Google Pixel 8 Camera Leak Reveals Upgraded Primary Sensor, Pro-Only Upgrade, More

The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are due to adopt some major new upgrades, including a new main sensor, some Pro-exclusive changes, and much more.

The camera has always been the best feature of Google's Pixel smartphones.

The most notable change is the addition of a new primary camera sensor for both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro's, the Samsung ISOCELL GN2, Authority's Kamila Wojciechowska.

This 50MP sensor is the direct successor to the GN1 used in the Pixel 6 and 7, as well as the same sensor used in the Galaxy S22 and S23.

The sensor is physically larger, capturing around 35% more light from a scene.

It also offers greater technical support for features like 8K video recording (which the Tensor G3 already supports) and Staggered HDR, which was previously said to be coming to Pixels.

The Pixel 8 Pro will receive another exclusive boost in the form of an 8 ToF VL53L8 time-of-flight sensor.

All Tensor-based Pixel phones have included one of these sensors, but the new type in the Pixel 8 Pro may provide significant improvements to autofocus.

The previously leaked temperature sensor for the Pro is also the Melexis MLX90632, which is simply a temperature sensor.

Despite the fact that this single part appears to be extremely pricey, there will be no thermal imaging here.

In addition, both phones will receive ultrawide camera enhancements.

The Pixel 8 Pro's ultrawide camera will reportedly be a 64MP Sony IMX787.

That is the sensor used by the Pixel 7a's primary shooter, and it is a significant advance from the 12MP sensor Google has used for ultrawides for quite some time.

Notably, the Pixel 7 Pro's macro function may not be available on this new handset.

The Pixel 8 would also get a 12MP Sony IMX386 ultrawide sensor switch.

The telephoto lens on the Pixel 8 Pro, as well as the selfie shooter on both phones, are said to be unchanged.

Software appears to be getting an upgrade as well, with the Google Camera app reportedly receiving three changes.

Level selection for the artificial bokeh produced in videos via "Cinematic" mode, as well as "Adaptive torch," which can modify the LED flash strength dependent on the scenario you're recording, would be included.

Finally, there's "Segmentation AWB," which uses AI to cut the scene shot into multiple portions so that processing methods may be applied to each part of the image more effectively.