Five surprising Pixel 10 upgrades, from Qi2 magnets to 100x AI zoom, wow on day one

The Google Pixel 10 Pro has been in my hands for just one day, but already it feels like a leap forward from the Pixel 9. On the surface, the phone looks almost identical to its predecessor. Yet beneath that familiar design lie thoughtful tweaks that make the Pixel 10 series stand out. From magnetic charging to astonishing AI photography tricks, these are the five changes that have genuinely surprised me so far.

1. Qi2 ‘Pixelsnap’ finally makes MagSafe-style charging effortless
For years, Pixel owners enviously watched iPhone users snap wallets, stands and chargers onto the backs of their devices. The Pixel 10 ends that frustration by adding built-in Qi2 magnets. Accessories now click neatly into place without clunky third-party cases or stickers. In one day, I’ve used the feature for car charging, a video call stand, and even planned to use it in-flight. Small as it seems, this upgrade instantly makes the Pixel 10 feel more versatile.

2. A brighter display that matters outdoors
The Pixel 10 Pro boasts a 10% brightness boost over last year’s model, peaking at 2,200 nits in high-brightness mode and 3,300 nits for HDR. Side by side with the Pixel 9 Pro, the difference is subtle indoors but noticeable in sunlight. Reading text and glancing at notifications outdoors is simply easier on the eyes. It’s not headline-grabbing, but it’s the kind of refinement that becomes invaluable the longer you use the phone.

3. Camera Coach turns AI into a pocket tutor
Google’s Gemini AI now acts as a photography assistant, scanning your frame and offering advice: tilt the angle, switch to another mode, zoom in, adjust the light. It sounds gimmicky, but in practice, the suggestions are useful and practical. Early tests — photographing plants, family portraits and indoor shots — proved it genuinely helps improve composition. For casual photographers, it could become an indispensable teaching tool.

4. Pro Res 100x zoom is shockingly sharp
The Pixel 9 Pro topped out at 30x digital zoom. The Pixel 10 leaps to 100x with Gemini-powered ProRes AI. Early shots of flowers and distant objects revealed a sharpness and clarity that were genuinely impressive for such extreme magnification. While the hardware hasn’t changed, the software magic makes these images more than usable — it makes them fun. Expect this to be a favourite talking point among Pixel fans.

5. Tensor G5 shows Google finally found its stride
The Pixel 10 debuts Google’s first TSMC-built processor, the Tensor G5. After just a day of use, the chip feels faster, cooler and more efficient than anything on previous Pixels. Setup didn’t trigger overheating, and the battery drain seems lighter than on the Pixel 9. While Google’s Android flavour still feels a touch slower than rivals like Samsung’s One UI or OnePlus’s OxygenOS, the G5’s stability suggests big strides in performance.

The Pixel 10 just feels right
What strikes me most is how natural the Pixel 10 feels. Instead of a radical redesign, Google refined what already worked, layering quality-of-life upgrades that reveal themselves in daily use. From snapping on accessories to capturing distant details with AI, the Pixel 10 Pro already feels like the most complete Pixel yet.

It’s only been a day, but these five surprises have made me fall for this phone faster than I expected.