TLDR: Google’s new Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL introduce a ‘100x Zoom’ capability, which is primarily powered by advanced generative AI rather than traditional optical or simple software zoom. This ‘Pro Res Zoom’ utilizes an on-device diffusion model optimized for the Tensor G5 chip to enhance image details beyond the camera’s optical limitations, aiming to reduce pixelation in highly zoomed photos. The feature was unveiled at the recent Made by Google event, with initial reactions being mixed.
At the recent Made by Google event on August 21, 2025, the tech giant unveiled its new Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL smartphones, highlighting an impressive ‘100x Zoom’ feature. This represents a significant leap from the Pixel 9 Pro’s 30x zoom, but Google has clarified that this enhanced capability is not solely due to optical advancements. Instead, the ‘100x Zoom,’ branded as ‘Pro Res Zoom,’ heavily relies on sophisticated generative AI technologies .
Traditionally, smartphone zoom has been categorized into two main types: hardware and software. Hardware zoom employs a dedicated telephoto lens for physical magnification, offering realistic detail but with a limited range, typically topping out at 5x on both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro. Software zoom, in its most basic form, crops an image to simulate a zoom effect, often leading to pixelation and a loss of resolution as details are merely stretched rather than enhanced .
Pro Res Zoom aims to overcome the limitations of conventional software zoom. When photos are taken beyond the optical zoom limit, the feature engages generative AI to enhance details. This is achieved by utilizing a local, on-device diffusion model specifically optimized for Google’s Tensor G5 chip. Unlike older techniques like ‘Super Res Zoom’ – which combines multiple photos taken at different distances and exposures using machine learning – Pro Res Zoom leverages generative AI to ‘fill in gaps’ and create detail where none existed optically, significantly reducing pixelation .
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Google demonstrated this technology by showcasing a landscape shot where the Pixel 10 Pro zoomed into a heavily pixelated distant truck, then used AI to render it with much greater realism. However, initial responses from reviewers regarding the effectiveness of Pro Res Zoom have been mixed . The company also noted that its prior software zoom technologies will continue to exist alongside this new generative AI-powered feature .
