GoKawiilStephen Radochia / Android Authority
It feels like Google has been through the gauntlet with its Pixel smartphones. The company definitely took its lumps after moving to Tensor chipsets with the Pixel 6, but it felt like the plan was finally coming together. The Pixel 8 Pro was the first time since the Pixel 2 XL that I had confidence carrying around a Google flagship, and the company built on that success with the Pixel 9 series.
I expected more of the same with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and that’s what I got. I’ve been pleased with the hardware, and the software experience is solid. There’s always background noise with Pixels, but most of it is overblown.
I’ve used the Pixel 10 Pro XL for 10 months, and while it’s not a perfect phone, it’s much better than people give it credit for — even if there are challenges for Google lurking around the corner.
What has been your Google Pixel 10 Pro XL experience? 103 votes It's been excellent. The phone is smooth, and I love using it. 70 % Plagued by overheating, bugs, and poor performance. 30 %
Pixel problems often get more attention than they should
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
It’s almost impossible for me to hold back my frustration when talking about modern Pixel phones. The discussions always devolve into the same old complaints. I’m sorry that your Pixel overheats. I don’t think you’re imagining the issue, but I’m sure some combination of updates, charging, Android Auto, or poor connectivity is causing a temporary problem with your phone. If it were as widespread and severe as people claim, you would see mass returns with customers forming lines outside of carrier stores — but that’s not happening.
It’s an easy way to score points and upvotes on Reddit posts because it evokes a time when Google had overheating Pixel problems. Yes, the early Tensor chipsets struggled. But I wasn’t worried my hand was going to catch on fire. My Pixel 6 and later Pixel 7 Pro would occasionally feel uncomfortable to hold without a case while charging and running background updates, but the real problem was battery life. Poor thermal performance equals poor efficiency, and that was the heart of the issue.
It’s also maddening to see the same people complain about Pixels over and over, as if they didn’t have other phones to put in their pockets. I was recently testing Motorola and Samsung devices, both of which got pretty hot to the touch while charging. I can remember several phones that suffered from thermal issues much worse than anything I’ve had on Pixels in the last few years.
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