It’s no secret that the camera on any Google Pixel smartphone is one of its most significant perks.
The impressive specs of the actual lenses, combined with the high-end software behind them, have been infamously creating some of the most stunning mobile photography in the industry.
That’s why I was so excited about the Pixel 10 Pro, which offers Google’s first attempt at the 100x zoom that was made so popular by Samsung smartphones over the last few years.
However, after I started using it, I noticed that 100x zoom is a lot farther away than I realized. An unfamiliar feeling dawned on me in the middle of testing it out.
Honestly, I felt like a bit of a creep for being able to zoom in that far, and it makes me a lot more hesitant to use it in public.
100x zoom on Pixel 10 Pro is really impressive
After a little processing, it’s like you’re right there
For starters, the zoom capabilities on the Pixel 10 Pro are extremely impressive. 100x is really a staggeringly long distance to get clear images of, and the Google smartphone does not disappoint.
I had trouble coming across anything far enough away to test it out properly. That is, until I found myself in downtown Chicago on the 12th floor of a skyscraper facing Lake Michigan.
I set myself up in front of a not-super-clean window and started zooming in on the William E. Dever Crib Lighthouse that sits three miles off the coast of Oak Street Beach, which I assumed was far enough away that I wouldn’t get nearly close enough to see anything important.
Almost immediately, I realized that I was very much wrong. Even by 30x, I could no longer see the windows of skyscrapers or the boats on the lake. By 100x, the miles-away lighthouse took up the entire frame of the camera app.
To be clear, though, the lighthouse didn’t look great right away. When the camera app was open and zoomed in at 100x, the image looked blurry. Not a little bit blurry, either. I’m talking barely recognizable, no discernible details blurry.
However, after a few seconds of the “processing Pro Res Zoom” notification, a shockingly crystal-clear image was left behind, showing noticeable details and an impressive composition that is almost unbelievable given the zoom length.
Suffice to say, the 100x zoom on the Google Pixel 10 Pro delivers in a major way when it comes to delivering quality images at a serious distance.
It’s a little too impressive
Depending on where you’re pointing it
The city of Chicago doesn’t mind that I’m zooming in so closely on the William E. Dever Crib Lighthouse, given its status as a historical landmark in the city.
That’s the case for many 100x zoom photos from the Pixel 10 Pro candidates, like a passing airplane or the moon, with no problematic implications from taking a picture of it from a distance.
However, that is not always the case. When I was initially testing the 100x zoom after unboxing the Pixel 10 Pro, I realized quickly that this kind of technology can get creepy fast, after unintentionally taking a professional headshot of a gentleman walking his dog two blocks away.
From that same skyscraper in downtown Chicago, I was able to get some truly unsettling pictures that would’ve made Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear View look like amateur voyeurism, with some extreme closeups on 30th-floor windows with exacting details.
As is often the case, the 100x zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro camera isn’t to blame for the potentially creepy photos it can take. The blame lies with the user, which in this case is me.
If you use this smartphone for nothing other than taking pictures of the moon and zooming in on one of your favorite birds in the park, that’s fine.
However, if you start pointing that zoom at people, you’ll hopefully feel that same unsettling feeling creep up on you that makes you want to put it down immediately.
Powerful zoom smartphones abound
The Pixel 10 Pro isn’t alone
While the Pixel 10 Pro represents Google’s first attempt at the 100x zoom technology, it’s certainly not alone.
The device is a bit behind the ball, with Samsung releasing this kind of functionality years ago with the Galaxy S20, and continues to improve upon it with the Galaxy S25, dubbed Space Zoom for its effectiveness with taking pictures of the moon.
Even the iPhone 17 offers enhanced zoom capabilities, although it disappointingly tops out at 40x rather than 100x.
Simply put, there are several phones you can use to give you that creepy feeling if you want it. Naturally, they’re going to be more expensive than your standard budget smartphone, but voyeurism doesn’t come cheap.
- SoC
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Google Tensor G5
- RAM
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16GB
- Storage
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128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB with Zoned UFS / 1 TB with Zoned UFS
- Battery
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4870mAh
- Operating System
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Android 16
- Front camera
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42 MP Dual PD selfie camera
Google’s latest Pro Pixel packs a faster yet efficient Tensor G5 chip, an upgraded ISP, and a brighter display. Plus, an array of new AI features that make it one of the best Android phones to launch in 2025.
