Pixel 10 camera changes bring telephoto lens, but with compromises

The Pixel 10 camera changes are shaping up to be a mixed bag. While the big news is that Google’s adding a dedicated telephoto lens to the base Pixel 10, it looks like there’s a trade-off happening behind the scenes.

Leaks show Google is finally ditching its old strategy of saving telephoto cameras for the Pro models. But, according to documents seen by Android Authority, the base Pixel 10’s camera setup is getting cutbacks elsewhere. The main sensor is moving to Samsung’s GN8 — a smaller, less capable unit compared to the beefier GNV. The ultrawide lens is also a downgrade, switching to Sony’s IMX712 from the IMX858. Both sensors have already been used in the Pixel 9a.

In short: Pixel 10 gains reach with the new 11MP Samsung 3J1 telephoto lens (same as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold), but at the cost of general camera quality. Smaller sensors tend to struggle more in low-light, and while Google’s image processing can work magic, physics still wins.

The selfie camera, by the way, stays the same as last year’s Pixel 9.

Meanwhile, the Pixel 10 Pro models won’t see any hardware changes at all. Google is keeping things steady there, betting instead on the new Tensor G5 chip and its upgraded image signal processor to squeeze more life out of the familiar setup.

It feels like Google’s trying to widen the gap between its base and Pro models on purpose. Last year’s Pixel 8 lineup hinted at this, and the Pixel 10 camera changes only drive it home. Truthfully, the Pixel 10 looks like a Pixel 9a with an extra lens bolted on.

Adding that telephoto lens likely forced Google to downgrade other sensors to control costs and manage space. But honestly, it might not be worth it for everyone. If Google keeps the Pixel 10 at $799, it could be a tough sell over the cheaper Pixel 9a, especially for folks who care more about overall camera quality than zoom.

Either way, we won’t have to wait long. The Pixel 10 series is set to launch later this year.