This Pixel 10 Pro Camera Feature Sets A High Bar For The Iphone 17 Pro To Beat

2 weeks ago

EMBARGO - Google Pixel 10 Telephoto Camera

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The Google Pixel 10's caller Pro Res Zoom uses AI to make 100X zoom photos a batch much useable.
Early comparison shots pinch nan Galaxy S25 Ultra person nan Google telephone ahead.
The shot is successful Apple's tribunal to present a long-distance zoom connected nan iPhone 17 Pro that's conscionable arsenic competitive.

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I emotion zoom photography, and I'm thrilled to spot Google utilizing AI to elevate zoom photography connected smartphones successful nan caller Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL.

I return a ton of photos connected smartphones -- complete 100,000 shots connected iPhone and Android -- and complete nan years, a batch of them person go difficult to show isolated from nan master photos I sprout connected Sony mirrorless cameras. But nan telephone shots that still don't rather measurement up -- and wherever I still usually person to return retired a large camera -- are nan long-distance zoom shots.

With nan caller Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, Google is upgrading its Pro Res Zoom to seizure overmuch greater item by utilizing a operation of nan caller Tensor G5 spot and what Google calls its "largest AI exemplary ever utilized connected a Pixel Camera."

Also: Everything announced astatine Made by Google 2025: Pixel 10 Pro, Fold, Watch 4, and more

This is an outstanding usage of generative AI. Google characterizes it arsenic an "all-new generative imaging exemplary to intelligently retrieve and refine intricate details" and claims that it tin capable successful a batch of specifications successful zoom shots up to 100x.

If this works, it would beryllium a awesome measurement guardant for zoom captures connected phones. And nan early indications are that it's beautiful good. ZDNET's Kerry Wan has already had nan chance to test nan Pixel 10 Pro a small bit, and beneath is simply a comparison he did of nan caller Pixel 10 Pro zoom versus nan Samsung Galaxy 25 Ultra zoom astatine nan aforesaid distance. The Pixel type is overmuch much usable and doesn't look grainy and pixelated.

EMBARGO - Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

I've been testing Samsung's type of its 100x "Space Zoom" since nan Galaxy S20 Ultra, and I presently usage nan S24 Ultra's zoom connected a regular ground since it's my Android regular driver and my business phone. However, I only usage nan 5x and 10x zoom lenses connected nan S24 Ultra -- and I only usage nan 5x zoom lens connected iPhone 16 Pro Max. Once you spell beyond those focal lengths, nan images connected some phones get very pixelated and unusable -- astatine slightest for nan benignant of crisp, professional-looking photos that I'm trying to create.

The photograph beneath shows a comparison of nan zoom value of nan S24 Ultra versus nan iPhone 16 Pro Max that I took during an evening successful New York.

For nan photographers retired there, nan 5x zoom connected nan iPhone 16 Pro Max is nan balanced of astir a 120mm focal magnitude connected a full-frame camera, and nan 10x zoom connected nan Samsung S24 Ultra is nan balanced of astir a 200 mm focal magnitude connected a full-frame camera.

Also: I went hands-on pinch each Google Pixel 10 exemplary - and was amazed by nan 1 I loved most

So nan 100x zoom that Google is talking astir for nan Pro Res Zoom connected nan Pixel 10 Pro models is simply a longer region than immoderate existent modular lens that exists for a master full-frame camera. So if Google tin make those photos usable -- dissimilar nan existent maximum integer zooms connected Samsung, iPhone, and different smartphones -- past it will beryllium giving its telephone a capacity that not only different phones don't have, but master cameras can't lucifer either.

Here's nan illustration that Google showed of nan 100x zoom successful action during nan motorboat arena for nan caller Pixel hardware.

That's beautiful impressive, and yet beautiful usable -- perchance pinch a small spot of post-processing. Let's support successful mind that this is intelligibly a daytime changeable pinch immoderate bully unreality cover. I'd for illustration to spot really good nan Pixel's caller Pro Res Zoom holds up successful debased ray and imperfect lighting conditions. And I'll get my chance soon because I'm going to beryllium testing it and reporting backmost nan results present connected ZDNET and connected my Instagram.

Also: Google's caller AI instrumentality makes photograph editing arsenic easy arsenic asking - and Pixel 10 gets it first

Even if Google's Pro Res Zoom isn't cleanable astatine 100x, if it tin efficaciously usage generative AI to make integer zoom photography a much viable action for taking high-quality photos, past it will beryllium a immense win.

It besides makes maine excited to spot if Apple is moving connected thing akin successful AI for its zoom photography erstwhile it announces nan iPhone 17 Pro models successful September -- because nan only institution that tin presently compete pinch Google connected computational photography is Apple.