A short teaser video now live on Google’s website confirms rumours, the Pixel 10 will feature a triple rear camera setup, the first ever for a non-Pro Pixel model.

The third camera, widely speculated to be a 10.8MP telephoto lens, is a change in Google’s camera strategy. Previously, optical zoom capabilities were limited to the Pro series. This change means more Pixel users will now have access to advanced zoom features without having to opt for the premium models.

Beyond the telephoto upgrade, the Pixel 10’s rear cameras will include a 48MP main sensor and a 12MP ultrawide lens, both carried over from the Pixel 9a. Visually, the phone retains the familiar flat-edge design and horizontal camera bar. 

However, the addition of a larger glass window to house the third lens is a subtle but noticeable redesign. The device showcased in the teaser sports a muted grey-blue finish, though four colour options, Obsidian, Frost, Indigo, and Limoncello, are expected at launch.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Google has intentionally leaked its own product. A similar early reveal happened with the Pixel 9 Pro last year. This time, however, the early reveal appears to be a pre-emptive response to mounting leaks online.

On the technical side, all Pixel 10 models will debut with Android 16 and run on Google’s new Tensor G5 chip, its first built using TSMC’s 3nm process. 

Google promises great performance improvements, better thermal management, faster AI processing, and longer battery life. The Pixel 10 will also come with deeper integration of Gemini Nano, Google’s latest on-device AI engine.

Expected software features include:

• Circle to Search 2.0, which allows follow-up questions without switching apps.
• Speak to Tweak, enabling photo edits via voice commands.
• Sketch to Image, converting doodles into visuals using generative AI.
• Pixel Sense, an experimental assistant designed to pull contextual information from apps and messages to offer smarter suggestions.

Pre-orders for the Google Pixel 10 are slated to begin on August 21, immediately following the launch event. Alongside the new phone, Google is likely to unveil the Pixel Watch 4 and an updated version of its wireless earbuds, the Pixel Buds 2a. Speculation also points to a possible reveal of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, rumoured to feature an IP68 water resistance rating.

While Google has shared little beyond the design preview, its decision to confirm a key hardware upgrade weeks in advance has certainly stirred expectations.

The video, posted by X user @MarksGonePublic, shows a large film crew working with professional equipment, including a macro probe lens and a Panavision rig. 

The subject was a single person holding what appears to be the Pixel 10 Pro or Pro XL. The shoot wasn’t discreet, and the leaked visuals have now left us wondering about Google’s next flagship device.

According to the post, “Just out for a walk… stumbled onto a full-on commercial shoot for the Google Pixel 10. They had a macro probe lens, a Panavision rig, and 20+ crew members… to film someone holding a phone. If the Pixel camera’s so good, why not just use it?”

The footage shows the device in a blue colourway, confirming at least one new option for the Pixel 10 range. Leaked information shared by Mystic Leaks lists several colours for the base model, including Obsidian (black), Blue, Iris (purple), and Limoncello (yellow). The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL are expected to include additional options: Porcelain (white), Sterling (grey), Green, and Obsidian.

One storyboard captured in the video contains a direct reference to what could be the official tagline for the Pixel 10: “Ask more of your phone.” It also shows a demonstration of a new feature called Add Me, which lets users insert themselves into group photos they weren’t in originally. 

In essence, if you’re the one taking the picture, the phone can later add you into it, removing the age-old limitation of the photographer being left out.

Design-wise, the Pixel 10 keeps the black camera bar but with a modified oval shape that protrudes slightly more than previous models. There’s also additional space that may house an updated flash or another sensor, implying Google is placing even more emphasis on imaging capabilities.

With the Pixel 9 series launching in mid-August 2024, Google is expected to follow the same timeline this year. The public nature of this shoot, alongside detailed storyboard leaks, suggests that official marketing has already kicked off, even if the company hasn’t acknowledged it publicly.

Google is a brand known for controlling its message, and this kind of visibility is unusual. We’d see if it was deliberate or just careless planning. But anyway, the Pixel 10 is coming, and it’s going beyond a camera upgrade.