Google Pixel 10 leak: new telephoto module, but downgraded main and ultrawide sensors

Google's next generation of Pixel camera phones - the Pixel 10 series - will drop later this year, but rumors are already circulating about what camera hardware the upcoming devices might pack. Android Authority has allegedly viewed documents from a Google insider that specify the image sensors that'll be used in the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL and 10 Pro Fold. Don't get too excited though - the changes are minimal at best, and in the case of the base Pixel 10, a mixed bag.

Google Pixel 9 Pro & Pro XL full review

In previous generations of Pixel, the base-model (non-Pro) has sported a main (wide-angle) camera module, and an ultrawide module. If this latest leak is true, that could be set to change for the Pixel 10, which is claimed to the be the first base Pixel phone to get a triple camera array: wide, ultrawide, and now telephoto. The latter using Samsung's 10.8MP, 1/1.3” 3J1 sensor - we've already seen the 3J1 on telephoto duty in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

But the news might not be all good for the Pixel 10. At the same time as adding a third camera module, the leak suggests Google could also downgrade the wide and ultrawide modules in the Pixel 10.

The Pixel 10's main camera is said to use a Samsung GN8 sensor, replacing the Samsung GNV chip in currently in the Pixel 9. Although both sensors are 50MP in resolution, the GN8 is significantly smaller at 1/1.95", compared to the GNV's 1/1.31". Smaller sensors tend to struggle to resolve fine detail, while also being more prone to image noise.

The ultrawide camera in the Pixel 10 is claimed to use a 13MP, 1/3.1" Sony IMX712 sensor, which if true would be another downgrade compared to the Pixel 9's 48MP 1/2.55” Sony IMX858. In fact, should these sensors be implemented in the Pixel 10, the new phone would then have exactly the same main and ultrawide cameras as those in the Pixel 9a, leaving the Pixel 10 to rely solely on its new telephoto camera to differentiate itself from the cheaper Pixel 9a in terms of camera performance.

If the details of this leak are correct, then it's likely Google's reasoning for downgrading the Pixel 10's cameras is either to reduce its production cost to maintain a similar price point to the Pixel 9, or to free up space inside the phone to fit that new telephoto module in. But whatever the rationale, the base Pixel 10 could be tough to recommend over a cheaper Pixel 9a if the two phones end up packing the same primary and ultrawide cameras.

The leak also details the camera specs for the upcoming Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL, but these are said to carry over the exact same image sensors from the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL. Finally, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is also likely to retain most of the same camera hardware as in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but the leak does suggest that the primary camera could potentially be based around a Samsung GN8 sensor, rather than the Sony IMX787 in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Story credit: Android Authority