Google Pixel And Pixel XL To Receive Update To Fix Camera Issue

Google has finally responded to Pixel and Pixel XL owners' complaints that the camera on the smartphones generates a "Halo Effect" on photos. According to Google's product forum, the effect comes due to misalignment between the devices' camera and their 2.5D glass panels.

This seems to be essentially a hardware issue, but a Google employee going by the name "IsaacOnCamera" posted on the forum on Tuesday that a future software update might resolve it.

"You can expect a software update in the next few weeks that will improve the effects of this issue. We're working on some algorithms that recognize the halo/arc flare, characterize it mathematically, and then subtract it from the image," the post stated.

The post further states that the devices will not be replaced due to the issue. The consumers will have to enable the HDR+ mode to get rid of the issue. The timing for the update hasn't been revealed in the post, but it is expected to roll out in the coming weeks. It remains to be seen if the company can actually resolve the issue by subtracting lens flare from photos post click.

The devices had produced a halo-like effect when a light source was included in the frame. This is the first time that the company has accepted the defect in its Pixel series of devices, which has received a high consumer demand.

The company has promised 2 years of Android version updates for the devices, both of which come with a 12.3-megapixel rear camera, which lacks Optical Image Stabilization although it has a highest-ever score of 89 on DXOmark.