Google Pixel 8: HDR photo management really speaks volumes

Google Pixel’s performance in terms of stills is solid. The smartphones of the American giant in particular use a very effective HDR, sealed HDR +, which is based on five photos taken quickly before the trigger and on a photo recorded for a longer time when the shutter is pressed. But if we are to believe the reviews Kuba Wojciechowskia developer known for his flair for slicing Google apps, who worked on studying the Google Camera Go app, Sealed Models 8 could be based on a new form of HDR.

According to the items Wojciechowski extracted, it’s the gradient HDR (gradient HDR) that the next Pixel smartphones will launch — the Pixel 8, so — in order to get up to speed at the start. Developed by Samsung, this type of HDR relies on three photos taken at different exposures (short, medium and long) and then combines them to deliver the final image faster. So the idea is to get an equivalent level of detail, but by reducing the blurring risk associated with capture duration.

This Samsung-signed technology isn’t supported by all sensors, nor does the Isocell GN1 in the Pixel 7. But as Wojciechowski points out, the Isocell GN2, which has succeeded, is already compatible with scalar HDR. this is 50 MP sensor It features 1.4 µm pixels and simulates 2.8 µm pixels using pixel binning. According to the elements provided by Samsung, it is supposed to have better dynamics, and be less power-hungry than the GN1 (-24%) when using real-time HDR. These are certainly promising, but we’ll have to deal with our issues patiently: the Pixel 8 won’t be shown before the start of the 2023 school year, after a possible preview at Google I / O, which is scheduled for the next possible time.