Don’t buy the Pixel 10 Pro: Here are 5 better phones to pick instead

Google Pixel 10 Pro: The company’s sharp flagship has great AI and fabulous camers but, at $999, it’s no longer the obvious choice. Rival phones now match or exceed it in performance, zoom flexibility, battery life, software longevity and — crucially — value.

If you are ready to upgrade, these five models are smarter buys for various reasons, including pro-grade video and ultrafast charging, as well as broader ecosystem perks and lower ownership costs.

Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25 Ultra: Power and camera range

The Galaxy S25 line from Samsung is probably the best straight-up Android alternative. The base S25 is priced cheaper than the Pixel 10 Pro, but it runs on Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite platform, which has historically produced stronger GPU throughput and sustained performance in independent testing at outlets like AnandTech and UL’s 3DMark. That matters for marathon gaming sessions, and 4K recording and on-device AI tasks.

Camera flexibility is where Samsung pulls ahead. The S25 Ultra matches up a 200MP high-res main sensor with three-times optical and five-times optical telephotos, providing a wider cleaner-zoom range than the Pixel’s lone 5x lens. If you photograph wildlife, sports or stage shows, that flexibility can pay off in less cropping and more detail.

It also follows Google’s seven-year span for OS and security updates and adds aknack of AI skills like the Now Bar, for providing actions based on context or even image processing directly on your device. For the majority of Android shoppers, the S25 series is providing a more evenly mid-range spec sheet at a more optimal starting cost point.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro: Battery life and Brutal video prowess

If you’re willing to switch ecosystems, the iPhone 17 Pro sets the Standard for battery life and pro video. Apple clocks the Pro and Pro Max for dramatically longer playback duration than competing flagships, and the A19 Pro silicon serves up gigantic CPU/GPU gains that keep performance headroom for years to come.

ProMotion display, triple 48MP camera system, and ProRes/Log capture round up a cracked-out-of-the-box video production kit that mobile filmmakers and content producers have come to love.

Resale studies from firms such as SellCell and Counterpoint Research also reveal that iPhones hold onto their value for longer than the majority of Android flagships — important if you upgrade your phone once every two to three years.

OnePlus 13: Speed and charging that disrupts habits

The OnePlus 13 banks on nothing but speed and stamina. It combines the chipset with abundant RAM and a 6,000mAh silicon–carbon power pack, which typically lasts two days under moderate use. Never mind “battery anxiety” when you get about 40 minutes of juice with wired charging.

OxygenOS remains light and snappy, and independent testers like GameBench have for years pointed to OnePlus’ reliable sustained frame rates in demanding titles. The compromise: software longevity. Seven years is the promise from Google and Samsung, with new versions of major updates spanning over four years. If you use it for many years, the price-perf ratio is ridiculous \n\n If you replace your Mac every 2 years, it’s well worth spying.

Google Pixel 9 Pro: All the Pixel magic, much cheaper

It’s trickier still to find the Pixel 9 Pro, which came out last year and is a stealth value play. It offers the Pixel experience we’ve come to know and love—clean Android, AI on-device tricks like Call Screen and fantastic computational photography—at an enormous discount now that the 10 Pro is out.

If you strip away all the concerns about price and expectations, there’s actually a lot of overlap with hardware here: a new 120Hz OLED screen, 16GB of RAM, and a triple camera system that’s evidence it works. Though the Tensor G5 here in the 10 Pro represents incremental improvements, everyday differences seem subtle. You still get seven years of software updates and security patches, stretching your investment while retaining the Pixel identity.

Google Pixel 10: The better value in the same stable

Occasionally one of the next-best choices is found on a lower rung. The regular Pixel 10 costs less than the Pro and still packs the same Tensor G5 chip, most of Google’s AI feature set, Qi2 wireless charging (with Pixelsnap magnets) And — crucially for some people — a triple rear camera that now also includes a telephoto on the non‑Pro model.

You lose some RAM, display resolution and a few camera extras (like longer Pro Res Zoom and an enhanced Best Take workflow), but performance and image quality still remain very close. With a slightly larger battery, many will actually see better real-world endurance than the Pro.

Bottom line: Choose the strength that suits you

The Galaxy S25/Ultra is your purchase if you want total might plus a broader, cleaner zoom range; if you must have unbeatable video and battery life with robust resale, buy the iPhone 17 Pro; perfect speed and charging that rewires your routine require the OnePlus 13; for top-shelf Pixel treats at a discount, invest in the Pixel 9 Pro or opt for Pixel software smarts minus Pro cost — get the Pixel 10. The Pixel 10 Pro is good, but these five make for better fits for more people, more of the time.