The Google Pixel 10 Pro has raised the bar for smartphone photography, especially when it comes to long-distance zoom. Google’s new Pro Res Zoom, powered by generative AI, manages to outperform Samsung’s 100x Space Zoom by delivering images that look sharper, clearer, and far less noisy. 
What once took nearly a full minute to process now happens in under five seconds, letting users snap detailed ultra-zoom shots almost instantly.
In real-world comparisons, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra still delivers powerful optics, but its 100x zoom shots often appear grainy and soft. Google’s AI-driven processing instead reconstructs missing details, producing photos that actually look usable at extreme magnification. Popular tech YouTuber Parker Burton showcased this in action, proving just how dramatic the difference is when zooming all the way in.
Beyond the headline zoom feature, the Pixel 10 Pro also boasts a stacked camera setup: a 50MP main sensor, 48MP ultra-wide lens, and a 48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom. All of this is backed by Google’s custom Tensor G5 chip, which drives a suite of clever AI camera tools like Camera Coach and Magic Cue. Together, these upgrades make the Pixel 10 Pro not just a competitor, but potentially the new leader in smartphone photography.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra is still a strong contender with impressive hardware, but Google’s approach shows how deeply integrated AI can completely reshape mobile photography. At the end of the day, it comes down to whether users prefer raw hardware power or AI-driven image smarts – but right now, Pixel’s AI edge looks like the game changer.
1 comment
grainy zoom on samsung is lowkey disappointing