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Google Camera 8.1 starts rolling out to older Pixels (Update)
August 22, 2025
Update: July 31, 2025 (5:20 AM ET): Google Camera 8.1 now brings a Storage Saver mode to thePixel 5and Pixel 4a 5G. Spotted byXDA, the mode lets users easily adjust capture settings to reduce the storage size of photos and videos. Check out a screenshot below.
Switching on low storage mode may drop the resolution of photos, save shots in JPEG only, “store videos efficiently,” or disable Motion Photos. It’s unclear if the feature is available on older Pixels.
Original article: June 04, 2025 (1:35 AM ET): ThePixel 5features an overhauled Google Camera experience, including a new user interface and a few extra features. Now, it looks like the update is finally being pushed out to older Pixels via the Play Store.
Twitter user Kelvin Peraltaconfirmedreceiving Google Camera 8.1 on theirPixel 4 XLvia the Play Store, posting a screenshot of the updated camera app as well. You can check out the screen below.
The update brings the Cinematic Pan feature and aforementioned new UI to the Pixel 4 XL, but there’s no word if Night Sight Portrait is available too. Nevertheless, Cinematic Pan is one of the more notable Pixel 5 camera features, enabling smooth, panning video.
We haven’t received the Google Camera 8.1 update on our standard Pixel 4, so presumably Google is doing a small rollout before making it available to more users. Furthermore,Android Policereports that sideloading the APK doesn’t seem to work without jumping through a few hoops. So you might just have sit tight and wait for Google to push that button.
Are you seeing the Google Camera 8.1 update on your older Pixel? Let us know in the comments section!
Next:Google Pixel 5 tested versus the best Android camera phones
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