{"id":192548,"date":"2025-10-11T10:08:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T10:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/192548\/"},"modified":"2025-10-11T10:08:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T10:08:22","slug":"i-did-a-pixel-10-pro-vs-pixel-9-pro-camera-test-and-it-blew-me-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/192548\/","title":{"rendered":"I did a Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro camera test, and it blew me away"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Someone<\/p>\n

Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

The Google Pixel 10 Pro<\/a> is an outstanding Android phone. With high-end hardware, good thermals, excellent software, and top-notch cameras, Google\u2019s latest flagship has quickly become one of my favorite Android releases of this year.<\/p>\n

However, much of what makes the Pixel 10 Pro so great is that it carries over many of the same specs and features from the Pixel 9 Pro \u2014 one of the biggest being the cameras.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been thrilled with the Pixel 10 Pro\u2019s camera performance, but given that it uses the same camera hardware as the Pixel 9 Pro, is it actually any different or better? I\u2019ve been comparing the cameras on both phones over the past few weeks, and the results have been surprising.<\/p>\n

Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro: camera specs\n<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Pixel 10 Pro (left) and Pixel 9 Pro<\/p>\n

From a hardware perspective, the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro cameras are virtually identical. Both phones feature a 50MP primary camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera with a 123\u00b0 field of view, and a 48MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. On the front of both phones is a 42MP selfie camera with autofocus and a 103\u00b0 FoV.<\/p>\n

However, there are some smaller changes that are worth mentioning.<\/p>\n

While the primary camera sensor remains the same, the Pixel 10 Pro benefits from improved stabilization. The telephoto camera on the Pixel 10 Pro is also capable of 100x Pro Res Zoom, compared to the 30x maximum on the Pixel 9 Pro.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to assume that unchanged camera lenses would result in identical-looking photos between the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro, but as I quickly found out during my testing, that\u2019s not at all true.<\/p>\n

Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro: primary camera\n<\/p>\n

\"PhotoPixel 10 Pro (1x)\"PhotoPixel 9 Pro (1x)<\/p>\n

Looking through all of the pictures I took with the primary camera on both phones, I keep coming back to the same conclusion: the Pixel 10 Pro (usually) has the best colors compared to the Pixel 9 Pro. This is something my colleague Rita discovered in her own Pixel 10 Pro XL camera test<\/a>, and it\u2019s something I noticed too.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, like in the picture of the campfire, the difference is pretty stark. The Pixel 10 Pro\u2019s picture is quite a bit darker and more contrasty than the Pixel 9 Pro photo. I can see some people preferring the brighter scene the Pixel 9 Pro captured, but I personally prefer the greener trees, darker wood, and slightly more punchy flames captured by the Pixel 10 Pro.<\/p>\n

\"PhotoPixel 10 Pro (2x)\"PhotoPixel 9 Pro (2x)<\/p>\n

Other times, it\u2019s the Pixel 10 Pro that takes a brighter photo, and it works out in the phone\u2019s favor. The picture of the tomatoes is a great example of this. The Pixel 10 Pro gives the tomatoes a much brighter and redder color that\u2019s both visually pleasing and more true to life. Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 Pro\u2019s version of the same scene is horribly drab.<\/p>\n

\"PicturePixel 10 Pro (1x)\"PicturePixel 9 Pro (1x)<\/p>\n

The shot of the sunset over the lake is an even better illustration of the two phones\u2019 different approaches to colors. The Pixel 10 Pro does a lovely job of depicting the sun\u2019s bright, orange glow while still retaining some of the sky\u2019s blue color near the top, as well as the dark navy waves of the water near the bottom. The Pixel 9 Pro didn\u2019t take a bad picture, but the sun casts an orange tint over the rest of the scene, detracting from the contrasting blue colors visible in the Pixel 10 Pro photo.<\/p>\n

\"PhotoPixel 10 Pro (1x)\"PhotoPixel 9 Pro (1x)<\/p>\n

The next photo of the lamp is quite interesting. In terms of colors, I actually think the Pixel 9 Pro does a better job here, as it gives the scene a sense of warmth that\u2019s absent from the somewhat harsh light in the Pixel 10 Pro\u2019s photo.<\/p>\n

However, this is where the Pixel 10 Pro\u2019s improved stabilization becomes apparent. The lamp\u2019s on\/off cord is completely out of focus in the Pixel 9 Pro image. The base of the lamp also appears quite soft, and the menu holder to the left is blurry. The Pixel 10 Pro picture doesn\u2019t have any of these issues, and although I\u2019m less keen on its colors, it\u2019s ultimately the better shot of the two.<\/p>\n

\"APixel 10 Pro (1x)\"APixel 9 Pro (1x)<\/p>\n

That better stabilization is also evident in the photo of City Hall. If you look at the text near the top right of the building, as well as the shrubs and flowers below it, all of it appears much sharper in the Pixel 10 Pro\u2019s photo compared to the Pixel 9 Pro. The Pixel 10 Pro also handles the lights significantly better, whereas the Pixel 9 Pro overexposes them significantly.<\/p>\n

Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro: ultrawide camera\n<\/p>\n

\"PhotoPixel 10 Pro (0.5x)\"PhotoPixel 9 Pro (0.5x)<\/p>\n

Moving to the ultrawide camera, it\u2019s more of the same story. On a technical level, the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro are evenly matched, though the former\u2019s improved colors continue to stand out.<\/p>\n

The first scene of the stream highlights this well, as the entire photo is more colorful and punchier in the Pixel 10 Pro version compared to the Pixel 9 Pro. The sky is a deeper blue, the trees are greener, and the water has a warmer, greenish hue from the reflection of the trees. The Pixel 9 Pro photo is fine on its own, but put side-by-side with the Pixel 10 Pro, there\u2019s no question that I prefer the picture from Google\u2019s newest phone.<\/p>\n

\"PhotoPixel 10 Pro (0.5x)\"PhotoPixel 9 Pro (0.5x)<\/p>\n

I feel exactly the same way about the second photo of the nature trail. The Pixel 9 Pro doesn\u2019t take a bad picture, but the Pixel 10 Pro \u2014 once again \u2014 renders colors that are more pleasing to the eye. It\u2019s subtler here, but you can still see a bluer sky, a warmer brown color for the telephone pole, and greener grass in the Pixel 10 Pro shot.<\/p>\n

Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro: telephoto camera\n<\/p>\n

\"APixel 10 Pro (10x)\"APixel 9 Pro (10x)\"APixel 10 Pro (30x)\"APixel 9 Pro (30x)<\/p>\n

Things get more interesting with the telephoto camera. Although it\u2019s the same sensor on the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro, there\u2019s a pretty noticeable quality difference \u2014 and not just with colors this time.<\/p>\n

Looking at the photos of the hawk, the 10x shots are pretty similar. I want to say the Pixel 10 Pro photo is a tiny bit sharper when I zoom in closely, but it\u2019s really a toss-up. But when we zoom in to 30x, it\u2019s undeniable that the Pixel 10 Pro is the winner. You can see the strands of fur on the bird\u2019s legs, and its feathers are considerably more detailed, too.<\/p>\n

\"pixelPixel 10 Pro (50x without Pro Res Zoom)\"pixelPixel 10 Pro (50x with Pro Res Zoom)<\/p>\n

This is thanks to the Pixel 10 Pro\u2019s Pro Res Zoom feature, which automatically kicks in once you zoom in up to 30x or beyond. It uses AI to upscale an image, adding more detail, and it\u2019s worked shockingly well in all of my testing. Google also gives you a version of the same photo without Pro Res Zoom. You can see how much of a difference it makes with the 50x camera sample above \u2014 a zoom range the Pixel 9 Pro simply isn\u2019t capable of.<\/p>\n

\"PicturePixel 10 Pro (5x)\"PicturePixel 9 Pro (5x)<\/p>\n

But even in situations without Pro Res Zoom, the Pixel 10 Pro still delivers better telephoto results. The picture of the leaves was taken at 5x zoom, the optical range for both phones, and the Pixel 10 Pro easily delivers the better photo. The results look similar at first glance, but once you zoom in, you quickly see how much sharper the leaves are in the Pixel 10 Pro image compared to the Pixel 9 Pro.<\/p>\n

\"APixel 10 Pro (5x)\"APixel 9 Pro (5x)\"APixel 10 Pro (10x)\"APixel 9 Pro (10x)<\/p>\n

Other telephoto samples, such as the photos of the building and the lighthouse, reinforce all the points I\u2019ve already discussed. The picture of the two buildings on the beach showcases the Pixel 10 Pro\u2019s superior color reproduction, and upon closer inspection of the sign, you can also see the Pixel 10 Pro\u2019s sharpness advantage. I also greatly prefer the brighter red roof next to the lighthouse in the second set of photos, plus the added detail in the shingles and the white brick of the lighthouse.<\/p>\n

Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro: selfie camera\n<\/p>\n

\"APixel 10 Pro\"APixel 9 Pro<\/p>\n

Last but not least, a couple of quick selfie camera samples to wrap things up. Stop me if you\u2019ve heard this one before, but the Pixel 10 Pro (once again) comes out ahead of the Pixel 9 Pro.<\/p>\n

Quality-wise, sharpness, exposure, autofocus, etc. are all basically identical between the two phones. The first picture of me walking outside is perhaps the most closely-contested, with the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro capturing almost indistinguishable images. I do prefer my warmer skin tone from the sunlight in the Pixel 10 Pro version, but it\u2019s a pretty minor difference.<\/p>\n

\"APixel 10 Pro\"APixel 9 Pro<\/p>\n

The Pixel 10 Pro has a larger advantage in the second selfie of me inside my bedroom. The difference here is readily apparent, with the Pixel 10 Pro producing a much brighter and warmer photo. The Pixel 9 Pro didn\u2019t do a bad job by any means, but as has been the case throughout this entire comparison, the Pixel 10 Pro is the winner.<\/p>\n

What do you think about our Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 9 Pro camera comparison results?<\/p>\n

269 votes<\/p>\n

The Pixel 10 Pro is SO much better!<\/p>\n

15%<\/p>\n

The Pixel 10 Pro pictures look nicer, but not by a huge margin.<\/p>\n

50%<\/p>\n

The photos don’t look that different to me.<\/p>\n

25%<\/p>\n

The Pixel 9 Pro looks better to my eyes.<\/p>\n

10%<\/p>\n

The Pixel 10 Pro camera is a surprisingly big upgrade over the Pixel 9 Pro<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

On the one hand, I suppose it\u2019s not surprising that Google\u2019s newest Pixel phone takes better pictures than the older one. However, while analyzing the images in this comparison (and dozens more that didn\u2019t make it into the article), I have been surprised by how much better the Pixel 10 Pro\u2019s photos really are.<\/p>\n

The Pixel 9 Pro is certainly still a capable cameraphone, but it\u2019s remarkable just how improved the Pixel 10 Pro\u2019s pictures are despite no significant hardware changes. Boosted colors, deeper shadows, and enhanced detail may not sound like much on their own, but when you add those things together \u2014 advantages the Pixel 10 Pro regularly has over the Pixel 9 Pro \u2014 the quality difference (as you\u2019ve seen) can be quite something.<\/p>\n

It seems silly to suggest that the Pixel 10 Pro\u2019s cameras are so good that they\u2019re reason enough to upgrade from the Pixel 9 Pro, but that\u2019s the direction I\u2019m leaning toward. Which, again, is an insane thing to say, considering the complete lack of hardware changes between the two camera systems.<\/p>\n

Google really knocked it out of the park with the Pixel 10 Pro camera, and no matter which Pixel you\u2019re thinking of upgrading from, I can wholeheartedly say that the photo experience on this year\u2019s Pixel is well worth it.<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 10 Pro<\/a>\"Google\"AAGoogle Pixel 10 Pro<\/a><\/p>\n

Top-tier specs with small display \u2022 Excellent cameras \u2022 Powerful AI tools \u2022 Top-notch software<\/p>\n

More power in the smaller form-factor<\/p>\n

The Google Pixel 10 Pro has everything you could want in a flagship Android phone crammed into a truly compact body with a 6.3-inch display. Google’s new Tensor G5 chip is more powerful, the 100x Pro Res Zoom is truly impressive, and there are loads of helpful AI features. Not to mention, you still get seven years of Android updates.<\/p>\n

Thank you for being part of our community. Read our\u00a0Comment Policy<\/a> before posting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Joe Maring \/ Android Authority The Google Pixel 10 Pro is an outstanding Android phone. With high-end hardware,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":192549,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[844,1632,5053,2306,86,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-192548","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-google","9":"tag-google-pixel-10","10":"tag-google-pixel-9","11":"tag-mobile","12":"tag-technology","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom","15":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192548"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192548\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/192549"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}