Google Pixel 10 Pro XL for Underwater Photography: Full 2025 Test

A few years ago, the question was simple: can a smartphone seriously replace a waterproof compact underwater? Today that question barely exists. The best models have surpassed dedicated compacts on almost every metric. The real question has become: which one, and for which water?

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL launched in August 2025 with a feature that got photographers talking well beyond the diving world. For the first time on a smartphone, Google integrated DCG (Dual Conversion Gain) natively, accessible via MotionCam Pro. What that changes concretely underwater, we cover below, criterion by criterion.

This test follows the AquaExposure scoring system: 7 criteria weighted specifically for underwater photography in natural light. No flash, no artificial lighting, just the sensor, the optics and the available light management in the water.

Overall score: 3.8/5

This device is for: the diver who wants serious RAW video quality without leaving the smartphone ecosystem.

This device is not ideal for: water colder than 15°C (condensation risk inside the housing) or shy macro subjects that require focus at under 5cm.

The main sensor is 1/1.31 inch at 50 megapixels with an f/1.7 aperture. Not a large format chip, but in the upper range of 2025 smartphones. In practice underwater, f/1.7 handles light reasonably well in the 5 to 10 metre depth range where colours start to disappear.

The 5x periscope telephoto runs at f/2.8, with a documented minimum focus distance of 30cm. A clear improvement over the Pixel 9 Pro XL (which stopped at 73cm), though still not close enough for real macro work. For subjects under 10cm, the 48MP ultrawide at f/1.7 takes over.

Technical details - Full optics specs Main sensor: 50MP, f/1.7, 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS Telephoto: 48MP, f/2.8, 5x periscope, 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF, OIS, min. focus distance 30cm Ultrawide: 48MP, f/1.7, 123°, 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF Stabilisation: OIS on main and telephoto, EIS on ultrawide, Tensor G5 motion deblur Not yet measured: shutter latency, RAW buffer depth, flare behaviour in direct sunlight

The B1 score sits at 3.4/5 mainly due to sensor size (1/1.31" vs 1 inch on the best compacts) and burst/buffer data that are not independently documented at publication date.

This is the device's strong suit. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is the first smartphone to integrate DCG (Dual Conversion Gain) natively, accessible via MotionCam Pro. In both stills and video, you get 12-bit DNG files with an information depth that other 2025 smartphones simply do not offer yet.

What that means underwater: light in diving is scarce and unevenly distributed. Bright highlights (surface reflections, white sand) coexist with deep shadow in the same frame. A 12-bit file recovers far more in both areas than 8-bit or even standard 10-bit footage.

Technical details - RAW and color science Native RAW: 12-bit DNG in the Pixel Camera app (RAW+JPEG) and MotionCam Pro DCG: Dual Conversion Gain, simultaneous high and low gain readout before digitisation. Result: RAW latitude close to APS-C professional sensors, no noisy shadows, no blown highlights. Max video codec: 12-bit RAW DNG via MotionCam Pro, native 10-bit HDR (H.265), 4K@60fps Manual Kelvin white balance: yes, via MotionCam Pro (essential for correcting the cyan-green cast underwater) Colour science: proprietary Google Tensor G5 ISP, no Zeiss/Leica/Hasselblad partnership. Colour profiles remain in the Google ecosystem. App compatibility: Android 16 with GMS - Blackmagic Camera (iOS only) unavailable, MotionCam Pro (Google Play) available and stable.

For what RAW really delivers in post-production compared to JPEG, our before and after underwater photo editing examples walk through the workflow.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL comes in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB (UFS 4.0). No microSD slot, meaning capacity is a purchase-time decision. In practice: one 45-minute dive in 4K 10-bit occupies roughly 8 to 12GB. Three dives in 4K RAW via MotionCam Pro can exceed 30GB.

The 256GB model works for short trips if you offload each evening. 512GB gives 4 to 5 days of buffer without a computer. 1TB is for liveaboard trips or serious RAW video shooters.

Technical details - Transfer Connector: USB-C 3.2 (theoretical 10 Gbps, real-world 500-800 MB/s read) OTG: supported, external SSD can be connected via USB-C between dives Estimated field transfer: 30GB transferred in under 5 minutes with a USB 3.2 SSD No microSD: plan storage before the trip

For the complete between-dives workflow, our smartphone vs GoPro vs waterproof compact comparison covers file management across different setups.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL body is aluminium with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and integrates a vapor chamber. Good thermal management for surface use, including long video recording sessions.

Underwater, the equation changes. Aluminium is an excellent thermal conductor, meaning the device body cools rapidly in contact with cold water. In a sealed housing, that temperature delta creates a condensation risk on the inner lens port, between the cold water surrounding the housing and the humid air trapped inside.

In warm tropical water (above 25°C), this risk is low and manageable with standard silica gel packets. In cold water (below 15°C), as found in the Mediterranean in autumn or the North Atlantic, the risk becomes real.

Technical details - Thermal and condensation Material: aluminium + vapor chamber (high thermal conductivity) Warm water score (>25°C): 2.5/5 - condensation possible, manageable Cold water score (<15°C): 1/5 - elevated risk, active anti-fog required Certification: IP68 (1.5m, 30 min), GGV2, no MIL-STD-810 Good news: vapor chamber prevents prolonged thermal throttling during long 4K recordings

Our guide on waterproof housings for underwater photography covers the anti-fog setup before your first dive with a smartphone housing.

5200 mAh with the 3nm Tensor G5 processor. One of the best combinations available in 2025 on Android. GSMArena lab tests give 12h29 active use. In the field, 3 dives of 45 minutes each in 4K video, plus surface file management and settings adjustments, that is a full day with no anxiety.

The EU Label officially documents 1000 cycles before 20% capacity loss. The most reassuring battery figure for intensive multi-season use.

Technical details - Battery Chemistry: Li-Ion (no silicon-carbon, which is starting to appear on competing flagships in 2025) Cold water note: Li-Ion loses 15-25% efficiency below 10°C. Store the device warm between dives. Charging: 45W wired (70% in 30 min), 25W Qi2 wireless, bypass charging available

Avant chaque session plongée, pensez à vérifier votre batterie externe. Utilisez notre comparateur de batteries portables pour choisir la power bank adaptée à votre caisson et votre autonomie.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL combines several autofocus systems. The primary is dual pixel PDAF across all three lenses, coupled with Tensor G5 AI for movement prediction and subject discrimination.

There is also a multi-zone Laser AF. In clear water, it helps lock quickly onto a moving subject. In turbid water (suspended particles, coastal surge), the laser can lock onto particles rather than the intended subject. In those conditions, switching to manual focus via MotionCam Pro is the right call.

Focus Peaking is available via MotionCam Pro, allowing you to confirm sharpness on stationary subjects (corals, sponges, resting nudibranchs) before triggering.

Technical details - Underwater AF Multi-directional dual pixel PDAF on all 3 lenses Tensor G5 AI: subject tracking, motion prediction Multi-zone Laser AF: useful in clear water, counterproductive in turbid water No LiDAR (iPhone Pro only) - LiDAR physically measures distance and resists suspended particles better Manual focus + Focus Peaking: available via MotionCam Pro Manual focus in native Pixel Camera: available, without Focus Peaking

For a ground-level explanation of why autofocus is more complex underwater than on land, our beginner's guide to underwater photography gear covers focus fundamentals in real conditions.

The Divevolk SeaTouch 4 Max (and Platinum version) is the announced compatible housing for the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Rated to 60 metres and giving full touchscreen access via the SeaTouch gel technology, it lets you navigate MotionCam Pro, switch between lenses and adjust settings without surfacing.

It is a flexible housing rather than a rigid one, which explains the 3.0/5 score on this criterion. Flexible housings absorb surface bumps better, but offer less precision than rigid button membranes for multi-step controls.

Technical details - Available housings Divevolk SeaTouch 4 Max: flexible, rated 60m, full touch gel, MotionCam Pro accessible Divevolk SeaTouch 4 Max Platinum: version with port for optional red/orange filter or macro wet lens No dedicated rigid housing for the Pixel 10 Pro XL at publication date (August 2025) Compatible Divevolk accessories: wet lenses, handles, trays, clip mounts

Our article on the iPhone + Divevolk experience in underwater photo and video gives a concrete picture of the SeaTouch workflow in the field, even if it covers iOS.

Field workflow for a 3-dive day:

A 45-minute dive in 4K 10-bit occupies 8 to 12GB. Three dives make 25 to 35GB. The 256GB model works for a short trip if you offload every evening. 512GB gives 4 to 5 days of buffer without a computer. 1TB is for long liveaboards or RAW video shooters.

Condensation: plan ahead for your destination:

Warm water (Maldives, Red Sea, Indonesia): low risk with silica gel packets in the housing. Temperate water (Mediterranean in season, Azores, Canaries): use an active anti-fog sachet. Cold water (below 15°C): proceed with caution and test in a heated pool before any open-water dive with the setup.

Specific watch points for the Pixel 10 Pro XL:

The 8K video mentioned in the specs is achieved via cloud-based upscaling, not a native 8K sensor. Without a network connection in the field, the actual native maximum is 4K@60fps, which is more than sufficient.

MotionCam Pro is available on Android (Google Play) but not on iOS. A clear advantage of the Pixel over the iPhone for this specific use case.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL scores 3.8/5 on our scale, and that is earned on the criteria that actually matter for serious underwater photography. The 12-bit DCG is a concrete leap forward. The f/1.7 main sensor paired with MotionCam Pro gives access to RAW video that would cost several thousand euros with a dedicated cinema system.

What keeps it from being the perfect phone for all waters is the thermal profile. Aluminium and a vapor chamber are a good thing for surface heat management, but they raise the condensation risk in cold water. If you mainly dive in the Mediterranean from April to October or in tropical zones, this is not a major issue. If you regularly dive in the North Atlantic or in cold water, you will need to be disciplined about air management inside the housing.

For a diver wanting one device capable of quality underwater photography, usable RAW video and natural ambient light rendition, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is in 2025 one of the two or three most relevant choices alongside the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Compared to the standard Google Pixel 10 Pro, the XL primarily brings a larger battery (5200 vs 4700 mAh) and a larger screen (6.8" vs 6.3"), which is appreciable for viewfinding underwater inside a housing. If battery life and screen legibility matter in your use case, the XL is worth the price difference.

Vous hésitez ? Utilisez notre comparateur de matériel photo plongée pour comparer cet appareil avec les autres modèles testés.

Pour aller plus loin sur la condensation et la surchauffe, lisez notre article dédié : Surchauffe et buée du smartphone dans un caisson sous-marin.

Having the right tool is one thing. Knowing what to do with it underwater is another. The formation AquaExposure starts from scratch and covers every aspect of natural light shooting: subject approach, reading available light, manual exposure, stabilisation, post-production workflow. Available for immediate access, at your own pace.