Upcoming Pixel 10's telephoto camera speculation may pose potential threats to the iPhone 17, explained below.
The tech world is abuzz with rumours about the upcoming Google Pixel 10, set to be unveiled in the next Made by Google event. According to these rumours, the base model of the Pixel 10 will feature a triple camera system, a significant departure from its predecessor.
The new setup is said to include a 48MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, potentially offering better zooming performance than the iPhone 17 and Samsung Galaxy S26. The telephoto lens, reportedly around 10.8MP, could provide a meaningful advantage for mid-range telephoto shots, delivering crisper, lower-noise results at moderate zoom levels.
In contrast, it is rumoured that Apple will keep the base iPhone 17 on a more conservative two-camera layout, reserving telephoto(s) for Pro models. The iPhone 17's camera setup is expected to be similar to the iPhone 16, featuring a 48MP main shooter and a 12MP ultrawide.
While the Pixel 10's camera hardware may seem impressive, it's important to remember that the final outcome will depend on more than just sensor count. Apple's strengths historically lie in a high-quality imaging pipeline and consistent output, so a two-camera iPhone 17 may still produce excellent photos.
The addition of a telephoto camera to the Pixel 10 could potentially put the iPhone 17 on notice, but direct picture-quality comparisons will rely on sensor specs, zoom reach, and software processing rather than sensor count alone. Google is expected to lean heavily on its Tensor G5 chip and new AI features to compensate where hardware may be modest.
The Pixel 10 is also rumoured to have the same price as last year's model, $799. This, coupled with its potential hardware advantages, could make the Pixel 10 a compelling choice for those prioritising telephoto shooting.
It's essential to note that all of this information is based on industry rumours and leaks, and specific sensor models, optical zoom amounts, and final software features are not confirmed. The final real-world image quality depends on hardware, firmware/ISP tuning, and software processing, areas where both Google and Apple strongly influence outcomes beyond pure spec sheets.
In conclusion, while the Pixel 10's triple camera system is an exciting development, it's the software processing and optimisation that will ultimately determine its performance. For those who prioritise telephoto shooting, the Pixel 10's rumoured native telephoto could offer a significant advantage over the iPhone 17's likely two-camera setup. However, for those who value overall colour science, video consistency, or proven computational results, the iPhone 17 could still remain very competitive.
- The Pixel 10, with its rumored triple camera system, is set to challenge the two-camera setup of the iPhone 17, especially in terms of telephoto shooting.
- Smartphone enthusiasts looking for a device prioritizing telephoto capabilities might find the Pixel 10, with its potential native telephoto lens, a more appealing option than the iPhone 17.
