Throughout the early smartphone days, mainstream manufacturers usually put out a single flagship mannequin per 12 months. We’d get one foremost variant of the newest iPhone, Galaxy, or Google Nexus, and people looking for cheaper choices would go for earlier or second-hand fashions offered via third events. Through the years, nonetheless, phonemakers started launching a number of tiers of premium handsets, with the iPhone 11 famously kickstarting Apple’s Professional telephone journey that separated options into commonplace and premium tiers.
Releasing varied gadgets that take clients’ budgets and wishes into consideration isn’t a nasty factor. However the sharp divide between common and Professional traces leaves customers choosing the less-expensive fashions with outdated expertise. Telephoto cameras, high-refresh screens, and top-of-the-line chips are all reserved for professional telephones, whereas commonplace fashions costing $799 and up seemingly exist solely to push folks to the upper tiers.
Apple’s Professional privilege
Ever because the iPhone 11 sequence, Apple has been demonstrably segregating its common and Professional fashions. You get totally different chassis supplies, colorways, exterior designs, cameras, shows, and extra. Keep in mind the iPhone 11? It nonetheless featured a plain outdated LCD white the iPhone 11 Professional boasted Apple’s crisp OLED tech.
Apple embraced this technique within the years that adopted, reserving new and engaging additions for the Professional telephones, whereas the common fashions performed catch-up. The iPhone 14 Professional bought the Dynamic Island earlier than the iPhone 15. The 15 Professional completely launched the Motion button and Apple Intelligence help earlier than it landed on the iPhone 16. And the non-Professional fashions are nonetheless ready for the telephoto digicam launched with the iPhone 11 Professional and the iPhone 13 Professional’s ProMotion show.
In the present day, shopping for an everyday iPhone looks like paying for final 12 months’s tech. Actually, it might be wiser to purchase a reduced, previous-gen Professional mannequin to get Pixel-standard perks resembling an always-on show, 120Hz variable refresh charge, 5X optical zoom, and quicker USB-C switch speeds.
The Pixel 10 Professional not gatekeeps options resembling a telephoto digicam.
Pixel good
Whereas Google’s smartphone technique has largely mimicked Apple’s, the latest Pixels have taken a distinct method. The Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Professional each characteristic a triple rear digicam setup with 5X telephoto lenses and almost equivalent designs. Google isn’t forcing customers to improve by limiting options anymore.
After all, there are many variations between the 2 telephones. The place each telephones have a high-resolution foremost digicam (50MP vs 48MP), the Pixel 10 Professional sports activities 48MP ultrawide and telephoto cameras, and the Pixel 10 has a 13MP ultrawide and 10.8MP telephoto lens. That’s really a downgrade in high quality for the usual Pixel (final 12 months’s Pixel 9 had a 48MP ultrawide digicam), however a sacrifice most customers will doubtless be glad to make.
With the iPhone 16 and Pixel 10 sharing comparable huge and ultra-wide lens resolutions, many shoppers will naturally marvel why Google can supply a telephoto digicam in its non-pro flagship. Whereas the iPhone 17 is rumored to spice up the ultra-wide digicam’s decision from 12MP to 24MP, I’m keen to guess most clients would like the Pixel’s telephoto lens over a barely sharper ultra-wide one. And, given Google’s heavy reliance on software program and AI, it’ll be onerous to inform the distinction between the 2 cameras.
The Google Pixel 10 appears identical to the Pixel 10 Professional.
In comparison with the Professional mannequin, the Pixel 10 additionally misses out on different less-essential perks, resembling a temperature sensor, Wi-Fi 7, elevated RAM (16GB vs 12GB), increased decision, quicker Qi2 charging, and so forth. Arguably, they’re all honest compromises that almost all customers would fortunately sacrifice for extra Professional-level options. And plenty of customers received’t even know what they’re lacking—they’ll simply know what they’re getting.
They usually’re getting lots. Pixel 10 customers will get the identical G5 chip (albeit with decrease reminiscence), Pixelsnap (Google’s model of MagSafe), USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth 6, quick charging charges, biometric authentication, foremost digicam options, water resistance, 120Hz refresh charge (though the minimal charge differs), and extra. Except you’re a high-end photographer or an influence consumer who wants a ton of inside storage, you’ll be lots pleased with the non-Professional mannequin.
A brand new trendsetter?
Apple has lengthy been the primary influential pressure within the smartphone trade. Whereas it doesn’t all the time invent issues first, it just about all the time popularizes no matter iPhone choices it makes. Google now seems to be difficult Apple with a brand new technique.
Apple most likely isn’t liable to dropping many customers to Pixel telephones, however Google’s strikes might be an indication that the tides are turning. Subsequent month, Apple will attempt to persuade its fanbase {that a} telephoto digicam remains to be a Professional-only characteristic whereas the iPhone 17 Air is value giving up a twin digicam for an ultra-thin design. And within the face of the Pixel 10, which can doubtless value $100 much less the the Air, some folks may begin questioning why, particularly when you think about that Samsung’s equally skinny Galaxy S25 Edge manages to squeeze in a second rear digicam.
Apple is promoting a mindset, whereas Google is providing an precise set of options. Individuals who don’t need to spend over $1,000 on an iPhone are nonetheless ready for options resembling ProMotion shows and a telephoto digicam, and in the event that they check out the Pixel 10, they’re going to begin questioning why.