Pixel 10 Pro Teardown and Transparent Mod: Google’s Most iPhone-Like Android Yet
When I first unboxed the Pixel 10 Pro, I wasn’t expecting it to feel this much like an iPhone. But Google’s new Pixel Snap feature really makes it stand out. It’s basically MagSafe for Pixel, and yes, it works with Apple’s accessories.
Naturally, I had to tear this phone apart to see how it works, test those magnets, and because Pixel phones look so clean inside, I went ahead and made it transparent too.
First Impressions
The box is small this year, but the phone itself is gorgeous. The sides feel a little plasticky, and Google still insists on keeping the temperature sensor. Not sure who’s using that, but it’s here. The back glass now has what Google calls a silky matte finish. Honestly, I couldn’t tell the difference, but the shiny Google logo does look nice.
Pixel Snap is the big addition. It’s Google’s take on MagSafe, complete with accessories like the $30 Pixel Snap ring stand.
When I tested it with magnet paper, I found not only the standard ring of magnets but also the extra alignment magnet used by iPhones to keep accessories like power banks in place. That was a pleasant surprise.
Charging speeds are decent. The Pixel 10 Pro charges wirelessly at 15W with Qi2 support, while the Pixel XL does 25W. Apple MagSafe accessories work too, which is great news.
Cracking It Open
After heating up the screen, I popped it off to reveal a massive copper heat sink, the front sensors, and a 42MP selfie camera. The EU actually rated this phone an A for durability and a B for repairability. Compared to the nightmare that is a Z Fold teardown, this is already looking promising.
Next up was the back glass. Using a jig, I carefully slid through the adhesive and got a look at what makes Pixel Snap work. The magnets sit neatly around the wireless charging coil, and the layout is much more polished than I expected. The NFC coil connects directly down to the motherboard with a single flex, which is a clean design move.
Making It Transparent
This is where things got tricky. To make the back glass transparent, I had to peel off the graphite sheet, disconnect the camera bump cables, and scrape off adhesive around the charging coil. Not an easy job. I even removed the NFC coil to show off more of the internals. For the clear look, I used UV curable OCA glue, the same adhesive used in screen refurbishing, to reattach the glass.
The result is a clean transparent mod that shows off the magnets and charging coil beautifully but I’m gonna save the grand reveal to the end because we still got some tearing down to do.
Diving Deeper Inside
The teardown continued with the loudspeaker, vibration motor, and charging port. The loudspeaker was chunky, and Google amusingly calls the smaller board the “chin board” in their repair guide. The USB-C port here supports USB 3.2 speeds.
Then came the battery. Google finally ditched their terrible shimmy-style pull tabs and replaced them with a single green pull tab. It was tough, but it worked, and the 4870 mAh battery came out in one piece. The downside is that after 200 cycles, charging speed and capacity will drop due to Google’s new Battery Health Assistant. Safety first, but at the cost of performance.
For cameras, we’ve got a 50MP main with improved stabilization, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 48MP 5x telephoto that can zoom up to 100x digitally. Solid setup.
While working around the screws on the mother board I also removed the SIM tray, which interestingly has the IMEI printed directly on it. That is a nice touch if you ever need the number while the phone is dead.
Next, I pulled the motherboard. Google stacked parts in a new way, with some chips layered differently than I’ve seen before. The Tensor G5 chip gets its own sticker, and thermal paste is everywhere to keep it cool.
Underneath, the motherboard revealed several small sensors and connectors, including the temperature sensor, microphones, antenna connectors, and flex cables. The ambient light and proximity sensors are up near the front camera assembly, and once the board was pulled, it became clear how Google routed everything cleanly with stacked boards and pull tabs to help with removal. Once you know the layout, though, replacing parts is straightforward and parts are already available from Google.
The Transparent Reveal
After putting everything back together, the phone booted up perfectly. And the transparent mod? It looks amazing. You can see the Pixel Snap magnets, the charging coil, and plenty of internals that really give the Pixel 10 Pro a unique style.
Repairability wise, Google impressed me. Components came out without breaking, and parts and manuals are already available to the public. Compared to other flagships, that’s a big win.
Final Thoughts
The Pixel 10 Pro feels more like an iPhone than ever, both inside and out. Between Pixel Snap magnets, improved repairability, and a clean internal design, Google is finally taking hardware seriously. And with the transparent mod, it looks even better.
So, if Google wants us to think of this phone as the Android version of the iPhone, they nailed it. Magnets might pull accessories together, but it looks like this Pixel pulled me in too.
See you in the next article.
