Which is the right phone for me? [Video]

Copyright 9to5Google

By now, enough dust has settled, the prices have come down a wee bit, and you’re ready to upgrade. But which Pixel released in 2025 is right for you? Bear with us, here’s everything you need to know. For 2025, we have a nice mix of Google hardware to choose from. Yes, there are some things to bear in mind. Firstly, if you are a true tech head who wants only the best specifications, basically the best of everything and can deal with compromises in the Android skin or maybe the update frequency, then here are a few other options to choose from. If you want the most powerful device, then go for the OnePlus 15 now, which should be available very soon in all regions. Maybe the Oppo Find X9 Pro if you are outside of North America. If you want what I and many others consider the best all-rounder, get the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Want an iPhone? Well, what are you doing watching this video? If you like Pixel phones, then there is more to discuss. Advertisement - scroll for more content The Pixel 9a At the cheapest end of the spectrum this year is the Pixel 9a. It is technically part of the lineup until the recently leaked 10a arrives sometime in early to mid-2026. This affordable phone can be purchased for as low as $300, which is a great deal. It has last year’s processor, a dual camera at the back, misses out on a few of the AI features that we’ll talk about later, but it’s a damn good phone if you can get it under $400. As an entry into the best, cleanest version of Android, there aren’t many better options out there. What size phone do you want? As for the Pixel 10 lineup, decide what size you want first. That makes things a lot easier to decipher. The Pixel 10 and 10 Pro technically have the exact same screen sizes. In the real world and to my eye, the 10 has a marginally smaller screen because it has slightly larger screen bezels, maybe by just a fraction of a millimeter. You can see this difference side-by-side. Maybe it’s an optical illusion, but it’s noticeable. The Pixel 10 also has a 1080p screen, while the Pixel 10 Pro is capable of being set to QHD if you want that option. Everything will look a little sharper and cleaner. For big phone fans, there is the Pixel 10 Pro XL or the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. If you want a regular form factor, go for the 10 Pro XL. It has a great display and peak experience to boot. A two-in-one form factor means the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has the 6.3-inch outer screen plus the big 8-inch square inner screen. This is great for running two apps side-by-side, but the folding frame makes compromises elsewhere to achieve what it sets out to achieve.. What specifications do you want? There is a bit of a weird situation with the Pixel 10 family this year, and it relates to storage. All of the phones ship with the Tensor G5 processor, which is solid if unspectacular. It isn’t the best, nor is it the worst. It’s just middling. However, the starting 128GB models of the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro come with slower storage, which, while most people won’t care, will make a difference to the experience you have with your phone. UFS 4.0 storage is not a new technology; only the 256GB variants of all models ship with it as standard. It offers faster read and write speeds, which, in turn, should give a little extra zippy feeling when using these models versus older phones or those without UFS 4.0 tech. To complicate things further, only the 1TB version of the Pixel 10 Pro XL comes with Zoned UFS 4.0 tech, which is an even faster version of the storage. For that reason, you should not get the 128GB model of any device, as you’re buying a phone that is a tier below its siblings. Our biggest complaint is that this creates a hierarchy in the Pixel 10 lineup that was pretty well established already, without adding in another confusing layer. What do you want from a camera system? Google has made changes to the Pixel 10 camera in a couple of ways; some improvements are notable, while others are less so. The good news is that the base model now has a telephoto lens for the first time. The not-so-good news is that the wide and ultrawide cameras are now identical to those found on the cheaper Pixel 9a. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL ship with identical cameras to the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL. There are some changes to how images are tuned across the series this year. There are some new AI-powered camera features that improve the zoom capabilities. You can access 100x zoom for the first time. It is very hit or miss and isn’t really a strong or compelling reason alone. It’s the same for Camera Coach. Fine, but not something you’ll use every time you open the camera. Video has not changed drastically. Recordings at 2x zoom should have better stabilization. Video Boost does a lot of the heavy lifting on the Pixel 10 Pro, Pro XL, and 10 Pro Fold. What about the Pixel 9? A great way to save yourself a ton of money is to seriously consider the Pixel 9 lineup even a year after release. Google hasn’t dropped these phones from stores either, and offers regular discounts on all of the hardware. The specs are not a million miles away. It’s helped there because the Tensor G5 chip isn’t the quantum performance leap that a lot of people were hoping for. Android 16 with Material 3 Expressive is also available, and you just miss out on a few middling AI functions. For most people, a reduced-price Pixel 9 might be a better option, as you get 95% of the same phone for, in many cases, 50% of the price. TL:DR – Which is the right choice for me? My biggest gripe with the Pixel 10 series is the base storage capping some of the performance gains behind the 256GB tier. If you can get a discount, any of the new phones at this level of storage and above will be a great buy. Some of you might not care, which is absolutely fine. However, I can’t give the base storage, base models a true seal of approval due to this frustrating inconvenience. The Pixel 9a feels like an absolute steal, but the Pixel 10 Pro XL is the device I would gravitate toward if I were in the market for a new Android phone. It might not be the best out there, but given the competition, it can mix it well. It is overpriced. This is the first year that all of the Pixel phones have felt overpriced. So factor that in before making the jump at MSRP – which would be a silly thing to do in our opinion. Get your Pixel