Does Google camera app make pixel pointless to buy?

[2crazy98]

from my understanding the pixel 3 "secret sauce" is the software which makes the pictures it takes compete with the best camera phones, so by them releasing that into the play store so that all phones can have it, doesn't it defeat the purpose of getting a pixel?

 

[Rukbat]

Not exactly. Some phones, using a port of Camera 3, do do HDR+ fairly well, but they still take time, since they don't have a Visual Core chip. Others do some of the things Camera 3 does, but not HDR+, not Night Site (even Samsung's night thing can't compare) and not the Pixel's portrait mode.

But if you're thinking of buying a Pixel anything, I'd wait until the 4 has been out for a few months, to decide if I want things like the "radar" facial rec, or the 3 selling for less than it does now is good enough.

 

[2crazy98]

Not exactly. Some phones, using a port of Camera 3, do do HDR+ fairly well, but they still take time, since they don't have a Visual Core chip. Others do some of the things Camera 3 does, but not HDR+, not Night Site (even Samsung's night thing can't compare) and not the Pixel's portrait mode.

But if you're thinking of buying a Pixel anything, I'd wait until the 4 has been out for a few months, to decide if I want things like the "radar" facial rec, or the 3 selling for less than it does now is good enough.

I currently own a pixel 3a xl because going off many reviews it's 1 of the best camera on a phone, mostly cause of the software. So when i heard that it could be easily placed on any phone i was a little disappointed, i thought the samsung s10 camera was great but with google software i'd imagine it would go to a whole new level.

Ya i really don't care for the face rec, i'm more interested in having a nice display (which seems like they may have on pixel 4) and HOPEFULLY an even better camera than the pixel 3/3a! Of course 3a xl battery life would be nice on the 4.

 

[Golurk]

As long as your phone is compatible with Google Camera 6 (or 6.1 I believe) then you can download it and it’ll include Night Sight. Sure, your non-Pixel phone might not have Visual Core but I suspect that most people won’t notice much of a difference...you’ll still get great low light photography results

Just make sure your phone is held steady and ideally has OIS...otherwise good luck.