This is how Google tests Pixel cameras in its secret lab
TL;DR Google showed off its camera testing facility in a CNET video. The video shows a more practical approach to testing smartphone cameras. Many smartphone brands have their own camera test setups, allowing them to fine-tune their photo and video experience. However, we rarely get a close look at these facilities, but Google has now […]
TL;DR
- Google showed off its camera testing facility in a CNET video.
- The video shows a more practical approach to testing smartphone cameras.
Many smartphone brands have their own camera test setups, allowing them to fine-tune their photo and video experience. However, we rarely get a close look at these facilities, but Google has now pulled back the curtain on its lab setup.
CNET has been allowed to tour Google’s camera testing facilities for its Pixel phones, and the tech giant has opted for a more hands-on approach to its cameras. The company showed off cafe and living room sets that were used to test the Pixel 8 Pro’s Night Sight Video/Video Boost features against the Pixel 7 Pro.
Lighting in the cafe and living room can be controlled down to intensity and color temperature, allowing Google to test its Pixel cameras in a wide variety of indoor scenes. In fact, the outlet specifically mentioned Google’s ability to simulate lighting situations like late evening or sunrise.
“It turns out that simple everyday scenes, like lit dinners or a romantic evening, are really challenging for cameras,” said Isaac Reynolds, group product manager for the Pixel camera. He pointed out challenges such as deciding which person to focus on in a scene, as well as ensuring that the flickering of candles doesn’t affect the exposure in a video.
How else does Google test its Pixel cameras?
The company also showed how it tested color reproduction for Video Boost, as several people played Monopoly in a room with mixed lighting (with a color chart and other props in the scene).
Google says it also tests the hardware in these situations. He gives the example of the grease used in smartphone camera components to ensure the proper functioning of the different mechanisms. He notes that this grease can build up in an area of the phone’s camera when the device is in the same position for a period of time (e.g. flat on a table), leading to inconsistencies in focus. point/shot at the beginning. These inconsistencies must therefore also be corrected by testing.
Regardless, this is an interesting look at Google’s Pixel camera test setup. But we hope the company will also put a lot of effort into testing other elements of the Pixel experience, such as performance, battery life, and connectivity.
