The Pixel Camera Is A Bit 'boring' Now, But There's Still Nothing I'd Rather Carry

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The camera has always been the reason to buy a Pixel phone. As time has gone on, though, Google’s camera lead has eroded both as the competition improves, and as the Pixel’s camera feels just a tiny bit worse. Despite it being “boring,” though, there’s one reason that there’s no phone I’d rather carry besides a Pixel.

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Ever since the first Pixel release, Google has been leaning heavily on what has truly been a stunning achievement in mobile photography. Every Pixel to date has had a camera that punches well above its class and, for a while, it was truly the best in the game.

That arguably not the case anymore, as the competition has caught up. Many other brands have been experimenting with new types of camera sensors such as stacked or physically larger sensors, with incredible results. Google’s lead was never on hardware, though, as it’s always been post-processing that kept the Pixel ahead. That’s arguably not as true anymore either, as other brands have similarly caught up here, but closer competition isn’t the only reason the Pixel’s lead has gone away.

Personally, I’ve felt more and more underwhelmed by the shots taken by my Pixel in recent years. The contrasty look that I came to love from the Pixel camera has just slowly faded away, something that I’ve especially felt on the Pixel 9 generation. Where I was frequently stunned with the crisp contrast of the shots from Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro, the Pixel 8 Pro and 9 Pro have felt like a step down in terms of “wow” factor.

Will Sattelberg at Android Police expressed this well earlier this week, discussing how the Pixel’s camera has started to feel “flat,” “where shadows look as overexposed as the sun shining around them.”

That’s exactly how I’ve felt about the Pixel’s shots as of late. They lack “life,” because everything in the shot just looks the same. Where, in the real world, I might not be able to make out those fine details in some dark areas on a bright day, the Pixel is bringing those out, whether I like it or not. And that’s a shame! Contrast and shadows are what made me love the Pixel’s camera in the past, and now that balance has been thrown out of whack. It makes everything look just a bit boring compared to real life. I noticed this especially while carrying the OnePlus 13, because so many of the shots from that device were visually stunning, full of detail, contrast, and life.

For example, look at the shots below. While we are dealing with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs the OnePlus 13, these shots mainly come down to processing choices. The OnePlus 13’s shots are full of contrast and have a certain punch to the image and the colors. The Pixel didn’t take a “bad” shot by any means, and I’d argue there are pros to both – the colors are nicer outside, and the focus on the jellyfish is better too – but I simply prefer how the OnePlus shots look.

*The OnePlus 13 doesn’t quite have a “better” camera than the Pixel, but it’s close*

Yet, I continue to carry a Pixel everywhere I go.

That’s not just because of the software. That’s not because of the hardware. That’s not even because I work at 9to5Google.

It’s because of the camera, and specifically the consistency of the camera.

I’ve said it a few times before, but the main reason I find the Pixel’s camera “the best” is because of how consistent it is. Where something like the OnePlus 13 will occasionally take a stunning image, it might be in the middle of half a dozen that are have some deal-breaking flaw. Meanwhile, I might have fewer shots that are especially exciting on the Pixel, but at least 90% of the shots are going to be “good.” That even applies to Pixel 9 Pro Fold and its inferior hardware. I know I’m giving up some detail for the form factor, but at least the processing ensures that the shots I’m taking are reliably decent without the need to re-take the shot. I might have to edit it after the fact – which don’t get me wrong, is not the experience I want to have – but at least the foundation of the shot is there.

All of this isn’t to say Google isn’t trying to make improvements. “Video Boost,” having debuted on Pixel 8 Pro, comes to mind right away as a great example of the company stepping up its quality. The feature truly does deliver often-stunning results, and I’m glad it’s also finally able to be used as a default option. I think Google’s focus on AI features is also bearing fruit, with Best Take and Add Me being memorable and useful recent additions.

How do you feel about the Pixel camera nowadays? Is it still the best, or has the shine worn off?

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