Short summary
The Google Pixel 8 Pro gets a fancy camera upgrade.
Zoom Enhance is one of the main features of the Pixel 9 camera system – but here it comes first.
When the dust settles from the Made by Google event, many will be hearing all about the new devices on offer. Not only were we treated to a number of great handsets, but we also got a glimpse of a number of top new features and functions that the devices will offer.
But don’t think you have to have the latest devices to get the best features. The older Google Pixel 8 Pro just got a fantastic new feature as part of the update – and it even gets it before the new Google Pixel 9 series!
Pixel 8 Pro users can take advantage of the feature now. And while it will also be available on the Pixel 9 series at launch, those devices will still be available for pre-order for a few more weeks.
So what feature do users have access to? It’s called Zoom Enhance and it looks like a really cool addition to the already impressive Pixel camera.
We saw it demoed at the event last night – essentially, it uses AI to improve the quality of the video when you zoom in. The results looked pretty impressive, adding a decent amount of clarity without looking overly sharpened. Google says it “intelligently fills in the gaps between pixels and predicts fine details.”
Regardless, it looks like a good upgrade for the handset. Users of older devices tend to feel a little dismayed at moments like this. The new Android phone range is shiny and different, and you might feel like an older device just isn’t up to scratch.
That’s absolutely not true, though. Upgrades like this help close the gap between the ranges, and offer legacy users a handful of new features. This one in particular will come in handy for most people – we all love shooting video, and this means you can be further away from your subject and still get great-looking footage.
