Pixel 9 camera: The upgrades you need to know
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The Pixel 9 series is here, and among all of the changes Google's new Pixel lineup is introducing, a few of the most important ones are related to the camera system.
For starters, the standard Pixel 9 now sports the same 48MP ultrawide camera that the Pro models have, which is a massive upgrade over the 12MP one from last year.
And while we are on the topic of new cameras, the new Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL come with a new 42MP one, replacing the 10.5MP snapper of the predecessors.
Speaking of the new Pixel Pros, both are now capable of upscaling 4K footage to 8K quality using the Video Boost feature that Google introduced last year.
As for Pixel’s traditional magical camera features, there is one dubbed "Add Me" that lets you combine group selfies with different people in them, so that everyone appears to be in the image.
A little less important, but probably the camera-related change you will notice first on the Pixel 9 series, is the new design for the camera module. It no longer connects to the phone's frame, instead it resembles a bubble centered at the top, much like on the Pixel Fold from 2023.
For starters, the standard Pixel 9 now sports the same 48MP ultrawide camera that the Pro models have, which is a massive upgrade over the 12MP one from last year.
Speaking of the new Pixel Pros, both are now capable of upscaling 4K footage to 8K quality using the Video Boost feature that Google introduced last year.
As for Pixel’s traditional magical camera features, there is one dubbed "Add Me" that lets you combine group selfies with different people in them, so that everyone appears to be in the image.
Pixel 9 series camera upgrades
New ultrawide camera for the standard Pixel
The Pixel 9 is said to upgrade from last year's 12MP ultrawide camera to a 48MP one. Some reports claim that it will be powered by the Sony IMX858 image sensor, which is larger and therefore more capable at capturing light. This should make the image quality of the Pixel 9's ultrawide camera more clear in low light, and with generally sharper detail.
New selfie camera for the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL
One of the most obvious upgrades for the Pixel 9 Pro camera came from recently leaked Pixel 9 promo materials, which show a 42MP image sensor powering the selfie cameras. We don't know any of the other specs about this new front camera, but the higher resolution alone should result in higher image quality.
New ultrawide and telephoto camera sensors for the Pro models (maybe)
One report claimed that the Sony IMX858 we mentioned above would also power the 5X telephoto and ultrawide snappers on the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL. The leaked Pixel 9 promotional material that showed up at a later date contradicts this news though, so there is a good chance it's not entirely true.
Front camera on the Pixel 9 gets autofocus
The Pixel 9 might not get the new front-facing camera that the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL will have, but it is said to have autofocus-enabled, like the Pixel 8 Pro. This means the camera will be able to focus on your face no matter how you move inside the frame, helping you keep what you want in focus.
New camera bar
One the more superficial level, the Pixel 9 series' iconic camera bar will be redesigned. Instead of curving towards the side frames of the Pixel 9 series, the bar will now "float," resembling the design we first saw on the Pixel Fold from 2023.
This new look seems to keep the Pixel spirit alive, while also introducing a fresh new take on the phone's design, making it look more modern.
New camera AI features
It wouldn't be a Pixel launch if there weren't any neat, almost magic-like AI features to come alongside the new phones. This time there we expect to a feature called "Add Me," and much like the name suggests it is presumed it will allow users to add a person inside a photo who wasn't there to begin with.
There is a good chance Add Me is an extension of Google's Best Take feature that can alter the expression of everyone in the photo by drawing from other photos taken in the same instance.
8K video comes to Pixel phones
The upcoming version of the Pixel Camera app won't support native 8K 30FPS video like earlier rumors claimed, but the phone will be capable to upscale 4K footage into 8K via Google's Video Boost featuer.
Video Boost on Pixel Pro sends your recorded videos to Google's cloud infrastructure where it gets edited and enhanced with the help of AI. Once it is edited it is sent back to your phone (if you are connected to the internet), and it is supposed to look significantly better than the original.
Variable aperture on the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL
One of the earliest Pixel 9 camera leaks suggests the Pro models might have a special feature called a variable aperture on the main camera. This is rare for smartphones and would be a surprise, but it would also give users more control over how much light the camera lets in.
The aperture is one of the three main camera settings, along with shutter speed and ISO, that affect how bright or dark your photos come out.
A wider aperture—which is indicated by a lower number such as f/2.8, for example—means the camera lets more light in and has a shallower depth of field, resulting in more blurred out background and foreground, also known as bokeh in photography terms. A narrower aperture like f/11, lets in less light but captures more of the scene in focus.
How many cameras will the Pixel 9 have?
The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL will come with three cameras at the back: main (wide), an ultra-wide, and a 5X telephoto. The Pixel 9 will have only two cameras and won't include a telephoto one.
All three Pixel 9 models will come with one front camera embedded in the display.
How many megapixels will the Pixel 9 cameras have?
Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL camera megapixels:
- Main (wide-angle): 50 MP
- Ultrawide: 48 MP
- Telephoto: 48 MP
- Front: 42 MP
Pixel 9 camera megapixels:
- Main (wide-angle): 50 MP
- Ultrawide: 48 MP
- Front: 10.5 MP
Pixel 9 expected camera specs
New ultrawide camera for the standard Pixel
The Pixel 9 has upgraded from last year's 12MP ultrawide camera to the same 48MP one that’s on the Pro models. Google states the new sensor is 110% more sensitive to light, making the images from the ultrawide camera on the regular Pixel much clearer, especially in low-light conditions.
New selfie camera for the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL
The Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL come with a new 42MP selfie camera with 30% better light sensitivity, and the widest field of view at 103 degrees. This new sensor brings a much needed jump in image quality, and better low-light performance.
Front camera on the Pixel 9 gets autofocus
The Pixel 9 does not get the new front-facing camera that the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL have, but it now supports autofocus, like the Pixel 8 Pro. This means the camera is able to focus on your face no matter how you move inside the frame, helping you keep what you want in focus.
New camera bar
On a more superficial level, the Pixel 9 series' iconic camera bar has been redesigned. Instead of curving towards the side frames of the Pixel 9 series, the bar now "floats," resembling the design we first saw on the Pixel Fold from 2023.
This new look seems to keep the Pixel spirit alive, while also introducing a fresh new take on the phone's design, making it look more modern.
New AI camera features
It wouldn't be a Pixel launch if there weren't any neat, almost magic-like AI features to come alongside the new phones. This time there is a feature called "Add Me," and much like the name suggests it allows users to add a person inside a photo who wasn't there to begin with, using AI to stitch two group photos together.
8K video upscaling comes to the Pixel Pro
The Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL cannot shoot at native 8K resolution, but they can use the Video Boost feature to upscale 4K footage to 8K quality. This requires an internet connection and takes some time though, as the process happens in Google’s cloud infrastructure.
Video Boost is not available on the standard Pixel 9, so it does not get 8K video upscaling.
How many cameras does the Pixel 9 have?
The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL come with three cameras at the back: main (wide), an ultra-wide, and a 5X telephoto. The Pixel 9 has only a main (wide) and ultrawide camera and does not include a telephoto camera.
All three Pixel 9 models come with one front camera embedded in the display.
How many megapixels does the Pixel 9 cameras have?
Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL camera megapixels:
- Main (wide-angle): 50 MP
- Ultrawide: 48 MP
- Telephoto: 48 MP
- Front: 42 MP
Pixel 9 camera megapixels:
- Main (wide-angle): 50 MP
- Ultrawide: 48 MP
- Front: 10.5 MP
Pixel 9 camera specs
Here's an overview of the camera specs for the Pixel 9 series.
Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL camera specs:
- 50 MP Octa PD wide camera, ƒ/1.68 aperture, 82° field of view, 1/1.31" image sensor size, Super Res Zoom up to 8x, Optical + electronic image stabilization on wide
- 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus, ƒ/1.7 aperture, 123° field of view, 1/2.55" image sensor size
- 48 MP Quad PD telephoto camera, ƒ/2.8 aperture, 22° field of view, 5x optical zoom, Super Res Zoom up to 30x, 1/2.55" image sensor size
- 42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 103° ultrawide field of view
Pixel 9 camera specs:
- 50 MP Octa PD wide camera, ƒ/1.68 aperture, 82° field of view, 1/1.31" image sensor size, Super Res Zoom up to 8x, Optical + electronic image stabilization on wide
- 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus, ƒ/1.7 aperture, 123° field of view, 1/2.55" image sensor size
- 10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 95° ultrawide field of view
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