Although I’ve dabbled with the likes of Motorola and Samsung, a large part of my Android journey has been built around Google hardware, from the early Nexus phones onwards. We’ve now had 10 generations of Pixel phones, and these are the ones that really stand out for me.
Pixel 2, the first great Pixel
Credit: Google
My all-time favorite Google phone, and one of my top devices from any brand, is the Nexus 5. When Google moved away from its affordable but high-powered Nexus smartphones and introduced the Pixel line, it was a bit of a culture shock. The OG Pixel fell a little short in a number of ways, and it took the second-generation model to set the template for what Google was trying to do.
It wasn’t perfect by any means. It dropped the headphone jack, and the design was showing its age thanks to the hefty bezels. But the build quality was stellar and the performance solid. Best of all, the camera got a raft of hardware and software upgrades that marked the Pixel out as a leader in mobile photography.
Pixel 3a, groundbreaking budget Pixel
Credit: Google
One of the things that makes the Pixel range so appealing is the A-series of devices that combine the best bits of the flagships with a very affordable price tag. The Pixel 3a was the first, and it was truly groundbreaking.
Coming in at around half the price of the Pixel 3, the 3a was an easy recommendation for anyone who needed a “it just works” phone. Remarkably, it had pretty much the same camera setup as its flagship counterpart, and the all-around performance matched higher-priced mid-rangers from other manufacturers.
Six years later, I still anticipate an A-series launch as much as I do any of Google’s other products.
Pixel 5, the last Pixel of its kind
Although it had its fans, it’s fair to say that when it was launched in 2020, the Pixel 5 was not seen as the most exciting phone in the world. Hindsight has made it a lot better, though, as the phone represented the end of an era.
The Pixel 5 was the last top-end Pixel to be powered by a Snapdragon processor and to have a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. These were two of the most controversial changes to hit the Pixel 6 and, as much as I like the modern devices, a comeback for both on a new Pixel would make it an instant buy for me.
The phone was compact, had a bigger battery, an updated design, and also saw Google move away from some of the gimmicks of earlier phones. It was an underrated gem.
Pixel 7 (and Pro), the first polished Tensor Pixels
Following the slightly chaotic Pixel 6, with its heat and fingerprint problems, the Pixel 7 was like a breath of fresh air. It was the first Tensor-powered Pixel to feel truly polished. That applies to both the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro, and I can’t separate them in my list.
The Pixel 7 series fixed all of its predecessor’s issues. There was better thermal performance, and a fingerprint scanner that actually worked, and it made the Tensor platform feel mature for the first time. They took great photos, too, especially through the class-leading zoom in the Pro.
Pixel 8 Pro, a great all-rounder
Credit: Justin Duino / How-To Geek
Building on the success of the Pixel 7 series, you could make a case for the Pixel 8 Pro being the best Pixel yet.
It guaranteed seven years of software updates, which was unheard of for Google and put it ahead of Apple. It also delivered solid improvements across the board through a range of thoughtful upgrades, especially the ultrawide and telephoto cameras.
There were still a few gimmicks, like the temperature sensor, and this was the moment Google started ramping up its AI efforts, which were then still focused on genuinely useful things like call screening. As an all-rounder, the 8 Pro was hard to beat.
Pixel 10, the modern affordable flagship
Credit: Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek
And finally, the latest Pixel, the Pixel 10. In some ways, it was a sideways move rather than a leap forward, but it perfectly captures the spirit of what the Pixel phones were always supposed to be. It’s a modern flagship, not cheap but still affordable, and powered by reliable hardware and cutting-edge software.
Personally, I’m not overly keen on the AI features and where the Pixel line might be heading in the future, yet the phone as a whole is strong enough to stand up without any extra bells and whistles. In many ways, it’s the closest Google has come to making the iPhone of the Android world, a device that will suit most people very well.
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Google Tensor G5
Looking to upgrade to a Pixel but not sure if you need all the bells and whistles of the more expensive models? You won’t be disappointed with the standard Pixel 10 model. Coming in striking colors, Gemini features, and seven years of updates, you can’t go wrong with this purchase.
Pixel phones have come along since the range was introduced in 2016. Although they don’t technically run stock Android in the way that people often think, they continue to have a massive influence over the whole ecosystem. These six phones show why the Pixel has been such an enduring part of my Android story.
