Konami surprised fans with the announcement of a Metal Gear Solid 3 remake in 2023. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a dream for longtime players, though others may see only a classic dressed up with beautiful graphics.

Metal Gear Solid Delta remakes the 2004 classic Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater with updated visuals, modern controls and some extra content, but it’s not a full revamp. From start to finish, it plays just like the original MGS3, with a graphical overhaul and a few minor script tweaks. For longtime fans or newcomers, that’s more than enough to make it a great remake.

Naked Snake has some new skin

As this is a remake of MGS3, the most obvious change comes with the graphical overhaul for today’s game platforms. Metal Gear Solid Delta uses Unreal Engine 5, so the character models look amazing. The remake also has modern controls and includes first-person or over-the-shoulder views, as opposed to only the latter in the original.

There are also some «quality of life» changes, such as frequent auto-saves and quicker menu access. Playing through the game, there wasn’t a moment when I felt that I was stuck with the aged mechanics, controls or graphics from yesteryear — it felt modern through and through.

Aside from these updates, Metal Gear Solid Delta sticks to the same espionage story of Naked Snake — the future Foxhound leader later known as Big Boss — on a 1964 mission set at the height of the Cold War. The events that play out in this game lay the groundwork for the entire Metal Gear franchise, so it’s a fitting entry point for newcomers.

The end is just the beginning

Where Metal Gear Solid Delta really shines is after you beat the game, which is why hardcore fans will get more out of it than casual players. A second playthrough unlocks new camos, face paints and weapons — plus a bounty of fun (and often weird) extras.

One of the most interesting extras is the Secret Theater. In this unlockable mode, players can view 18 different cutscenes. I didn’t manage to unlock them all, but the first shows Snake meeting Nikolai Sokolov, the scientist behind the Shagohad tank — the dangerous MacGuffin players chase through most of the game — as he tries to get him out of Russia. For some unexplained reason, in this cutscene Sokolov suddenly wields a strange power that he unleashes on a Cobra Unit helicopter.

Don’t get it twisted: This isn’t new lore or unused game footage. Rather, it looks like the developers just made some new animations with the characters. There’s not even additional voice acting in this particular cutscene, just remixed dialogue from other scenes. And the preview images for the other clips suggest some scenes are meant to give players a chuckle.

To unlock more scenes, players will have to obtain film reels carried by soldiers scattered throughout the game. However, players can only obtain these reels in one specific way: by holding up a soldier with a gun — not by putting them to sleep, knocking them out or killing them. Some Secret Theater cutscenes require tracking down a specific soldier at a certain spot on the map and getting the reel from them to unlock. This is really for hardcore fans, since finding them all adds an extra challenge for the truly devoted.

Another interesting unlockable is Guy Savage Delta. In the 2001 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Snake has a nightmare that turns into a hack-and-slash minigame referred to as Guy Savage. This new version puts players in control of a vampire hunter, battling waves of monsters and vampires in a fast-paced action style reminiscent of Devil May Cry, though without quite as much depth. I didn’t get much time with this mode, so there may be unlockables for those who stick with it. Another returning bonus is Snake vs. Monkey on the PS5 and PC versions (a bizarre extra from the original MGS3), while Xbox players get Snake vs. Bomberman. Both serve as fun distractions that also unlock more equipment.

Beyond those modes, players can also unlock the Demo Theater, which replays cutscenes and highlights any missed due to in-game choices. The camo collection lets you track what gear you’ve unlocked (and what’s still missing), while the food collection catalogs every animal and item Snake has eaten. There’s also a Character Viewer that provides a brief history of each character across different points in the game — complete with nods to other entries in the series, including 2015’s Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.

While I wished Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater could have received the same full revamp of the graphics and story as the Silent Hill 2 Remake, I can’t find any real flaw in Konami’s execution of remaking the original MGS3 virtually shot for shot. The game looks fantastic, runs smoothly and offers plenty to do after the credits roll — all while being a remake of arguably the best entry in the series. Fans are going to love it. If you’ve never played MGS3 and are curious, this remake is a must. But if that doesn’t describe you, it’s not an immediate pick-up.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will be released on Aug. 28 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. Buying the Deluxe Edition of the game will unlock early access to the game starting on Aug. 26 at 12 a.m. ET.

When Samsung debuted the Galaxy Z Fold 7 last month, the spotlight was on how thin and light that foldable phone is. On Wednesday, Google took a different approach when unveiling the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, focusing more on internal upgrades like a larger 5,015-mAh battery and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance — a major step in the world of foldables — while sticking roughly with the design of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. 

Both Samsung’s and Google’s updates are designed to make foldable phones feel as «normal» as possible. In an ideal world, foldables would be the full package: slim, tough and powered by a big battery. But in the real world, where these niche devices are still finding their footing, you still have to choose between sleekness and durability. And Google is betting you’ll pick the latter.

«The foldable market has matured to the point where one-[size]-fits-all does not apply anymore,» said Francisco Jeronimo, vice president of devices at IDC. «Some users will value a device that feels as sleek, light and portable as a traditional flagship phone.» That’s where the 215-gram Galaxy Z Fold 7 comes in, which is just 4.2mm thick when open and 8.9mm when closed. 

«Some other users will prioritize function, reliability and peace of mind over aesthetics,» Jeronimo continued. «The Pixel 10 Pro Fold addresses the top concerns that have historically held consumers back: durability and battery life. Its IP68 rating — a first for this type of foldable — offers a level of confidence for anyone who is less careful using the phone in environments more prone to damage. This user is willing to accept a heavier device in exchange for a more resilient one.»

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. My preference, of course, would be to have it all, but we’re just not there yet. 

A different approach to standing out

If you’re spending a lot of money on a phone, you want to make sure it ticks all the key boxes. And foldable phones are far from cheap. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at a whopping $2,000 ($100 more than last year’s Z Fold), while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold maintains its $1,799 price tag from last year (still not pocket change). 

Phone manufacturers have to set their offerings apart to lure your precious dollars. Loading a bunch of AI features, which both Samsung and Google do, is only half the battle. The main appeal of a foldable, after all, is the innovative design. Finding ways to make that design more practical can be a huge selling point, hence Samsung’s and Google’s (varied) efforts. 

Samsung slimming down its Z Fold 7 helps it feel like a standard slate phone when closed, at 8.9mm thick and just 4.2mm when open, weighing 215g. The 200-megapixel main camera adds to the premium feel and puts it on par with the top-of-the-line S25 Ultra. But there is a major trade-off: the Fold 7’s battery is a meager 4,400mAh. Plus, it has an IP48 rating, meaning it’s only protected against solid objects larger than 1mm — not smaller granules like finer sand. 

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold solves for those battery and IP shortcomings, but with the trade-off of strongly resembling last year’s model rather than slimming down. It’s 1 gram heavier than the 9 Pro Fold, clocking in at 258g. The 10 Pro Fold is 10.8mm thick when closed and 5.2mm thick when open. For those who would rather opt for day-to-day longevity and sturdiness, it’s not too bad an exchange. But it does admittedly feel like less of a flex, once you’ve seen and held a thinner phone like the Z Fold 7. 

There is one key area where I feel like Google isn’t quite living up to the «Pro» name in its Pixel 10 Pro Fold: the cameras. I have yet to test the phone’s cameras, but at least on paper, the Fold’s specs are a step down from what you’ll get on the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL. 

The 10 Pro Fold has a 48-megapixel wide-angle (like the much cheaper Pixel 9A), 10.5-megapixel ultrawide and 10.8-megapixel telephoto camera, while the non-folding Pro models have a 50-megapixel wide-angle, 48-megapixel ultrawide and 48-megapixel telephoto camera. The Fold also lacks the impressive Pro Res Zoom feature that uses generative AI to snap sharper images at up to 100x zoom, sticking with the Super Res Zoom that delivers acceptable images at 20x zoom. 

I may be spoiled by Samsung’s loading of its top-end camera onto its thin foldable, but I feel like Google could have also pushed to add those truly Pro specs to the Fold, especially since they had more room to play with. But again, you can’t have it all. 

A growing niche

A CNET survey from July found that 64% of people aren’t interested in buying a foldable smartphone in the next year, but a notable 13% said they were keen to make that leap. As foldables become sleeker, more powerful and more durable, it’s likely that a growing number of people will consider them when purchasing their next smartphone. 

«The hardware and software advancements in the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 7, as well as other devices such as the Honor Magic V5, signal that the foldable category is rapidly maturing and knocking down the barriers that have prevented mainstream adoption,» Jeronimo said.

IDC predicts the foldable market will grow 6% year over year in 2025 (compared with 3.9% in 2024). In 2027, it could jump to 11% year-over-year growth. 

«The stronger performance will be driven by stronger demand for foldable devices overall, Apple’s potential launch of a foldable iPhone and more models at lower price points from Samsung, Huawei, Motorola and other Chinese brands,» Jeronimo said. «Nevertheless, we expect foldables to continue representing less than 3% of total sales by 2029.»

And as competition inevitably ramps up, so, too, will innovation. And maybe someday, you won’t have to choose what to prioritize. 

I’m accustomed to testing new phones, but when the opportunity came up to get an advance look at the Google Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL in Paris, I leaped at the chance. I’ve been using the new features and extensively trying the 10 Pro XL’s camera, and so far, I’m pleased with what I’m seeing.

If you’re expecting a totally new generation of Google Pixel devices with the 10 Pro, you may be disappointed. The Pixel 10 Pro is an evolution of its predecessor rather than a complete overhaul. And that’s fine. 

Read more: Everything Announced at Made by Google 2025

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro impressed me when it launched last year, and it certainly doesn’t require a radical transformation just one generation later. The newest Pixel model keeps the 9 Pro’s slick design and awesome camera system, while the latest Android 16 software brings a host of new updates. There’s also the new Tensor G5 processor, which Google says is faster and more power-efficient than the G4 chip found in last year’s model. 

Yes, some of the Pixel 10 Pro’s new features are based around various new AI tools. The camera, in particular, increasingly incorporates AI into the way you take pictures. Whether that’s good or bad is up to you to decide. At least that triple rear camera array can take stunning images, as I found out.

The Pixel 10 Pro with 128GB of storage costs $999 (£999, AU$1,699), while the 10 Pro XL starts at $1,199 (£1,199, AU$1,999)  with 256GB of storage. Both go on sale on Aug. 28, but you can preorder them now. While it might seem that the XL’s starting price is $100 higher than last year’s model, Google eliminated the lower 128GB storage option. While you’re paying more for the bigger screen, you’re also getting double the storage.

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Google 10 Pro vs. 10 Pro XL: What’s the difference?

To be honest, there’s very little difference between the 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL. They look almost identical, except for the XL model being slightly bigger. The XL model incorporates a 6.8-inch display into its larger frame, giving a bit more space to play games or watch videos than the standard 6.3-inch 10 Pro. The extra size also allows for a marginally heftier battery (5,200 mAh versus 4,870 mAh), while the XL also offers slightly faster 45-watt wired charging. 

Otherwise, the core specs are basically the same. Both models share the same Tensor G5 chip and have 16GB of RAM. The camera hardware on the back and front is identical. The choice between the two comes down to whether you prefer big-screen phones for more immersive gaming or something more pocket-friendly.

Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL cameras: Solid performance with AI additions

Both Pro models use the same rear camera setup, which includes a 50-megapixel main camera with an f/1.68 aperture, a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. While I haven’t put the cameras through a full suite of tests, I took hundreds of photos with the 10 Pro XL in Paris, and I was impressed. 

Photos from the main camera are bright, pin-sharp and vibrant. Exposure is handled extremely well, with bright skies kept under control and shadow detail clearly visible. Sometimes, images can look a little bit too HDR with unnaturally lightened shadows, but this is par for the course for most phone cameras, and I’ve certainly seen worse. 

The ultrawide camera performs similarly well, with little to no color shift when swapping between lenses, which is good to see. 

The 5x optical zoom remains an ideal sweet spot in terms of focal length, giving just enough zoom to help you find more creative compositions in whatever scene you’re facing. Images are sharp and share the same spot-on handling of color and exposure as the main lens. If 5x zoom isn’t enough for you, the Pixel lets you take things much further. 

You can digitally zoom in to 10x, with the resulting image simply being slightly upscaled by the phone’s software. Shots look great at this length, and continue to look decent up to 30x. Beyond this point, though, the AI takes over (Google calls it ProRes Zoom) and goes beyond simply upscaling the details. ProRes Zoom actually uses generative AI to try to recreate what it thinks should be in the scene.

I took a variety of photos at 100x zoom, and the difference between the original image and the AI version is significant. Most of the time, it actually worked quite well, especially when I was just taking zoomed-in shots overlooking Paris, as the ProRes Zoom is optimized for static subjects like buildings and landscapes.

I was a bit amused when I took a 100x shot of a plane going overhead. The AI recomposed it into an odd sort of bundle of sticks. However, I’m glad it didn’t identify my blurry shot as a plane and simply superimpose a picture of a Boeing 737 over the top. 

That does bring up an important question: if the phone is using generative AI to recreate details in a scene, is it really a photo that you’re taking? Google is certainly trying to get ahead of some of the moral issues here in that it says this AI tool will not be applied to faces «to prevent inaccurate representations.» 

The ProRes Zoom isn’t the only place you’ll find AI in the camera, either. Camera Coach uses AI to analyze the scene in front of you and give you a series of guided prompts on how to take a better photo. If you’re taking a portrait, for example, it may suggest putting more of the person in the frame. I used it a few times on my photo walk through Paris, and I can see it being a fun tool for photography newbies to play around with. Still, it felt a bit slow and clunky to be of much use in a quicker photography scenario. Time will tell if Camera Coach becomes a genuinely useful resource for improving photography or not. 

There’s also the Auto Best Take feature, which automatically merges together the best shots of faces in a group to ensure none of your friends have their eyes closed or are squinting. Best Take was introduced on the Pixel 8 phones and required some manual work, whereas the new version does most of the work for you. 

Now, you can also use AI to edit your photos via text prompts like «erase the crowds» or «fix the lighting.» It remains to be seen how it handles my prompt to «make me look ten years younger, slimmer, more handsome and wealthy, and also put cats everywhere.»

Google 10 Pro: Design and display

Though the Pixel 10 Pro’s design hasn’t changed much since the Pixel 9 Pro, that’s fine. The 9 Pro was a great-looking phone with a really slick feel, and these phones don’t need to be revolutionized every single year. Google knew it had a good thing, so it’s sticking with it for another generation at least. 

The polished metal edges, frosted glass back and isolated camera bar continue to look and feel satisfyingly premium. The IP68 rating will help keep it safe from accidentally spilled drinks. The back of the phone is now magnetic, allowing its use with wireless chargers or other magnetic accessories. Google calls this Pixel Snap, but it’s basically the same as Apple’s MagSafe on the iPhone. It should be compatible with MagSafe and other Qi2-supported products. 

The 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL’s displays can now reach 3,300 nits peak brightness, and both looked bright and sharp during my hands-on time. While I only got to use the 10 Pro indoors, the XL’s display was more than bright enough to let me take pictures under the shining midday Paris sun. 

Google 10 Pro: Android 16 and AI tools

The phones will launch with the latest Android 16, featuring various upgrades. Chief among these is the new Material 3 Expressive interface, with changes to animations, texts, icons, menu layout and other elements to give a more refined, easier-to-use experience. 

I already like the Pixel 9 Pro’s stock Android look. As a result, I find the model extremely easy to use, and I’m excited by what I’ve seen of Android 16 so far. It’s not a total overhaul, but it looks like there are a lot of subtle improvements to help make Android feel a bit more usable in everyday life. I’m looking forward to spending more time with it when I get the phone for the full review. 

AI is, unsurprisingly, a major part of the Pixel 10 Pro line, with various new AI tools being introduced. Magic Cue, for example, aims to automatically surface relevant information when you need it. Say you’re texting a friend and they ask for details about the camping trip you have coming up. Magic Cue will see this request and can pull up relevant information from Gmail, such as confirmation messages for the campsite and details you two have discussed. It can share that without making you switch apps to find it yourself. 

Calling an airline to alter a booking? Magic Cue will recognize the phone number and automatically pull up your flight details so you have them ready. It certainly sounds like a helpful tool, though I do wonder exactly how useful it will be. Magic Cue only pulls info from certain Google apps (Gmail, Messages, Calendar and your screenshots), but not from third-party apps like WhatsApp or Instagram. So if you tend to mostly chat outside of Google services, its use might be more limited. As always, I’m excited to delve deeper when I get the phone in my hand. 

There’s a host of other new AI tools including a real-time voice translation tool when you’re making phone calls. Existing tools like Gemini Advanced, Circle to Search and Pixel Studio (the generative-AI image maker) are also on board as standard. 

The base Pixel 10, 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL all run the new Tensor G5 chip, but the two Pro models also get 16GB of RAM for some extra multitasking prowess, compared to 8GB on the standard Pixel 10. How this silicon performs on our suite of benchmark tests — as well as for gaming and other demanding uses — remains to be seen. Google has made various boasts of the G5 chip’s significant power increase, both in the CPU and GPU. 

According to Google, all new Pixel 10 models will receive seven years of software and security updates. That means these phones will be safe to use until at least 2032, as long as you look after them properly. 

Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL: Battery and Qi2 charging

Each phone should provide at least a full day of battery life. You might expect a bit more longevity from the larger battery of the XL model, but bear in mind that it also has a bigger, brighter display to power, which will suck away more of the juice over the course of the day. 

Battery life on the 9 Pro was basically average, and to be honest, that’s fine if that’s the case again. As long as I can make it into the evening without desperately hunting for a charger to see me to bedtime, I’m happy. Almost all phones demand a full recharge every night, and I don’t expect that to change here.

What is different, though, is the implementation of Qi2 technology, the latest version of the wireless charging standard that promises faster charging times when used with a compatible charger (up to 25 watts). Wired charging is faster, too, with the 10 Pro supporting 30-watt charging and the 10 Pro XL taking that further to 45 watts. Google says the XL model will go from empty to 70% full in around 30 minutes, which will certainly come in handy if you’re running low on power when getting ready for a big night out. 

Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL: Are they worth buying?

The new Pixel 10 Pro series isn’t a big overhaul from the last generation, so those of you with a Pixel 9 Pro don’t need to consider upgrading. Probably ditto for anyone with the Pixel 8 Pro. 

If, however, you have a much older Pixel model or other Android phone — or if you’re looking for a change from Apple — you should consider Google’s new phones.

The design of the Pixel 10 Pro series remains slick. The cameras performed well in our early tests, and the new AI-based tools like Magic Cue appear to be genuinely useful. Throw in the faster charging speeds, long software support and promised upgrades to the overall performance, and the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL are shaping up to be superb flagship Android phones.