The Pixel 10 Camera Leak Has Me Excited (And Slightly Concerned)

I ever get a small spark of joyousness each clip a caller Pixel leak drops. There’s thing peculiar astir Google’s attack to smartphones: cleanable Android, choky integration of AI features, and camera wizardry that often punches supra its value class. So naturally, erstwhile we got our archetypal due look astatine the renders of the Pixel 10 past month, I was instantly intrigued.

What stood retired astir wasn’t the plan oregon specs. It was the other camera sensor connected the backmost of the basal Pixel 10. Yes, finally, a vanilla Pixel exemplary with a telephoto lens. That was capable to get the instrumentality successful maine buzzing. For years, Google kept telephoto reserved for the Pro models. This time, it looked similar they were bringing much of the Pro acquisition to their modular phone.

At that point, we didn’t cognize overmuch astir the nonstop camera specs. But now, acknowledgment to Android Authority’s latest leak, we do. And portion the Pixel 10’s camera setup is surely different, it’s rather a mixed bag.

Telephoto Finally Comes to the Base Pixel, But astatine a Price

Let’s commencement with the bully news. The Pixel 10 is getting a dedicated telephoto lens, thing ne'er seen earlier connected a basal Pixel. That’s a large woody for anyone who loves zoom photography oregon conscionable wants much framing flexibility. It besides suggests that Google is rethinking however it differentiates its regular and Pro devices.

The telephoto sensor successful question is the 11MP Samsung 3J1, the aforesaid 1 utilized successful the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. It’s a susceptible mid-tier lens with decent clarity and autofocus packed into a compact size. But it’s not flagship-level zoom similar the 48MP portion successful the Pro models. So you're getting zoom, conscionable not the champion imaginable zoom.

Still, it’s large to spot Google pushing boundaries with its basal hardware. The occupation is, this caller summation mightiness beryllium coming astatine the outgo of thing much important.

A Tradeoff That Doesn’t Feel Right

While we’re gaining a caller zoom lens, we’re losing prime elsewhere. The main sensor connected the Pixel 10 is reportedly the Samsung GN8, which is simply a measurement down from the larger GNV utilized successful the Pixel 9. The ultrawide camera is besides being downgraded from a elaborate 48MP Sony IMX858 to a much humble 13MP Sony IMX712. If these names dependable familiar, it’s due to the fact that they’re the aforesaid sensors recovered successful the Pixel 9a, Google’s fund model.

That’s not the benignant of compromise you expect from a flagship-tier successor.

And the selfie camera? That’s changing, too. Instead of the acquainted 13MP Sony IMX712 utilized connected caller Pixels, the Pixel 10 is switching to the 11MP Samsung 3J1 — the aforesaid sensor arsenic its caller telephoto. This apt improves autofocus, which is nice, but it inactive sacrifices earthy resolution.

To beryllium fair, terms rumors suggest the Pixel 10 volition instrumentality to the $799 motorboat terms of its predecessor. If that’s true, it’s apt that Google made these hardware trade-offs to accommodate the caller telephoto lens without creeping up the cost.

That’s a astute determination from a concern perspective, adjacent if the downgrade stings for radical similar maine who attraction much astir the main and ultrawide quality.

Personal Take: I Use Main and Ultrawide More Than Zoom

Here’s the thing. I presently usage a Pixel 8, which has the aforesaid GN8 sensor present rumored for the Pixel 10. It delivers coagulated results with bully colour reproduction, decent low-light performance, and sharpness that holds up successful mundane shots.

But I’ve utilized the Pixel 9, and the quality is obvious, particularly successful the ultrawide department. That 48MP sensor connected the Pixel 9 captures much detail, richer textures, and conscionable much extent overall. It’s particularly noticeable erstwhile you sprout landscapes oregon radical shots wherever corner-to-corner clarity matters.

And erstwhile it comes to zoom? I don’t usage it much. It’s not that I dislike it, but for my regular photography, the main and ultrawide cameras bash astir of the work. Whether it’s thoroughfare shots, nutrient photos, oregon wide-angle question pics, those are the lenses I trust on. The deficiency of telephoto successful my Pixel 8 hasn’t been a dealbreaker astatine all.

So, portion I emotion the thought of a basal Pixel with 3 cameras, I’m not convinced it’s worthy sacrificing the 2 lenses I really usage the most.

Google’s Computational Magic Has Limits

Google’s spot has ever been successful software. Its computational photography is world-class. The Pixel 3 took unthinkable shots with conscionable 1 camera. The Pixel 6 and 7 bid routinely outperformed much costly phones successful definite scenarios, acknowledgment to Google’s HDR processing, Night Sight, and Super Res Zoom.

But there’s lone truthful overmuch you tin bash erstwhile the hardware steps back. Smaller sensors fto successful little light, nutrient much sound successful debased light, and bounds dynamic range. No magnitude of clever processing tin wholly undo those carnal limitations.

Yes, the upcoming Tensor G5 is expected to bring smarter AI and a customized representation awesome processor, which could assistance compression much retired of these sensors. But lately, it feels similar Google is leaning much connected bundle to transportation hardware that’s not keeping pace. That whitethorn enactment for a while, but it’s not a semipermanent solution.

Bottom Line

We conscionable gotta hold and watch. If the bundle pulls through, possibly we won’t miss the larger sensors. But until I spot existent photograph samples, I’m holding disconnected connected immoderate upgrade plans.