Google Pixel 4 astrophotography mode now available on older Pixels 

Much like every Pixel phone, the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL also rely a great deal on computational photography to make a selling. Google says it has simplified the software this year and redesigned the Google Camera app for seemingly faster point-and-shoot. Google’s Night Sight has also got an update so it will seemingly be able to shoot the night sky – ala astrophotography. And by the looks of it, owners of previous-generation Pixel phones will also be able to use this new feature.  

Google is now rolling out a new update to the Google Camera app – version 7.2 - which brings the Pixel 4’s astrophotography mode to older Pixel phones, notably the Pixel 3, Pixel 3XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. It’s not a separate mode altogether but part of Night Sight, much like how it is in the Pixel 4. It works on the same principle as well which means that once it detects the phone’s in a stable condition, it shoots several short exposure shots and then combines them together into a more detailed, well exposed shot. 

The Pixel also has a new live HDR+ feature that approximates HDR in real time in the viewfinder itself and dual exposure to better control exposure in photos. Google has already confirmed that these won’t be coming to older Pixel phones because they’re dependent on next-generation hardware found inside the Pixel 4.  

Google may also the Pixel 4’s recorder app and its auto-transcribe feature to older Pixel phones though. The unofficial confirmation has come on Reddit from a Google official after several Pixel owners expressed concern over the lack of a similar recorder app on Pixel phones like the Pixel 3 and Pixel 2. “We plan to roll it out to older Pixel devices in a future software update,” the Googler posted on Reddit. No further details – that includes compatible Pixel devices and a tentative roll out window – were shared. 

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