Google adds Ultra HDR photos support for older Pixels.
Google’s latest camera update unlocks a quality-boosting Pixel 8 exclusive feature for use on older Pixel smartphones (and now lets you turn it off on the Pixel 8 range).
Ultra HDR Control And Support For Older Pixels
Google’s newly-released Camera app version 9.2 adds a switch to turn Ultra HDR photo mode on or off. This means Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro users can now optionally disable the feature, which was permanently activated in previous releases.
More interestingly, the switch has also been added to older Pixel phones, allowing them to take Ultra HDR photos for the first time.
A new Ultra HDR switch has been added to the advanced camera settings in Google Camera.
Enabling Ultra HDR instructs the camera to store additional brightness and color information in your photo whenever you take a picture. This extra information can then be used by apps such as Google Photos, Google Chrome or Photoshop to display significantly brighter highlights and more vibrant colors on compatible displays.
This version of the camera app requires at least Android 14, so you’ll need a currently-supported Pixel (Pixel 5a (5G) and up) to be able to install it. Pixel 7 and Pixel 6 owners are already reporting being able to shoot in Ultra HDR mode thanks to the new setting.
Night Sight Time Lapse (Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro only)
Google Camera v9.2 also introduces the new Night Sight Time Lapse option announced as part of Google’s recent December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop. Exclusive to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, this feature adds a new mode to the existing time-lapse feature, enabling it to capture brighter, more detailed videos in low-light conditions.
The Night Sight Time Lapse option can be configured to engage automatically when the camera decides it’s dark enough, or you can turn it off altogether. Unfortunately, there’s no way to enable it manually if you disagree with the camera’s decision not to activate it. The feature won’t engage if excessive shake is detected, and the speed setting must be set to Auto.
Google Introduces Night Sight time-lapse video for the Pixel 8 range.
Time-lapse videos shot in Night Sight mode are similar in appearance to Night Sight photos. The scene tends to appear brighter, clearer and with more vivid colors. However, having a little more control over the effect would be nice, as I found the sky can sometimes appear unnaturally bright in nighttime shots.
Palm Timer Tweak
Also included in the camera update is a minor improvement to the handy (no pun intended) Palm Timer feature that lets you snap a selfie by raising your palm to the camera while your face is in view. You can now restrict this feature to activate only when the self-timer is enabled rather than all the time.
If you don’t have it already, the new Google Camera app will arrive as part of the December 2023 Feature Drop.
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