Don't wait for the Pixel 11: Why you should buy the Pixel 10 right now

The Google Pixel 11 series is nearly here, and a massive leak just a few days ago pretty much revealed all the important bits we’ve been dying to know. While nothing is official until Google takes the stage on August 12, it seems to align with most of the rumors we’ve been seeing this year.

The Pixel 11 Pro series will once again shine the brightest, quite literally this time, with the new HiLight notification light. But there doesn’t seem to be much in store for the base Pixel 11, which begs the question — should you simply grab the Pixel 10 at a discount today?

I think you should. Here’s why.

The Pixel 11 is more expensive, but it doesn’t have much to show for it

The Pixel 11 is expected to start at $899 in the US, $100 more than the Pixel 10’s $799 starting price. To be fair, the $899 is for 256GB of storage, not 128GB, which puts both models on equal footing when you match their storage tiers. For the first time, you’ll also have a choice of 512GB storage for the base Pixel, which is nice.

The Pixel 10 was already quite a big upgrade to the Pixel 9, so I wasn’t expecting anything crazy with the Pixel 11. And, it doesn’t seem like we’re getting much either. There’ll be the new Tensor G6 processor with a heavy focus on on-device AI processing, and I’m curious to see what progress Google has made in power efficiency and performance compared to Qualcomm’s offering.

We’ll be getting new colors for sure, and purple or lilac seems to be one of the hero colors for the Pixel 11, based on recent leaked marketing images. Here, we see the camera bar is thinner, and it has the same all-glass design as the Pro models.

The Pixel 11 is also expected to deliver “more than 30 hours” of battery life, while charging is 25% faster than the Pixel 10, according to leaked images. These hourly runtimes usually should be taken with a grain of salt, though, as they are achieved under controlled testing conditions. Still, this should come as some relief to the respondents of our poll, where a majority want improved battery life in the Pixel 11 series.

One camera improvement we know is coming to the Pixel 11 is zoom, which now goes up to 30x from 20x. Apart from these things, though, the leaks don’t point to any other major changes. The rest of the cameras, display specs, and dimensions seem similar to, or the same as, the Pixel 10.

The Pixel 10 is still a great buy in 2026

The Pixel 10 is still a fantastic phone a year later, and will receive six more years of OS and security updates. It was also the first base-model Pixel with a telephoto camera, something I’ve been wanting for years (take a hint, Apple). Although the Pixel 10 camera’s image quality doesn’t always match up to the Pro models, it’s good enough for most scenarios. Google really narrowed the feature gap between the base and Pro Pixels with the Pixel 10, so you’re not really missing much.

The design and build quality of the Pixel 10 are great. It’s quite compact and fairly light, which makes it easy to carry around. Battery life is decent, too, depending on how you use it. The big battery feature in my book is the built-in magnets for Qi2 charging, something that very few Android phones have even today. The Pixel 10 works beautifully with any MagSafe accessory, without needing a special case.

The Pixel 10 is IP68 rated for dust and water resistance. It has a bright and vivid 6.3-inch display with a peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits. Touch response and sunlight legibility have been fantastic so far, so no complaints here.

In terms of performance, the Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10 once again prioritizes AI efficiency over raw performance. Having said that, we’ve noticed that gaming performance has improved with Android 17, even though a few kinks still remain. Sadly, the Tensor G6 in the Pixel 11 is expected to do more of the same, so if you’re expecting Snapdragon Elite-level performance, you’re probably going to be disappointed.

Add it all up, and the Pixel 10 makes a compelling case for itself over the Pixel 11. For anyone who’s still on a Pixel 7/7a or older, upgrading to the Pixel 10 should feel like a big generational leap.

Grab a good deal on the Pixel 10 today

Google hasn’t officially slashed the price of the Pixel 10 yet, but that’s certainly coming once the Pixel 11 is out. In the meantime, you can find good savings from other retailers and e-tailers.

Walmart is selling the 128GB Pixel 10 for just $710 right now, though this price is for the Lemon Grass colorway only. The other colors are retailing at $750, which is still lower than Google’s official price. The Pixel 10 is often discounted on Amazon, so keep an eye out for deals there.

If you’re not happy buying unlocked, your carrier will most certainly have deals running on the Pixel 10. Whether it’s through a trade-in or opting for it on contract outright, you should be able to get the Pixel 10 for a lower monthly installment today. Back in May, T-Mobile was giving away a free Pixel 10 as a loyalty perk to its high-value customers, with some caveats, of course.

MVNOs are also a good place to look for deals. Boost Mobile, for instance, has the Pixel 10 128GB for $300, with no trade-in required. The catch here is that you have to take the $60/ month Unlimited Premium plan. Mint Mobile also offers something similar for the Pixel 10, but it’s currently out of stock. For carrier deals, always read the fine print carefully before committing.

Whatever you do, don’t buy the Pixel 10 at full price right now. If you’re unable to find a good deal and you’re not in a rush to upgrade, waiting a bit wouldn’t hurt. Once the Pixel 11 is officially announced, it’s possible that even more deals will come out of the woodwork. As far as alternatives go, the Pixel 10a is a good budget choice. Samsung’s Galaxy S26 is also often discounted and is now similarly priced to the Pixel 10.

It doesn’t seem like the Pixel 11 will be drastically better than the Pixel 10, so buying the 10 in a deal today makes a lot of sense. You’re in for a fantastic Android phone with years of support left, great cameras, and one of the best software experiences.