My time utilizing the Pixel 9 Professional’s underwater digital camera mode in Hawaii

Within the newest Pixel Drop (previously generally known as Pixel Characteristic Drops) from October, Google launched a brand new underwater digital camera mode for the newest telephones in the Pixel 9 collection. This function makes use of software program optimizations to reinforce pictures and movies captured underwater to make them look nearly as good as doable.

To be clear, Pixels supported underwater enhancements way back to the Pixel 7 collection. Right here’s an official weblog submit about how Googler José Ricardo Lima used a Pixel 7 Professional to seize some underwater photographs in Maui, Hawaii, for instance. The current Pixel Drop, although, permits the underwater mode to work on the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional XL, and Pixel 9 Professional Fold with any underwater case, not simply particular circumstances Google has vetted. This makes the function rather more accessible to folks, as you don’t want an costly diver-quality case to see these optimizations (the one Lima used for that weblog submit prices many tons of of {dollars}).

The massive query, although, is how good this new function is. I used to be in Maui not too long ago for the launch of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. I had my Pixel 9 Professional with me, so I made a decision to slap it into a reasonable underwater cellphone case ($21.59 from Amazon) and see what this new digital camera mode was all about.

Earlier than you leap into the ocean to check this function out, know that you might want to flip it on. As a result of this function not requires a selected case to work correctly, your Pixel received’t be capable to decide if you wish to use the underwater mode robotically. This looks like one thing Gemini Nano might ultimately resolve by merely trying by way of your viewfinder and figuring out, “Yep, this cellphone isn’t on dry land,” however that’s not the case in the present day. For now, earlier than you begin capturing, you might want to open the Digital camera app in your Pixel, faucet the Settings icon within the decrease left, after which go to Extra Settings > Superior > Underwater pictures and video, and toggle it on.

It’s vital to notice that this prompts the function indefinitely. Fortunately, Google offers you a everlasting alert within the viewfinder to remind you it’s on, so that you don’t neglect to show it off when your underwater journey is over.

When you activate the function and are in a physique of water, you are able to do just about something you’d sometimes do along with your Pixel digital camera. That features common pictures and movies, Evening Sight, Panorama photographs, Cinematic Blur, and so forth. That is good because it doesn’t restrict your creativity when you’re splashing and diving.

The trick, although, is that you may’t use the touchscreen when you find yourself submerged. You’ll have to depend on digital camera shortcuts utilizing the cellphone’s bodily buttons. For reference, this consists of launching the digital camera app (even when the cellphone is locked) by double-tapping the facility button after which utilizing both of the quantity keys to activate the shutter. Sadly, with out utilizing the touchscreen, there’s no strategy to change modes, zoom in or out, swap lenses, and so forth.. This implies you might want to convey the cellphone out of the water to make these changes after which submerge your self once more to get the specified shot. However for those who simply wish to seize fast snaps, you are able to do what you want whereas truly within the water.

To my embarrassment, I didn’t work this all out on the seashore — I used to be truly snorkeling whereas attempting to determine all of it out. Heed my phrases: Get this all sorted earlier than you set in your swimsuit. You’ll have a a lot better time.

I attempted to get pictures with the underwater mode on and off to get a good suggestion of what it does. Due to the beforehand mentioned touchscreen limitations — and the pure buoyancy of the human physique — this was not simple to do. As such, please forgive me for not getting completely aligned photographs to indicate side-by-side comparisons.

First, try these two pictures to see for those who can spot what the underwater digital camera mode enhances:

These pictures are compressed, however by trying on the originals, I see that readability is barely increased with the underwater mode activated. The water additionally seems extra blue general.

Right here’s one other instance:

As soon as once more, we see a extra blueish hue general and barely extra readability. For these examples, the photographs captured with the underwater mode activated look higher than those with the mode left unactivated, for my part.

Nevertheless, I took many pictures, and never all have been so reduce and dry. Try the instance beneath, which exhibits two pictures captured inside seconds of each other, each with the underwater mode activated:

I’m undecided what occurred right here. Did the algorithm go hog wild and overcompensate to make every thing as blue as doable? What was completely different concerning the first shot and the second shot captured just a few seconds later? I’m not positive, however the overly blue photograph isn’t so good.

Right here’s a gallery of some different photographs, each with and with out the underwater mode activated:

Pixel 9 Professional underwater movies

Whenever you’re underwater, you’re not restricted to solely capturing pictures. You will get some fairly great-looking movies with the brand new underwater mode, too.

First, right here’s a easy, normal video clip:

Whereas this clip doesn’t look horrible or something, you may inform the spots the place the underwater algorithm goes a bit haywire and excessively “blues” the footage. It’s not a deal-breaker or something, however it’s noticeable and slightly annoying.

Fortunately, not all clips got here out that means. Right here’s one that appears a lot smoother:

This one is basically cool: a selfie video shot in Cinematic Mode. The water motion performed at a lowered pace however at a excessive body price offers the footage a very cool look:

Total, my companion and I ended up capturing much more video clips than nonetheless pictures throughout our snorkeling adventures simply because the motion actually captured the surprise of being underwater, which the pictures didn’t actually do. Listed here are a number of extra:

Pixel digital camera underwater mode: Price a shot!

Primarily based on the choice of pictures and movies I grabbed in Maui, I believe this underwater mode is a enjoyable function. I’m not assured I’d have been much less pleased with the photographs if the mode didn’t exist — in any case, simply having an underwater digital camera that may seize midway first rate pictures and movies is fairly cool in and of itself. However a number of of the pictures and clips look noticeably higher due to the underwater mode tweaking the colours and readability, so I’m glad it was there.

Clearly, Google has much more work to do. It must make the impact extra constant, stop it from going overboard with the coloring, and work on a means for the mode to robotically activate or off, relying on the place you might be. Nevertheless, I can solely assume that this isn’t going to be a closely used function, so who is aware of how a lot emphasis Google goes to placed on it. It is likely to be some time earlier than we see any vital enhancements (if any in any respect).

Nonetheless, if you end up in a spot the place getting underwater pictures and movies could be cool, you don’t want to purchase a flowery underwater digital camera. Simply throw your Pixel into a water-resistant case and use it to get every thing you want!