Google is rolling out a new update for the Google Camera app that brings the new Pixel 5 camera UI to older Pixel phones. The Google Camera 8.1 update also brings some of the new features that Google debuted on the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5 to the Pixel 4 and Pixel 3 including Cinematic Pan. This allows for smooth panning shots that have a cinematic feel to them.
The update also brings a revamped Camera UI with a quick zoom toggle and new UI buttons.
Google Camera just updated for me via Play Store version 8.1.008.341125824
— Kelvin Peralta (@KaKito_24) November 12, 2020
On Pixel 4 XL. Looks like UI Revamp.@AndroidPolice @AndroidAuth @xdadevelopers @ArtemR @derekmross @verge pic.twitter.com/T0J7jKoFkB
The Google Camera 8.0 app has so far been exclusive to the Pixel 5 so far. While it has been possible to sideload a new version of the Google Camera app on older Pixel phones, the process of doing so with v8.0 was not that straightforward and required a factory reset. This deterred many Pixel owners from getting their hands on the Pixel 5 version of the Google Camera app. Thankfully, with the roll-out of Google Camera 8.1, Google is bringing the same new UI to all Pixel phones including the Pixel 2 series.
For now, the rollout seems to be a slow one from Google, with very few reports from Pixel 4 owners on the internet receiving the Google Camera 8.1 update with the new UI. A wider rollout should happen in the coming few days or weeks.
At the moment, it is unclear if the Google Camera 8.1 update also brings any of the other new Pixel 5 camera features like Night Sight portrait mode to older Pixels or not.
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