The Pixel 9 series has been available for a few weeks now, getting positive reviews from buyers and experts. This year, Google has been conservative regarding improvements, but that may change in the next couple of generations. A big leak has revealed the new camera and AI features that the Pixel 10 and 11 series could bring in the next few years.
As spotted by Kamila Wojciechowska of Android Authority in documents from Google’s chip division, the company is reportedly doubling down on AI to develop new image editing tools and boost the quality of photos and videos.
New AI tools for image and video editing
Starting with potential new AI editing tools, the “Video Generative ML” name came to the fore. “Post-capture Generative AI-based Intuitive Video Editing for the Photos app,” reads the description of the new feature. It appears to be a tool that enables you to edit recorded videos using the power of Gen AI. It may bear resemblance to an option found in Adobe’s Firefly AI video generator. Clues suggest that it will be available for Google and Photos YouTube Shorts.
Other features mentioned include “Speak-to-Tweak” and “Sketch-to-Image.” While they don’t include a description, their names are pretty self-explanatory. “Speak-to-Tweak” could let you edit images using voice commands, while “Sketch-to-Image” may turn your drawings into artwork. The latter seems similar to a Galaxy AI suite option.
According to the source, the documents also mention the name “Magic Mirror.” Sadly, this one also doesn’t include a description, and its name is a bit more ambiguous. A more powerful NPU in the Pixel 10 series’ Tensor G5 chip could enable all these AI improvements. The new SoC may even enable on-device processing of Stable Diffusion-based models. So, apps like Pixel Studio could move to a local approach instead of relying on the cloud.
Potential new camera features for the Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 series
The source also spotted potential camera improvements for the Pixel 10 and 11 series. Next year’s Tensor G5-powered devices could finally record 4K HDR video at 60 fps. For reference, the current Tensor G4 only supports video recording at a maximum of 30 fps under those settings.
On the other hand, the Pixel 11 series in 2026 could boast a 100x super zoom based on Machine Learning. The feature could be available for both photos and videos. The documents claim that “next-gen” telephoto camera hardware will make this possible. The Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro models already feature “Zoom Enhance” to restore the quality of zoomed photos. It’s possible that the new system is an improvement to Zoom Enhance.
Pixel 11 may have powerful AI video recording capabilities
The source spotted some big video recording improvements aimed at the Pixel 11 series. First, “Cinematic Blur” may now support 4K recording at 30 fps. There could also be a “Video Relight” option to tweak the lighting conditions of a recorded video. Both could be possible thanks to a “Cinematic Rendering Engine” built into the Tensor G6’s (tentative name) new ISP. Plus, recording Cinematic Blur videos may consume up to 40% less power thanks to the new hardware.
Current Google Pixel devices feature a “Night Sight Video” mode for better recordings in low-light conditions. Google could take the feature to a new level with the “Ultra Low Light” mode. The feature may be able to act on videos recorded under lighting conditions as low as 5-10 lux. For reference, this is equivalent to dimly lit rooms or cloudy night skies. Plus, video processing may now be entirely local instead of using the cloud.
Some features may never arrive
All of these new features sound pretty promising and might even make some consider waiting for the Pixel 11 series instead of next year’s Pixel 10. However, given that these features are still in development, it’s possible that some may not be implemented or may undergo modifications. Let’s hope that’s not the case, as they could take the mobile camera experience to a new level on Pixel devices.
