Google officially launched the Pixel 8 series at its Made by Google event on August 20th (August 8st, Taiwan time). These include the Pixel 21, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the new foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold. This article will focus on the flagship Pixel 10 Pro XL to see if its 10x AI zoom performance is astonishing.
The official price of Pixel 10 Pro XL starts at US$1199. The storage capacity is no longer 128GB, but starts at 256GB, with a maximum option of 1TB. It also does not support expanding storage capacity with a micro SD memory card.
It features a larger screen, larger memory capacity, and higher camera specifications, and even supports 100x ultra-high-magnification zoom shooting experience supported by AI calculations.
Compared with the Pixel 10 Pro, the main differences lie in the screen size and price setting. Compared with the Pixel 10 launched simultaneously this time, the camera specifications, memory and other functions have been greatly improved, and the color design is also very different.
Compared to last year's Pixel 9 Pro XL, the Pixel 10 Pro XL shares the same screen size and design, but boasts a brighter display overall. The Pixel 9 Pro XL's camera didn't receive the 100x AI-powered ultra-high zoom feature via a firmware update, and its storage capacity starts at 128GB. The suggested retail price is US$1099.
Design and appearance: familiarity and upgraded details
The overall design of the Pixel 10 Pro XL is almost the same as that of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but with a number of updates. The body weight has also increased to 9 grams from 221 grams of the Pixel 232 Pro XL. The appearance still maintains the design of frosted glass on the back and glossy metal frame, which is opposite to the glossy back glass and frosted metal frame design of the Pixel 10. In addition, new colors are also introduced to replace the color options of the Pixel 9 series.
What’s special this time is the addition of a magnetic charging interface called Pixelsnap, which complies with the Qi2 design specification proposed by the Wireless Charging Alliance, supports 25W wireless charging, and is compatible with Apple’s MagSafe magnetic interface accessories. Therefore, it can be used with peripheral products such as selfie sticks and mobile power banks designed for Apple’s MagSafe interface.
However, Pixelsnap does not have additional anchor points for positioning like Apple's MagSafe, but because its own magnetic attraction is strong enough, it will not fall off accidentally.
As for the Pixel 10 Pro XL, its appearance is similar to that of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but there are still some differences in the design of the camera modules between the two, so the protective case accessories cannot be directly interchangeable.
Processor and daily performance
The Pixel 10 series is the first to be equipped with the Tensor G3 processor, manufactured using TSMC's 5nm process and fully customized by Google and the DeepMind team. It is touted as being built for on-device Gemini Nano AI model operations, and further claims to improve CPU single-core performance by 34% and the TPU performance used for AI computing by up to 60%. It can also execute AI features currently limited to the Pixel 10 series, such as Magic Cue, which serves as a personal assistant, and Camera Coach, which provides AI-based shooting suggestions in the camera.
However, preliminary hardware performance test results, including those from Geekbench and AnTuTu, are clearly unsatisfactory. This may be due to the Tensor G5's custom design. Even though its use of TSMC's 3nm process improves basic CPU performance, its GPU performance is significantly lower than the Tensor G9 in the Pixel 4 series. This may be improved through subsequent firmware updates.
Google explained that the Tensor G5 is designed primarily for AI computing, so performance isn't the primary focus of this processor. Instead, the emphasis is on the execution efficiency of the processor and software.
As for the charging specifications, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is equipped with a 5200 mAh battery capacity, supports 45W fast charging, and supports Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, with a maximum charging power of 25W.
Amazing 100x zoom, AI-powered camera
GooglePixel 3 seriesAfter starting to add AI-powered cameras and launching the impressive Night Sight and Super Res Zoom, subsequent Pixel series models have continued to enhance the AI-powered photography experience.
Therefore, even though the main camera specifications remain the same as the Pixel 9 Pro XL, using a 5000-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 4800-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 5-megapixel telephoto lens that supports native 4800x optical zoom, with the support of AI computing, it can support the Pro Res Zoom function, a super-resolution shooting function with up to 100x digital magnification.
In addition, the new image signal processor (ISP) built into the Tensor G5 further enhances the Pixel 10 Pro XL's imaging system, supporting motion deblur, 10-bit HDR video, and improved Real Tone technology to faithfully restore different skin tones.
For the telephoto shooting function this time, Google mainly adds AI noise reduction and image quality improvement. It analyzes the image content through deep learning and other methods to improve the overall image quality performance. For example, it uses AI calculations to enhance blurred areas, making the details of telephoto shooting clearer.
Comparison before and after AI intervention to improve blurred details:
After all, it is enhanced through AI calculations, so the authenticity will still have its limitations. For example, when shooting text in the distance or images that the system has difficulty judging, the results of AI enhancement will not be as expected, which may cause errors in the Chinese content or the enhanced image to become a completely different object.
Overall, the best performance for AI-enhanced telephoto shooting is to ensure that the overall image is still intuitively recognizable and that AI improves clarity. Don't expect to maintain image accuracy even at the maximum zoom range unless the image details are relatively simple.
On the other hand, since AI calculations are used to enhance image clarity under telephoto digital magnification, the actual processing results will inevitably have an overly flat oil painting feel, but the overall processing performance is actually quite amazing.
Usually, processing images with clear lines will have a better clarity improvement effect:
For situations that are too vague or difficult for AI to judge, there will be abnormal improvement:
After improving the clarity of small text, it is basically impossible to get it right:
The AI-generated hair processing performed surprisingly well, likely due to prior learning, but errors are still possible:
Comparison of shooting with different lens focal lengths:
依序各為0.5倍、1倍、2倍、5倍、10倍、30倍與100倍，其中100倍會自動由AI介入處理，因此部分細節可能會出現怪異情況。
Actual shooting:
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AI function enhancements
Google has also added many AI application functions to the Pixel 10 Pro XL. However, it is a pity that the Magic Cue function, which can be used as a proxy AI function, and the function of simulating the original voice tone in instant translation currently only support specific languages such as English and Spanish. It is not yet available in Taiwan, where Traditional Chinese is the main language.
Some functions must be used in conjunction with the Tensor G5 processor, so the user experience can be differentiated from that of the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Although some features are not yet available in Taiwan, the Pixel 10 Pro XL also integrates the NotebookLM service, which can be integrated with the Pixel Screenshots and recording functions. The system will automatically suggest adding the recorded screenshots or recording transcripts to NotebookLM, making it easier to organize data centrally.
In addition, Gemini AI can also be used to determine the shooting scene in the camera photography part, allowing the system to analyze and determine the appropriate shooting range and angle, and allow users to take better photos through step-by-step teaching methods.
Pixelsnap can directly connect to Apple's MagSafe accessory ecosystem
This time, the Pixel 10 series has fully added the Pixelsnap magnetic interface. In addition to supporting Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, it is also compatible with Apple's MagSafe magnetic interface, which can be directly compatible with the numerous MagSafe accessory ecosystems currently on the market, including mobile power banks, brackets, card holders and other accessories that support MagSafe. They can be directly attached to the back of the Pixel 10 series models for use, which will be very convenient for users.
However, unlike Apple's standard MagSafe magnetic interface design, which adds an additional positioning adsorption point, Google has not incorporated the same design into the Pixelsnap magnetic interface. Therefore, the positioning performance after magnetic attraction will still be different, but it generally does not affect actual use. At most, when using it as a bracket accessory, you need to manually fine-tune the horizontal state of the phone after adsorption.
Overall evaluation experience and comparative positioning
In actual testing, the biggest highlight of the Pixel 10 Pro XL is that it uses AI computing to further improve telephoto shooting performance, allowing mobile phone photography to help record more distant image details. Although there are still physical limitations, it is actually a very practical auxiliary function.
In addition, Google has integrated more Gemini AI application functions by equipping it with Tensor G5, which also brings a lot of convenience. It’s just a pity that many of the main functions are currently prioritized to support the English interface. They are not yet supported in the Chinese usage environment, or have limitations in use.
As for the Pixelsnap magnetic interface that supports Qi2 wireless charging specifications, it not only makes charging the Pixel 10 Pro XL more convenient, but also allows the convenience of connecting and using more Apple MagSafe-compatible accessories through the magnetic interface.
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