C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Within the newest Pixel Drop (previously often known as Pixel Characteristic Drops) from October, Google launched a brand new underwater digital camera mode for the latest telephones in the Pixel 9 series. This characteristic makes use of software program optimizations to boost pictures and movies captured underwater to make them look nearly as good as potential.
To be clear, Pixels supported underwater enhancements way back to the Pixel 7 sequence. Here’s an official blog post about how Googler José Ricardo Lima used a Pixel 7 Pro to seize some underwater photographs in Maui, Hawaii, for instance. The latest Pixel Drop, although, permits the underwater mode to work on the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional XL, and Pixel 9 Professional Fold with any underwater case, not simply particular circumstances Google has vetted. This makes the characteristic far more accessible to folks, as you don’t want an costly diver-quality case to see these optimizations (the one Lima used for that weblog submit prices many tons of of {dollars}).
The massive query, although, is how good this new characteristic is. I used to be in Maui not too long ago for the launch of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. I had my Pixel 9 Professional with me, so I made a decision to slap it into a reasonable underwater cellphone case ($21.59 from Amazon) and see what this new digital camera mode was all about.
Turning on and utilizing the underwater digital camera mode
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Earlier than you soar into the ocean to check this characteristic out, know that that you must flip it on. As a result of this characteristic not requires a selected case to work correctly, your Pixel gained’t have the ability to decide if you wish to use the underwater mode routinely. This looks as if one thing Gemini Nano might ultimately clear up by merely trying by means of your viewfinder and figuring out, “Yep, this cellphone just isn’t on dry land,” however that’s not the case at this time. For now, earlier than you begin capturing, that you must open the Digital camera app in your Pixel, faucet the Settings icon within the decrease left, after which go to Extra Settings > Superior > Underwater pictures and video, and toggle it on.
It’s necessary to notice that this prompts the characteristic indefinitely. Fortunately, Google provides you a everlasting alert within the viewfinder to remind you it’s on, so that you don’t overlook to show it off when your underwater journey is over.
When you activate the characteristic and are in a physique of water, you are able to do just about something you’d usually do together with your Pixel digital camera. That features common pictures and movies, Night time Sight, Panorama shots, Cinematic Blur, and many others. That is good because it doesn’t restrict your creativity when you’re splashing and diving.
Do not forget that touchscreens do not work underwater, so you will have to plan forward to verify your digital camera is within the appropriate mode.
The trick, although, is you can’t use the touchscreen if you end up submerged. You’ll have to depend on digital camera shortcuts utilizing the cellphone’s bodily buttons. For reference, this contains launching the digital camera app (even when the cellphone is locked) by double-tapping the ability button after which utilizing both of the quantity keys to activate the shutter. Sadly, with out utilizing the touchscreen, there’s no approach to change modes, zoom in or out, swap lenses, and many others.. This implies that you must convey the cellphone out of the water to make these changes after which submerge your self once more to get the specified shot. However for those who simply wish to seize fast snaps, you are able to do what you want whereas truly within the water.
To my embarrassment, I didn’t work this all out on the seashore — I used to be truly snorkeling whereas making an attempt to determine all of it out. Heed my phrases: Get this all sorted earlier than you set in your swimsuit. You’ll have a significantly better time.
Pixel 9 Professional underwater pictures
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
I attempted to get pictures with the underwater mode on and off to get a good suggestion of what it does. Due to the beforehand mentioned touchscreen limitations — and the pure buoyancy of the human physique — this was not simple to do. As such, please forgive me for not getting completely aligned photographs to indicate side-by-side comparisons.
First, take a look at these two pictures to see for those who can spot what the underwater digital camera mode enhances:
These photos are compressed, however by trying on the originals, I see that readability is barely increased with the underwater mode activated. The water additionally appears extra blue total.
Right here’s one other instance:
As soon as once more, we see a extra blueish hue total and barely extra readability. For these examples, the photographs captured with the underwater mode activated look higher than those with the mode left unactivated, for my part.
Nevertheless, I took many pictures, and never all had been so lower and dry. Try the instance beneath, which exhibits two pictures captured inside seconds of each other, each with the underwater mode activated:
I’m undecided what occurred right here. Did the algorithm go hog wild and overcompensate to make every thing as blue as potential? What was completely different in regards to the first shot and the second shot captured only some seconds later? I’m not positive, however the overly blue photograph just isn’t so good.
Right here’s a gallery of some different photographs, each with and with out the underwater mode activated:
Pixel 9 Professional underwater movies
Whenever you’re underwater, you’re not restricted to solely capturing pictures. You may get some fairly great-looking movies with the brand new underwater mode, too.
First, right here’s a easy, commonplace video clip:
Whereas this clip doesn’t look horrible or something, you possibly can inform the spots the place the underwater algorithm goes a bit haywire and excessively “blues” the footage. It’s not a deal-breaker or something, however it’s noticeable and slightly annoying.
Fortunately, not all clips got here out that manner. Right here’s one that appears a lot smoother:
This one is admittedly cool: a selfie video shot in Cinematic Mode. The water motion performed at a diminished pace however at a excessive body charge provides the footage a very cool look:
General, my accomplice and I ended up capturing much more video clips than nonetheless photos throughout our snorkeling adventures simply because the motion actually captured the marvel of being underwater, which the pictures didn’t actually do. Listed here are a number of extra:
Pixel digital camera underwater mode: Value a shot!
Based mostly on the choice of pictures and movies I grabbed in Maui, I believe this underwater mode is a enjoyable characteristic. I’m not assured I might have been much less pleased with the photographs if the mode didn’t exist — in spite of everything, simply having an underwater digital camera that may seize midway first rate pictures and movies is fairly cool in and of itself. However a number of of the pictures and clips look noticeably higher because of the underwater mode tweaking the colours and readability, so I’m glad it was there.
Finally, the underwater digital camera mode is a cool characteristic, however there’s numerous room for Google to make it higher.
Clearly, Google has much more work to do. It must make the impact extra constant, stop it from going overboard with the coloring, and work on a manner for the mode to routinely activate or off, relying on the place you’re. Nevertheless, I can solely assume that this isn’t going to be a closely used characteristic, so who is aware of how a lot emphasis Google goes to placed on it. It may be some time earlier than we see any important enhancements (if any in any respect).
Nonetheless, if you end up in a spot the place getting underwater pictures and movies can be cool, you don’t want to purchase a elaborate underwater digital camera. Simply throw your Pixel into a water-proof case and use it to get every thing you want!
