Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL Cameras Capture Flickering Bands Under LED Light

Problems with Google’s Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones appear to keep piling on as another problem has been discovered with its cameras recently. Some users are reporting that the cameras on their Pixel 2 units are capturing what appears to be flickering and banding when taking photos and videos under LED light.

The problem was first reported on the Pixel User Community forums. When taking a photo or a video with the Pixel 2 camera, flickering darker or lighter bands are appearing across the image, as explained by Android Police. The problem is a bit difficult to explain, but a user on YouTube has published a video showing what it looks like.

Users have suggested that the this problem may be due to the presence of LED lights. LED lights flicker at an alternating current. In the United States, the flickering rate is at 60MHz or 50MHz. The flickering is invisible to the naked eye, but it could be captured by some cameras. Unfortunately, it looks like the cameras on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are able to see this flickering thereby resulting in the flicker banding in images and videos.

The banding can be avoided, but it would require some adjustments in the Pixel 2 camera’s manual settings. Users should set the electronic shutter (shutter speed for traditional SLR cameras) to multiples of the LED light’s flicker frequency. In the U.S., the frequency is typically 60MHz or 50MHz, which means that users should set their electronic shutter to around 1/50s, 1/100s, 1/150s or more, accoridng to user cybersulu. This should eliminate the banding in images and videos captured by the Pixel 2 cameras. Unfortunately, users who want to try out this solution will have to use third-party camera apps because the stock camera app on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL doesn’t have any manual controls.

It’s not yet clear how many Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL users are affected by this banding issue. Owners are encouraged to try to recreate the banding with their handsets to see if it’s present.

A couple of Google representatives have already been alerted with this latest issue, and the problem has since escalated it to relevant officials. It is possible that this may simply be a software issue that could be fixed with an over-the-air (OTA) update. Google could add a camera setting that automatically adjusts the electronic shutter when it detects LED lighting.

In related news, the Pixel 2 XL has also been hit with another display-related issue. Some Pixel 2 XL users are experiencing unresponsive touchscreen issues on the curved edges of the handset’s display. Apparently, there seems to be “dead spots” near the edges of the Pixel 2 XL’s touchscreen display. Luckily, Google is already aware of this problem and a fix is on the way.

“Thanks for all the reports here, and to those that sent up additional info. The team has been investigating, and this will be addressed in a future OTA update. Stay tuned,” a Google Community Manager said.