New Pixel 10 leaks show brighter display, longer battery, and surprising camera downgrade

We’ve been seeing leaks about the Pixel 10 for several months, but the latest batch of leaks paints a confusing picture. While fans can look forward to a noticeably brighter screen and a much-needed battery boost, Google appears to be taking an unexpected and puzzling step backward with its camera hardware.

Leaks from publications Android Headlines and Android Authority detail what we can expect when the Pixel 10 likely goes on sale on August 28. On the surface, things look good. The phone is tipped to retain its 6.3-inch display size, but it’s getting a significant brightness enhancement. Reports suggest the peak brightness will jump to an impressive 3,000 nits, a substantial increase from the Pixel 9’s 2,700 nits. This should make the screen much easier to view in direct sunlight, a welcome improvement for outdoor use.

Under the hood, the Pixel 10 is expected to be powered by the new Tensor G5 chip, built on an advanced 3nm process. This should bring a decent performance and efficiency upgrade. Paired with a reported 12GB of RAM, the phone should feel snappy and responsive.

Battery life, a common pain point for Pixel users, also seems to be getting a solid upgrade. The battery capacity is rumored to increase to 4,970mAh, a respectable jump from the 4,700mAh cell in the Pixel 9. This, combined with the more efficient Tensor G5, could finally give the smaller Pixel the all-day battery life many have been hoping for. Charging speeds are also getting a slight bump to 29W wired and 15W with Qi2 wireless charging.

However, the excitement might end there for photography enthusiasts. In a surprising turn of events, Google is reportedly downgrading the main and ultrawide cameras on the base Pixel 10. The primary camera is said to be a 48-megapixel sensor, which sounds like a step down from the 50-megapixel shooter on the Pixel 9. More shockingly, the ultrawide camera is rumored to be a mere 12-megapixel sensor, a significant downgrade from the 48-megapixel ultrawide introduced in the previous generation.

It’s not all bad news for the camera system, though. The Pixel 10 is expected to gain a telephoto lens for the first time on the base model, a 10.8-megapixel sensor with 5x optical zoom. This is likely the same telephoto camera found in the more premium Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The thinking seems to be that Google is sacrificing the main and ultrawide sensor quality to accommodate the new zoom lens.

That said, Pixel fans might find this decision a bit a bit wonky. After all, Pixel phones have been known for their excellent cameras. And now that other smartphone makers are stepping up big-time in the camera hardware, it’s a shame that Google is taking a 180-degree turn here. Furthermore, there are other downgrades that potential Pixel 10 buyers should know about too. As we get closer to the expected August 20 announcement, it will be interesting to see how Google justifies these surprising camera changes.