Here are some Pixel 10 series limitations you should know before buying

If you’ve been eyeing up the brand-new Pixel 10 series, there are a few sticking points that deserve your attention before you take the plunge. Sure, the latest Google phone is packed with fresh AI features and the usual serving of slick software touches. But before you get swept up in that “new phone” excitement, let’s talk about the stuff that could surprise — or even annoy — you after unboxing.

First up, say goodbye to Battery Share. Google’s nifty feature that lets you juice up a friend’s phone or your earbuds off the back of your Pixel? That’s reportedly been axed on the Pixel 10. The reason, according to Google, is down to the new Qi2 magnets for “Pixelsnap” accessories. Basically, these magnets make for a more secure magnetic charging experience, but there’s a trade-off: reverse wireless charging is off the table this time around. If you actually relied on that to rescue your buds or help a friend out, you’re out of luck with the newest model.

Battery behavior is another story, and honestly, this one’s a bit controversial. Google confirmed they’re making Battery Health Assistance mandatory on all Pixel 10 phones, which means your device will start limiting charging speed and capping maximum battery capacity after as few as 200 charge cycles. This isn’t surprising though. Google baked this limitation into the Pixel 9a as well.

You can’t turn this setting off. The idea is to help your phone last longer, but you might notice your “all day” battery getting a little less all-day much sooner than you’d expect. For folks who hang on to their phones and rack up charge cycles, this one may sting. But given how some Pixel 6a devices have burst into flames, I guess it’s better to be safe rather than sorry.

On the camera front, the base Pixel 10 takes a step back with downgraded sensors. It uses a smaller 1/1.95-inch main lens compared to the Pixel 9’s 1/1.31-inch, which might lead to weaker low-light shots and less detail. The ultrawide also borrows from the budget Pixel 9a, so don’t expect flagship-level clarity there. Even on the Pro models, hardware stays mostly unchanged, and early hands-on reports mention laggy apps and iffy portrait edges.

On the video front, don’t expect bleeding-edge specs. Slow motion is still capped at 1080p at 240 frames per second — no bump to 4K or ultra-high frame rates like you might see elsewhere. And while 4K at 60fps with HDR is technically on the Pixel 10’s spec sheet, there’s speculation that it might only be available through the main lens, so it’s smart to double-check once reviews start dropping.

As for Google’s hyped Video Boost feature, if you want to shoot Night Sight video with the latest AI sauce, that reportedly remains exclusive to the Pro models. The standard Pixel 10 sits this one out, so you’ll miss out on top-shelf low-light video unless you shell out for a pricier model.

Looking for the latest Wi-Fi tech? That’s another letdown. While competitors and even last year’s Pixel 9 included speedy Wi-Fi 7, the standard Pixel 10 skips this feature. So if you’re planning to future-proof your phone or want wireless speeds to match a new router, the Pixel 10 leaves you waiting on the sidelines.

Now, the elephant in the room: graphics performance. Current benchmark listings indicate that the Tensor G5 might have an underwhelming GPU. It could also explain why Google never bothered to mention anything about the GPU performance at its event. Nor does it highlight performance numbers in its official marketing material. But there’s still a possibility that we might see better numbers once the benchmarks are performed with up-to-date software.

All in all, the Pixel 10 packs a lot of smart features, but just as many unexpected compromises. Google’s latest phones still push forward on software, but hardware tweaks this year seem more “interesting” than universally better. For anyone deciding whether to click that pre-order button, weighing up these limitations alongside the perks is more important than ever.

That said, if you’re unfazed by these limitations, then check out our pre-order hacks and things to be aware of. Let me know your thoughts on these limitations in the comments section below.