Yesterday Google presented the all-new Google Pixel 11. The design is mostly the same. Most of the upgrades are in the software, some are in the hardware.

CPU is more powerful, new AI features and everything, you can read it elsewhere, but what caught my attention are just a few camera features

Bigger camera sensor

Both the Pixel 11 and 11 Pro got a bigger main camera sensor with the 56% greater light sensitivity. 11 Pro gets also gets a new telephoto lens with the light sensitivity improvement of a 30%. Previously Pixel phones relied mainly on their computational power to achieve a good picture look.

Camera Looks

Custom image formation pipelines that will give your pictures a certain look or a vibe if you will.

The process is very different from just taking a JPEG and just throwing a filter on it. It’s rather about changing how the image is being formed and processed.

From the official website (https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/devices/pixel/pixel-11-features/):

”Now, you can set a new default photo look with three alternative options: Natural (for relaxed details), Shadows (for deeper contrast), and Vanilla (for a warm, golden glow). To create our Camera Looks, we made adjustments such as merging fewer frames for a minimally processed feel or rewriting color-lookup tables and more to emulate classic film chemistry.”

The accidental irony of the new Pixel

What makes it all unintentionally funny is that in the current tech climate. Big players like OpenAI and Google are manufacturing the demand for AI tools.

The main story big tech is currently trying to sell is pretty clear:

• People love to create with AI.
• Creative skill should be less important because AI makes art more accessible.
• AI-generated images, music and advertisements are something we are going to gradually accept as normal.

And then the new Pixel arrives with “minimally processed feel” and analog-inspired “classic film chemistry”!

It reminds me of all the funny stories about kindergarteners spilling all the beans about their parents, who spent a lot of time to build their reputational facade.

Products of this caliber don’t get new features just “because”. They have to generate revenue or help company compete. The market research was done and it seems like market actually rewards human creativity and authenticity now more than ever.

While marketing is telling us what the market SHOULD want, product decisions are accidentally telling us what it actually wants.

All saltiness aside, I want to try that Camera Looks feature sooo bad. Might get the phone someday.

Images from Google.