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From gaming and the camera to new AI skills and the battery, I've been putting Google's new flagship phone through its paces.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: Two-minute review

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is the Pixel phone to buy this year. The Pixel 10 Pro can match the Pro XL on the most important features, but the benefits of the larger display, along with a couple of features that are simply better on the XL device, make the Pixel 10 Pro XL my favorite of the new Pixel family, and the phone I would recommend first, but not last.

I feel confident recommending the Pixel 10 Pro XL above the rest – and above any other Android phone you can buy right now – because I spent the last year using the Pixel 9 Pro as my primary work phone. That means I know exactly why the Pixel is a great phone for being productive, but I also know that I wish I’d had a bigger screen than the 9 Pro's. The Pro XL will be my primary device this year, for sure.

If you haven’t checked out a Pixel phone in a while, you really should head to a store and get your hands on one. The latest Pixel 10 Pro XL is polished and well-built, with a refined look and gorgeous materials and color combinations. It’s a much nicer-looking phone than the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max, and it delivers on a number of features Apple hasn’t been able to match.

Google’s AI features are the most advanced on any smartphone, and often the most unobtrusive. The newest AI features, like Magic Cue and the live translation, don’t feel pushy or overblown, and they don’t produce embarrassing or useless results. Google is pushing AI into the background as a silent helper, where it should be.

Of course, all of the new Pixel 10 series phones have Google’s advanced new AI features, like the live translator that not only converts your language into another tongue, it also speaks with a voice that sounds remarkably like yours. That may sound alarming from a privacy viewpoint, but Google says this processing happens on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and not on a distant cloud computer, so your conversations – and your voice – should be safe.

So what makes the Pixel 10 Pro XL so special, the best of the Pixel 10 bunch? First of all, Google’s Pixel displays – so-called Super Actua displays – are among the best you’ll see on any smartphone. These screens are bright and colorful and very sharp. When the screen is this good, I want as much screen as I can get, so I prefer having the larger XL display. At 6.8 inches, it’s 0.5 inches bigger diagonally than the Pixel 10's display, and that equals 13 square centimeters of extra screen space.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL also has the largest battery of all the new Pixel phones, and that equates to the longest battery life, both in my real-world testing and in our Future Labs battery rundown tests. It wasn’t a massive difference – the Pixel 10 Pro XL only lasted an hour longer than the Pixel 10. Still, every bit helps.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL also charges faster than any other Pixel 10 device, whether you’re charging wirelessly or with a USB-C cord. If you have a 45W charger, the Pixel 10 Pro XL can charge that fast, compared to the 30W charging on the other two Pixel 10 phones. The Pixel 10 Pro XL can also use faster wireless charging. Again, it’s not a huge difference, but every bit yada yada yada.

The biggest benefit for me is the combination of Google’s winning Super Actua display with the Pixel 10 Pro XL cameras. If I’m taking serious photos, I want the biggest viewfinder possible to get the right shot. The extra screen space on the Pro XL phone felt like a big advantage, and if photography is important to you, I’d recommend the Pro XL phone first. The Pixel 10 Pro has the exact same camera specs, but having the bigger Pro XL display helped me take better shots.

Are there other benefits to the Pro XL? Well… not really. It isn’t any faster than the Pixel 10 Pro… or even than the Pixel 10. In our benchmark tests, the extra RAM in the Pro models didn’t seem to make much difference. Pixel phones still disappoint if you only care about the numbers.

I don’t rely on benchmarks, though, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL was satisfying and quick in almost every task. There was some lag on the camera, but most other features – including the latest AI helpers – ran smoothly with no delays.

Google has another winner with the Pixel 10 Pro XL – and the whole Pixel 10 family. Between the premium design, the excellent software, and the advanced AI features, this is a phone that iPhone fans should seriously consider, and Galaxy owners should envy. I’ll be keeping this phone close by – snapped to my MagSafe charging stand – until an even better Pixel comes along.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review: Price & availability

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU $1,999 for 256GB of storage and 16GB RAM
• Costs more than last year, but starts with more storage than the rest

I remember the days when a new phone would cost the same but come with more storage and RAM than last year's model because component costs had decreased. This year’s Pixel 10 Pro XL is more expensive than before, and it comes with 256GB of storage, but I’m not awarding Google any medals for giving the phone enough space. This phone should be cheaper.

To be fair, 256GB of storage is the right amount, unless you play a ton of games or you shoot video with your phone at high-resolution. There’s a 1TB model available, but only serious enthusiasts need apply – and you know who you are.

The color options this year are a bit drab. I like the Moonstone color and the Jade, but they aren’t very exciting. My review unit is the Porcelain white, which looks classy but a bit bland. Google also sent along a silicone case with magnets built in that matches the hone perfectly. If you want the 1TB storage option, it’s only available in the black Obsidian.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL pricing

Storage

US Price

UK Price

AU Price

256GB

$1,199

£1,199

AU $1,999

512GB

$1,319

£1,319

AU $2,199

1TB

$1,549

£1,549

AU $2,549

• Value score: 4 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review: Specifications

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL has nearly the same spec sheet as the Pixel 10 Pro, with a few key differences. The display is larger, with more pixels (no pun intended), but it isn’t quite as sharp. You won’t notice, though, and both displays use LTPO tech for the best always-on display with low power drain.

There’s a bigger battery in the Pixel 10 Pro XL as well, and that meant longer battery life in my tests. I also found the 45W charging made a difference, with the Pixel 10 Pro XL charging faster than the other Pixel 10 phones.

Google Pixel 10 Pro specifications

Dimensions:

162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm

Weight:

232g

Display:

6.8-inch Actua display

Resolution:

1344 x 2992 pixels

Refresh rate:

1-120Hz

Peak brightness:

3,300 nits

Chipset:

Google Tensor G5

RAM:

16GB

Storage:

256GB / 512GB / 1TB

OS:

Android 16

Main cameras

50MP wide; 48MP ultra-wide; 48MP telephoto (5x zoom)

Selfie camera:

42MP

Battery:

5,200mAh

Charging:

45W wired; 25W Qi2 wireless (magnetic)

Colors:

Obsidian, Porcelain, Jade, Moonstone

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review: Design

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Sleek and solid, with great materials and matching color options
• Mostly the same as last year’s model, which is fine with me

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is the Pixel 10 Pro all blown up. It doesn’t add any extra buttons or physical details; the two phones look identical, just at a different scale. That’s a good thing because the Pixel 10 Pro is a great-looking phone, and it keeps the same exact design as the Pixel 9 Pro that was my favorite phone of last year. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

I like the Pixel 10 Pro XL design even more than the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max. It feels just as refined as Apple’s phone, with fewer unnecessary buttons to get in the way. Does anyone actually use the Camera Control? I know I don’t. To be fair, I don’t use the temperature sensor on the back of the Pixel 10 Pro XL, but I can ignore that easier than a button.

The color options are a bit 'professional' and bland, but closer inspections shows more attention to detail than I would have expected from Google. The Jade color of my Pro review sample, for instance, was matched with a light gold frame that looks barely gilded. It’s a gorgeous match.

The speaker grilles on the bottom of the phone are new, and color-matched to the frame you choose. It’s a nice touch that most people won’t ever notice.

I have no complaints about the Pixel 10 Pro XL design, except that I’d like to see more interesting color options. Google at least matches its phones perfectly with its silicone case colors, and like the Pixel 10 phones, the latest cases have magnets inside that secure a very strong connection to any Pixelsnap (or MagSafe) accessories you might buy.

• Design score: 5 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review: Display

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• One of the absolute best smartphone displays
• Super-sharp and very bright in all situations

Wow… I was expecting to be pleased with the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s display, but this phone somehow looks even better than I anticipated. Google’s Super Actua displays are among the best you’ll find on any smartphone. For the past few years, Google’s new Pixel displays have been dominant, topped only by Samsung’s best Ultra screen, and this year hasn’t been disappointing at all.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL is a joy to use in any situation. It’s great in outdoor light, even for shooting photos or reading my social feeds. It’s perfect for navigating in the car or on the street. It’s a great phone for reading in the dark late at night, or as a bedside lamp with the Pixelsnap screen savers.

In fact, I like this display so much that I think it justifies paying more to have more of it. The Pro XL is the Pixel to buy not just because it has a bigger screen, but because the screen is so enjoyable that I want to have as much of it as possible.

Whether I’m watching videos, taking photos, or playing games, the Pixel 10 Pro XL display is my favorite on any smartphone I own.

• Display score: 5 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review: Software

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Material 3 Expressive looks fantastic and adapts nicely to themes
• AI features are most useful when you barely notice them

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL highlights Google’s clean and well-designed interface. I love the Material 3 Expressive interface design, as Google calls its Pixel version of Android. It’s friendly without feeling cartoonish, and it packs plenty of useful widgets and tools that are easy to manage and don’t hog my attention.

With so much screen space, it was a joy to create AI wallpapers and populate my home screen with Google’s slick widgets. I let the phone set all of my icon and widget colors to match my wallpaper, creating a unified theme, and the phone darkened the colors as the day went on, finally flipping to dark mode after sunset.

That’s the best of Pixel – a well-designed interface filled with just enough useful features to make the phone a tool you always want in your pocket. The Pixel 10 Pro XL will definitely remain my primary work phone after this review is published. It gives me simple customizations and shortcuts that remove the clutter of apps from my home screen and surface just the information I need. I wish iOS was better at this.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL also has some of the most useful AI features you’ll find on a phone, and I’m a big fan of Google’s call-screening tools. I can let Google AI answer when an unknown number calls, and it will give me a text transcript of whatever my caller says. Then I can decide whether to answer the call or not. This feature is only available on Pro Pixel models, and it’s worth the upgrade if you take a lot of calls.

There are plenty of new AI features as well, and I’ve talked in depth about the new Magic Cue in my Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro reviews. I think it could be an important addition to Android in the long run, but it still doesn’t work consistently. It offers useful links and buttons to info as you need it, and it doesn’t get in the way or seem pushy, like other AI features, so I have high hopes for it.

Otherwise, there are many smaller improvements that I’ve found scattered throughout the interface and which bring Google’s experience closer to the holistic, thoughtful design I expect from iOS more than Android.

Apple lets you make a contact card for yourself that will accompany your phone number when you share your details. Google lets you make the contact card for your contacts, instead of making them do the work. That seems like a better solution, since not everybody owns an iPhone, and Apple’s contact cards don’t work across platforms.

Even Google’s Daily Hub is more useful than other attempts I’ve seen. Samsung, Motorola, and now Google all offer a home page for your personal information, gathered and summarized by AI. On my Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Now Brief page has been useless at best, and oddly flippant at worst. On the Pixel 10 Pro XL, the Daily Hub offers more useful information, links I actually enjoy, and easy access to more information.

There are still some odd and off-putting AI features, usually generative AI tools. The Recorder app for some odd reason offers to generate a musical background for your recordings; I don’t really need a pop-metal soundtrack for my business interviews, thanks. Still, it’s easy to ignore these oddities, and Google mostly doesn’t shove its AI in your face.

• Software score: 5 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review: Cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• The best Pixel to buy for photography
• Excellent low-light photos and unique AI zoom capabilities

The Pixel 10 Pro XL and the Pixel 10 Pro have identical camera lenses and sensors, but I’m calling the Pro XL the better camera phone because of the larger display and longer battery life. Both of those attributes are features that camera buyers look for, and they make a difference when shooting with the Pixels.

The photos I got from the Pixel 10 Pro XL were fantastic, perhaps the best I’ve seen on any camera phone (and I compile the Best Camera Phones list for TechRadar). I’ll need to test the cameras in more situations, and head-to-head against more competitors, but in my week with the Pro XL it took pics that matched or beat my iPhone 16 Pro Max in most conditions.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL took photos with very accurate colors and plenty of detail at every focal range. For night photography, it was no contest. The Pro XL took pics that looked like I had a professional flashgun attached, while the iPhone shots looked much darker and lacked focus.

You can see plenty of AI help in the photos, but usually the results don’t look fake or off-putting. It’s a trade-off. I took a picture of a snowy egret from far away with my iPhone and the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The iPhone photo was grainy and fuzzy, but you could see the bird’s reflection rippling in the water. The Pixel created a smoother, more recognizable image, but the AI removed the ripples from the end result.

The only downside to Pixel photography is Google’s Camera app. It’s a nightmare. It’s hard to use, with settings that seem to conflict with each other. Adjust one setting, like changing from 12MP to 50MP resolution, and a handful of other settings suddenly go dark without warning.

I also tested the new Camera Coach feature, and you can read more about it in my Pixel 10 review. I think it helps more on the base-model phone, while the Pro XL Pixel takes photos that are good enough that you may not want an AI coach to get in the way.

• Camera score: 5 / 5

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(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Google Pixel 10 Pro XL review: Performance

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Tensor G5 performance lags all but the cheapest bargain phones
• Camera stalls after taking a high-res photo

The Pixel 10 Pro XL’s performance is the phone’s only real letdown, and even though it didn’t make a difference most of the time, at key moments the phone struggled to keep up. The gap between Pixel performance and the rest of the smartphone world isn’t shrinking – it’s getting bigger and uglier every year.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL had no trouble navigating the Android menus and launching apps as quick as can be, but not every feature was so smooth. I had trouble in the Camera app, especially when I changed to the higher 50MP resolution. The camera sometimes stalled after I hit the shutter button, and made me wait for a few moments until I could snap my next shot.

That’s a huge disappointment, and I don’t know any other phone outside cheap bargain options that fails to perform basic tasks this manifestly. I can press the shutter button on my OnePlus 13 as fast as my finger can fly and it never misses a beat – likely thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset inside.

Qualcomm has a superior platform this year, and phone makers who don’t use the latest Elite option are being left behind in more ways than one (see my battery complaints below). I no longer think the Tensor G5 is good enough for the Pixel 10 Pro XL. It isn’t. It can’t keep up with the latest Android software and features, and it’s time for Google to rethink its platform strategy.

• Performance score: 3 / 5

Google Pixel 10 Pro review: Battery

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Mediocre battery life – is the Tensor G5 to blame?
• Magnetic chargers make up the shortfall

The Pixel 10 Pro XL has the best battery life of any Pixel 10 phone so far (we haven’t tested the Pixel 10 Pro Fold yet), but that isn’t saying much. The Pro XL lasted through a full day with little trouble, but I was still nervous when the battery hit single digits before bed time, which was often.

I alleviated my stress with the MagSafe chargers I have littered throughout my house and office space. Like the Pixelsnap charger, MagSafe is convenient for fast charging when I have 15 minutes to let my phone sit on a stand. A couple of those charge breaks every day made sure I had enough battery to last as long as I needed.

This mediocre battery life is especially disappointing because I’ve seen massive gains in the rest of the Android world. Phone makers like Samsung and OnePlus – using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite platform – are offering new phones that get hours more battery life than last year’s models.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL lasted 15 minutes longer in our Future Labs battery tests than last year’s Pixel 9 Pro XL. That’s pathetic.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra achieved two hours more battery life than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, even though it uses a battery that's the same size, thanks to the newer Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. If Google can’t offer similar improvements year over year, it’s time to change platforms or it will be time to stop recommending the Pixel.

• Battery score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL?Google Pixel 10 Pro scorecard

Value

The most expensive Pixel, but also the best. The bigger display, longer battery life, faster charging and larger storage capacity justify the higher price tag.

4/5

Design

Mostly unchanged from the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and that’s a good thing. This is one of the most refined and polished phones you’ll see, and it’s even more durable than before.

4/5

Display

You won’t see a better display on a smartphone than the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s Super Actua screen. It’s incredibly bright and perfectly sharp, even in bright sunshine.

5/5

Software

The latest Pixel interface is one of Google’s best, and it makes the Pixel appealing and easy to use. New AI features can be useful, but if you hate them they won’t bother you much.

5/5

Cameras

Image quality is excellent, especially night photography, which is easily the best you’ll find on any smartphone. This might be the best camera phone you can buy. Camera Coach is a fun feature, but is it replacing real experts? Best editing tools, now helped by useful AI instructions.

5/5

Performance

Frankly unacceptable performance from such an expensive phone. It can’t even run the Camera app properly, and benchmarks are lower than any phone that isn’t cheap. Google needs to take this seriously, or next year won’t be so fun.

3/5

Battery

Battery life suffers under the yoke of the Tensor G5 chipset. While Qualcomm-powered phones see massive battery gains, the Pixel 10 Pro XL can’t last longer than last year’s phone, and even with its faster charging it doesn’t charge as fast as the competition. Get magnetic chargers to keep your phone topped up – you’ll thank me for it.

3/5

Buy it if...

You want the best Pixel phone yet
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is the Pixel to buy this year. The screen is fantastic, and everything is improved by the larger size and enhanced capabilities.View Deal

You take a lot of photos at night The Pixel 10 Pro XL is one of the best camera phones, but it really shines at night. Low-light photos were mind-boggling in clarity and color.View Deal

You're switching from an iPhone and have a bunch of magnets
I’m an unabashed fan of magnetic charging, so I welcome the Pixel 10 Pro XL to my household filled with charging stands and accessories galore.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You need a gaming powerhouse to win
The Pixel 10 Pro XL should be great for gaming, thanks to its incredible display, but performance is a letdown, especially for gamers.View Deal

You want a phone that lasts all day, and you hate magnets
Battery life on the Pixel 10 Pro XL could be better, and my MagSafe chargers saved the day. If you won’t be charging periodically, get a phone that lasts longer.View Deal

You want great cameras but wear tight pants
The Pixel 10 Pro has the same amazing cameras as the Pixel 10 Pro XL, so you don’t need to buy a big phone to get the same capabilities.View Deal

Also consider...

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
The biggest iPhone gives you all of Apple’s great iOS 26 features on a big display, making it easier to share, shoot videos, and play games with iPhone friends.

Read our in-depth Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max reviewView Deal

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
It’s a bit more expensive, but the S25 Ultra is jam-packed with features, including the S Pen stylus and a fourth camera lens for more zoom options. It’s also super-fast.

Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra reviewView Deal

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Price

$1,199 / £1,199 / AU $1,999

$1,199 / £1,199 / AU $2,149

$1,249 / £1,249 / AU $2,349

Display

6.8-inch Super Actua display

6.9-inch Super Retina display

6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display

Processor

Google Tensor G5

Apple A18 Pro

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

Battery Results (HH:MM:SS)

14:20:57

17:35:30

18:35:39

How I tested the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

I tested the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL for a week, alongside the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro. I used the Pixel 10 Pro XL as a work phone with my high-security work accounts. I loaded the phone with more than a hundred apps, and multiple Google accounts.

I used the Pixel 10 Pro XL as a camera, testing every camera feature. I used AI features to ask questions and generate sample images. I connected Magic Cue to all of my personal Google account information, and I fed the Pixel 10 Pro XL a regular diet of screenshots of my personal dealings for the Screenshots app.

I connected the Pixel 10 Pro XL to my Pixel Watch 3, my Pixel Buds Pro, and many other Bluetooth headsets and devices. I used Android Auto in my Kia and my friends’ Acura and Subaru cars, and connected to Bluetooth in an older BMW.

I've been testing phones for more than 20 years, since the days of BlackBerry and Palm OS smartphones and Samsung flip phones. I have tested hundreds of devices myself, and our Future Labs experts have tested hundreds more. I even did a brief stint as the internal phone reviewer for Samsung Mobile, testing products before launch in order to predict review scores and reception.

Future Labs tests phones using a mix of third-party benchmark software and proprietary, real-world tests. We use Geekbench, CrossMark, JetStream, WebXPRT and Mobile XPRT, and 3DMark for performance testing. We test a phone's performance on video editing tasks using Adobe Premiere Rush. We also measure display color output and brightness.

For battery testing, we have proprietary rundown tests that are the same for every phone, which we use to determine how long it takes for the battery to run down.

First reviewed August 2025

The limited rollout of Anthropic's browser extension comes as AI-powered browsers face scrutiny over security issues.

• Google warns of ongoing captive portal hijack attacks
• Captive portals were being abused to redirect people to fake Adobe update sites
• The "updates" deployed different malware and backdoors

Google has issued a warning about a Chinese state-sponsored hacking attack targeting users in real-time.

The company’s cybersecurity arm, the Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG), published a new blog outlining how it saw “evidence of a captive portal hijack being used to deliver malware disguised as an Adobe Plugin update to targeted entities.”

Apparently, this campaign is the work of a group known as UNC6384, a Chinese state-sponsored actor, possibly tied to Silk Typhoon, a group known for cyber-espionage campaigns against government, critical infrastructure, and telco organizations in the West. The campaign, according to Google, targeted diplomats in Southeast Asia, as well as other entities around the world.

Fake security updates

A captive portal is essentially a login page. It usually pops up on public networks, such as on airports, or in coffee shops - right after connecting to the network, but before gaining access to the public internet. Sometimes it asks users to register an account, and sometimes viewing an ad and clicking “connect” is enough to be granted access.

Now, Google claims the Chinese compromised edge devices on those target networks (routers, firewalls, VPN gateways, and the such), and then used the instances to hijack the portals and redirect visitors to a malicious landing page.

Visitors are then prompted to download a “security update” for Adobe which is, in fact, malware. The initial payload, an MSI package, installs stage-two malware including CANONSTAGER and SOGU.SEC. The latter is a backdoor that connects to the attacker-controlled C2 server and grants unabated access to the target computer.

Google first observed this attack in March this year and sent out alerts to Gmail and Workspace users.

Whenever China is accused of engaging in cyber-warfare against its adversaries in the West, it denies any involvement and repeats its stance that the US is the biggest cyber-bully right now.

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• The Google Pixel 10 comes with battery performance limits that can't be disabled
• Battery Health Assistance gradually decreases voltage and capacity after 200 cycles and up to 1000 cycles
• Online reactions suggest frustration

The Pixel 10 has been official for one week, and yet it seems that Google’s latest flagship smartphone has already found itself caught up in controversy over a new battery health setting that can’t be switched off.

As Android Central reports, the Google Pixel 10 series comes with an obligatory battery health feature called Battery Health Assistance, which limits the phone’s voltage and charging speed over time. The limits begin at 200 cycles and continue until 1,000 cycles. A report from Android Authority corroborates that the feature can’t be disabled.

For those not familiar, ‘cycle’ simply refers to the process of emptying and recharging the battery. Assuming the phone is charged daily, this could mean battery limits kick in after less than a year of ownership, with performance getting worse over the next few years.

However, here at TechRadar we’re confident that the Pixel 10’s battery limiting feature shouldn’t be a dealbreaker if you’re considering buying one – keep reading for our breakdown.

The claim

The Google Pixel 6a was recently pulled from Google's online refurbished store (Image credit: Future)

Unlike some tech controversies, there’s not really an element of suggestion or conspiracy theorizing – as far as we can tell, this is a real feature that will affect battery life on the Google Pixel 10 series. The issue is more about how users react to this information.

Naturally, a ‘feature’ that outright worsens your phone's performance isn’t guaranteed to be popular, and Pixel fans have reacted in kind. In one Reddit thread, user Toni_Segui wrote: “Regarding this imposition from Google, if they don't back down, for my part next year I'm going to Samsung or even Apple”.

User gosangst was less diplomatic, commenting: “Google really hates its customers”.

It seems that some online commenters are taking this battery limit feature as a reason to avoid the Google Pixel 10. We've contacted Google for comment, but haven't heard back yet.

It’s also true that Google Pixel phones have a checkered history when it comes to batteries. Recently, Google pulled the Pixel 6a from its refurbished store following reports of some units catching fire (though there was no official reason given). Some users may be wary of trusting Google when it comes to battery tech.

The reality

The Google Pixel 10 is still a valid choice, despite its strict battery limits (Image credit: Blue Pixl Media)

Most tech users know by now that batteries – even rechargeable ones – are ultimately consumable components, or at least that they degrade over time. Even the best Google Pixel phones have previously had issues with battery life and even battery safety, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that Google has taken such a hard line.

The likely intention behind Battery Health Assistance is to make the degradation of your phone’s battery feel more gradual and less noticeable, while avoiding putting too much stress on the battery.

If all goes to plan, this should make for a smoother and more sustainable experience in the long term. Remember, there’s no avoiding battery degradation with use – this is something that will happen anyway.

However, Google does have some catching up to do when it comes to phone users trusting its battery tech, so perhaps the option to disable Battery Health Assistance would’ve been a smart inclusion.

Still, there’s no need to panic over this sort of technology. The best phones now get years of post-launch support, so limiting hardware for the sake of longevity does make some sense. Whether you find that a reasonable tradeoff is, of course, up to you; let us know in the comments.

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The new setting of San Vansterdam is bustling with life and community, and that just feels right.

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will no longer have carry forward
• The feature would have allowed you to use some Black Ops 6 unlocks in the game
• The change was confirmed in a developer blog post

Activision has confirmed that you will not be able to access operators, skins, and weapons from Black Ops 6 in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

The feature, known as carry forward, was previously going to give players the ability to use select content from Black Ops 6 in the upcoming entry. Although some fans appreciated the option to bring forward their favorite unlocks, many were concerned that this would undermine the identity of the new game.

I was personally pretty disappointed with the news that carry forward would be present given the disparate settings of the two titles. While Black Ops 6 is set in the 1990s, Black Ops 7 takes place in 2035 - so running around with Gulf War era gear wouldn't make a lot of sense.

The news of the decision was announced in a community update blog post, where the developers discuss the top frankly.

"We know there’s been a lot of conversation recently about the identity of Call of Duty. Some of you have said we’ve drifted from what made Call of Duty unique in the first place: immersive, intense, visceral and in many ways grounded," it read. "That feedback hits home, and we take it seriously."

"Black Ops 7 needs to feel authentic to Call of Duty and its setting. That is why Black Ops 6 Operator and Weapon content will not carry forward to Black Ops 7," it continued.

Importantly your current stock of Double XP tokens and GobbleGums will still carry over into Black Ops 7, which is good news for those aiming to progress as quickly as possible on day one.

Warzone and Black Ops 6 is also not affected, so you don't need to worry about losing access to any of your current content.

The post also explained that the developers had heard feedback on in-game bundles, which some players found a little too outlandish in Black Ops 6.

"In Black Ops 7, bundles and items will be crafted to fit the Black Ops identity," the post stated. "We hear the feedback. We need to deliver a better balance toward the immersive, core Call of Duty experience."

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is set to release is set to release on November 14, 2025 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

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Monster: The Ed Gein Story hits Netflix on October 3, 2025, and the streamer has just given us our first look at the new season of Ryan Murphy's true crime anthology. As the name suggests, the third season will follow the fictionalized life of notorious murderer Ed Gein (played by Charlie Hunnam), who confessed to killing two women between 1954-1957. Worse than that, his nickname 'the Butcher of Plainfield' came from authorities discovering Gein exhumed corpses from local graveyards to make... keepsakes... for himself.

It's pretty clear that the new season Monster will probably be the most grim and gory, following on from Murphy's takes on Jeffrey Dahmer and Lyle and Erik Menendez. As Netflix itself tells us: "Monster: The Ed Gein Story tells the story of how one simple man in Plainfield, Wisconsin, became history’s most singular ghoul. He revealed to the world the most horrific truth of all – that monsters aren’t born, they’re made... by us."

But the streamer also tells us that Gein "became the blueprint for modern horror," with it being widely reported that he served as inspiration for some of the best horror movies, including Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs. However, it's worth pointing out that these movies weren't actually his real life, meaning one of our first-look posters has a factual inaccuracy that's really bugging me.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story shows the killer as the Texas Chainsaw murderer he apparently wasn't

Before The Texas Chainsaw Massacre... there was Ed. Charlie Hunnam stars in Monster: The Ed Gein Story. Arriving October 3. pic.twitter.com/TRKpybCiVnAugust 27, 2025

Newsflash, people: Ed Gein didn't knowingly kill anybody using a chainsaw. At least, not as far as we know. According to EBSCO research, Gein's first confirmed murder victim Mary Hogan was shot, while second victim Bernice Worden was decapitated and disemboweled beyond the point of establishing a cause of death. While a number of other missing people were linked to Gein, none of them were proved beyond suspicion (and as they were never found, their cause of death cannot be proved).

That doesn't mean Gein didn't engage in some gnarly behavior, and that's putting it mildly. The preserved remains of 15 other women were found on his property, creating 'masks' out of human faces and even a full 'woman suit', which was thought to be made after his mother died. It's references from the case like this that make the Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre comparisons clear, but here's where the lines cross.

Netflix's marketing for Monster: The Ed Gein Story is obviously being inspired by his influence on said horror movies, but that moves away from how seasons 1 and 2 were structured. Essentially, each season is a dramatization of real life, and in order to do that effectively, scenes need to be accurate. We can suspend belief enough to admit his probably laid his head in his mother's lap, and he clearly made fleshy masks, but murdering with a chainsaw even though there's no proof? Gein's life becomes a parody, not serious drama.

Before The Silence of the Lambs... there was Ed. Charlie Hunnam stars in Monster: The Ed Gein Story. Arriving October 3. pic.twitter.com/BDUKlMiDqcAugust 27, 2025

Of course, I'm not sure how much anybody else is going to care about the semantics. The images are striking and chilling in their own right, moulding Hunnam's version of Gein into the (pun intended) monster we all believed he was. I have no doubt that Murphy will create a visual spectacle so shocking, we'll feel like the glory days of American Horror Story's early seasons are well and truly back.

Even so, it leaves a sour note. While The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story won me back over after The Jeffrey Dahmer Story went too far in my eyes, I fear The Ed Gein Story has already lost me with its theatrics.

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Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said the shooter fired through the windows of Annunciation Church during Mass on Wednesday. The gunman was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

(Image credit: Abbie Parr)

• The US Government is set to acquire 10% of Intel in exchange for 433 million shares
• But Intel is worried about Trump’s “substantial additional powers” on foreign business
• Trump praised the deal for making the US “richer”, and for creating more jobs

The upcoming US Government ownership deal could have knock-on effects on how Intel deals with foreign customers and governments in the future, which could be further amplified by Trump’s unpredictable trade and tariff policies, the company has admitted.

The US Government is set to acquire a 10% stake in Intel through a mix of unpaid CHIPS Act grants and funding in a deal valued at around $8.9 billion in total.

In exchange, Intel will hand over 433 million shares to the government, worth between $10-11 billion.

Intel could be affected by its US ownership

The tricky part comes in the form of foreign business, because around 76% of Intel’s fiscal 2024 revenue came from abroad, with popular markets including China, Singapore and Taiwan.

Being part-owned by the US Government means Intel could be exposed to foreign subsidy laws, extra regulations, lawsuits, political scrutiny and competitor pushback that could seriously hamper its foreign sales.

“Having the US Government as a significant stockholder of the Company could subject the Company to additional regulations, obligations or restrictions, such as foreign subsidy laws or otherwise, in other countries,” Intel wrote in a SEC filing.

Intel also noted that the US Government’s interests may not reflect those of its existing shareholders, and that its “substantial additional powers” could prevent it from pursuing “potential future strategic transactions” at the benefit of shareholders.

President Trump welcomed the deal, claiming it made the US $11 billion at zero cost. “I PAID ZERO FOR INTEL, IT IS WORTH APPROXIMATELY 11 BILLION DOLLARS. All goes to the USA,” he wrote on Truth social media.

The post goes on to explain how Intel’s stock price could go up while the US would become “RICHER, AND RICHER.” Trump also noted that the deal would generate “more jobs for America!!!”

“It is difficult to foresee all the potential consequences,” Intel concluded.

Intel’s latest quarterly revenue remained flat year-over-year at $12.9 billion, under the leadership of new CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

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• Details of AirPods Pro 3 case design supposedly leak
• Accessory makers say it will have a touch button for pairing/reset
• I think that's a shame, but likely, since AirPods 4 made that switch

We're expecting the much-anticipated AirPods Pro 3 to be unveiled soon – probably at the Apple event on September 9th 2025, which will surely also be the debut of the iPhone 17 – so what's been surprising is how few leaks there have been about the new earbuds.

Despite Apple's famous secrecy, pretty much all of its products leak out one way or another – but AirPods Pro 3 have largely stayed in the shadows, outside of multiple claims that they'll have built-in heart-rate sensors.

However, we may finally have a leak relating to the design of the earbuds, courtesy of Majinbu Official. The publication spoke to accessory makers, who provided images and said that the case for the new AirPods may be slightly smaller than the case for AirPods Pro 2 (though the dimensions given for the case in the image below suggests a very similar size to the current case).

They said the case will still include the lanyard loop you find on the current AirPods Pro 2 case, as well.

(Image credit: Majinbu Official)

But they also highlighted another change they expect: the removal of the button from the back of the case in favor of a touch panel on the front, and I'm not a fan of this idea.

It seems inevitable – last year's AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation both made this switch, so it's no surprise that Apple would do it here – but I think the physical button is important.

The button on AirPods is used to put them in pairing mode with non-Apple devices, or to reset them if they're having major problems – and it's that second point that means I wish Apple would keep a physical button instead of an invisible touch panel.

If your AirPods aren't responding for some reason, you can push the physical button on the back until they reset, and know that there's a good chance this will fix them. Most importantly, you know you're doing the process correctly because you can tell that you've depressed the button – you feel the movement.

If you need to reset unresponsive AirPods using a touch panel, and nothing seems to be happening, you're left with uncertainty. Have you pressed the wrong spot, or are they just failing to reset?

In user experience design, there's a concept called 'affordances'. These are the ways that a product or piece of software indicates to you that something can be done, or that something is happening.

A physical button is a natural affordance; you know it can be pressed when you see it, and you can feel when you've pressed it. The touch button on AirPods can use light or sounds as an affordance to say you've pressed it, but that depends on the electronics all responding as expected – and if you've got to the point where you need to reset them, that may not be the case. I think something as important as a reset should have physical controls, but I'm old fashioned that way.

In any case, it still doesn't tell us very about the AirPods Pro 3 overall. I'm expecting improved sound quality, improved active noise cancellation, a new H3 chip powering them, some kind of fancy smart features tied to that chip, and probably a higher price, given the broader prices in the industry over the last few years. They'll probably also be the best AirPods released to date.

We'll probably find out in just a couple of weeks either way. I'm sure that looking for a button won't be top of your priority list, but hey – at least it's more confirmation that they're probably coming soon.

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• Fitness app Runna just launched Races by Runna, a new race-finder platform
• Users can choose a race and 'seamlessly' integrate it with Runna's plans
• 'Tens of thousands' of races in 'multiple countries' promised for expansion

Fitness app Runna is well-known as one of the best fitness apps for runners, thanks to its AI-generated and adaptive workout plans. Now it's launching a platform to find you the right race to participate in too – and automatically generate a training plan to lead you right up to race day.

Runna has unveiled Races by Runna, a new website said to be 'separate' from its popular app while still operating with 'seamless integration'. The new platform will be a search engine that enables users to find and sign up for races in multiple countries, although we don't yet know which regions are being rolled out first.

Races by Runna will allow runners to 'browse thousands of events worldwide without juggling multiple tabs or incomplete listings', simplifying the signup process. Users will be able to browse races via tags, ranging from the standard distance and times of year to more specialist tags filtering for events with specific elevation levels, climates, night runs and even dog-friendly races.

Runna states that once a race is selected, users with a Runna account will be able to 'instantly' build a personalized Runna training plan around it. Presumably, if you enter a 10K race in three months, you'll be able to input your desired times into your Runna app and follow the instructions to generate a plan based on both your goals and the route. All that's left is to shop for some of the best running shoes to help you cross the line.

This is one of the first major new features from Runna following its acquisition by Strava earlier this year. In a statement included in the press release, Runna's CEO and co-founder Dom Maskell said: "we realized that we were well positioned to build the world’s most comprehensive race discovery platform and it’s been a true labour of love from our team. Having Strava alongside us will help further strengthen our credibility in this field.”

The platform is now available in public beta, with expansions planned to events in 'multiple' countries.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)Analysis: A comprehensive all-in-one solution

Finding a race can be challenging: often, it's a case of scrolling through races alphabetically across multiple listing sites until you find something that happens to be both within driving distance and far enough ahead to suit your calendar. Even then, it's a bit of a shot in the dark, and different sites host different events.

Races by Runna could be about to change all that. Even if you're not a Runna subscriber – and it's a really good app, earning 4.5 stars in our official Runna review – a comprehensive tagging system to filter for the races you want seems like a no-brainer.

I opened the early version up and tried searching for a nature-filled 10K 'fun run' in or around my local city, and I got a perfect match on an event taking place next March, that fit my criteria exactly. I most likely wouldn't have heard about the event had I not tried searching on Races.

With Strava's backing – bringing along partnerships with major events companies such as Let's Do This – it seems like a recipe for success. With the public beta now available, I'll be diving in to find my next race very soon.

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In its Threat Intelligence report, Anthropic lists a highly scalable form of extortion scheme as one of the top emerging AI security threats.

• Cybernews found "severe misconfigurations" in Tencent Cloud sites
• Tencent Cloud seemed to have been leaking files for several months
• The leak has now been plugged, but users should still be cautious

Tencent Cloud, one of Asia’s largest cloud providers, was apparently leaking login credentials and internal source code, putting countless customers at risk of data breaches, theft, impersonation, and more, experts have warned.

Security researchers at Cybernews found, “severe misconfigurations affecting two Tencent sites” which exposed environment files containing hardcoded credentials (including login information that granted access to Tencent’s internal admin console), and a .git directory storing the entire history of a software project (including sensitive source code and configuration details.

Cybernews found the leak in late July 2025 while scanning the internet for misconfigured systems, and following an investigation, believes the files were publicly accessible for months, starting at least from April 2025, warning they could have been used for all sorts of malicious activity.

Staging and production

“If found by a malicious actor, these credentials could allow full access to backend infrastructure or internal services within Tencent Cloud,” the researchers said.

Cybernews believes the exposed data was used for staging and production environments, meaning both might have been impacted. To make matters worse, the exposed passwords were also weak, and vulnerable to dictionary attacks. Many contained company names, years, and a few symbols, making them relatively large to break with a little automation.

Cybernews says it reached out to Tencent Cloud with their findings, and was told this was a previously known issue - someone already reported it. The company plugged the hole, which the researchers lauded, but warned that it might have been too late:

“The prolonged exposure raises alarming questions about how many scraping bots have already accessed this data and whether it has already been used for malicious purposes,” they said.

With access to these files and directories, a threat actor could gain full admin access to production systems, tamper with API services, pivot further into Tencent’s internal cloud infrastructure, and more.

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• Dropbox is joining the list of companies shutting down password managers
• The mobile app will soon be shut down, with the browser extension following
• Users are recommended to move to another credential manager

Dropbox will begin shutting down its password manager service this week as part of a phased discontinuation of the feature.

While the shutdown isn’t immediate, there are several steps you need to take to be able to transfer your existing credentials to another password manager.

And if you don’t act now - you could lose all of your stored passwords.

Dropbox password manager shutdown

On August 28, 2025, the autofill function will be disabled and you won’t be able to add any new credentials to your storage. You also won’t be able to edit your stored credentials, but you will still be able to access them for export.

You should probably export your stored passwords sooner rather than later though, as on September 11 the mobile app will be shut down and you won’t be able to access your stored passwords through a mobile device. If you haven’t exported your passwords by then, you will still be able to access your password vault through the browser extension.

If you don’t take any action by October 28, then you won’t be able to export any of your stored passwords as Dropbox will be shutting down the browser extension, and deleting all accounts and passwords. This timeline also applies to business users, but each individual employee will need to export their stored passwords before October 28.

There are numerous other options for credential storage, both the best password managers and the best business password managers have numerous options for all budgets and use cases.

If you find a new solution and want to export your passwords across to a different solution, Dropbox recommends taking the following steps:

Browser extension:

1. Open the Dropbox Passwords browser extension.
2. Click your avatar (profile picture or initials) in the bottom-left corner.
3. Click “Preferences.”
4. Click the “Account” tab.
5. Click “Export.”
6. Click “Export” to confirm.

Mobile app:

1. Open the Dropbox Passwords mobile app.
2. Tap “Settings.”
3. Tap “Export.”
4. Tap “Export” to confirm.

Numerous companies have begun removing credential storage functionality from their services, from Dropbox, to Microsoft Authenticator, and even Deutsche Bank.

“This development, while challenging for affected individuals, highlights an increasingly crucial aspect of personal and organizational cybersecurity: the need for robust, reliable, and dedicated solutions,” says Karolis Arbaciauskas, head of business product at NordPass.

“In other words, relying on integrated features within a broader service, which might be subject to strategic shifts, can expose users to unexpected vulnerabilities,” he continues.

“But in the long run, this shift can be beneficial. Users will likely move from integrated solutions to dedicated cybersecurity tools. Meanwhile, Dropbox, Deutsche Bank and other non-cybersecurity companies will be able to focus on their core products. Keeping services, such as password vaults secure and up to date is costly and requires constant attention.”

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The next Resident Evil game is meant to draw in new players, but don't get too caught up in the first-person versus third-person debate.

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• Microsoft is improving sound quality for Bluetooth headphones
• This will allow for high-quality audio in Windows 11 while using a mic, benefiting gamers who often use in-game chat with a headset
• The PC and headphones will need to support Bluetooth LE Audio, though, and be running the latest version of Windows 11

Microsoft has announced that it's giving a major boost to the sound quality of Bluetooth headphones in Windows 11.

As Microsoft explains in a blog post (highlighted by Neowin), it's replacing the current way of facilitating wireless headphones, Bluetooth Classic Audio, with Bluetooth LE Audio in Windows 11. (The notable caveat being that you'll need hardware that supports the latter - and I'll come back to that).

Bluetooth Classic Audio is a rather clunky beast in that it has two modes of operation, neither of which offers a full solution for sound and the mic. With the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), you get full-quality audio, but there's no ability to use a microphone, which could be an issue if, say, you're gaming and want to use the headset's mic for in-game chat.

The alternative Hands-Free Profile (HFP) gives you support for the mic, but at a cost, namely lower audio quality. In fact, you don't get stereo with HFP, just mono audio played back in both ears. That has serious limitations in terms of not just poor sound quality - Microsoft compares it to listening to AM radio, versus CD quality with A2DP - but there's a lack of spatial effects too (which require stereo for their virtual positioning).

Bluetooth LE Audio solves these issues in one fell swoop, offering the same CD-quality audio as A2DP, but also allowing for the use of the mic at the same time. Indeed, this new way of working in Windows 11 offers 'super wideband' audio with a 32kHz sample rate, meaning even better voice quality.

(Image credit: gettyimages/luza studios)Analysis: it's about time, frankly

This is a welcome boost on the audio front, although in reality, it's more about making Bluetooth work properly - as it should - rather than a big step forward for Windows 11. Not having stereo playback if you want to use the mic is a huge downer, but sadly, this is the case for most people on Windows 11 right now.

What do you need to benefit from this new tech, then?

As already mentioned, your wireless headphones must support Bluetooth LE Audio, and your Windows 11 PC will also need to support LE Audio, too. Note that it's not enough for your PC to support Bluetooth LE, but specifically, you'll need LE Audio. Microsoft explains how to check if your Windows 11 device has this feature in a support document here.

If you have LE Audio - supported by your headphones, as well as a PC - you'll also have to be running Windows 11 24H2 updated to the latest version (the August update).

On top of this, you'll need a Bluetooth audio driver carrying support - and Microsoft notes that later this year, "some existing PC models will receive driver updates from the manufacturer to support the feature". So, you may have to be patient for a little while yet.

Microsoft also tells us that most new laptops being released late in 2025 should have this support baked in and be good-to-go from the off with this improved Bluetooth sound.

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