Early Pixel 10 Pro XL owners are also reporting weird, inconsistent sound when shooting in landscape. The cause is not a bug, nor codec gremlins — it’s where the hardware sits and how most people naturally grip the phone.
What's new in the Pixel 10 Pro XL audio hardware
Google swapped the bottom speaker and primary bottom microphone compared to the Pixel 9 Pro XL without saying anything. On the new model, the loudspeaker is now to the right of the USB‑C port and the bottom mic has shifted over left. It makes sense when it comes to media playback anyway, as your palm’s much less inclined to cover the speaker while gaming or video watching.
But there’s a trade-off: in landscape, the hand that cradles the bottom edge of the phone frequently ends up covering over that relocated mic. Tech reviewer Artem Russakovskii showed the problem with sample clips — voices sound muffled or jump in level quietly, because the mic is physically blocked.
Why right-handed users are more likely to notice it
About 90 percent of people are righties, by estimates the American Psychological Association often cites. In a typical grip for landscape recording, the device is held (as represented) with its right-hand-side bottom edge pressed against part of the hand, and the left hand supporting another corner. On the Pixel 10 Pro XL, that has meant the right palm or pinky too often clogging up the bottom-left mic port — which is exactly where the phone now listens for your scene.
Muffling a microphone isn’t just about loudness; it alters the acoustic shape. Low frequencies can become boomy, highs may dull off, and the phone’s noise reduction can pump or warble as it struggles to restore speech. The result is audio that sounds like it’s buried in a pocket, even when you’re shooting outside.
Home remedies that really work to improve audio
Rotate the phone 180 degrees. If you’re a righty, just flip the device so that the USB‑C port is to your left while filming. That shifts your support hand off the mic. Phones these days automatically correct the orientation of video, so your footage will not be upside down.
Adjust the grip. Do not cup the bottom edge; rather, clasp the side rails with your fingertips and let your palms hover. It’s not as tiring as it sounds, especially when you brace your elbows against your body or use a wrist strap.
Choose the right case. Some are designed to conduct sound down slim tubes that may increase the occlusion effect. When possible, opt for cases that feature large, open cutouts around the USB‑C (and mic) to leave an “air gap.”
Add an external mic. A small, USB‑C shotgun microphone like the Rode VideoMic Me‑C or a wireless kit such as DJI Mic 2 or Rode Wireless GO II completely bypasses the onboard mic placement and provides far greater consistency in noisy environments.
Test before the moment matters. Make a 10‑second recording using your intended grip and listen back on headphones. If sound seems hollow or far away, adjust how you are holding or positioning it.
Would software help solve the muffled audio problem?
To a point. Phones often employ multiple microphones for beamforming and wind noise suppression. In theory, the firmware could perhaps weigh an upper mic more strongly when in landscape mode (which is most likely to cause occlusion), or recognize sudden low-pass characteristics that indicate occlusion and re-route capture. Chip makers such as Qualcomm have published beamforming techniques that allow this adaptive mixing.
Of course, if your hand is sealing the primary port, no algorithm in the world will be able to bring back the lost high frequencies. The best solution remains simple: Don’t obstruct the mic from the beginning.
Trade-offs and thinking beyond industrial design
Messing with bottom-edge components is typical, as manufacturers juggle larger speakers, enlarged camera housings, and busier interior structures. Teardown experts will frequently point out that moving drivers and ports may allow another mistake to escape: Speakers become accidentally blocked less during gaming, but the move also changes where microphones “breathe.” It’s the kind of squishy ergonomic compromise that gave us the infamous “you’re holding it wrong” antenna debate on another flagship a decade ago.
With the Pixel 10 Pro XL, you get better speaker output in your daily media consumption. The trade-off is a fussier hold for video shooters — again, that’s most of us, righties or not. Knowledge is half the battle: if your clips sound boxy, try one of the flip-the-180-degree or finger-only grips. If video is your main focus, it’s worth the investment in a dedicated small external mic to produce the best, pro-level audio.
Bottom line: your phone is not broken. The bottom mic shifted, and so did your hand — and the sound suffered for it. Rotate, release the mic, and your Pixel should sound like the flagship it is.