To upgrade or not to upgrade? – Computerworld

All in all, this isn’t what I’d call a no-brainer, pull-the-trigger-this-instant upgrade. We aren’t at that point quite yet. But it’s a reasonably compelling argument to consider — if you’re not entirely ecstatic about your current phone situation and/or you’re ready for something new and improved.

➡️ The verdict, in short: Incredibly easy to justify if you want it but by no means needed.

• The Pixel 10 or 10 Pro would mark a noticeable and quite significant upgrade coming from any of the Pixel 8 models — in all the same ways we went over for the Pixel 9 section, above, and all the improvements from the 8-to-9 generation that also carry over now.
• But the 8-generation phones still have plenty of life left in ’em, and there’s nothing with the new 10 devices that’d dramatically change your life — mostly just some nifty new conveniences and assorted added niceties.
• Especially with all the promos and trade-in values, you wouldn’t regret making the move to a Pixel 10-level phone. And I have no doubt you’d be very happy with it.
• But you’d also be fine to stick with your Pixel 8 for another year — or more — and from a purely sensible perspective, that’d be the way to go.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 8a

The story with the Pixel 8a is honestly pretty similar to what we said with the 9a a moment ago — only with an extra year of use and improvements added into the mix.

The Pixel 10 or Pixel 10 Pro would be a significant upgrade from the 8a in every possible measure, and you’d absolutely notice the difference. But your current phone is still fine, and the 8a is set to be supported with Android software updates all the way through May 2031.

Just like with the Pixel 9a, the real question here is how badly you want to move to a more premium, high-end phone experience and how much you’re willing to spend to get there.

➡️ The verdict, in short: Another big jump between classes, if you’re looking for that kind of change.

• For most 8a owners, there’s no pressing reason to upgrade — though going from that phone to the Pixel 10 or Pixel 10 Pro would absolutely be a massive and immediately noticeable improvement, if you simply wanted to give yourself the added niceties of the more premium Pixel path.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 7 (or Pixel 7 Pro)

Now we’re starting to trek into terrain where the upgrade to a Pixel 10 gets more substantial. The Pixel 7 series phones came out in the fall of 2022, and we’ve seen a fair amount of improvements — now cumulatively present in the newest Pixel 10 devices — in all the time since.

The Pixel 7 series was also the last Pixel to launch before Google moved from a three-year software support guarantee to its current seven-year promise — though the company did go back and add another couple years onto the Pixel 7 at some point along the way. That means the 7 series is set to receive operating system updates for another two years yet, through October 2027, so you certainly could wait another year (or even two) before it becomes pressing to think about a new device.

That being said, you’d see a host of very noticeable and meaningful improvements by making the leap now. That includes everything we’ve talked about in the previous sections, plus the massively significant ability to use your phone’s Face Unlock system everywhere — as a secure way to sign into banking apps or anywhere else authentication is required — which is something that’s possible only with the Pixel 8 and upward.

For context: That improvement alone convinced me to pull the trigger on a Pixel 8 in 2023, when that capability first came into the equation. Small of a detail as it may seem compared to the more attention-grabbing Pixel tricks, it’s a real game-changer and something that has a meaningful, ongoing impact on your day-to-day life — likely multiple times every single day. And getting a Pixel 10 now is hands-down the best way to get it.

The Pixel 7 to 10 upgrade will also give you the unusual advantage of an on-device thermometer, which seemed silly when it first debuted on the Pixel 8 series but has since grown into a valuable addition — now that it supports actual human temperature-taking (which it weirdly didn’t out of the gate). We can never find regular thermometers in my house, and even when we do, they’re frustratingly inconsistent and inaccurate in their readings. The Pixel 10’s thermometer (on the Pro models only) is always there and ready, and it’s been incredibly consistent with its measurements in my experience.

Still, unless your Pixel 7 series device is starting to show its age in a not-so-great way, this one mostly comes down to a matter of added niceties and conveniences — once more, still, of want over need. If you want it, it’s well worthwhile, and you’ll certainly see enough of a difference to justify the change coming from the 7 series. But you definitely don’t need it, and if you aren’t feeling the urge to get something new just yet, there’s no reason not to stick with what you’ve got for another year or so.

➡️ The verdict, in short: A very significant step up that you’ll absolutely notice and appreciate — but still not a critical upgrade.

• The Pixel 10 or Pixel 10 Pro would be a welcome upgrade for you and one that’s easy to justify and filled with significant, meaningful changes. But, it’s by no means a completely necessary purchase. 
• Ask yourself how much you truly want one of the devices and how much you can stomach the cost — taking into account any trade-in variables — for what’d be an enjoyable and efficiency-enhancing, though not necessarily quite essential, change.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 7a

Once more, the situation with the Pixel 7a is not all that different from what we went over with the one-generation-later “a”-model a moment ago — with the added consideration that the 7a is now down to just shy of three years of remaining software updates and is also now over two years old, so it may be starting to slow down and introduce annoying work challenges.

If you feel like you need to stick it out longer or you’re just satisfied enough with what you’ve got now — and your 7a is still working reasonably well for you — there’s no super-pressing reason to push yourself into Pixel 10 territory this minute.

But if you want an incredible all-around productivity and day-to-day experience upgrade and are up for the cost, you would be blown away by the difference you’d see moving from that phone to a Pixel 10 model — on so many different levels.

Again, the bigger question is if that’s the change you want or if you’d rather stick with the more affordable “a” path for your next upgrade, whenever that time arrives.

➡️ The verdict, in short: Well worth it — if you want to spend that kind of money.

• Think closely about how happy or frustrated you are with your current phone, at its current age.
• If it’s still doing the job well for you and you aren’t especially excited about anything new, you’ve got every reason to stick with what you’ve got.
• But if you’re ready for an improvement and you want to leave the midrange “a” arena for a top-of-the-line experience, the Pixel 10 would be a tremendous leap forward for you in every measure imaginable — and there’s no better phone you could buy.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 6 (or Pixel 6 Pro)

Pixel 6 pals, you’re next! And if you’ve been reading everything up through this point, you’ve probably got a pretty good guess of where we’re going with this.

With each subsequent generation of Pixel, the argument for making the upgrade gets more compelling — and that’s absolutely true in the case of the Pixel 6.

The Pixel 6 is set to receive current OS updates only through next October — 2026 — thanks to Google’s extension from that device’s original three-year support promise. That means you’ve got a few Android updates left yet, including this fall’s Android 16 release and then the (likely) two updates that’ll land ahead of the Pixel 6’s support cutoff next fall.

So if you really want to stick it out a while longer, you could certainly do it. And you’d be in fine shape, as far as security and privacy and all the most critical factors are concerned.

But we’re reaching a point now where the quality-of-life upgrades would be significant enough that it’s easy to recommend this as a sensible step forward for most people — particularly professionals concerned about having a fast, efficient, and effective device with lots of legitimately productivity-boosting advantages (along with quite a few just plain nice improvements).

➡️ The verdict, in short: A smart and substantial upgrade that you’ll very much appreciate (but that you can still get away with waiting on a little longer, if you really want to stretch this one out as long as possible).

• You could hold off one more year, if you’d rather, but upgrading to the Pixel 10 now would be a heck of an upgrade for you — on so many levels! — and the clock is ticking for when such a move will become highly advisable (and ill-advised to avoid).
• If you’re ready now, you’ll be delighted with all the changes the Pixel 10 will bring you. If not, though, you could put the purchase off one more year and go with the Pixel 11 in 2026 instead.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 6a

Guess what? Once again, the Pixel 6a situation is pretty similar to what we’ve described with other Pixel “a” models — though here, we’re looking at a three-year-old device down to its final two years of active OS update support.

Practically speaking, the 6a’s OS update support end-date of July 2027 means that you could easily keep using it without any real worries. But at the same time, my goodness, the leap to a Pixel 10 would be absolutely massive for you — and especially if you’re relying on your device for work, it’d make an immediately noticeable, extremely significant difference in your ability to get stuff done.

But, again, your current phone is still reasonably okay to stick with, if you’re so inclined — if a little long in the tooth. And, like with our previous “a”-model comparisons, you could also consider going with the more affordable Pixel 9a as a still-quite-nice (just not as dramatically delightful) boost into the present.

➡️ The verdict, in short: The time is nigh — but you can hold off a teensy but longer (or consider a more comparable “a”-level upgrade), if you’d rather.

• The argument for upgrading from a Pixel 6a is a strong one, given how much things have moved forward in the time since that phone’s release — but this isn’t quite yet a must-upgrade scenario.
• And, just like with the Pixel 8a, the real question is if you even want to move to the higher-end Pixel path whenever you do upgrade or if you’d rather stick with the less expensive midrange “a” phones. That’s a decision only you can make.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Pixel 5 or any earlier Pixel model

This last Pixel 10 upgrade decision is the easiest: If you’re using the Pixel 5 or any Pixel model earlier than that, you should strongly consider stepping up to a Pixel 10 or Pixel 10 Pro device now. No question.

These older Pixels are no longer actively being supported with current OS updates or even security patches, and all current features and added conveniences aside, that means they’re no longer advisable to use when it comes to the ever-important areas of optimal privacy, security, and performance for your phone.

That aside, the difference in practically every practical measure — from performance to photo quality and all the features that have arrived in the Pixel arena over the past five-plus years — is, well, immeasurable. This is the time. This is the device. Putting it off any further is doing a disservice to your productivity, your privacy and security, and your all-around Android experience.

This one, at last, is easy!

➡️ The verdict, in short: Do it. Do it now.

• It’s time for a new device, plain and simple, and the Pixel 10 models will be a tremendous, night-and-day leap forward for you in every possible measure.
• If you’re on an older Pixel “a” model, you could consider going with the Pixel 8a instead, should you wish to spend a little less dough. 
• But with any older Pixel, the Pixel 10 or Pixel 10 Pro will be the best upgrade you could make right now, and you would be positively thrilled with the change (in addition to being maximally protected, in terms of being on the most current software possible and avoiding any privacy-, security-, or performance-related liabilities).

Wait — what about the Pixel Fold?

Using the Pixel 9 Pro Fold — or maybe its first-gen equivalent? The advice above doesn’t really apply to you.

Folding phones are their own beast, and it’s a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison to try to stack them up next to a standard slab-style device at this point.

If you simply aren’t happy with your Fold experience and think you’d rather go back to a more standard sort of phone form, you’d be quite pleased with a move to a Pixel 10 model.

Otherwise, stay tuned for more on the third-gen Pixel Fold — a.k.a. the Pixel 10 Pro Fold — soon. It isn’t slated to ship until sometime in October, and Google consequently hasn’t made review units of it available for assessment quite yet.

Decisions, decisions, eh? Hey, at least these are relatively fun ones to make.

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