Unlimited uploads of original quality to Google Photos were undoubtedly one of the best advantages of the first Pixel phones. The original Pixel did, as well as Pixel 2 and Pixel 3. Unfortunately, we knew that this privilege was not a forever bonus and that would eventually end for those two phones.
Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are about to lose uploads with unlimited original quality to Google Photos in two days, starting January 16. If you didn’t upload with original quality from Pixel 2 or if you have a collection of photos on a PC that needs backup, you should hurry up and do that. Once January 17th arrives, you’ll switch to high quality uploads, unless you manually choose the original quality and don’t mind filling the Google One space even faster.
For Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL owners, you have 1 year left for your unlimited original backups. Google Photos has started to notify Pixel owners of the upcoming change, which will change uploads to high quality after January 31, 2022.
As a reminder, although Google recently changed its Google Photos high-quality backup policy to start counting for Google storage, Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 are exempt from that. Once the benefit of the original quality ends, Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 owners will still be able to upload for free in high quality.
// Google support
Cheers Daniel!