Higher Ultra HDR image quality format on Pixel 8 and Android 14? Here's the catch...

While that might not be the only reason for the Camera app’s giant half-GB size, they’re exclusive to Google’s Pixel series for now, even though they’re apparently part of the new

list of features. Which give?

What is Ultra HDR on Pixel 8 with Android 14?

The latest version of Google’s mobile operating system brings improved photography to all Android phones, dubbed Ultra HDR, but what exactly does it do? As the name suggests, the option takes an enhanced version of photos with high dynamic range that adapts to both shadows and bright objects in the frame, but Google now also promises a more natural, less processed look .

Ultra HDR makes your photos look their best by bringing out vibrant colors, brighter highlights and darker shadows.“, advises the Google product manager behind this new Android 14 feature. “Plus, with the stunning HDR displays available on many phones today, Ultra HDR takes and displays high-definition photos without altering the original image quality.“, they add.

Does the Pixel 8 take better photos with Ultra HDR?

The promises of shadow and light Android 14The developers are all great, but the proof is in the pudding, namely Pixel 8 Or Pixel 8 Pro photos taken with and without Ultra HDR, like those shadowy birds and shiny water surface in Mishaal Rahman’s example below:

Pixel 8 Ultra HDR sample

Do you notice a difference even on your standard range display? There are, and Google even has a handy graphic that explains the benefits of transitioning from SDR to HDR to Ultra HDR.

Android 14 Ultra HDR functionality vs. standard phone camera HDR – Superior Ultra HDR image quality format on Pixel 8 and Android 14? Here's the trap...

Android 14 Ultra HDR functionality vs. standard HDR phone camera

According to display analyst Dylan RagaGoogle has made strides toward more natural high dynamic range photography with the Ultra HDR option in Android 14:

With Ultra HDR, image processing for full HDR output can use much less tone mapping, making them look much more balanced and natural while improving contrast. Browser support in Chrome is also a huge step forward in making these types of photos the norm, and SDR dimming means you don’t need to turn up the brightness of your screen just to get content HDR is correct.

Unfortunately, here’s the caveat. Ultra HDR is an end-to-end high dynamic range solution, from taking photos with all required gain cards and saving them in the corresponding new JPEG-R format, to displaying them on a phone, tablet, a supported laptop or high-end TV. poster. Even the image processor must support the new format and Google says it has worked with Qualcomm on support for the Snapdragon chipset.

Google’s control of the process aims to achieve a more natural photo look than standard processed HDR images with overly excessive tone mapping. There are, however, a number of conditions and challenges that must be met or overcome in order to enjoy all the beauty of Ultra HDR images as Google intended.

How big are Pixel 8 Ultra HDR images?

Needless to say, the new Ultra HDR feature of Android 14 brings with it a new image file format, JPEG_R. Fortunately, it’s backwards compatible with common JPEG files and any standard dynamic range display.

THE Pixel 8 And Pixel 8 Pro apparently shoot in Ultra HDR by default, while the P3 range toggle in the Google Camera app settings is for a new Android 14 functionality. The photos don’t appear to have excessive file sizes, and even with the P3 toggle the difference is negligible, as these full-size samples of the Pixel 8 Pro.

Which apps support Ultra HDR editing on Android 14?

For now, Adobe Lightroom has announced full support for Ultra HDR in the latest version 9.0.0 of its photo editing application for Android 14. On supported Google Pixel 7 series devices with Android 14 installed, it will display an Ultra HDR toggle that allows you to change additional highlight information displayed on a histogram. If your phone does not support Ultra HDR, this part of the histogram will be displayed in red.

How can I view Ultra HDR images?

The Google Chrome platform or a Chromium-based browser fully supports Ultra HDR and allows viewing images in all their glory on the following devices:

Pixel 7 and the phone works Android 14.
Windows PC with an HDR screen.
Mac with an HDR screen.

Android 14 Ultra HDR support and takeaways

As you can see, there are many pieces of the puzzle that need to come together to enjoy the end-to-end Ultra HDR photos that come with Android 14 and debut on the Pixel 8 series. Everything from the chipset to the browser or application platform to the display specifications must be wired for Ultra HDR to be captured and displayed correctly. Popular social media apps like Instagram don’t yet support Ultra HDR content, for example.

For now, that means exclusivity on newer Pixels and limited support on other devices, but Google’s new Ultra HDR format, which solves the headache of an over-processed HDR photo, is still in its infancy and its importance can only grow from here.