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Best camera apps for Android in 2023
Is your built-in camera app not cutting it anymore? There are great camera apps on the Play Store you can use instead.
Smartphone cameras have improved a lot over the years, and they now come very close to what a DSLR or a mirrorless camera can capture in terms of colors and details. There are tons of great camera phones with amazing hardware, but not all of them offer the best experience when it comes to software. Camera apps have also come a long way, but some still tend to hold the camera back with poor software optimization, lacking image processing, and missing features.
How to Enable and Use Portrait Mode on your Android or iPhone
Here's how you can enable portrait mode on your phone and use it to click pictures of people or other subjects with a background blur.
Dual cameras have been around on Android as far back as 2011, and devices like the HTC One M8 from 2014 popularized the idea of using the second camera for depth information. But it was Apple that truly solidified the concept of dual rear cameras with the launch of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus back in 2016. What followed was probably every single smartphone OEM jumping onto the bandwagon and launching phones with dual cameras. No matter what the secondary sensor did, it almost became mandatory for brands to include it to keep up with the trend.
Google Camera update brings macro mode tweaks to the Pixel 7 Pro
You no longer have to wait for the device to switch to macro mode automatically
Google is rolling out a fresh update for the Google Camera app on the Pixel 7 Pro, which brings some tweaks to improve the macro photography experience on the device. The update introduces a new Macro Focus setting that will let users quickly switch lenses to help users capture macro shots.
OnePlus 9 Pro's latest update restores GCam auxiliary camera access
Along with several bug fixes and the Android security patches for Jan 2022, the latest OxygenOS 12 update for the OnePlus 9 Pro also restores GCam auxiliary camera access.
OnePlus recently rolled out a new stable channel OxygenOS 12 update to the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. The update included several bug fixes, improvements, and optimizations, along with the Android security patches for January 2022. And, although the official changelog doesn't make any mentions of it, the update also restores GCam auxiliary camera access on the OnePlus 9 Pro.
Google Camera update brings some Pixel 6 features to older Pixel phones
The latest Google Camera update has brought some Pixel 6 features to older Pixel smartphones, such as the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 4a.
The Google Pixel 6 pioneered a number of camera features such as Face Unblur, Magic Eraser, and Action Pan. Those features are Pixel 6 exclusive as far as we can tell, but there was some other quality of life improvements too. Features such as the ability to modify exposure and "Timer Light" were also added, and now you can get those features on older Google Pixel smartphones. Google Camera 8.4 is available, and it can be sideloaded on your smartphone now.
[Update: Includes Bluetooth mic support] Google Camera 8.4.167 starts rolling out through the Play Store
Google has started rolling out Google Camera 8.4.167 through the Play Store. The update packs a couple of new features for Pixel 6 series devices.
Google's all-new Pixel 6 series comes with several improvements over the previous Pixel model. Along with the new Google Tensor SoC, high refresh rate displays, and fast charging support, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro pack significantly better camera hardware. In addition, Google has introduced a bunch of new camera features with the devices, and those should now be available for all early Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro buyers with the new Google Camera update.
Exclusive: Here are the new and upcoming camera features of the Google Pixel 6 Pro
XDA's source has revealed new details on the Pixel 6 Pro camera, including new and upcoming features found in the Google Camera app.
For many consumers, the camera is the most important piece of hardware in a smartphone. It's no surprise, then, that Google made the camera the marquee feature of the Pixel. While Pixel phones have never featured top-of-the-line camera hardware, Google's image processing pipeline and Google Camera app have consistently elevated the Pixel to a spot at the top of smartphone camera rankings. With this year's Pixel 6 series, Google is improving the camera hardware in ways never before seen in a Pixel phone, and with a new, custom-made chip, the company has even more control over image processing. Now, thanks to an unreleased, internal version of the Google Camera app provided by our source, as well as further insight from our source, XDA can shed some light on the possible camera features that will make use of this upgraded hardware.
Google Camera 8.3 hints the Pixel 6 XL could have a 5X "ultra tele" camera
A teardown of Google Camera 8.3 suggests that Google is working on an "ultra tele" 5X zoom, possibly for the Pixel 6 XL.
Earlier today, Google rolled out the third beta of Android 12 to Pixel phones. The latest beta adds new features like scrolling screenshots, smarter autorotation, and a whole lot of other features we're in the midst of uncovering. Besides new features, there are also updated system apps, most notably a new WallpaperPicker and a new Google Camera app. The latter was updated to version 8.3.252, a notable bump from the previous version of 8.2.400. On the surface, the new Google Camera update seemingly only brings support for Android 12's dynamic theming system. However, within the APK, we've discovered evidence that the Pixel 6 XL (or "Pro") could have a 5X zoom "ultra tele" camera.
Google Camera update rolls out with time-lapse astrophotography support
Google is rolling out an update to the Google Camera app that adds support for the new time-lapse astrophotography feature.
Yesterday was the first Monday of June, so Google published a new Android Security Bulletin. It's also been 3 months since the last Pixel Feature Drop, so Google took the opportunity to also drop a new set of exclusive features for Pixel users. Many of the features announced by Google haven't rolled out yet, though the latest Google Camera update brings at least one of the promised features: time-lapse astrophotography.
Pixel Feature Drop adds new features to Google Camera, Google Photos, and more
The latest Pixel Feature Drop has added a ton of new features on Google Pixel phones, including features in Google Camera and Google Photos.
Once every 3 months, Google releases a "Pixel Feature Drop" update that adds tons of new exclusive features on Pixel phones. The last update rolled out in March, meaning we're due a big update today. Right on schedule, Google has released a new Pixel Feature Drop update alongside the June 2021 Android Security Bulletin.
Google Camera update may let you take Astrophotography time-lapses
The Google Camera app on Pixel phones may soon let you take a time-lapse in astrophotography mode, letting you capture moving night shots.
After Google launched the Pixel 4 series in 2019, the company started to regularly release new software features in what's called a "Pixel Feature Drop." The first such release happened in December of 2019, while the most recent one happened in the beginning of March 2021. We're expecting the next Pixel Feature Drop to land on June 7th — the first Monday of this month — alongside the June 2021 security patches. Ahead of the release, Google has pushed a new update to its Pixel Tips app, the app that educates Pixel owners about new features. While the update doesn't reveal much info about the upcoming Pixel Feature Drop, it does drop a hint at a possible new feature coming to the Google Camera app: astrophotography time-lapses.
Google Pixel 6 camera will be designed to better shoot diverse skin tones
Google Pixel 6's computational photography will be better at photographing people of color and diverse hair styles, thanks to Google Camera.
Google's computational photography prowess has been well documented, as its Pixel line of phones consistently offers one of the very best camera experiences in mobile despite using relatively underwhelming camera hardware. Whether it's bringing light into pitch-black rooms or producing creamy bokeh without the need for a second lens, Google's proven time and time again software brilliance is the most important aspect of mobile photography. And with the Google Pixel 6, the company's taking on a noble cause: make the camera smarter at photographing diverse skin tones, particularly darker ones.
Google Camera 8.2 makes it even easier to quickly take videos
Google is rolling out an update to Google Camera that makes it easier than ever to quickly take a hands-free video.
Over the years, Google has made changes to its Camera app that have refined the experience, and the company is making yet another tweak that will improve how you use it.
Google seems to be blocking sideloading updates to its Camera and Recorder apps
If you've seen a "failed verification" error when sideloading an update to the Google Camera or Recorder apps, read this to find out why.
When Google launched the Pixel 5 back in October, we were excited to get our hands on its new apps. (The phone itself is pretty cool, too.) With the Pixel 5's launch came new versions of the Google Camera and Google Recorder apps that we shared with the community. However, when many users of older Pixel devices tried to sideload the updates, they were met with an error (shown above). Bizarrely, not everyone had issues with installing the updates. Some were able to install them just fine, while others had to factory reset just so they could install the new versions. Because of the seemingly random nature of this issue, many chalked it up to a bug. We're pretty confident now that this issue doesn't stem from a bug but rather Google's use of a new API in Android 11 to block sideloading updates.
Google Camera 8.1.200 rolls out for Pixel phones with a toggle to disable auto Night Sight
Google Camera 8.1.200 is rolling out to Pixel phone and it now lets users toggle off the Auto Night Sight mode enitrely. Read on.
The Pixel 5 and Pixel 4 5G came with a revamped camera app in the form of Google Camera version 8.0. The updated app introduced several new features, including a reworked UI with new buttons, Night Sight for portrait mode, Cinematic pan, a quick zoom toggle, and more. This was followed by Google Camera 8.1 in November, which added a Storage Saver mode to help users store more photos, albeit at the cost of image and video quality.
XDA Awards – The Best Tech of 2020
2020 has had its ups and downs, but the industry still churned out dozens of devices. These are our picks for the best tech of 2020.
Despite all the notable events this year, 2020 has been incredible for consumer tech, and more specifically, smartphones. A lot of companies went all out with their devices, flooding the market with great options catering to a wide variety of needs and wants. We at XDA have used a lot of these gadgets throughout the year, so here are what we think are the best smartphones of 2020.
Download: Developers release modded Google Camera 8.1 based on Pixel 5's camera app
Developers have released a modded version of Google Camera 8.1 based on the Pixel 5's camera app. Download link in the post.
The Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G launched with a new version of the Google Camera app (v8.0) that included a new UI and a couple of new features. The new UI and features then made their way to older Pixel devices last month with Google Camera 8.1. The update also included a new "Storage Saver" mode to help users take more photos and videos on their devices. Now, developers have released a modded version of Google Camera 8.1 that brings all of these features and changes to non-Pixel devices.
ASUS ROG Phone 3 Development Update: LineageOS 18.1, TWRP, and Google Camera ports
Third party development for the ASUS ROG Phone 3 is on full swing and we already have access to TWRP, LineageOS 18.1, and Google Camera port.
The ASUS ROG Phone 3 is undoubtedly one of the best gaming smartphones of 2020. The device ticks all the right boxes with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus SoC, 144Hz AMOLED display, 6,000mAh battery, up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 512GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage. In an effort to boost the aftermarket development scene, the Taiwanese OEM promptly released the kernel sources and the bootloader unlock tool for the ROG Phone 3. Moreover, ASUS' developer program means that the company even goes one step beyond by sending select developers units of its devices for development purposes.
OmniROM, TWRP, and Google Camera ports are available for the ASUS ZenFone 7 series
The first custom ROM for the ASUS ZenFone 7 is up, in the form of OmniROM. An unofficial TWRP and Google Camera ports are also available.
ASUS launched their ZenFone 7 lineup back in August this year and the device duo have been quite well received. In a bid to make the phones more attractive to the aftermarket development community, the company promptly published the bootloader unlock tool and the kernel source code. Thanks to the OEM's proactive support, we even saw the release of a public beta of Android 11 for the device. Third-party development for the ZenFone 7 series has been on high-gear ever since and we now have the first custom ROM, an unofficial TWRP port, and working Google Camera ports for it.
Google's Camera Go app for budget phones is rolling out HDR photography support
The latest update for Google Camera Go brings HDR photography support to a handful of entry-level Android devices.
Google released a trimmed-down version of the Pixel's Google Camera app, called Google Camera Go, earlier this year in March. At first, the app was quite barebones, and it didn't include most of the cool features that you'd find in the full-blown Google Camera app. However, Google has been working on bringing support for some of those novel features over the last few months. For instance, back in April this year, we first learned that the company was working on adding HDR support to Google Camera Go. Then in October, the app received Night Mode support, and Google confirmed that it would be adding HDR support in a future update. As promised, the company is now finally rolling out HDR support with the latest Google Camera Go update.