Google Pixel 10: Final specs leak reveals disappointing camera downgrade

What was Google actually thinking? But let's start from the top. A recent leak from Android Headlines claims to uncover the final specs for the base Pixel 10 model, and they look a bit different compared to previous leaks. Especially in the camera department, the downgrade compared to the Pixel 9 (from $799 on Amazon) seems to be even more significant than previously expected. According to the previous major camera leak, insiders expected a 1/1.95-inch 50MP main camera, a 1/3.1-inch 13MP ultrawide and a 1/3.1-inch 11MP telephoto camera.

However, this latest leak speaks of a 48MP main camera, likely the same as in the Pixel 9a. This would suggest a 1/2.0-inch sensor. Instead of the 48MP ultrawide of the Pixel 9, a 12MP sensor for ultrawide shots was apparently deemed sufficient. The 1/3.2-inch sensor of the 5x telephoto lens is likely taken directly from the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and will also return to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Whether Google's computational photography features can compensate for these hardware downgrades remains to be seen, especially since some camera features will again be reserved for the Pixel 10 Pro.

Nevertheless, there are some upgrades in other areas, as we reported earlier today. Besides the Tensor G5, produced by TSMC on a 3nm process with 12GB RAM and 128 or 256GB of storage, the 6.3-inch FHD+ display with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is expected to be brighter. The High Brightness Mode (HBM) jumps from 1,800 nits to 2,000 nits, and peak brightness increases from 2,700 nits to 3,000 nits. The battery also grows from 4,700mAh to 4,97 mAh, while USB-C charging now maxes out at 29 watts, while Qi2 peaks at 15 watts. Since Wi-Fi 7 and vapor chamber cooling probably won’t be onboard, the Pixel 10 will have some significant hardware differences in comparison to the Pixel 10 Pro, despite its new telephoto camera.