Google’s Pixel phones have earned a well-deserved reputation for their exceptional camera performance. In 2025, Google may raise the bar even higher with the Pixel 10, potentially surpassing even the standard iPhone models. Recent leaks suggest Google’s next baseline flagship will significantly enhance its zoom capabilities.
Android Headlines, in partnership with @OnLeaks, has published purported product renders of the Pixel 10, revealing a triple-lens camera system on the rear. Notably, the Pixel 10 will reportedly include a dedicated telephoto zoom lens, a first for Google’s non-Pro Pixel models. Previously, only Google’s flagship Pro models offered triple rear cameras, while the standard models featured dual lenses for regular and ultrawide shots.
Periscope Zoom: A Game Changer for the Pixel 10
The Pixel 10’s zoom system isn’t just any ordinary stacked lens configuration. The rectangular lens cutout indicates a periscope-style folded lens zoom system, similar to those found in Pro flagships. This design allows for a significantly greater optical zoom range.
The Pixel 9 lacked a dedicated zoom camera, relying instead on sensor-cropped 2x zoom and Google’s 8x Super Res Zoom software for longer-range shots. Super Res Zoom utilizes “HDR+ with bracketing” to capture multiple images at varying exposure levels. Then, a remosaicing tool processes these sensor-cropped, lower-resolution images to minimize noise. While impressive, this software-driven approach cannot match the quality of a dedicated telephoto lens.
Leaked render of Google Pixel 10 angled view from front and back. (Android Headlines / OnLeaks)
The Pixel 10’s dedicated telephoto lens promises more natural long-range shots and a higher zoom factor, a substantial upgrade considering the Pixel’s price point. The Pixel 9, priced at $799 in the US, shares a similar dual-camera setup with the iPhone 16. If the Pixel 10 incorporates a dedicated zoom camera without a price increase, Apple will face significant competitive pressure. While the Samsung Galaxy S25 offers a dedicated zoom lens at a comparable price, it uses a standard telephoto lens, not the more advanced periscope zoom found in the Galaxy S25 Ultra or Pixel 9 Pro.
Leaked render of Google Pixel 10 angled view. (Android Headlines / OnLeaks)
Powerful Performance Upgrades: Tensor G5 and Enhanced AI
Design-wise, the Pixel 10 appears to closely resemble the Pixel 9 Pro, retaining the same chassis and pill-shaped camera bump. This suggests Google is prioritizing internal upgrades over aesthetic changes.
In terms of hardware, Google is rumored to deliver a double upgrade this year. The Tensor G5 processor is expected to feature a more powerful CPU core cluster. While maintaining the eight-core configuration, the G5 will reportedly utilize a single Arm Cortex-X4 core for high-intensity tasks, five Cortex-A725 cores for medium-intensity tasks, and two Cortex-A520 cores for less demanding tasks. This configuration, compared to the Tensor G4’s single X4 and three A720 cores, should significantly improve multi-core performance.
Furthermore, Google may replace the Arm Mali GPU with Imagination Technologies’ dual-core IMX DXT graphics engine. This shift could bring hardware-accelerated ray-tracing and GPU virtualization to Pixel phones for the first time, dramatically enhancing mobile gaming visuals and improving certain camera-related processes.
A person taking a photo with the Apple iPhone 16 Plus. (Andy Boxall / MaagX)
AI Prowess and Software Longevity
Pixel phones are often considered the best showcase for smartphone AI due to Google’s control over the hardware, operating system, and Gemini AI architecture. The Pixel 10’s Tensor G5 TPU is expected to deliver a 14% boost in AI performance, increasing from 13 (INT8) / 6.5 (FP16) TOPS on the Pixel 9 to 18 (INT8) / 9 (FP16) TOPS.
The Pixel 10 is rumored to retain the 6.3-inch OLED display with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate from the Pixel 9. While details about other specifications remain scarce, the Pixel 10 is shaping up to be a compelling upgrade.
Leaked render of Google Pixel 10 front and rear. (Android Headlines / OnLeaks)
Google has nearly matched Apple’s software update longevity, and its OS-level AI implementation surpasses Apple’s current Siri-ChatGPT integration. If Google prices the Pixel 10 competitively, it could become a highly attractive option for Android users. Hopefully, the past reliability issues that plagued the Pixel series won’t resurface with this promising new model.
