In the Android world, the Pixel series is still the new kid on the block, but it’s been around for over 10 years now. I’ve been lucky enough to use many of the phones—some are better than others. The question is, which models rise to the top?
For the purposes of this list, I’m only looking at the main “flagship” Pixel series, not the budget “A” series. ”Best” is subjective, and my favorites may not align with yours, but I am coming at this with nearly 15 years of professional experience reviewing Android phones.
5
Pixel 8 (2023)
A long-lasting afterthought
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro were the first phones to launch with Google’s promise of seven years of software support. That means five years of major OS upgrades and then an additional two years of security patches. This was a very big deal at the time. It surpassed what Samsung was offering and forced it to match Google’s offering.
The second thing the Pixel 8 pioneered was a big emphasis on AI. It launched with a new version of Google Assistant with the artist formerly known as Bard baked in, and eventually Gemini Nano. Some people, including many reviewers, felt uncertain about the AI features related to photos. It begged the question, what is a photo?
4
Pixel 2 (2017)
The Pixel builds a reputation
Credit: Android Police
The Pixel series made its debut in 2016, and it was fairly well received. However, the second device in a brand new product line is arguably the most important. How would Google make changes to adjust to criticism about the original?
To be honest, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were far from perfect. However, the series is largely responsible for garnering the Pixel’s long-lasting reputation as the phone to buy if you want the best camera. It received an exceptional 99 score on DxOMark—a 10-point jump up from the original. The next few Pixel phones only improved upon that score, but it all started with the Pixel 2.
3
Pixel 5 (2020)
“5” might be Google’s lucky number
If you’re a long-time Android phone owner, there’s a good chance you have sentimental feelings about the Nexus 5. Well, the Pixel 5 falls in a similar category. It was notably not a flagship-level phone, and it didn’t have a “Pro” or “XL” companion, but it was incredibly reliable.
Of all the phones in the Pixel family, the Pixel 5 is the one I used the longest. There was nothing remarkable about it, and that’s precisely what made it so rock solid. The Pixel 5 was simply a good phone—reasonable screen size, small bezels, comfortable to hold, consistent performance—with an excellent camera. However, despite the praise from people who owned it, the Pixel 5 was one of the worst-selling devices in the Pixel family.
2
Pixel 9 (2024)
Kicking off a new era
When Google unveiled the Pixel 9, I was originally a bit upset about it. After three generations of cementing an easily recognizable design with the camera bar, the Pixel 9 replaced it with a camera pill. But when I actually used the phone, I realized that it was a new era for Pixel phones.
The Pixel 9 genuinely felt like the first “grown-up” phone from Google. It made previous Pixel devices look like cheap toys. From the polished new camera bar to the flat frosted glass back to the straight metal edges, the Pixel 9 oozed “premium.” I also finally felt like some of Google’s AI features were graduating past “gimmick.” It was a big step for the future of the family.
1
Pixel 10 (2025)
Nearly pixel-perfect
When I create ranked lists like this article, I try not to let recency bias impact my choices—and I think I usually succeed. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 are not the best Pixel phones of all time because they’re the newest.
Technically, I scored the Pixel 10 slightly worse than the Pixel 9 (8/10 vs 9/10), but I think that’s because the Pixel 9 truly set a new standard. In reality, every time I have switched to a different device, I start to miss the Pixel 10, not the Pixel 9.
The most impressive thing to me, however, is that I don’t have the “Pro” model. The Pixel 9 Pro XL sits on my desk while I choose the “lower end” Pixel 10 every day. In some ways, it reminds me of a premium Pixel 5. A super solid, no frills, comfortable phone with cameras I love to shoot photos with.
Honorable Mention
Now, there are only five Pixel phones that didn’t make my list, but I want to mention a couple that were in contention. The Pixel 3 series was maybe best known for the huge notch on the XL model, but I was very happy with the smaller Pixel 3. The Pixel 7 was another of my favorites—the Pixel 6 had tons of issues, but the 7 felt like a return to solid performance and reliability.