5 high smartphones to think about as an alternative of the Google Pixel 10

The Google Pixel 10 has been introduced, and Google’s latest vary of smartphones is each bit as spectacular as we anticipated.

The standard {hardware} upgrades are discovered beneath the hood, however the software program is what’s caught our creativeness.

Google has served up plenty of ephemeral improvements, together with Magic Cue, and AI assistants just like the Digital camera Coach.

However even with all of that, the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Professional, and Pixel 10 Professional XL do not stand alone.

The trendy smartphone market is a aggressive, dog-eat-dog world, and there are many different choices you could possibly get as an alternative.

Listed here are the 5 smartphones you should purchase as an alternative of the Google Pixel 10.

5

Google Pixel 9

Sure, we’re kicking issues off with a well-known cellphone. The Google Pixel 9 might have technically been made out of date by the Pixel 10, however the actuality is just not that clean-cut.

As a flagship cellphone, the Pixel 9’s energy is sort of as spectacular because the Pixel 10’s, and whereas it most likely will not get Magic Cue, the Pixel 9’s AI choices are nearly as spectacular as these of its extra fashionable sibling.

Design-wise, it is nonetheless attractive.

Google took an opportunity with the digicam bar, nevertheless it’s actually paid off, giving the Pixel vary a mode of its very personal, and the Pixel 9 is a slight evolution of that look.

The bar now has rounded ends, which makes it look somewhat like Bender from Futurama. It will not be to everybody’s tastes, nevertheless it’s undeniably iconic.

The show is a 6.3-inch OLED panel with a 1080p decision and a most brightness of two,700 nits. These are spectacular specs by anybody’s metric, and so they’re simply nearly as good as what the Professional fashions of this era supply.

Shopping for this cellphone means a slight downgrade in energy, because it’s working the final era’s Tensor G4 chip. However there’s more likely to be no such downgrade within the digicam efficiency, which can all the time impress.

The 50MP predominant lens is joined by a 48MP ultrawide lens, and the pair works effectively with Google’s software program to provide among the greatest point-and-shoot photos you will get.

Sure, there is not any zoom lens, and that does damage somewhat, however its absence is helped by the Tremendous Res Zoom function.

The cellphone’s battery life is powerful, however charging nonetheless lags behind the competitors a bit. Quick charging of 27W actually is not sufficient in 2025 if you’d like your cellphone to really feel particular, particularly when OnePlus is delivering charging speeds of 80W-plus.

The Pixel 9 started life at $799 from Google, however count on that to have skydived for the reason that introduction of the Pixel 10.

If a brand new cellphone is on the playing cards, however not pressing, then it is price looking for the Pixel 9 throughout gross sales occasions like Black Friday or Amazon’s Prime Day.

These will see lots of of {dollars} slashed from the worth, although in case you want a brand new cellphone proper now, you may possible nonetheless discover the Pixel 9 for an incredible value anyway.

4

Samsung Galaxy S25+

It may be somewhat fundamental so far as improvement of a components goes, however the Samsung Galaxy S25+ continues to be probably the greatest smartphones you will get your fingers on proper now, and a really robust selection over the Pixel 10 vary.

It is a bigger cellphone, as you’ve got most likely guessed from the “Plus” within the identify, so actually, that is going head-to-head with the Pixel 10 Professional XL — although you would possibly count on the S25 Extremely to be doing that job.

Properly, the S25+ is greater than able to taking over Google’s largest new cellphone, and a variety of that has to do with the wonderful {hardware} Samsung packed into its center cellphone.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite is the core of that {hardware}. This highly effective processor devours completely something you throw at it, and it is uncommon if it slows down for something.

This processor had the Pixel 9’s Tensor G4 beat, and it will put up an incredible battle in opposition to the Pixel 10’s Tensor G5 as effectively. It is quick and snappy, and it will present top-tier flagship energy for years to return.

The show is a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a QDH+ decision and a 120Hz refresh charge. Samsung continues to make among the greatest cellphone show panels on the market, and the S25+’s seems superb.

The design across the show is somewhat little bit of a let-down, although. It is actually on the blander finish of smartphone design, and whereas it could be intentional to attraction to as many individuals as doable, those that like a daring assertion (just like the Pixel 10’s digicam bar) might be disillusioned.

Nevertheless, it nonetheless feels premium, and because of the flat edges, it feels nice within the hand.

Battery life lasts a day and a bit, and charging is a decent 45W, so it is a good exhibiting right here too. However the S25+ falls aside a bit in relation to AI integration. The assorted bits of Android AI works effectively, however the headline Galaxy AI continues to be not ok.

Samsung is shedding out to Google in relation to AI, and if these parts caught your eye, this will not be the cellphone to seize. As an alternative, check out the Pixel 9 above.

For the reason that Galaxy S25+ continues to be the newest Samsung flagship, there aren’t too many reductions to be discovered. Certain, you will get them throughout numerous gross sales durations, however they will not be as spectacular as they might be for the earlier era.

Nonetheless, this is a superb cellphone, and with costs ranging from $1,000, it is a robust competitor for the entire Pixel 10 vary.

3

Motorola Razr 2025

The Pixel 10 is not a flip smartphone by any definition, so why are we recommending a flip smartphone as an alternative of it?

As a result of the Moto Razr 2025 is a very good cellphone, and it is distinctive worth for cash too. It is a superb various to the Pixel 10, particularly in case you’re in any approach all for flip telephones.

The Motorola Razr 2025 belongs to the flip household of foldable telephones. Meaning it is the form of a daily cellphone when unfolded, and it folds right into a small sq. when not wanted.

It is a neat approach to make huge telephones barely smaller, and it is an incredible retro throwback to anybody who remembers the very first era of flip clamshell telephones.

The particular factor right here is that Motorola is now excellent at making these telephones.

The outer 3.6-inch show is not only for notifications and widgets. It is a fully-fledged show in its personal proper, and you should use extra apps than you’d suppose on it. You may even kind out WhatsApp replies on it.

However it’s the inside 6.9-inch show that is actually particular. It is rocking a 120hz refresh charge, and it is completely attractive in addition.

Efficiency takes somewhat step down in comparison with the competitors, and it is vital to notice the mid-range {hardware} within the Razr is not going to measure as much as the Pixel 10.

Nonetheless, it really works simply positive for many circumstances, and it might probably deal with most 3D video games too.

It is a related story for the digicam too, which features effectively in good lighting, however struggles when your environment dim. It is vital to notice that there have been some concessions made right here to get the worth the place Motorola wished it to be.

And the place precisely was that? Brace your self: you should buy a slice of a futuristic cellphone for simply $700. Sure, cheaper than the Pixel 10. And because of Motorola typically profiting from aggressive gross sales, you may typically discover it for lower than that.

The Motorola Razr 2025 is the cellphone to choose in case you just like the Pixel 10, however actually wish to know whether or not foldable telephones are any good. It lacks a variety of the AI that makes the Pixel particular, however hey, it folds.

2

OnePlus 13

What can we are saying in regards to the OnePlus 13 that hasn’t already been mentioned?

OnePlus makes a speciality of delivering high-end {hardware} for barely lower than high-end costs. And boy, did it try this with the OnePlus 13.

Unroll the OnePlus 13’s spec sheet, and it reads like a best hits album of different flagship telephones.

Snapdragon 8 Elite processor? Verify. As much as 1TB of storage? Verify. Triple-lens digicam system rammed stuffed with megapixels? Verify.

There’s even room for OnePlus to squeeze in much more numbers, like as much as 24GB of RAM, and a daft 80W wired charging and 50W wi-fi charging.

Not that it wants charging that quick when the large 6,000mAh battery can final for days on a single cost.

It is also stunning. The 6.82-inch OLED show runs a 1440p decision and peaks at 120Hz, and the mushy curves assist it to settle gently into your hand.

Sure colorways have a pretend leather-based design on the again panel, and the large digicam module is as distinctive to OnePlus as it may be right now.

That is, doubtless, a cellphone that may do principally something you want it to, and appears excellent doing it.

Is it excellent? After all not. The AI integration could be very simple to overlook, and the assisted zoom begins to look very unusual the nearer it will get — however these are comparatively small points, and should not be a deal-breaker for anybody.

What is the value? You are $900 for the OnePlus 13, which implies it is principally the identical value because the Pixel 10.

Which will initially make you ponder whether OnePlus has misplaced the worth proposition it used to commerce on, however take into account it is rocking principally the identical specs as an S25 Extremely or one other ultra-premium flagship like that. Then $900 looks like a steal.

1

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

The Pixel 10 Professional Fold solely has one actual competitor within the US — the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

So, in case you’re contemplating shopping for the Pixel 10 Professional Fold, Samsung’s huge foldable also needs to be in your listing to think about.

The Z Fold 7 was precisely the cellphone that Samsung wanted to launch to revitalize the Z Fold vary.

The fundamental parts are the identical as they’ve ever been: the outer show is similar dimension as a daily smartphone, nevertheless it unfolds right into a small pill.

Nevertheless, Samsung has made modifications in all the best locations, shoring up some weaknesses and reinforcing some strengths to make the Z Fold 7 an distinctive cellphone.

Probably the most notable of the modifications is that it is thinner than beforehand, and that makes a large distinction.

The place the Z Fold 6 and earlier typically felt like two telephones when folded, the Z Fold 7 now appears like only a single cellphone. A thick cellphone, sure, however just one.

As well as, the duvet display has been widened, making it way more helpful than it was earlier than, and fewer of a chore in your thumbs.

The whole lot else has been tweaked just a bit bit further to make it higher.

There are the customary {hardware} upgrades to the newest Qualcomm and Samsung processors, and whereas the battery hasn’t been upgraded, being paired with the extra environment friendly Snapdragon 8 Elite means it is a longer-lasting cellphone, if not by a lot.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the folding cellphone Samsung ought to all the time have been making, and it is a robust selection in case you’re seeking to purchase the Pixel 10 Professional Fold — and even in case you’re planning to purchase any of the opposite Pixels.

In case your price range can stretch to it, it is price contemplating.