Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are currently the best camera smartphones in the market. Since smartphone cameras are not just limited to the hardware that they use but also the software they power, it has been proven that the reason behind such stunning photos on the Pixel 3 is the Google Camera application. Since the release of Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL last month, developers have been scrambling to port the new version of Google camera app to other smartphones to see how it performs against stock camera app. The newest device to become part of such an exercise is the Razer Phone 2.
Since most smartphone makers source image sensors for their devices either from Sony or Samsung and rely on the same microprocessor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 in the case of flagship devices, it is rather difficult to create a differentiating experience. In order to make their device standout from competition, smartphone makers tend to use improved software algorithms for image processing and different application port. While it is not easy to bring Pixel 3’s image processing to other smartphones, it is easier to port the camera application.
The Google Camera app ported to Razer Phone 2 has been found to dramatically improve imaging experience. The images captured with the stock camera app on the Razer Phone 2 is not the best in the business but they are not bad either. However, the Google Camera app ported to the smartphone, brings drastic improvements in terms of picture quality, reports XDA Developers.
It immediately stands out that Google’s image processing works to bring out more details in shadow and highlights, which are compressed by the stock camera app. The Google Camera app also preserves more details, which could be powered by the multiple frames it captures in a single exposure. Google’s camera app has been ported to a number of flagship and mid-range devices and has been found to deliver profound change in image quality.
Watch: Google Pixel 3 XL Hands-On
It needs to be seen whether Google makes its default camera app available to non-Pixel devices as a way to help users capture more data and better pictures. However, that seems unlikely since it would kill the reason behind existence of Pixel smartphones.
