New Pixel releases typically come with significant upgrades to the Google Camera app. The Google Camera UI is receiving a significant overhaul with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
In an article from Android Authority, there is a strong emphasis on putting controls towards the bottom of the screen for easier accessibility.
The bottom-left corner of the screen now houses the settings pill that was formerly at the top. In addition to tapping to access the settings sheet, which is mostly unaltered and continues to show from the top, you may also swipe up to do so. A sophisticated Photo and Video switcher is now housed in the same black strip that holds preferences. (As visible in all of today’s screenshots, a thick ribbon at the top of the screen is still there.)
This provides information to the mode/feature carousel, which is now overlayed over the viewfinder for a more focused UI. According to what can be seen in the screenshots taken today, you get:
- Action Pan
- Long Exposure
- Portrait
- Photo
- Night Sight
- Panorama
As for the video, it is:
- Pan
- Blur
- Video: Stabilization is moving into the settings menu with Standard, Locked, and Active options
- Slow Motion
- Time Lapse
The shutter button is still present, but the front/rear switcher is now located on the right and the final shot preview is now on the left, which will be difficult for muscle memory to adapt to. The different sliders are still in their original locations at the left and right border, and the zoom switcher is visible above.
Staggered HDR, which Google is developing, “[speeds] up the capture process and reduces the likelihood of artifacts due to shorter delays between frames,” according to Google. Additionally, “Segmentation AWB” is available to “apply different processing to select parts of the scene to make it more accurate.”
Last but not least, “Adaptive touch” adjusts/shortens flash intensity based on the scene to “prevent overexposed shots and improve low-light photography,” which may account for why that component seems more significant this year.
After the debut of the Pixel 8 series, this new Google Camera UI will most likely be available on more current smartphones, such as the Pixel 6 and later.
