I’m not convinced about the Pixel 10 Pro’s 100x zoom, and you shouldn’t be either

The Google Pixel 10 collection is just some weeks away, and I’m keenly ready to see what these new telephones provide. Considered one of the most intriguing and persistent rumors is that the base mannequin could have a telephoto digital camera, however what about the Professional telephones?

It feels like Google may keep the similar 48MP 5x cameras seen on the Pixel 9 Professional collection. Nonetheless, a trove of promoting materials shared by veteran leaker Evan Blass has revealed that the Pixel 10 Professional telephones may get 100x zoom. I’m not convinced that this characteristic is something greater than a advertising and marketing stunt, and you shouldn’t be, either.

The obvious advertising and marketing screenshot (seen above) means that the Pixel 10 Professional vary may provide “Professional Res Zoom” as much as 100x. It’s unclear whether or not this refers to on-device zoom capabilities or cloud-powered zoom smarts. There’s additionally no phrase if this is applicable to footage, movies, or each.

What’s abundantly clear, although, is that 100x zoom is little greater than a gimmick right now, and there’s little purpose to imagine Google will change issues. Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Extremely was the first to supply this characteristic in 2020, because of a 48MP 4x periscope digital camera, and it was largely a waste of time. We’ve since seen bigger telephoto sensors, wider apertures, extra megapixels, and extra highly effective picture processing {hardware}. However telephones like the Galaxy S25 Extremely and Google Pixel 9 Professional XL crumble lengthy earlier than 50x, not to mention 100x. Don’t imagine me? Effectively, colleague Rob Triggs examined a quartet of telephones at 10x and 30x earlier this yr, and thought that the Samsung and Google telephones had been the worst performers. That doesn’t bode properly for the Pixel 10 Professional’s picture processing at 100x.

Vivo, HONOR, and Xiaomi have additionally launched telephones with 200MP periscope cameras in the final couple of years, and 100x images taken with these units aren’t a game-changing improve. Take a look at the photographs under, evaluating the Galaxy S25 Extremely to the Xiaomi 15 Extremely and the Galaxy S24 Extremely to the vivo X100 Extremely.

Despite the fact that many flagship telephones provide stabilization options for long-range zoom, the first set of photographs reveals it’s nonetheless robust to maintain the viewfinder regular at 100x. As for precise picture high quality, the Xiaomi 15 Extremely’s image avoids the horrible fringing seen in the Samsung shot, subsequently delivering cleaner edges. Nonetheless, this picture nonetheless presents a extremely contrasted look and heavy noise discount that wipes away element. These 200MP cameras can seize a extra outlined picture at lengthy vary, as seen in the crane shot, permitting you to determine particular components in a scene. This may work for accessibility functions, however these photographs are ineffective for Instagram.

Might AI assist Google?

I’ve additionally seen producers, akin to Xiaomi, HONOR, vivo, and OnePlus, use AI to fill in the gaps at 100x. Nonetheless, this observe varies wildly in execution, based mostly on the cellphone model and the material. AI-based zoom can work properly with easy textures (e.g., buildings), however typically struggles with individuals and complicated textures like foliage and mountains. Colleague Ryan Haines praised the OnePlus 13‘s long-range AI-based zoom, noting that even 120x photographs can look first rate (see the first shot under). Nonetheless, different 120x samples present how dangerous issues can get.

In the meantime, Rob Triggs praised the OPPO Discover X8 Professional‘s AI-assisted long-range zoom, albeit out to 60x. On the different hand, he criticized the HONOR Magic 7 Professional’s AI-enabled digital camera zoom, which added components to his 30x panorama scene, like additional branches, bushes, and extra buildings (see the comparability under). I additionally observed that the vivo X200 Extremely would take away some components in ~30x snaps, akin to balcony railings. Who wants ’em anyway?

Google has additionally dabbled with AI to enhance zoom, because it launched the Zoom Improve characteristic final yr. This instrument lets you return to a picture after the truth and zoom in for a higher-quality cropped image. Nonetheless, our impressions had been decidedly combined in our Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL evaluations, as we frequently thought it was merely over-sharpening photographs. So I don’t have excessive hopes that the Pixel 10 Professional collection can take good 100x photographs if Google merely adopts this tech.

I’m positive Google’s software program smarts will assist the Pixel 10 Professional telephones obtain higher 100x outcomes. The corporate already presents implausible digital camera tips like Tremendous Res Zoom, the Add Me characteristic, astrophotography mode, and Face Unblur. And a few of these underlying applied sciences can allow higher 100x images. However will you need to share these photographs with individuals? Yeah, I’m not betting on that. Rival telephones present us that 100x zoom is slightly higher in 2025, however nonetheless not good, so it’s exhausting to see Google doing considerably higher.

I do hope Google proves me flawed, although, and that 100x Professional Res Zoom is a giant improve to long-range zoom. However historical past tells us that we shouldn’t take smartphone manufacturers at their phrase after they discuss about digital camera zoom.