I’m baffled by the Google Pixel 10 camera downgrade talk

A camera downgrade that could be hard to ignore

Let’s start with the camera because, for many of us, that’s the core reason to buy a Pixel over any other flagship phone. Last year’s Pixel 9 boasted a 50MP main sensor – the same as that in the Pixel 9 Pro – that helped it stand out from the crowd. 

But, according to rumours, the Pixel 10 is set to drop down to a 48MP sensor – and not just any 48MP sensor, but the very same one found in the budget-friendly Pixel 9a. That’s going to be a tough pill to swallow if you’re expecting a premium, flagship experience like that traditionally promised by the top-end Pixel range.  

But it doesn’t stop there – in fact, I’d argue that the most egregious rumoured downgrade concerns the ultrawide camera. Despite Google upgrading the Pixel 9’s ultrawide camera to 48MP for the first time, the Pixel 10’s equivalent is reportedly set to drop right back down to 12MP. 

In a world where most brands are pushing for bigger and better sensors, even on budget-friendly phones, Google seems to be going in the complete opposite direction here. And for a company that’s built its reputation on photography, it’s a strange move indeed. 

A new telephoto lens – but at what cost?

There is, however, one new addition that’s slated to appear on the Pixel 10; the long-awaited zoom lens. While present on the Pro Pixel models for quite some time, it has never appeared on the entry-level model, which featured just main and ultrawide snappers. 

The 10.8MP 5x telephoto lens is a welcome upgrade on paper, especially for anyone who’s ever tried to zoom in on a distant subject and ended up with a blurry, over-processed mess. But I can’t help but wonder if this new lens is the reason the other cameras are being downgraded quite so heavily. Is Google robbing Peter to pay Paul, so to speak?

It’s a bit of a head-scratcher for me. While a dedicated telephoto lens is undoubtedly great for versatility – there’s a reason why phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 Ultra offer multiple zoom lenses after all – I can’t help but feel that most people use the main and ultrawide cameras far more often. 

If those everyday shots are going to suffer just so we can get a bit closer to the action on the rare occasion, is that really a trade-off worth making? I’m not so sure. 

It’s not just camera tech either

The camera isn’t the only area where the Pixel 10 seems to be taking a step back – there’s also the curious case of Wi-Fi 7. Last year’s Pixel 9 had it, but this year’s model reportedly lacks the functionality.

For a phone that’s supposed to be future-proof, that feels like a strange omission. It’s the kind of feature that might not matter to everyone right now, but as more routers and devices support the speedier, more stable wireless standard, it’ll become more noticeable. 

All of this leaves me wondering what Google’s strategy here is. Are they cutting costs to keep the price down? Surely a telephoto lens can’t cost that much at scale. 

It could be that Google’s betting that software alone will be enough to keep Pixel fans happy – the upcoming range is said to feature exclusive software features like Magic Cue that’ll apparently serve shortcuts and information depending on what’s happening on-screen – but it does feel like it’s resting a little too much on its reputation here. 

A risky gambit for 2025

I know that specs aren’t everything, and Google’s software magic has always squeezed more out of less. 

But at a time when even mid-range phones are offering impressive hardware, it’s not hard to feel a bit short-changed, especially if it matches last year’s £799/$799 price tag. If these rumours are true, the Pixel 10 could end up looking less like a true flagship and more like a rebadged mid-ranger.

I’ll certainly be watching the August event with more scepticism than usual, and I suspect I won’t be the only one.