With this big a price drop, the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is a better buy than the newer model
Google only recently launched the Pixel 11 Pro XL, but the firm’s 2026 flagship smartphone wasn’t all that different from the one that came before it, despite demanding a higher price. That made the Pixel 10 Pro XL something of a steal – but doubly so right now, with Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event slashing 24% from the RRP.
The deal sees the Obsidian (black) version with 256GB of storage dropped to just £649, a major dip from the UK’s usual £999 retail price. US phone fans will need to check out Best Buy’s renewed programme, where you can get the jazzier Jade (green) model for $699.
- Buy Google Pixel 10 Pro XL (refurbished, Jade) from Best Buy USA
- Buy Google Pixel 10 Pro XL (Obsidian) from Amazon UK
These are the cheapest SIM-free prices I can find from reputable retailers, while in the UK it seems next to impossible to do better on a brand new handset. US deals aren’t as forthcoming on new devices, but the Renewed price is for an “excellent” grade handset.
Why would I take one of these over the newer Pixel 11 Pro XL? Simply put, Google hasn’t all that much on the hardware front between generations. The HiLight status LED does little worth writing home about, the newer chipset isn’t a giant leap forward on either performance or battery life, and the cameras have largely seen software tweaks. And yet Google has still bumped the price, in response to ongoing component cost rises.
Buying the older Pixel 10 Pro XL still gets you a true flagship handset, with a gorgeous 6.8in OLED screen, Tensor G5 silicon that can play most Android games perfectly well, a battery that’ll last all day and a trio of excellent rear cameras that give both Samsung and Apple a run for their money, regardless of lighting conditions.
Qi2 magnetic charging is something you won’t find on virtually any other Android phone, and only minor design changes between generations mean no-one will know from a glance that you’re not rocking the latest and greatest handset.
Thinking long-term, Google’s seven year software update promise means you’ll still be up to date through to the early 2030s. The firm is quick to roll new Android versions out to older hardware too.
