Upgrading from Pixel 8 Pro to Pixel 10 Pro XL – The hate is completely unjustified
Hey everyone,
I’ve watched and read basically every single review and thread about the new model. After using it myself, I have to say: this phone is getting an unfair amount of hate. I read all the negative reports about battery life and performance, but my real-world experience tells a completely different story.
My old device used to overheat constantly. Sometimes it got so hot it literally felt like a hand warmer. My new one? It hasn't overheated a single time. The only time it got even remotely "warm" was when I was using navigation while streaming music at the same time and even then, it was just very slightly warm. Let’s be real here: other flagships get warm during intensive tasks too. My friend has a recent fruit-branded flagship, and that thing got just as hot as my old phone.
Here is my detailed breakdown after upgrading:
📱 Display
- Premium Feel: The screen simply feels more premium, and the glass surface itself feels like higher quality when typing and swiping.
- Brightness & Colors: The upgraded brightness is the very first thing you notice. On top of that, the colors look significantly better and more vibrant compared to the previous model.
⚙️ CPU & Modem
- Performance & Speed: The performance is excellent and more than enough for anything you throw at it. The jump to the new storage standard makes a massive, very noticeable difference in daily snappiness.
- Connectivity: Signal strength and cellular reception are much better.
- Thermals: The combination of the large vapor chamber, the improved modem, and the architecture completely fixes the old thermal issues I mentioned above. It runs incredibly cool.
📷 Camera
- Speed: Even though it uses similar sensor hardware, the shutter speed is much faster. This is especially noticeable when shooting in the full 50MP mode. Faster shutter speeds also mean significantly fewer blurry photos.
- Image Quality: The color tuning is a bit warmer now, which perfectly fixes those occasionally washed-out photos the old model used to produce.
- Zoom: The 10x mix looks slightly cleaner and better optimized.
🔋 Battery Life
- Active Use: I used to get terrible battery life before. With this new model, right from the very first day before the system could even optimize anything, the active usage time has been incredible and easily lasted through the day.
- Multi-Day Performance: Right now, I am well into my second day of normal usage, and the battery is still halfway full. I am easily on track to get two full days of use out of this device. The passive drain when the phone is just sitting on the desk is completely fixed.
- My Routine: I don't try to save power at all. I constantly use maps, navigation, messaging apps, checking social feeds, and taking pictures.
🎧 Miscellaneous (Haptics, Speakers & Daily Life)
- Haptics/Vibration: The vibration motor feels different compared to the previous model. Personally, I wouldn't say it's better, just different. The older one felt a bit less "hollow," but the new one still gives you a top-tier premium haptic feedback experience. For me, it's almost on the same level as an iPhone (though I still miss 3D Touch).
- Speakers: They are improved and sound better, but they are still not quite on the same level as Samsung or iPhone flagships. To be honest, I don’t use the speakers that much anyway because I have a small baby at home, so my phone is permanently on mute/vibrate haha.
I managed to get the phone through a deal for around 560 bucks included original case, pixel ring, stream 4k worth 100eur and getting the pixel buds 2 pro for effectively 70eur. What i am trying to say is, if you got a deal in your country for 600-700 eur max, get it.
Feel free to ask me anything, I'm open to all questions!