New Camera Features for Older Pixel Smartphones?

When Google unveiled its Pixel 9 series last month, we got excited about the exclusive camera features that came with it – Auto Frame and Reimagine. Could these innovations be making their way to older Pixel devices? A recent discovery suggests that this might just happen.

The Search for Evidence

Android Authority and X user AssembleDebug found something intriguing in the Google Photos app. It seems that Google might be working on bringing Auto Frame and Reimagine to older Pixels. The publication noticed that the Google Photos app has three different variants with distinct configurations:

• One for all non-Pixel Android devices
• One for Pixels launched between 2021 and 2023
• One for the Pixels launched in 2024

A Glimpse into the Code

While digging through the code strings, the duo found something remarkable. The Google Photos app for the 2024 Pixels, which includes the Pixel 9 series, contains code related to Auto Frame and Reimagine. To their surprise, these code strings also appeared in the Google Photos app (v6.99) for the Pixels launched between 2021 and 2023.

This implies that Google might be considering bringing these two features to the older Pixels launched between 2021 and 2023.

No Code for Non-Pixel Devices?

The publication notes that the regular version of the Google Photos app for non-Pixel devices doesn’t include code strings for Auto Frame and Reimagine. This could mean that these features won’t come to non-Pixel devices or might remain Pixel-exclusive for a while.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Conclusion

Only time will tell if these camera features will make their way to older Pixel smartphones. For now, the possibility is an exciting prospect for Pixel enthusiasts.