Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Pixel 8 Pro: A lot can change in two years

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is now the top-end Pixel flagship, just two years after the Pixel 8 Pro held the same title. And yet, the Pixel 10 Pro XL looks like a completely different product than the Pixel 8 Pro. In only a few generations, Google pivoted its design language and delivered an enhanced feature set. That helps the Pixel 10 Pro XL look like a major, holistic upgrade over the Pixel 8 Pro.

That doesn't necessarily mean every Google Pixel 8 Pro owner will want to trade in their trusty handset for a brand new one. It's up for debate whether the newer Pixel 10 Pro XL design is actually better — many Pixel fans like the old camera bar and pebble-shaped design. If you're on the fence, let's compare how the Pixel 10 Pro XL stacks up against the Pixel 8 Pro.

For more news and information on Google's latest phones, check out our Ultimate Guide.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Pixel 8 Pro: Pricing and availability

Why you can trust Android Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

If your last smartphone purchase was the Pixel 8 Pro, the price tag of the Pixel 10 Pro XL might sting. Google cut the 128GB, entry-level variant of the Pixel 10 Pro XL, meaning the phone starts at 256GB and costs $1,199 as a result. You can upgrade to 512GB or 1TB configurations for an even higher cost. It's available in Obsidian, Moonstone, Porcelain, and Jade colorways.

We saw the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL for the first time at a Made by Google event on Aug. 20, and pre-orders opened that same day. The smartphone hits shelves about a week later on Aug. 28.

Meanwhile, the Google Pixel 8 Pro launched on Oct. 12, 2023 at a retail price of $999. It's available in Black, Porcelain, and Bay colorways, and starts at 128GB with upgrades up to 1TB available. In 2025, you can still find the Pixel 8 Pro for sale at the Google Store and at partner retailers for as low as $599.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Pixel 8 Pro: Design and display

The shift from the Google Pixel 8 Pro to the Google Pixel 9 series brought a slew of changes, both in design and nomenclature. The Pixel 8 Pro is the phone that would now be considered the "Pro XL" variant, so it's important to remember it is roughly the same size as the Pixel 10 Pro XL. While the Pixel 10 Pro XL isn't a design huge upgrade over the Pixel 9 Pro XL, two years of upgrades are compounding here compared to the Pixel 8 Pro.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL has the new boxy and rectangular design language, with flat side rails and a slight chamfer. There's also the pill-shaped camera bar on the back and simply fewer curves overall. By comparison, the Pixel 8 Pro has the older pebble-shaped design language with strong curves and an in-hand feel that some might prefer from a comfort standpoint. It also has the more traditional camera bar that extends from edge to edge.

You'll have to decide which design style you prefer, as there are major differences between the Pixel 10 Pro XL and the Pixel 8 Pro. From an objective standpoint, the older Pixel 8 Pro is lighter, weighing 213 grams. Newer Pixel phones keep getting heavier, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL weighs 232 grams this year.

The form factor of the two phones are mostly the same, with the Pixel 10 Pro XL being slightly thinner than the Pixel 8 Pro — the difference is 8.5mm vs. 8.8mm. This isn't exactly surprising, because the major design changes are carryovers from the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Notably, the Pixel 10 Pro XL has the larger and brighter display. It spans 6.8 inches, and the AMOLED panel supports 3,300 nits of peak brightness. The Pixel 8 Pro has a slightly smaller 6.7-inch AMOLED display topping out at 2,400 nits of peak brightness. Both phones have LTPO technology and can fluctuate between 1Hz and 120Hz refresh rates situationally.

In terms of durability, both phones have IP68 protection against dust and water ingress, as well as Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Pixel 8 Pro: Hardware and specs

On the inside, the Pixel 10 Pro XL packs a bigger punch than the Pixel 8 Pro. It comes down to chipset and memory — the newer phone features a more advanced processor and 16GB of RAM. It should perform better than the Pixel 8 Pro as a result, which only has 12GB of memory and runs on the older Tensor G3 platform. Luckily, Google fixed overheating problems with Tensor G3, but speeds are less than desirable in certain situations.

Google is swinging for the fences with the Tensor G5 chip in the Pixel 10 Pro XL. It's the first Google chip to be fabricated using TSMC's 3nm process node, which is the same one used by Apple and Qualcomm. There are also more custom components used in the Tensor G5, like an all-new image signal processor (ISP), further improving the Pixel 10 Pro XL's efficiency and optimization.

Hopefully, this brings the Pixel 10 Pro XL more in line with Apple and Samsung phones in terms of raw power and gaming chops. These are areas where the Pixel 8 Pro is decidedly lacking compared to the competition. We'll have to run benchmark tests for ourselves, but Google is optimistic. It says the Tensor G5's CPU is 34% faster on average than the Tensor G5, and the tensor processing unit (TPU) is up to 60% more powerful.

Remember, that's compared to the Tensor G4, so the gap will be even bigger compared to the Tensor G3.

Rounding out the hardware improvements for the Pixel 10 Pro XL are battery and charging upgrades. The new model has a 5,200mAh battery capacity with support for faster charging speeds. We are finally getting 39W wired speeds, Qi2 25W wireless charging support, and 5W reverse wireless charging.

Faster charging, longer battery life, and magnetic Qi2 support are key reasons to pick a Pixel 10 Pro XL over the Pixel 8 Pro.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Pixel 8 Pro: Cameras

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL keeps the same camera hardware as the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but that's still an upgrade over the Pixel 8 Pro in one area. The front-facing camera is now a 42MP, f/2.2 sensor — up from the 10.5MP, f/2.2 sensor on the Pixel 8 Pro. Otherwise, both phones have a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 48MP ultrawide camera.

Still, it's almost a certainty that Google pulls better-quality photos out of the Pixel 10 Pro XL's camera system. The new ISP in the Tensor G5 is a big part of that, but Google's computational photography and software techniques have also changed in the two years since the Pixel 8 Pro released. We're seeing more true-to-life colors compared to a tendency for oversaturation — a shift that started with the Pixel 9a camera.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL also comes with new camera features, like Camera Coach, which uses custom AI models to instruct you how to take better photos.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Pixel 8 Pro: Which should you buy?

The choice between the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and the older Pixel 8 Pro is tempting, regardless of whether you're looking at upgrading or buying either phone outright. At under $600, the Google Pixel 8 Pro is about half the price of a Pixel 10 Pro XL, which makes you think about whether the new model is really twice as good. If I was in the market for a new Pixel, I'd at least think about whether a Pixel 8 Pro would meet my needs for a seriously-low price.

That said, the Pixel 10 Pro XL packs a lineup of compelling upgrades over older models like the Pixel 8 Pro. The highlights include a fast, AI-centric Tensor G5 processor, Qi2 25W support with built-in magnets, and a bigger battery. If those hardware improvements sound exciting, it might be worth trying to get your hands on a Pixel 10 Pro XL.