New Android 12 beta hints at 5x telephoto camera on upcoming Google Pixel 6 XL

The Google Pixel 6 XL is widely expected to debut later this year, but it seems as though we may already know at least some of its rear camera setup. And oddly enough, this is thanks to their own new beta of Android 12.

Basically, the newly released Android 12 beta comes with a new version of the Google Camera app with it. The folks over at XDA Developers then took a deep dive into the new Google Camera app’s APK file (the files that contain the installer for an Android app). It was in the APK that they noticed a new line of code referring to a 5x zoom option for the camera. There were further references to an ‘ultratele’ zoom too.

Of course, this doesn’t actually directly link to the upcoming Google Pixel 6 XL. However, XDA also found that the ‘real’ optical zoom level of the 5x zoom option was 4.3x. This lines up with past Google Pixel zoom levels—the Pixel 4 had a 2x zoom option, but the real zoom level was 1.6x. On top of that, previous Google Pixel smartphones don’t have a 5x telephoto sensor, providing further evidence hinting at the new sensor for the Pixel 6 XL.

It won’t be too surprising to see a new 5x telephoto camera on the Google Pixel 6 XL though. Back in May, renders of the Google Pixel 6 XL leaked online, showing a three-camera setup on the rear of the phone. It had a striking camera bump that went horizontally across the back of the device, and doubles as a border between the classic Google Pixel two-tone design. Google later accidentally revealed the Pixel 6’s naming scheme in an official developer form, quashing rumours that they were changing the higher end model’s name to the Pixel 6 Pro.

With Google Pixel devices already really good when it comes to Android smartphone cameras, the addition of the new 5x telephoto camera may continue to cement its place among the best smartphones for photography. It shouldn’t be too long now before Google unveils their new lineup of smartphones. Hopefully this time, Malaysia will actually be able to officially get their hands on them.

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