Google is bringing some of the functionality of its well-received Pixel 5 camera application to older Pixel phones with version 8.1 of the app.
Version 8.0 of the camera application was only available on Pixel 5 devices, but it looks like a wide-range of older Pixel phones will get the newest version of the app through a free update.
Which Pixel Phones Will Get the New Camera Features?
No longer are the best photography features locked to only Pixel 5 owners. Now, as reported by 9To5Google, the company is pushing an update out that brings those features to several older Pixel devices.
The report indicates that Google is bringing version 8.1 of its Camera app to Pixel phones as old as the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. That means all phones from the Pixel 3 and Pixel 4 generation will also be able to download the update to their phones.
Google Camera just updated for me via Play Store version 8.1.008.341125824
On Pixel 4 XL. Looks like UI Revamp.@AndroidPolice @AndroidAuth @xdadevelopers @ArtemR @derekmross @verge pic.twitter.com/T0J7jKoFkB— Kelvin Peralta (@KaKito_24) November 12, 2020
To see if the update has rolled out for you, check Google Play and see if it is available for your phone. You may have to wait a little while, but as long as you have a Pixel 2 or newer, you should get the update at some point shortly. Unfortunately, if you’re impatient sideloading doesn’t seem to be an option at this time, as users are reporting errors during the sideload process.
What Does Google Camera 8.1 Add?
As the update is still rolling out, it’s hard to tell exactly which features will come to each phone. Some users are reporting that certain features are only rolling out to Pixel 4 and newer devices. One such feature is the cinematic pan, which doesn’t appear to work on Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 devices.
The many features of the camera are moved to the bottom bar regardless of which phone you have, which makes navigating the camera easier. It also appears that Audio Zoom and one-tap zoom adjustments are rolling out to both older and newer Pixel phones.
Basically, it’s a mess right now trying to figure out which features will come to the different Pixel phones. As time goes on, we’ll get a better feel regarding which features are exclusive to newer devices and which all get.
With that said, it’s worth updating your phone to the latest version of the app, as it’ll make taking photos on your Pixel device a far more enjoyable experience.
The Google Pixel 5 Is Here!
Even if you have one of the Pixel devices getting the update, it might still be worth considering the Pixel 5, as it adds a lot of hardware changes to both the camera and other aspects of the phone that make it worth a look.