Pixel 10 battery life issues? We now have data!

Extensive testing reveals the Pixel 10 series exhibits erratic battery life primarily due to poor power efficiency during high-performance tasks on cellular connections, a regression from the Pixel 9.

• Pixel 10 battery drains rapidly during high-performance cellular tasks, a step back from Pixel 9.

• Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup likely reverts to S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra, possibly with Exynos 2600 chips.

• OnePlus 15 may offer competitive pricing and features a large battery with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

Comprehensive testing by Android Authority uncovered that the Pixel 10 Pro XL's inconsistent battery performance stems from its increased power draw compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra and even the Pixel 9 Pro XL, especially during heavy data loads on cellular. Google did not respond to inquiries about this data. Meanwhile, Samsung's Galaxy S26 series plans appear to revert to the traditional S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra lineup, with rumors suggesting an Exynos 2600 processor for all models due to the high cost of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The OnePlus 15 is rumored to offer competitive pricing, potentially cheaper than its predecessor, alongside a large 7,300 mAh battery and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset.

Pixel 10 Battery Issues

• 00:00:57 Android Authority's testing wizard, Rob Triggs, conducted comprehensive power draw tests comparing the Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Results indicate both Pixel phones draw more power for the same tasks than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with the Pixel 10 Pro XL showing a regression in power efficiency compared to the Pixel 9 Pro XL, particularly under heavy data loads on cellular connections. This issue is not observed during low-performance tasks like idling or lighter tasks such as web browsing and Zoom calls, where power draw across all phones is similar or proportional to the Galaxy.

Pixel 10 Battery Solutions

• 00:03:23 Google has not yet responded to the data regarding the Pixel 10's power efficiency issues. For users experiencing poor battery performance on their Pixel 10 devices, the best current solution is to avoid high-performance tasks, such as downloading large files or buffering 1080p YouTube videos, while on a cellular connection. Sticking to Wi-Fi as much as possible significantly improves battery life, with hopes that Google will release software updates to address the problem soon.

Galaxy S26 Series Outlook

• 00:04:20 Samsung's plans for the Galaxy S26 series have been confusing and constantly changing, but current rumors suggest a return to the standard lineup: Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra, following the apparent cancellation of 'Pro' and 'Edge' variants due to low sales of the Galaxy S25 Edge. There is also a rumor that all S26 models, including the Ultra, could feature Samsung's Exynos 2600 processor, possibly built on a 2nm process with Nvidia's Xclipse 950 GPU, influenced by the rumored 'astronomically expensive' Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

OnePlus 15 Pricing & Specs

• 00:06:43 New leaks suggest the OnePlus 15 could cost £949 (approximately $1,270 USD) for the 16GB RAM and 512GB storage model, making it about £50 cheaper than the equivalent OnePlus 13. Other rumors point to a massive 7,300 mAh battery with 120-watt wired and 50-watt wireless charging, a 165Hz OLED screen, and confirmed integration of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, likely making it the first phone in the United States to feature this processor.