Google has never been shy about pushing smartphone cameras to their limits. In fact, some might say, eking out the maximum using software instead of hardware is Google’s entire shtick with the Pixel lineup. With the Pixel 11 Pro, the company is taking things even further, quite literally, with 120x Pro Res zoom. That’s a step up from 100x on the Pixel 10 Pro and a ridiculous amount of magnification for a phone. Google claims its brighter telephoto camera can capture more detail from farther away – when combined with generative AI, of course. But just because a phone can zoom in that far doesn’t mean the results will be any good. My previous experience with such bold claims has often fallen flat. So, I was curious to see if Google could do any better.

I spent the past week testing the Pixel 11 Pro’s zoom in different situations to see if it actually holds up or is just something that looks good on a spec sheet. I tried everything, including reading distant signboards, photographing historic monuments, and capturing wildlife and people across a park. The results were surprising. The camera can pull off some impressive tricks, but it can also produce some downright bizarre images. The long and short of it? It works with some glaring caveats.

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