Google Pixel 10 Pro Design Leak Provides a Mixed Bag of Refinement and Controversy

Cameras have become the main stage for smartphone innovation, with manufacturers using design as a canvas for their photographic ambitions. Some phones stick to that tried-and-true rectangular patch in the corner, while a few have gone all-in with enormous circles smack in the middle. Others, perhaps itching for a little nostalgia, borrow cues from professional camera gear, making their phones look like mini DSLRs ready for a shoot.

When Google launched the Pixel 6 back in 2021, it rolled out a camera design that immediately caused a stir. The so-called “visor” stretched across the back like a pair of futuristic, well, visors, quickly dividing fans and critics alike. Last year’s Pixel 9, with the Pro model shown above, tried to shake things up with a pill-shaped bar, but that bold move didn’t exactly bridge the gap. Now, with the latest leaks, Google seems set to go even bigger, both literally and figuratively.

Designer: Google (via Mystic Leaks)

Unlike most smartphone makers, Google has stuck with an unusual arrangement that lines up its cameras neatly in a row across the phone’s back. This “all in a row” look gives Pixel phones a personality you can spot a mile away, for better or worse. Last year’s shift to a rounded bar only added more fuel to the ongoing debate, and the upcoming Pixel 10 Pro looks ready to keep the conversation going.

Leaked shots of what’s rumored to be the Pixel 10 Pro reveal a camera bar that’s not just taller, but noticeably chunkier than before. The added size hints at bigger or better hardware tucked underneath, even if the official camera specs haven’t changed much. Interestingly, the rest of the phone appears a little slimmer, as if Google is trying to balance the bulk up top with some subtle finesse in the hand.

There are a handful of other tweaks that might fly under the radar if you’re not paying close attention. The SIM card slot, for instance, has migrated to the top edge, opening up the bottom for a set of symmetrical speaker grilles hugging the USB-C port. Meanwhile, the new camera bar’s glass now stretches all the way to the edges, making the whole rear look just a bit cleaner and more refined.

For all the debate, there’s no denying that the Pixel’s broad camera design brings some practical perks. Unlike phones with corner bumps that make them rock on a table, the Pixel’s camera bar keeps things steady. It also sidesteps the massive circle trend that can dominate a phone’s entire back. Still, ever since the Visor first appeared, Pixel fans have been split. With this camera bar growing even larger, it’s anyone’s guess whether it will win new hearts or simply add to the ongoing squabble.

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