The new Pixel 10 Pro has been announced and is now available for pre-order. I’m genuinely excited about the new features, but upgrading your smartphone can be a real headache. Should you hold onto your current phone for another year, or is it time for the new model? I was struggling with this decision for my Pixel 8 Pro, so I used simple math to figure it out. I’m sharing my cost breakdown to help you make your own decision.

This guide walks you through my method for calculating the real costs, including trade-in values and subscription benefits. I’ll show you why I decided to upgrade after two years instead of three, and how you can apply this approach to your own situation.

Factoring in Your Phone’s Trade-In Value

When thinking about upgrading, you need to consider what your current phone would be worth if you trade it in for a new one.

My Pixel 8 Pro is now 2 years old with the release of the new Pixel 10 Pro. I used the official trade-in prices from the Google Store to estimate what my current phone and future phones would be worth:

Current Pixel Model	Trade-In Value (£)	Phone Age
Pixel 9 Pro	653	1 year
Pixel 8 Pro	518	2 years
Pixel 7 Pro	402	3 years
Pixel 6 Pro	358	4 years
Pixel 5	316	5 years

For my calculations, I assumed my 2-year-old Pixel 8 Pro would trade in for £518. If I were to wait until next year, I assumed it would trade in for roughly £402, the value of a 3-year-old Pixel. As you can see, the trade-in value drops significantly, which is a key factor in the overall cost.

Note: The current trade-in values include a £250 bonus (offer ends 11th September). Google provides trade-in promotion bonuses for Pixel phones during new device launches and around major shopping events like Black Friday and other holiday periods, so timing your upgrade around these promotions can significantly reduce your upgrade costs.

It’s important to note that these figures are assumptions based on historical data; actual future trade-in values may vary.

The Real Value of Your Included AI Pro Subscription

The new Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL models both come with a full 12-month subscription to Google AI Pro, a key part of my calculation.

• I currently use 2 TB of Google One storage (which costs £80 per year), and this is included in AI Pro.
• I think £18.99 per month is quite expensive and I may not use AI Pro at full price, but I’m willing to pay for it if it’s about 30% off the full list price.
• AI Pro costs £18.99 per month (Google’s current UK pricing), so at 70% of full price: £18.99 × 12 × 0.7 = £159.51 per year.
• I round this to £160 per year for my calculations.
• I spread this value over the upgrade cycle to get an annual benefit for the calculation.

Why Some Benefits Are Ignored

• The Pixel 10 Pro also gives £100 Google Store credit (as advertised in current Google promotions), but that’s likely spent on accessories like a new case or charger.
• Since I wouldn’t buy those accessories if I didn’t upgrade, I ignore this credit in my calculations.

What It Really Costs Per Year

The average annual cost is the total money I effectively spend per year on the phone, including trade-in and AI Pro value:

Years	Current Phone	Net Cost After Trade-In (£)	AI Pro Value Per Year (£)	Total Annual Cost (£)
1	Pixel 9 Pro	446	160	286
2	Pixel 8 Pro	581	80	210.5
3	Pixel 7 Pro	697	53.33	179
4	Pixel 6 Pro	741	40	145.25
5	Pixel 5	783	32	124.6

Net Cost After Trade-In = £1,099 − expected trade-in value
AI Pro spread per year = £160 ÷ upgrade cycle in years

The Extra Cost of Upgrading Sooner

To find the extra cost, I compared the annual cost of each upgrade cycle to the one that is one year longer. This shows how much extra per year you pay if you upgrade sooner rather than waiting:

Years	Annual Cost (£)	Extra Cost vs Waiting 1 Year
1	286	36% more per year
2	210.5	18% more per year
3	179	23% more per year
4	145.25	17% more per year
5	124.6	—

For example, upgrading after 2 years instead of 3 years costs about 18% more per year.

How Different Benefit Valuations Affect the Cost

The 18% figure above is based on my personal valuation of AI Pro at 70% of full price. Here’s how the extra cost changes with different benefit valuations:

AI Pro Valuation	£100 Credit Ignored	£100 Credit Included
Full price (£228/year)	13% more per year	3% more per year
My 70% value (£160/year)	18% more per year	10% more per year
Ignored (£0/year)	25% more per year	21% more per year

This shows how significantly your personal valuation of the included benefits affects the upgrade economics. The difference between the most optimistic (3%) and most conservative (25%) scenarios is substantial.

My Decision

After looking at the numbers, I realised I was comfortable paying the extra 18% per year for a 2-year upgrade cycle. For me, the new features in the Pixel 10 Pro were a big part of that decision. The new Tensor G5 chip, the smarter AI features like Magic Cue, the improved camera, and Pixelsnap are things I’ll use every day. To me, that’s worth the extra annual cost compared to waiting another year. That’s why I’m upgrading my Pixel 8 Pro to Pixel 10 Pro a year earlier than waiting for a 3-year cycle.

This approach helps you see the real extra cost of upgrading sooner, so you can make your own decision based on your priorities and how much you value the latest features.

Key Takeaways

• Calculate how much extra per year you pay for upgrading sooner vs later.
• Include trade-in value and subscription benefits in your math.
• Ignore perks like store credit if they’re only for accessories you’d buy anyway.
• This approach can help you make more informed upgrade decisions.

With the Pixel 10 Pro now available for pre-order and on sale 28th August, you can run your own numbers to decide if the upgrade is worth the extra annual cost.

How much is that extra year of new features and faster performance worth to you?