Over the weekend, Google released an update for the Pixel series Camera app, where our team discovered some interesting rumors about the likely Pixel 6 and Pixel 5a, especially about the front cameras used on both phones.
About APK Insight: In this “APK Insight” post, we decompile the latest version of an application that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APKs, in the case of Android apps), we can see several lines of code within this tip for possible future features. Remember that Google may or may not provide these features, and our interpretation of them may be imperfect. We will try to enable those who are closer to completion, however, to show how they will look in the event of being sent. With that in mind, keep reading.
Pixel 5a camera tips
The next phone on the agenda for Google is presumed to be the Pixel 5a, renders to which they leaked pointing to a phone almost identical to the Pixel 4a 5G. Specifically, the Pixel 5a will have almost exactly the same shape and size and will have the same hole in the screen and the raised shape of the rear camera.
In the Google Camera app, we found code related to how the app handles the location of the hole punch for the front camera on multiple Pixel devices. As far as we can tell, the Pixel 5a bore should be slightly smaller than what is seen on other Pixel phones today – radius of 55 pixels instead of 65 pixels. With Pixel 4a beginning the trend of fine bezels and a high screen-to-body ratio for the Pixel series, the smaller orifice of Pixel 5a should take this trend even further.
Pixel 6 camera snacks
In the meantime, in the future, we expect Google to launch a handful of devices this fall, codenames for which they leaked in the middle of last year. We have already confirmed two of these codenames, “Oriole” and “Raven”, as definitely included in the code from the Google 8.2 Camera, albeit in an encrypted form.
Along with the codename confirmations, we found some interesting rumors about the codename device Oriole, which we currently think is probably the Pixel 6. On the one hand, in the code mentioned above for the camera punch, we find that this supposed Pixel 6 will actually move the front camera from the top left corner to the top center of the screen. Similar to the Pixel 5a, the drilling radius for the supposed front camera of the Pixel 6 will also decrease slightly.
This move would put the time and notification indicators back to the left edge of the screen, mirroring the position of the battery indicator. To imagine how this could be, we created a simple mockup screenshot of where the hole punch should be in this supposed Pixel 6 and how it affects the status bar.
-
Pixel 5 home screen -
Pixel 6 drilling model
Along with the change, this potential Pixel 6 is giving an update to the front camera, with support for 4K video recording. In today’s Pixel 5, the rear camera offers a switch between 1080p and 4K video recording, while the only setting for front video is selfie lighting, blocking recordings at 1080p / 30fps. We found in the Google Camera app code that this restriction is being lifted, allowing the alleged Pixel 6 to record 4K selfie videos. It is not known whether the frame rate of the selfie video will also increase with this change.
For now, we haven’t found any other substantial details about the Pixel 5a or the Pixel 6 specifications in the Google Camera app, but our team is still looking for more information.
Dylan Roussel contributed to this article
More on Google Pixel:
FTC: We use affiliate links for automobiles that generate revenue. Most.
Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news: