Hands-On: Google Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel Buds Pro 2, Pixelsnap Charger Stand

Google sent over the new Pixel 10 Pro in Jade, along with the Pixelsnap Charger with Stand, the new Pixelsnap case, and the Pixel Buds Pro 2. After a day or so of testing, here are some quick first hands-on impressions of this new Pixel 10 Pro and accessories.

Pixel 10 Pro: First Impressions

The Jade colour with the polished gold-like frame makes this feel like the most luxurious Pixel yet. It feels substantial in the hand, and the finish has a premium touch with a metallic G logo and diamond-cut camera bezel. The design, while pretty much the same from the Pixel 9 Pro, feels like an update.

The 6.3-inch Super Actua Display (LTPO) is gorgeous—it now peaks at 3,300 nits brightness, higher than last year’s Pixel 9 Pro. It runs from 1–120Hz refresh rate and comes in at 495 ppi, sharper than the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s 486 ppi. Protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, it’s bright, smooth, and easily one of the nicest displays I’ve used.

Speakers also got an upgrade. There’s now a symmetric mesh and improved audio from the top speaker.

Under the hood, the Tensor G5 with 16GB of RAM keeps everything fast—app launching, multitasking, web browsing—all very fluid so far. Battery life is also bigger, with a 4870 mAh pack that Google rates at 30+ hours.

Camera-wise, the triple rear system has improved stabilization and a new 100x Pro Res Zoom. In my early tests, zoom shots are passable despite the on-device AI cleanup. It’s not perfect, but it’s good enough to share. A neat addition is Camera Coach, which guides beginners through taking photos step-by-step. That was one of the features I was excited to try out, and I am sure grandma will appreciate it.

Magic Cue also brings proactive suggested info when you’re calling, texting or searching. It’s amazing especially for texts. I did some test texts with a second device talking about dinner. When I asked when our dinner was, Magic Cue (24 hours later) was able to auto-suggest the date, which is a major timesaver for those with busy calendars. Apple, when will iMessage get smart like this?

Canada still gets the physical SIM slot (yeah, we’re old school special still), which is worth noting as more phones move eSIM-only (the Pixel 10 lineup in the U.S. is eSIM only).

Pixelsnap Charger with Stand and Pixelsnap Case

The Pixelsnap Charger with Stand ($99 CAD) magnetic chargers now support 15W Qi2 wireless charging, which means they also charge compatible iPhones at full speed—a nice surprise. This is essentially MagSafe from Apple but now for the Google Pixel. A standalone Pixelsnap Charger costs $55 CAD. The Pro XL will charge at up to 25W, but the 10 Pro and 10 Pro Fold only charge at up to 15W max.

Here’s what it looks like from the back–you can remove the Pixelsnap Charger which snaps into the stand. The stand itself is quite hefty and not light at all, which means it’ll stay put on your desk. Nice to see Google weigh this down a bit so there’s no flops:

The Pixelsnap case ($69 CAD) feels great in the hand, has good grip, and raises just enough around the camera bump for protection.

Here’s a closer look at how the case seamlessly creates a little bumper around the raised camera bar:

Here’s the lined interior of the Pixelsnap case. It’s a tight fit and the bumper will protect your Pixel 10 series without any issues.

This is what the Pixel 10 Pro looks like from the front while attached to the Pixelsnap Charger with Stand. The magnetic connection is quite strong and the phone can hold up the charging stand when it’s dangling with one hand:

Pixel Buds Pro 2

The long awaited Pixel Buds Pro 2 ($219 CAD) fit comfortably with multiple ear tips, and Google added new features like adaptive audio, spatial audio with head tracking, and soon, loud noise protection. One standout trick: noise cancellation pauses automatically when you start talking to someone — a feature Apple still hasn’t nailed on AirPods.

Battery life is solid with 30+ hours of listening, and Gemini Live integration is built in. Custom touch controls and a twisting adjustment for fit make them more versatile, though personally I still prefer the looser feel of AirPods over sealed in-ears.

In the box, you get extra ear tips in sizes XS, S and L, so you can get a perfect seal with the Pixel Buds Pro 2:

Early Take

So far, the Pixel 10 Pro feels like Google’s most polished, premium phone yet—an iterative step up in materials, display brightness, and camera tech. The Jade finish is wife-approved, the new Pixelsnap accessories are a welcomed addition, and the Buds Pro 2 pack in features I wish Apple would copy. It’s still early, but the Pixel 10 Pro already feels like the kind of phone that could tempt iPhone users to switch. The integration of Gemini AI makes everyday tasks far more seamless, while Siri is trailing badly in the AI race. It’s not hard to see why some of my friends have already made the jump to Android (Apple, it’s time to wake up at some point).

Google’s Pixel 10 Pro is available for pre-order (goes on sale August 28 in stores) and starts at $1,349 for 128GB of storage (yes, 128GB is still the entry in 2025) and delivers in the first week of September. Smartphone prices aren’t getting any cheaper, but at least there wasn’t a price increase despite costs going up everywhere in Canada. Jade is only available in 256GB and comes in at $1,479. A purchase of the Pixel 10 Pro or Pro XL will get you $275 back in Google Store credit (ends September 4).