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Android 12 Beta 3 reveals ultra-telephoto camera and ultra-wide-angle camera details for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

Google Camera 8.3 includes references to an ultra-telephoto camera setting. (Image source: OnLeaks)
Google Camera 8.3 includes references to an ultra-telephoto camera setting. (Image source: OnLeaks)
Android 12 Beta has revealed some details about one of the cameras in Google's upcoming Pixel 6 series of smartphones. Supposedly, only the Pixel 6 Pro or Pixel 6 XL will receive the new 'ultra telephoto' camera, which could be marketed with up to 5x optical zoom. Both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro should receive a wider ultra-wide-angle camera than current Pixel smartphones, though.

Android 12 Beta 3 is less than 48 hours old, so there is still plenty to unpack. However, XDA Developers has noticed a change within the Google Camera app, which jumped from version 8.2.400 to 8.3.252. According to the website, Beta 3 references an ultra-telephoto camera, also known as a periscope camera.

As the code below shows, Google Camera 8.3.252 contains an ID for 'zoom_toogle_ultratele', which corresponds to the text '5x'. XDA Developers adds that the same app contains other references to 'ultratele', reinforcing that Google plans to release something with an 'ultratele' sensor soon.

Google's Android 12 teaser hinted that a future Pixel may support 5x zoom. (Image source: Google)
Google's Android 12 teaser hinted that a future Pixel may support 5x zoom. (Image source: Google)

Unfortunately, 5x zoom may not correlate with 5x magnification. XDA Developers states that the real optical zoom level is 4.3x, just as the Pixel 4's 2x zoom was actually 1.6x. Additionally, the same code states that the Pixel 6 series has a 0.615x ultra-wide-angle camera, 0.055x wider than the equivalent sensor in the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5.

Only the Pixel 6 Pro is expected to feature a periscope camera of the Pixel 6 series. Reputedly, the periscope camera will output at 48 MP, with both devices sharing 50 MP primary and 12 MP ultra-wide optics.

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(Image source: XDA Developers)
(Image source: XDA Developers)
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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2021 07 > Android 12 Beta 3 reveals ultra-telephoto camera and ultra-wide-angle camera details for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro
Alex Alderson, 2021-07-15 (Update: 2021-07-15)