The Google Pixel range has long been defined by clever software that lifts the quality of the photos its cameras capture. At this year’s Made By Google event, the company is expected to unveil the Pixel 11 line, likely comprising standard, Pro and Pro XL versions, alongside the next Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Rumours also point to a Pixel Watch 5 joining the announcements.
Every device is expected to receive a substantial dose of Gemini AI. Last year, Google introduced features to its Pixel phones that drew on Gemini generative AI technology, such as Pro Res Zoom, to work around the limitations of small smartphone cameras. The central question is whether the Pixel 11 line will genuinely advance mobile photography or add more gimmicks that could frustrate both photographers and everyday users.
It remains a difficult balance to strike. Generative AI technology for images has progressed rapidly, yet public resistance to AI slop and images created entirely from prompts has grown just as quickly.
Pro Res Zoom Technology Versus Image Quality
Pro Res Zoom was the signature photo feature of the Pixel 10 Pro, offering a fresh solution to a familiar smartphone camera problem. It is a common scene when people photograph with their phones: they zoom in by pinching and spreading two fingers across the screen. Beyond a certain point, which was 10x zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro, the camera is simply enlarging pixels digitally, which reduces detail. At 100x, images appear as though viewed with poor eyesight and no glasses.
Google’s approach is to recreate the content of that zoomed-in area using generative AI. The phone estimates what is present and generates an artificial rendering of what it should be. In some cases this works well, such as with distant buildings or architectural features that are not the focus of the shot. When people appear in the frame, however, the results are far less convincing.
Rumours suggest the Pixel 11 Pro phones’ version of Pro Res Zoom will extend to 120x magnification, so dramatic change is not anticipated. That said, the pace of generative AI improvements could mean the feature renders extremely zoomed-in scenes more effectively.
When capturing above 30x zoom, the camera retains both the original and the generated versions of the image, allowing users to compare the two.
Super Res Zoom’s Continued Strength
Somewhat ironically, Google’s earlier Super Res Zoom feature, which launched with the Pixel 3 in 2018, proves to be the stronger technology in certain situations, despite being pushed aside by Pro Res Zoom last year. At up to 30x magnification, the same issue arises from digitally enlarging pixels, but the pixels are not as large, and the results at 30x upscale at good quality.
Super Res Zoom launched with the Pixel 3 in 2018, while Pro Res Zoom arrived with the Pixel 10 Pro.
