, the OnePlus 13 hits a candy spot of worth, velocity, and endurance.
4. Google Pixel 9 Professional
It’d sound unusual to recommend final yr’s Pixel as a substitute, however the Pixel 9 Pro is a surprisingly good purchase. Google’s 2024 flagship shares most of its {hardware} with the Pixel 10 Professional, together with the identical triple rear digicam array, 16GB of RAM, and a 120 Hz OLED show. The Pixel 10 Professional has a barely brighter show, a barely bigger battery, and the brand new Tensor G5 chip that’s solely modestly quicker than final yr’s G4, in accordance with leaked benchmarks.
Additionally: I still prefer my Google Pixel 9 Pro over the expensive flagships — and it’s not even close
The Pixel 9 Professional usually sells for lots of much less now, which makes it a straightforward suggestion for Pixel followers who need a lot of the software program perks with out paying prime greenback. You continue to get the seven years of software program and safety updates, options like Name Display screen and Magic Editor, and you continue to seize images and video that rival Google’s latest flagship.
5. Google Pixel 10
Hear me out, generally the perfect various is hiding in the identical lineup.Â
The bottom Pixel 10 cuts the value right down to $799 whereas retaining a lot of what makes the Pixel 10 Professional interesting. It has the identical Tensor G5 processor, virtually all the identical AI options, Qi 2 wi-fi charging with Pixelsnap help, and for the primary time, a triple-camera array with a telephoto lens included in a non-Professional Pixel. You sacrifice a little bit of RAM, show decision, and digicam sensor high quality, however the general expertise could be very shut. The marginally bigger battery within the base mannequin even means you could get higher endurance than the Professional.
Additionally: I switched to the Google Pixel 10 from an iPhone 16, and it was surprisingly delightful
The one AI options lacking from the baseline Pixel 10 embrace an enhanced model of Finest Take that robotically suggests a composite picture for you, and Professional Res Zoom as much as 100x. Neither of these options is a showstopper for many patrons, making the Pixel 10 ship a much more affordable entry into Google’s ecosystem for a number of hundred bucks much less.
The Pixel 10 Professional is a superb smartphone, however it’s not the one recreation on the town. Whether or not you need Samsung’s uncooked energy and ecosystem, Apple’s top-tier efficiency and video, OnePlus’s velocity and charging magic, or Google’s personal discounted 9 Professional XL or base Pixel 10, you’ve loads of alternate options.
Comply with my newest tech evaluations and initiatives throughout social media. You may discover me on YouTube at YouTube.com/@JasonHowell, on X at @JasonHowell, and on Instagram at Instagram.com/thatjasonhowell.
