As the months get closer to the expected October Google Pixel 8 launch window, we hear more and more rumors about what the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will bring with them. And today we are talking about cameras.
According to Android OfficeThe Pixel 8 series will bring with it a significant upgrade in the camera department. In particular, the main sensor of the Samsung ISOCELL GN1 will apparently be replaced with a larger update of the Samsung ISOCELL GN2.
The larger sensor means you can capture around 35% more light – not only does this give you better performance in low light conditions, but it also means faster shutter speeds (and less motion blur) whatever the lighting conditions.
Ultra wide and telephoto
There’s more: The Pixel 8 Pro’s ultra-wide sensor is set to upgrade from a 12-megapixel Sony IMX386 to a 64-megapixel Sony IMX787 – it just so happens to be the main camera sensor you’ll find on the Google Pixel 7a.
The report says Google is also expanding the lens on top of the sensor, allowing you to capture more of the scene. And while the ultra-wide camera sensor in the Pixel 8 is rumored to be the same 12-megapixel Sony IMX386 in the Pixel 7, again, the lens is expected to be wider on the upcoming phone.
As for the telephoto zoom lens on the Pixel 8 Pro, it is expected to match the 48MP Samsung GM5 5x zoom on the Pixel 7 Pro. The Pro model is also tilted for a better time-of-flight (ToF) sensor to improve autofocus, which all adds up to a serious set of improvements – especially on the Pro version.
Analysis: Google wants to impress again
Throughout the history of the Pixel series, phones have usually impressed with their photo and video capturing capabilities, even if the underlying hardware didn’t match up with the components of phones like Apple and Samsung.
This is primarily due to Google’s expertise in computational photography: how to process and optimize images to get the best results out of the raw data captured by photographic equipment.
Google’s rivals have caught up with these imaging techniques in recent years, so it seems important that the Pixel 8 comes with improved camera components – as well as, hopefully, improved photo and video processing tricks.
Camera updates on Pixel phones aren’t always a sure thing, and software upgrades tend to be more common. However, this year, Google seems determined to set a new high bar when it comes to smartphone photography.