Both the Nexus and Pixel lines of smartphones use this multi-frame HDR method to boost dynamic range and reduce blurriness while taking standard photographs. This function, known as HDR+ photography, has been available on Google’s smartphones for quite some time now as a tentpole mode.
Kuba Wojciechowski, a tipster, and developer, has found references to the future Pixel 8 series adopting staggered HDR as a feature in the Google app. These references were uncovered by Wojciechowski. In a post on Twitter, Wojciechowski discusses this topic, and he makes the observation that the inclusion of staggered HDR could pave the way for a significant camera improvement for the Pixel lineup.
In addition, some digging around in the camera app found evidence that the soon-to-be-released Pixel Tablet will come in a “pro” version, which has been given the codename TangorPro. The product was initially hinted at during Google I/O, which took place earlier this year, and then again during the launch of the Pixel 7 and Pixel Watch.
To start things off, Wojciechowski was able to get his hands on an unmodified and unobscured version of Google Camera Go. He discovered references in the source code that hint staggered HDR support in Husky and Shiba, which are the 2023 Pixels, while he was searching through the code.
Staggered high dynamic range (HDR) generates results that are comparable to those produced by standard HDR implementations while doing so in a shorter amount of time. This is accomplished by simultaneously shooting images with a variety of exposures utilizing the same pixels in each shot. The shorter amount of time required to take the shots also lessens the likelihood that the images may be blurry as a result of movement-induced frame misalignment.
However, the Samsung ISOCELL GN1 camera sensor that is currently used on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 models does not allow staggered high dynamic range (HDR). This indicates that in order for Google to integrate the function, it will need to improve the camera sensor on the flagship Pixel device that will be released in 2023.
The ISOCELL GN2 from Samsung is one of the sensors that could be considered, even if there has been no confirmation regarding the sensor that Google will ultimately decide to use. In addition, with the debut of the GN2, Samsung made the claim that the staggered HDR mode produced richer detail and more brilliant colors than the real-time HDR mode of the GN1, all while reducing the amount of energy that was consumed by up to 24%.
This, in conjunction with the updated version of the Tensor processor that we anticipate seeing in the Pixel 8 series, has the potential to dramatically improve what is now regarded as having the greatest camera of any Android phone currently available on the market.