If you've just gotten a Pixel (or are thinking about buying one) and want to understand what makes it so special, here you'll find a very complete guide to to unleash the most powerful AI featuresFrom the Tensor G5 and Gemini Nano chips in the device, to tricks for the screen, camera, real-time translation and integration with Google AI Pro in productivity apps.
Tensor G5 and Gemini Nano: the heart of AI in your Pixel
The magic of many of the latest Pixel's exclusive features comes from their combination of specialized hardware and proprietary AI modelsAll Pixel 10 phones incorporate the Google Tensor G5 chip, designed with the support of the Google DeepMind team, which is optimized to run artificial intelligence tasks with far greater efficiency than generic processors.
Tensor G5 is Google's first chip capable of running on the phone itself. Gemini Nano, the lightweight version of the Gemini modelThis means that many generative AI functions work directly on the device, without relying so much on the cloud: faster responses, more privacy, and less data consumption—ideal if you don't want to be tied to a good connection all the time.
By working together, Tensor G5 and Gemini Nano enable the processing of complex AI tasks such as real-time voice translation, smart suggestions, content analysis, and advanced photo and video enhancement directly on your mobile device. You'll notice the difference in your daily use: many features that previously took a long time or required a connection are now almost instantaneous and much smoother.
Google AI Pro: Creativity and generative AI at the highest level
If you choose a Pixel 10Pro or Pixel 10 Pro XL, Google includes one year subscription to Google AI Pro at no extra costThis plan unlocks state-of-the-art image and video creation tools (like Image 4 and Veo 3) designed to help you shape any creative idea directly from within the Google ecosystem.
With Google AI Pro you get full access to Gemini integrated with Docs, Drive, Slides, and Sheetsas well as other Google products. From these applications you can use Gemini to write, summarize, analyze, compare information and generate visual content, all centralized in your account.
To use these functions, simply search for the Gemini icon ✦ in the sidebar of Docs, Sheets, Slides, or the Drive web interface. Clicking it opens a panel where you can choose predefined suggestions (for example, summarize a document or improve text) or type your own request in natural language, as if you were talking to an assistant.
How to use Gemini in Docs, Drive, and Sheets
Imagine you are organizing a complex celebration, such as a joint birthday party with several friendsYou have a shared Google document where you've been adding possible dates, budgets, and suggestions for places and activities. It all gets a bit chaotic, and it's hard to see if the plan really works.
From the Gemini sidebar in Documents, you can ask it to Review all the information and check the consistency of the plan.Gemini analyzes complex information, synthesizes key data, and helps you quickly understand if everything makes sense or if adjustments are needed. It checks if the dates work, if the prices fit within your budget, and if there are any overlaps with other commitments.
You can also use Gemini to polish the document textsSimply select a block of text and ask it to check the grammar, spelling, and clarity; the assistant will suggest a more polished version so you can share the party details without errors or confusing phrases. This is ideal for event descriptions, invitations, or formal emails that you want to be well-written without wasting time.
Another very useful point is the ability to reference other files from your Google Drive directly from the Gemini dashboardUsing the @ symbol, you can mention documents, spreadsheets, or presentations that contain, for example, quotes from different suppliers, guest lists, menus, or contracts. Gemini can compare the data scattered across your Drive and help you make decisions (such as which supplier is most cost-effective or which date is most viable) without you having to open everything one by one.
Voice Translation: AI-powered calls in different languages
One of the most striking features that Tensor G5 offers is the Real-time voice translation during phone callsThis tool is designed so you can talk to people who don't share your language, minimizing the language barrier without the need for external applications or intermediaries.
During a call, the AI ​​built into the Pixel takes care of listen, translate and reproduce the voice in the other language almost instantly. What's most impressive is that it tries to mimic the tone and intonation of each speaker, so the conversation sounds more natural and less robotic, closer to how you would speak if you shared the same language.
Currently, Voice Translation works on calls from English to German, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and SwedishAnd vice versa. In other words, you can communicate quite fluently with people who use any of those languages, making it a very powerful tool for travel, international business, or simply for talking to family and friends in other countries.
Adjust the Pixel's display to get the most out of it
Recent Pixel phones have high-quality displays, but they don't always come factory-configured for take full advantage of its resolution and fluidityIf you want to see everything in the greatest possible detail, you can manually increase the resolution from your phone's settings.
To do this, go to Settings > Display and touch Then scroll down to the screen resolution section. There you'll find the "Screen Resolution" option; select "Maximum Resolution" to ensure the panel operates at its sharpest available resolution. Keep in mind that this may consume slightly more battery, but if you've paid for a high-quality screen, it makes sense to take advantage of it.
The setting usually appears right below that option. Soft screenThis feature controls the panel's refresh rate. On the Pixel 10, this function is enabled by default, allowing the screen to reach up to 120 Hz. This high refresh rate translates into smoother animations, fluid scrolling, and an overall feeling of speed when navigating the system or playing games.
Personalize your lock screen with AI and visual effects
The lock screen on current Pixel phones offers quite a few options customization to suit your style Now you have the information you want to see as soon as you turn on your phone. From the settings, you can change the notification format, the clock, and even the effects on your photos.
To start, go to Settings > Display and touch > Lock screenThere you can choose whether to display notifications in a compact list or a more detailed, full list. You can also hide silent notifications or sensitive content (like private messages) from the lock screen, which is highly recommended if you often leave your phone in plain sight.
In that same menu you can add shortcuts in the bottom corners from the lock screen, such as the flashlight, payment wallet, or any other compatible function. This way, with a single tap, you'll have the tools you use most available without fully unlocking your phone.
A very interesting option is the Dynamic clockwhich automatically adjusts the clock size based on what's on the lock screen. If there aren't many notifications, the clock is displayed large and clearly; if notifications start to accumulate, the clock shrinks to elegantly make room for them. To change the clock's visual style with Material 3 Expressive, go into Settings > Wallpaper & Style and then on the lock screen tab, in the "Clock" section.
From there you can choose from several watch styles, change the colors and sizeand combine it with different backgrounds. As for the lock screen background, if you select a photo and tap on "Effects," a whole range of customization options opens up: you can apply shapes to your contacts' photos, change the background color, activate real-time weather animations, or apply a cinematic effect that adds depth and a 3D feel to the background.
Bring back the classic power button or better integrate Gemini
In the most recent Pixel phones, the The physical power button no longer behaves like it did on traditional mobile phones.By default, holding it down activates the Gemini assistant instead of the traditional power off and restart menu, which can be confusing if you're used to the classic way of turning off your phone.
If you want to restore the old power menu, you can do so from Settings > System > Gestures > Press and hold the power buttonThere you can change the action associated with the long press so that it again shows the options to power off, restart or emergency, instead of launching Gemini instantly.
As long as you don't change it, you always have the option to Open the power menu by pressing the power button and the volume up button simultaneously.However, if you prefer easy access to Gemini without relying on the physical button, you can configure it in other ways: by activating voice commands with "Hey Google" or by adding the Gemini widget to your home screen.
To place the widget, press and hold any empty space on the home screen, tap "Widgets," and scroll until you find it. Gemini on the listFrom there, drag the widget to the area where you want it; this way you can launch the assistant with a single tap, without changing the behavior of the power button.
Record better video with the AV1 codec and Video Boost
The Pixel 10 series models have incorporated the option to record video in AV1 format, a modern and very efficient codec This allows you to significantly reduce file sizes without losing too much quality. This is especially useful if you record frequently or at high resolutions and don't want to run out of storage space.
To activate AV1, open the Pixel Camera app Tap the gear icon on the side (usually on the left side of the screen). Then tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner, scroll to the bottom, and select "Video format." There you can select AV1 so that your phone will record using this codec from now on.
It should be noted that, although AV1 is becoming increasingly widespread, Not all platforms and players are compatibleServices like Instagram generally accept AV1 clips without problems, but if you want to upload your videos to less common sites or send them to people with older devices, it's best to check first if the destination supports this format.
In addition to the codec, the Pixel Pro since the Pixel 8 Pro and later models feature Video BoostVideo Boost is a feature that takes the quality of your recordings to another level using cloud processing. When you activate Video Boost, your phone uploads your footage to Google's servers, where advanced processing is applied to improve color, brightness, stabilization, and reduce image noise.
The time it takes Video Boost to process a clip depends on the video length and scene complexityIt can take anywhere from about 20 minutes to several hours, or even a whole day if the file is large. Meanwhile, you still have the original recording available on your phone to use if you need it sooner.
When the treatment is complete, you receive a notification and can access the enhanced version. On the Pixel 10 Pro, Video Boost is even capable of upscale the video to 8KThis can be useful if you want to display content on very large screens. To activate Video Boost, open the camera app, switch to the "Video" tab, tap the gear icon, and enable the corresponding option.
Control Pro Res Zoom and Camera Coach on the camera
Among the advanced camera features they include Generative AIThe Pixel 10 includes two features that are worth knowing well: Pro Res Zoom and Camera CoachEach one targets a different aspect of the photographic experience, and it's important to know when you want to use them and when it might be better to turn them off.
Pro Res Zoom is available on the following models: Pixel 10Pro It activates when you digitally zoom beyond a certain level, typically from 30x to 100x. Essentially, it combines hundreds of frames and applies generative AI to fill in the details that would be lost at such high zoom levels. The result is extremely sharp zoomed-in photos, far exceeding what the sensor alone could achieve.
However, when using content generation, it is possible that Certain elements of the photo do not exactly correspond to realityThis can feel strange if you know that parts of the image have been "invented" by AI to maintain sharpness. That's why Google offers the option to remove the models associated with ProRes Zoom if you're not comfortable with this method of processing photos.
To turn off Pro Res Zoom, open the camera and tap the gear icon in the bottom left cornerNext, tap the three-dot menu to access more advanced options and go to "Model Downloads." There you'll see a list of AI modules downloaded to your device; find Pro Res Zoom and tap the trash can icon next to it. This will stop your phone from using that feature and return it to more traditional zoom behavior.
For its part, Camera Coach is present in all Pixel 10 and acts as a little assistant within the camera. Its purpose is to guide you with real-time suggestions to help you compose better photos: it can tell you to straighten the horizon, move closer or further away, or change the framing to improve the final result. It's especially useful if you don't have much experience with photography and want to take advantage of the camera's potential without complicating things.
With all these features, the Google Pixel phones are positioned as mobiles that combine a Highly optimized hardware with a deep artificial intelligence layer in almost every aspect: from how you talk on the phone and communicate in other languages, to how you organize your documents, customize the screen, or record video in modern formats.
If you spend some time adjusting the screen, configuring the power button, exploring Gemini's productivity apps, and playing with the camera options (AV1, Video Boost, Pro Res Zoom, and Camera Coach), your Pixel can go from being just another good phone to becoming a truly differentiating tool for working, creating content, and simplifying your daily life. Share the information so that more users know about the topic.