After the dust has settled, is it now time for Pixel 6 owners to make the jump to the Pixel 10? Here’s everything you need to know.
The obvious answer to the question of whether you should switch from an aging Pixel 6 to a brand new Pixel 10 is a resounding yes. There are a few things to note, though, because as with all technology, there’s something new around the corner.
That means if you don’t like change for the sake of change, you may be wondering, now that the dust has settled, if it is worth making that jump. Are the changes pronounced enough? What else is there to know? We have you covered here, especially as the “sale season” is rapidly approaching.
Design changes and hardware improvements
The biggest, most notable thing right out of the gate is the erasure of curves from the Pixel 6 versus the Pixel 10. There are a few key reasons this is a good thing. Firstly, you don’t have to worry about display edges being in the firing line day to day. All of the lineups come with a completely flat display, which is great for usability and makes life so much easier when you are looking for accessories like screen protectors. Everything about the Pixel 10 screen is an improvement.
You get a huge bump in the display quality across the board, with locked 120Hz refresh rates for all models, increased brightness levels, smaller bezels, smaller punch-hole, and better biometric tech to make unlocking a breeze.
The shift from the Pixel 6’s notoriously slower optical fingerprint sensor to a more modern, faster sensor is an immediate, day-one quality-of-life improvement you will notice. You even get the software-based Face Unlock on the newer models, which was never added to the Pixel 6 series, so two solid options that the Pixel 10 has and the Pixel 6 missed out on.
A lot of people really love Pixelsnap, and with good reason. You get MagSafe compatibility with zero downsides, as almost everything that works on an iPhone will work on the Pixel 10. There are hacky methods to add Magsafe to the Pixel 6, but most involve a case. I personally think that’s fine, albeit not quite the same as native integration. You might have tons of accessories in your home, and you can just attach or slap your phone on without a second thought. It’s a really simple but important upgrade.
Tensor gains across the board
The first-generation Tensor chip seemed fine at first, but slowly, over time, problems started to become the norm for many people. One of the most frustrating aspects was the heat management, which has been a killer for the entire line-up until now. With Tensor G5, the Pixel 10 doesn’t appear to suffer from overheating issues, at least not in “normal” conditions like the Pixel 6 could or can.
What is interesting is how little you might notice the raw performance gains on the Pixel 10. Even four updates later, the Pixel 6 series runs fairly smoothly. Yes, there are times when you might encounter slowdowns, but it’s impressive how well the lineup has aged despite some of the major hardware foibles and complaints.
Ultimately, the upgrade is less about raw speed and more about sustained, cool performance and long-term efficiency. I think that is one of the key reasons someone might be willing to ditch their aging device in favor of Google’s latest and greatest.
The modem inside the Pixel 6 has also been a very well-documented pain point, frequently leading to poor reception and erratic signal drops that sometimes required a complete phone restart. The Pixel 10 features a vastly superior, more modern modem, likely fully integrated within the Tensor G5 chip.
This translates to rock-solid cellular connectivity in areas where the Pixel 6 struggled, and critically, it consumes far less battery power in the hunt for a signal. That was my own biggest complaint with all Pixel 6 models. Often, you’d see no signal, but not realize your battery is draining because of the constant network searching. If you live or work in a marginal coverage area, this change makes the upgrade another enticing route out of frustration and annoyance with your mobile phone.
The Pixel 6 series, while having large batteries, always struggled to achieve true all-day endurance for heavy users, largely due to the inefficient Tensor G1 chip and its modem. The Pixel 10 benefits from the combined efficiency of the Tensor G5 and the improved modem, leading to an undeniable edge in overall lifespan. It’s not fair to compare a 4-year-old phone to a brand new one, but you will get a big gain. For all but the most addicted owners, this phone should easily last a full day, possibly even stretching into a two-day experience for lighter usage. This substantial jump in battery lifespan is one of the most compelling reasons to make the switch.
Faster charging is another smaller benefit; we say “smaller” because the 21W wired charging is now just 30W on the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro or 45W on the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Plus, there’s the added bonus of Qi2 charging at up to 25W on the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The maximum charging speed of the Pixel 6 Pro is just 23W using the Pixel Stand, and wired is still just 30W. Let’s be honest here, no Pixel has truly had “fast charging,” and that hasn’t changed in 2025.
Do you want more AI?
Let’s be honest, the Tensor G5 is still not going to win a raw speed test against the top silicon from the competition, and that’s fine. Google’s strategy has always been to use AI to make the phone smarter, not just faster. Google is intent on using AI to bridge the performance gap by delivering next-generation on-device AI features that improve the daily smartphone experience in ways raw specs alone probably can’t.
I’d argue that better performance is still a must for the next generation, and the new additions are so sporadic that it’s tough to consider them “essential” to the daily experience of Material 3 Expressive and Android 16.
Improved and enhanced cameras
Let’s not get it twisted. The core camera experience on the Pixel 10 has not been a quantum leap when compared directly to the Pixel 6. Some little changes to the hardware make things better. The new telephoto on the base Pixel 10 is incredible for flexibility, but it masks a main sensor downgrade on the base model.
The upgraded 50MP main sensor is physically larger, which offers notable improvements in image depth, sharpness, dynamic range, and low-light performance. More than just the hardware, the Pixel 10 introduces a host of AI-powered features and video modes that are simply unavailable on the older device, such as high-quality 10-bit HDR recording and superior video stabilization.
Pro Res Zoom is a divisive feature. I personally love it, but it masks some of the hardware limitations. It doesn’t work perfectly on all subjects, but at least it’s a non-destructive option.
Yes, the Pixel 10 series will take better photos and record better videos. Is it a quantum leap? No, but there is a nice bump plus some extra functionality that could be really useful if you’re getting annoyed or feel let down by the Pixel 6 camera systems.
Why the Pixel 10 is a real-world upgrade
About upgrading: 9to5Google often gives specific product recommendations. Sometimes, we may suggest not upgrading, due to various reasons including, but not limited to: increased device cost, negligible performance gains, or environmental impact. Whether to upgrade is always your call, but our aim is to help you make as informed a decision as possible.
So, here’s the bottom line. If you are still rocking a Pixel 6, you’re sitting on a device that defined a new era for Google. The first Tensor chip, the big new design, is complete with the camera bar. It was a good phone, but it was also – despite its name – a first-generation product. And first-generation products have flaws. The slow biometric scanner, the poor thermal management, the weak modem, and the missing modern essentials like Magsafe-style magnetic charging.
The Pixel 10 isn’t just an iterative upgrade; it feels a little bit like the refined, finished vision of what the Pixel 6 was supposed to be. That might sound odd, but it’s the kind of tiny gains we’ve seen from Google over the past four years. Nothing truly groundbreaking, just progress inch by inch.
The admittedly minor speed bumps are welcome, but the true value lies in the quality of life improvements: a modem that finally keeps signal, a battery that lasts longer, and the massive jump in usability brought by the Pixelsnap accessory ecosystem. The suite of AI features might not be enough to sell a phone alone, but when they work, functions like Magic Cue make your phone feel genuinely smarter and exponentially more convenient.
If you’re looking for a reason to jump from the Pixel 6, this is probably it. The difference between a phone with potential (the 6) and a phone that delivers on that potential most of the time (the 10) is key. Crucially, now that the dust has settled after the launch, the initial retail price has dropped, meaning if you time a purchase right, you’ll get a lot more bang for your buck than you would have a few months ago. It’s by no means perfect, but about as “perfect” as a Pixel has been thus far.
Are you making the jump this sales season, or are you holding onto that trusty old 6 for another year? Let us know in the comments section below.
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