Smartphones with lossless zoom capabilities highlight that there will always be some innovation carried out in this category to ensure a competitive edge against a company’s rivals, but there is a point where you cannot scale the earth’s natural laws. For instance, devices cannot zoom into an object beyond the 10x limit without requiring a bigger lens or using advanced computational techniques. Google, facing the same obstacles, decided to incorporate its 100x Pro Res Zoom capabilities into the Pixel 10 Pro and the Pixel 10 Pro XL, which leverages generative AI to improve image quality, but is it any good? The first samples are here, and saying they are bad would be a gross understatement.
A close-up shot and a ‘side by side’ comparison with the 100x Pro Res Zoom sample indicates that the technology will have to learn overtime
A Redditor with the username Dry_Astronomer3210 heads into a Best Buy outlet to play around with the 100x Pro Res Zoom feature present on the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL. While there are a lot of positives about the UI, such as a quick 10x zoom button and Video Boost for all three cameras, the individual decided to take Google’s AI-powered feature to the test and see if it is worth a user’s time. Unfortunately, the technology giant will have to make substantial improvements in this area because the 100x Pro Res Zoom results are egregious.
While it is more than possible to zoom in on the subject, the problem arises when the feature adds little details using generative AI. A close-up shot shows a Nintendo Switch 2 game pack, and as you can tell, there are a ton of details present in this image. The non-AI-generated result is a blurry mess, while the 100x Pro Res Zoom shot is significantly sharper, but it looks like an amalgamation of the characters present on the packaging, and for those who have played The Last Of Us Part II, it reminds us of the rainbow version of the Rat King.
Now, before we quickly get down to criticizing Google for marketing its 100x Pro Res Zoom as a game-changer, do note that capturing a small image and expecting it to pretty much generate details and present us with even a half-decent image is wishful thinking. The Tensor G5 requires as much imaging data as possible from the captured 100x shot to fill in the details, and even now, the software tried its best to improve the Nintendo Switch 2 branding and other letters.
Naturally, a ton of work is required and given that this feature will likely be used by Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL users, Google can train the Tensor G5 with the zoomed data to improve its 100x Pro Res Zoom. The process will not happen overnight, so expect upgrades to arrive after several months.
News Source: Reddit
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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