If this Pixel 10 camera leak is true, I might be sold

As the launch of the Pixel 10 series approaches, the rumor mill is in full swing. Recently, the release dates for the Pixel 10 series were leaked, suggesting that the lineup may be revealed at a Made by Google event on August 20, 2025, with pre-orders going live that same day, and the phones shipping on August 28.

That’s still two months away, but with all the leaks about the Pixel 10 pouring in, we’re starting to get a clearer picture of what the phone has in store. Its design is largely expected to resemble the Pixel 9 series, with the phones maintaining the same flat-edged design and camera bar. What is expected to differ this year is the internals of the Pixel 10 series, and this new leak about the phone’s macro photography capabilities has me very excited.

According to Android Headlines, Google may be adding tele-macro support to the Pixel 10 series this year, which will make taking macro shots much easier by utilizing the phone’s 5x telephoto sensor. This will allow you to stand further away from a subject while still capturing a detailed close-up shot. I take a lot of close-up shots on a daily basis, so I’ll be extremely tempted to upgrade to the Pixel 10 Pro this year if it turns out to be true.

What is tele-macro support?

You can take extreme close-up shots from further away

If you’re unfamiliar with tele-macro, it refers to the ability of a smartphone’s telephoto sensor to take macro shots (extreme close-up shots). Traditionally, most smartphones, like the iPhone, rely on the ultra-wide sensor for macro shots. The advantage of using the telephoto sensor is that the focus distance is typically farther away, allowing you to keep your distance from the subject while still capturing a highly detailed close-up shot.

While ultra-wide sensors are still useful for macro photography, they require you to get very close to your subject. This proximity can make it challenging to capture the exact image you want, as you might block essential light from reaching your subject. Macro photography depends on a strong light source for the best results, so standing further away with a telephoto lens can help prevent interference with lighting.

Interestingly, Android Headlines also reports that just because the Pixel 10 series may have tele-macro, it doesn’t mean the ultra-wide camera on the phones is losing its macro capabilities; reportedly, it is retaining its ability to take macro shots as well. This gives the Pixel 10 two distinct methods for capturing macro shots. Depending on the distance from your subject, the Pixel 10 will likely switch between macro on the telephoto sensor and the ultra-wide lens. If you’re further away, the telephoto lens could come into play, while if you’re very close, the ultra-wide camera will likely be utilized.

I take a lot of pictures of tech, whether it’s laptops, smartphones, or consoles. Capturing highly detailed close-up shots is essential to my work, so being able to take macro shots with a telephoto sensor sounds extremely handy and something I could use on my smartphone. If Google does announce this functionality for the Pixel 10 series this summer, I might be first in line to get my hands on the Pixel 10 Pro just because of it.

As always, since this is based on a leak, take it with a grain of salt for now. However, previous leaks have indicated that the base Pixel 10 is expected to receive a telephoto sensor this year (something the Pixel 9 lacks), so adding tele-macro in addition to a telephoto sensor to the Pixel 10 would make a lot of sense for Google to do. All will be revealed when Google announces the Pixel 10 series this summer, which leaks suggest will take place on August 20, 2025.

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