Newly uncovered information suggests that Google's upcoming Pixel 6 might include a wider ultra-wide-angle camera and a longer zoom on its telephoto, bringing the total number of rear cameras to three, a first for a Pixel. If the rumors are true, this year might bring one of the best smartphones Google has ever offered. The camera details are not conclusive, but very suggestive and agree with previous Pixel 6 leaks.
For several years, Google placed only a single rear camera on its Pixel phones. Since Google developed market-leading computational photography, one focal length was sufficient to challenge other smartphones that had multiple cameras. Eventually, many Android phones featured two or more rear shooters and Google must have felt some pressure to add another. In 2019, the Pixel 4 became the first to feature two rear cameras, the usual wide-angle camera, and a telephoto that offered 2-times zoom. Combined with Google's impressive camera app, it meant zooms of 4-times or more still retained good quality, with a maximum digital zoom of 8-times resulting in photos that had the appearance of a very realistic artistic rendering of the subject.
Google sometimes unintentionally leaks information about upcoming products with core app updates in beta releases. In this instance, the new Google camera app that came with the third beta of Android 12 was found by XDA-Developers to contain some hints about a device with a 5-times zoom, referenced as an 'ultra-tele.' Given the location of this code, in the user interface layout file, a '5X' toggle switch will appear in the camera viewfinder, indicating this is an optical zoom level. The Pixel 4 offered a '2X' toggle to switch to its telephoto camera.
Digging deeper into the code, XDA found that the actual optical zoom might be 4.3-times, even if it shows '5X' in the viewfinder. The Pixel 4's telephoto was actually a 1.6-times zoom. Rumors suggest that the Pixel 6 might have much higher resolution image sensors, perhaps switching to 50-megapixel, a huge increase over the standard 12-megapixel sensor. Combining this with Google's Super-Resolution Zoom technology could result in dramatically longer digital zoom. Applying the same techniques used in the Pixel 4, a 5-times zoom might offer good quality at 10-times zoom. If Google taps the added resolution of a high-density image sensor, a 20-times zoom might deliver usable images.
XDA also uncovered information about an ultra-wide-angle camera. The focal length appears to be 0.615-times that of the wide-angle camera. With the Pixel 5, Google switched out the telephoto for an ultra-wide that offered 0.67-times zoom. When going wide, the smaller number presents a larger view and is preferable as long as it doesn't introduce too much distortion. The Pixel 5 has a 107-degree field of view, which is narrower than that of most competitors. If Google does expand that for the Pixel 6 it will result in a more satisfying ultra-wide without going so far as to create a fisheye effect.
Naturally, these code hints can't be relied upon as proof of improvements to the cameras and can't even be tied directly to the Pixel 6. The Pixel 5a is coming before the Pixel 6. However, Google will introduce a new flagship Pixel phone this year and there have been enough leaks to suggest it will be a major upgrade over previous generations. In a few more months, Google will reveal all, confirming or refuting the accuracy of these leaks about a wider ultra-wide and longer telephoto for the Pixel 6.
Source: XDA-Developers
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