10 Google Pixel Camera Tricks You Need To Try

While Google's Pixel series has never had the best available cameras, unlike Samsung's line of Galaxy phones, they have had some interesting features that help them compete with their more advanced competitors. As you might expect from a software company like Google, its Pixel phones use artificial intelligence and machine learning to get the best possible pictures, rather than top-of-the-line hardware. This allows them to capture brilliant images regardless of the conditions or environment.

Anyone who owns a Pixel smartphone, including the recent Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, will know that the built-in default camera app comes with a lot of options. Yet, there are far more tricks and hidden features than you might realize, which can help you do everything from taking better photographs to editing pictures with ease.

Even those who don't often think about the pictures they are taking will likely find some useful hidden feature here that will vastly improve the images they capture in the future. So sit back and read on to learn how to get the most out of your Pixel camera, and amaze your friends and family with your great snaps.

Google offers a variety of built-in editing tools with its Pixel camera and Google Photos apps. These make it possible to add filters and change the contrast or white balance at the press of a button. However, newer Pixel phones come equipped with Magic Editor, a tool that is far more sophisticated than what was previously available.

Using artificial intelligence, Magic Editor can help users to make complex edits. Want to move a person to a new position or enlarge an object, you can do that quickly and easily by highlighting the figure and using your fingers to move it around. Google's handy editor will also make suggestions, offering several versions of your image of choice without the need for you to make any manual edits, such as background or lighting alterations.

A good example of this is the Magic Eraser tool. On Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the feature has improved massively to the point that it is no longer limited to removing small or well-defined objects. This is because the advanced machine-learning capabilities of the smartphones' chips use generative AI to replace pixels by predicting what should be there.

Magic Eraser drew plenty of attention when it was first announced and has become a standout feature of Pixel smartphones. The tool makes it easy to remove unwanted objects or people from an image without having to rely on third-party editing software. By tapping a figure or circling part of the image when using Magic Eraser, the software will utilize artificial intelligence to try and replace them by filling in the gap left behind. It can have mixed results but has become significantly better since it was first introduced.

Not content with just banishing annoying photobombers, Google included a new feature called Audio Magic Eraser when it launched the Pixel 8. This feature works on videos rather than images and is designed to help reduce unwanted and distracting noises from videos. After a video has been recorded on a Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro, you can then edit the footage and use the Magic Audio Eraser tool. This will then highlight particular noises that it can identify and offer the option to remove them. In practice, it works best on sounds that are in the background and are consistent (think things like a dog barking, waves crashing on a beach, or wind blowing on an open field).

Smartphone cameras are no longer intended just to take photographs or record video. Manufacturers have made these powerful devices far more capable and useful in recent years, with many of them now able to recognize objects, people, and creatures. Samsung owners have Bixby Vision to do just that, while Apple has introduced a new visual look-up feature for iPhones. However, the most powerful and sophisticated choice for this type of work is arguably Google Lens.

This nifty tool can do a lot of things and is one of the best features on any Android device. It works even more effectively on Pixel smartphones where the feature is embedded into various apps. Google Lens works by using the camera to view the world and then compares it to millions of other pictures available on the web. By doing this, it can quickly find relevant information about whatever you are looking at.

Google Lens can be used to search for pretty much anything you see, whether you want to find a similar product to something you've seen in a store, or want to identify the species of the bird that frequents your garden. Point it at a landmark and it will provide you with information about it, while the tool can even help solve homework problems. Searching by image can be a lot easier, especially if you don't know the name of the object in question.

Although it is incredibly easy to take a photograph with your smartphone, sometimes it might not be convenient to hold the device while you snap away. If you want to be in the image but also want a wide frame that takes in a lot of the background, it isn't practical to press the shutter button yourself.

In instances like this, it is possible to use a smartwatch, such as Google's own Pixel Watch, to control the camera. You simply need to make sure that the watch and smartphone are connected and head to the Camera app. Once there, you can press the shutter button to start a timer and even see the photographs on your watch screen. This means you don't have to worry about going back and forth to the phone to tap the screen or check what you've done.

Another accessibility option that users might not be aware of is the ability to take photographs without touching the phone itself. Rather than using your smartwatch or smartphone to take photographs, you can also do it without any physical touch at all. This can be done with Google Assistant by asking it to take a photo or by using palm detection. As long as the feature is turned on in the settings, users can simply hold up their open palm to activate the shutter — useful for group shots and when you have the device on a tripod or propped up.

While there have been some notable advancements in recent years, smartphone cameras are still not great when it comes to taking photographs at night. The low-light conditions make it difficult even for sophisticated and expensive dedicated cameras to capture good-looking images, and they often lack detail. Google has made strides in this area and its Pixel series now includes Night Sight.

While this mode is mainly intended to be used for taking standard photos in darker environments, it can also be used for astrophotography. This is essentially the process of taking photographs of the stars and outer space. Most astrophotographers use professional cameras, but with Google's Pixel series, it is possible to get similar results with a smartphone. Although, you may well not even be aware that the phones have this mode as it only shows up in specific circumstances.

Firstly, users will need to make sure that they have astrophotography enabled in the camera settings. From there, all you have to do is switch to Night Sight and keep the device perfectly still. A tripod or stand can be useful here, although propping the smartphone up will also work. The camera button should then switch to an icon showing stars, which you can press to begin the process. The Pixel will then go through a process that can take several minutes as it captures multiple images of the night sky and blends them together, often with stunning results.