The Google Pixel series needs a major camera hardware redesign

In the photo ring, Google’s pixels are well above their weight. In our long-term Pixel 4 XL review, we called the camera “amazing” and hailed its ability to extract vivid detail from its aging 12.2-megapixel Sony sensor. However, this sensor, used since Pixel 3, is no longer the pinnacle of camera hardware.

Pixel 5 uses the same sensor and indicates this. While the Snapper is still taking decent shots, it’s no longer the best Android camera phone available. We believe the only way Google can improve the Pixel’s photographic capabilities is by investing in new hardware.

Well before the inevitable launch of Pixel 6, we asked readers what they wanted from the future Pixel camera. Here’s what you told us:

What would you like in a next generation Pixel camera package?

Results

This poll received more than 2,200 votes and there is one clear winner of the four options available. With more than 62% of the vote, most of our readers believe that the Pixel series needs a complete overhaul of the camera hardware. It would be Google’s first major redesign in years, but it would better serve the company’s focus on computational photography.

Continue reading: Google Pixel 5 camera tested against the best Android camera phones

Unsurprisingly, 23.4% of users want to see a new primary sensor, which we think should be high on Google’s to-do list. It doesn’t require a 108MP sensor in a pixel, but a physically larger sensor would allow future pixels to capture more light and provide more information to the software smarts.

Just under 9% of voters would like improved wide-angle and telephoto snapper, while around 5% think the hardware is okay. The real profits come from further software development. These two camps seem perfectly happy with Google’s current primary sensor setup.

Your comments

• Joe Black: Pixel needs a complete replacement of the camera array – bigger main unit, bigger, brighter ultrawide and at least one simple telephoto lens. Personally, I’m not interested in telephoto, but I know many would appreciate it if the Pixel 5 didn’t dump it in favor of ultrawide – I mean three are better than two, more versatile, of course.
• feranick: You need to bring back the Pixel Neural / Visual Core. The 765G already has issues with this hardware compared to the Pixel 4 with longer processing time than required. With more sophisticated sensors and wide / tele, there has to be a strong neural chip in place to keep everything working as it should. Apple understands that, Google seems to have forgotten.
• mopedia: Also, Google doesn’t seem to have any vision or consistency. Check out how quickly they removed the face unlock hardware, then contrast it with Apple’s long-term commitment to unlock the face’s ID. Then you have the visual core. Here one day and gone the next. It’s like google has no confidence in its own work / efforts. I think they just don’t care about consistency and user experience. Google under promise and then manages to deliver too little.
• PhoenixWitti: Are your algorithms specially designed for working with old hardware? Perhaps that is why they are resisting the update.
• Bwvilla: Better camera (add telephoto) plus dual SIM and micro SD card.
• samagon: I would have liked to see a bigger sensor, even if it made the phone thicker.

That’s it for this poll. As always, we look forward to every vote and comment. If you still have thoughts about the smart or missing features of the Google Pixel line, or how you would improve them, drop a line below.