Google Pixel 10 to get an overhauled camera system, 10 Pro Fold sees minor changes

Leaked internal Google documents fully reveal the upcoming Google Pixel 10 lineup's camera hardware. According to the info shared by Android Authority obtained the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL will retain the exact same cameras as their predecessors, while the Pixel 10 will get a complete overhaul. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold, on the other hand, gets a minor upgrade.

Let's start with the more interesting changes. We've got some good news and some bad news. The vanilla Pixel 10 gets a dedicated telephoto camera, although we don't know the exact focal length. It uses an 11MP 1/3.0" Samsung JJ1 sensor, which is considerably smaller than the 1/2.55" sensor used in the two Pros.

Unfortunately, the added telephoto unit might have raised production cost, so to compensate for that, Google is replacing the main and the ultrawide cameras with inferior, considerably smaller sensors. The main Samsung GNV, 1/1.31" sensor from the Pixel 9 will be swapped out for a Samsung GN8, 1/1.95". The ultrawide 48MP Sony IMX858 1/2.55" will be replaced with a 13MP Sony IMX712, 1/3.1".

To be honest, this sounds like a way to boost sales solely by playing the specs game. Slapping a tiny telephoto camera won't be better than digitally cropping 2x or even 3x from a larger primary sensor, especially in low-light conditions. So, in a way, the Pixel 10 will basically be a Pixel 9a with a telephoto shooter.

As for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, it will get a new main camera, moving from the 64MP Sony IMX787 to 50MP Samsung GN8, also used in the Pixel 9a. Weirdly enough, that could also be a downgrade as it's a slightly smaller sensor.

It's perhaps too early to judge, and the supposedly upgraded ISP on the future Tensor G4 might introduce some magical AI-powered post-processing that would compensate. We will have to wait and see.

Source