Google’s Pixel phones haven’t had the simplest camera hardware within the market, but Google proved its photography prowess by compensating for it with advanced algorithms and AI. After many generations, Google can seemingly upgrade its imaging sensors while still counting on software to form up for what hardware might lack. Google is, of course, still mum on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro’s camera features, but a teardown of the Camera app, fortunately, provides hints of what’s to return.
The Pixel 6 Pro, especially, has been rumored to urge a 50MP Samsung GN1 camera, a 12MP Sony IMX386 ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 48MP Sony IMX586 telephoto camera with 4X optical zoom. Those sensors don’t tell the entire story exactly since they miss other important details like lens aperture. Fortunately, XDA’s teardown of an indoor version of the Camera app for the Pixel 6 Pro sheds a touch of sunshine.
For example, it reveals the Pixel 6 Pro can 4K60 video but only on most cameras. With 4K30 recording, however, any of the three cameras are often used, and therefore the user can even seamlessly switch between those without having to pause recording. Hopefully, the Pixel 6 Pro won’t have an equivalent reported overheating problem because of the Pixel 5a (5G) and Pixel 5a.
As for the Camera app itself, features like Magic Eraser are making a return, which could not be surprising if Google is advertising the AI chops of its Tensor processor. An earlier teased Face Deblur has also been sighted, basically combining a typical HDR process with some Tensor-powered processing to deblur faces within the composite photo using data from the ultra-wide-angle camera. Google is additionally giving photography pros another tool with a manual white balance UI.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg of photography-related features coming to the Pixel 6 Pro. Given the long overdue camera upgrade and, therefore, the new Tensor chip, Google will presumably put an important specialize in the smartphone’s on-device image processing features, ensuring to remind everyone that it’s still on top of its mobile photography game.
