Leaked renders from a few weeks ago suggested that the base Google Pixel 10 will get a camera upgrade. The renders show that the rest of the lineup will largely remain similar to last year. Instead of the dual camera setup on the Pixel 9, the Pixel 10 will launch with three cameras on the rear.
On paper, this is a major upgrade, but it comes at the cost of the rest of the camera hardware. This article will explore the leaked camera specifications of the Pixel 10 series, and you can decide whether it’s an upgrade or not.
Pixel 10 series camera specs leaked
As per an exclusive post from Android Authority, the Pixel 10 is getting a completely revamped camera setup. On the Pixel 9, we had a 1/1.3″ Samsung GNK 50MP main sensor. However, for the Pixel 10, the main camera is getting a downgrade to the Samsung GN8 sensor.
The GN8 is a newer sensor, but it’s much smaller in size. It’s the same main sensor as the affordable Pixel 9a, and it’s only 1/1.95″ in size. While it’s not advisable to judge a camera system by its specs alone, the Pixel 10 is still at a physical disadvantage, which will likely result in worse photos at magnifications like 1.5X or 2X. A smaller sensor also lets in less light and captures less detail, so the software has to make up for this, which may cause over-sharpening and over-processing.
The ultrawide on the base model is also dropping in size. The Pixel 9 had a 50MP 1/2.55″ ultrawide with autofocus for macros. Unfortunately, the Pixel 9 Pro gets a 1/3″ 13MP sensor without autofocus, which means no macros either. The aperture is also worse than last year. This is not good enough at all since the base iPhone and Samsung feature much larger 1/2.55″ ultrawide sensors. The main sensors are also much larger. The selfie camera is about the same on balance, 1/3″ and 11MP- the same sensor as the telephoto.
Google has downgraded every other camera for this one hardware upgrade- a new telephoto zoom camera. While we don’t know if it’s a 3X or 5X, there’s a Samsung 3J1 11MP sensor for zoom. Overall, the setup doesn’t look like much of an upgrade. It’s worth a watch to see how Google presents these downgrades on stage.
As for the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL, there aren’t many changes. It’s the same 50MP 1/1.3″ main sensor, the same IMX858 48MP ultrawide with macros and autofocus, and a 48MP 1/2.55″ 5X periscope zoom camera. It uses a 1/2.55″ 48MP IMX858 for selfies as well, which is good.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold doesn’t get any major changes either. The main sensor has changed from a 64MP IMX787 to a 1/1.95″ Samsung GN8 sensor, so the sizes are about the same; in fact, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s sensor is actually slightly smaller.
One possible reason for the downgrades is the costs of TSMC fabrication. Instead of Samsung’s fabrication, the Tensor G5 will feature TSMC fabrication this time, which might have increased the costs. It’s a strange direction from Google since the hardware specifications now fall behind the base iPhone and Samsung models.
To boost the sales of the Pro models and differentiate further, the company is downgrading the base models. Google has subtly been differentiating ever since last year by increasing the prices of the base and Pro models. The Pixel 10 series takes this even further.
Featured Image Credit: Androidheadlines
