Pixel 10 Camera Leak Reveal Questionable Downgrades..
Pixel 10 With Telephoto?
When the renders for the Google Pixel 10 Series of phones first leaked there was one detail that stood out above the rest. The base model Pixel 10 quite clearly featured a periscope telephoto camera which it had never had in the past. That telephoto camera had always been one of the primary ways Google differentiated the base model from the Pro and Pro XL models.
Because of this, there was a ton of speculation. How would Google differentiate the Base from the Pro now? Would the Pixel 10’s telephoto be a downgraded version? If so, how bad will it be? Now, thanks to Android Authority, we seem to have answers to these questions.
Pixel 10
50MP Samsung GN8 1/1.95” Primary
13MP Sony IMX712 1/3.1” Ultrawide
11MP Samsung 3J1 1/3” Telephoto
11MP Samsung 3J1 1/3” Selfie
Pixel 10 Pro/XL
50MP Samsung GNV 1/1.31” Primary
48MP Sony IMX858 1/2.55” Ultrawide
48MP Sony IMX858 1/2.55” Telephoto
48MP Sony IMX858 1/2.55 Selfie
What we can now see by looking at this list of specifications is that while the base model is now picking up a telephoto camera the entire set of cameras is being downgraded below the level of the pro and Pro XL models. The new primary sensor is still from Samsung, but it’s quite a bit smaller than the Pro models and even from the Pixel 9. The story remains the same for the ultrawide which takes a massive hit in resolution vs the Pixel 9 while also getting smaller.
For that telephoto, it looks like my speculation was accurate as it is indeed the very same sensor used in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Pixel 10 Pro Fold
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is also set to see a minor change this year, swapping out the IMX787 for the Samsung GN8. The same swap is apparently happening with the a-series, so this makes sense. Focusing on tuning for as few sensors as possible is usually smart. Some listings have the IMX787 in the 9 Pro Fold pegged at 1/2.0” and some have it at 1/1.7”. According to Android Authority, the new sensor is 1/1.95”, but cropping might be taking place on both. My assumption would be that quality will remain very similar. Here are the full specs.
50MP Samsung GN8 1/1.95” Primary
12MP Samsung 3J1 1/3.2” Ultrawide
12MP Samsung 3J1 1/3.2” Telephoto
11MP Samsung 3K1 1/3,94” Inner Selfie
11MP Samsung 3K1 1/3,94” Outer Selfie
Is This Bad?
While we are looking at these camera specifications it is important to keep in mind that camera quality is a combination of hardware quality and also software processing. Many assumed that with downgrades to the camera hardware from pixel fold to pixel 9 pro fold that the camera quality might take a step back but in reality things improved fairly noticeably. That would be my most charitable interpretation here. Expect that the pixel 10 pro fold will be just fine in terms of camera quality, but I must admit I am a little bit concerned about the Pixel 10.
Sure, it’ll be nice to have a Telephoto on that base model, but is it worth adding it at the sacrifice of your primary and ultrawide? The Pixel 10 will basically be the Pixel 9a with the Telephoto from the Fold. At $799, Google is going to need to do a lot to justify anyone spending another $300 to upgrade from the Pixel 9a… A halfway decent telephoto just isn’t going to be nearly enough. I would assume that software features will be their play and it remains to be seen how effective that will be.