Sorry, Samsung fans: New Android flagship is bringing back the 10x optical zoom camera you lost; joins Oppo Find X9 Ultra

Early leaks regarding the upcoming Huawei Mate 90 series suggest the Chinese tech giant is returning to its ultra-long-range zoom roots. According to a reputable tipster, the flagship Mate 90 Pro Max will feature a dual-telephoto setup, including a dedicated 10x optical zoom lens, which signals a notable shift for Android as a whole.

While many phone-makers have pivoted to high-resolution sensors with "lossless" digital cropping, the recently released Oppo Find X9 Ultra has shown just how impressive a modern 10x optical zoom snapper can be.

By utilizing a high-res 50MP camera behind a native 10x lens with a light path that reflects five times before hitting the sensor, Oppo has set a new standard for sharpness that software-only solutions struggle to match. Now, Huawei’s rumored move suggests Android is expected to go back to aggressive camera hardware upgrades.

Huawei is going back to its roots: Mate 90 Pro Max to get a 10x optical zoom camera like Huawei P40 Pro+ and Oppo Find X9 Ultra; 1-inch sensor too

That said, the Chinese phone-maker is no stranger to innovative camera tech. In fact, the Huawei P40 Pro+ was the first modern phone to feature a 10x periscope (though with some upscaling magic).

With the Mate 90 Pro Max, Huawei is expected to combine its new 10x optical zoom camera with a massive 1-inch type primary sensor and its mature XMAGE imaging engine, potentially setting a new benchmark for mobile photography this October.

Speaking of zoom, the recent Huawei Pura 90 Pro Max became the first phone in the world that can use in-sensor zoom in video - specifically when combined with a 200MP telephoto camera. This means the Pura 90 Pro Max can do "lossless" zoom at 18-20x zoom when recording video.

10x optical zoom cameras on phones: Here is how Oppo, Huawei, Samsung compare

So far, we don’t know what sensor Huawei will manage to squeeze into the Mate 90 Pro Max’s 10x zoom camera. However, you can check out how prior 10x implementations compare to the Oppo Find X9 Ultra below. The difference in sensor size is huge.

Oppo Find X9 Ultra:

• Sensor: 50 MP (1/2.75-inch)
• Aperture: f/3.5
• Focal length: 230mm equivalent
• Tech: Native 10x optical zoom; supports 20x lossless sensor-crop

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra:

• Sensor: 10 MP (1/3.52-inch)
• Aperture: f/4.9
• Focal length: 230mm equivalent
• Tech: Dual-pixel PDAF, 10x native optical zoom

Huawei P40 Pro+:

• Sensor: 8 MP (1/3.6-inch)
• Aperture: f/4.4
• Focal length: 240mm equivalent
• Tech: The first 10x periscope on a modern phone; utilized a 5-fold light reflection path