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The Pixel Visual Core image processing chips on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL now has expanded roles of ensuring top quality images for third-party apps as well. That includes the likes of Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp right now though every app that takes pictures can draw upon the capabilities of the Visual Core chips from now onwards.
This comes on the back of Google initiating the photography focused chips in the first place a few weeks post the launch of the phone in October last. That was via a software update – Android 8.1 to be precise – that was released during early December.
It was then promised that the dedicated image processing chip will also have third-party apps to cater to, offering HDR+ technology for top quality images as the default Google Camera app is capable of. Google also had a rather slow and steady approach with regards to opening up the Pixel Visual Core to third-party apps.
In fact, it has been working with developers on this since November last. It not only is the quality of the image but performance and power too were given equal priority. Also, while its Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp that will be among the first to benefit from the new image processing chip, other too will be joining the party soon. That will again be via a February security patch that is slated to roll out within a couple of days.
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As for the Pixel Visual Core chip itself, it makes for a unique approach in the realm of smartphone photography. While there exist several other phones having excellent photographic capabilities, none have attempted to makes the same apply uniformly across all apps.
Image quality happens to be one of the core qualities of the new Pixel 2 range. That again can be considered to have been inherited from the first gen Pixel devices, making the new Pixel 2 range to have one of the best smartphone cameras among 2017 flagships.
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And the good thing here is that the capabilities continue to expand in scope and functionality months after the device has been launched.
Quick Recap
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- 12.2 megapixel camera
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 835; 64-bit eight-core processor with 2.35 GHz and 1.9 GHz
- Fingerprint sensor on the back for quick access
- 64 GB memory
- 3,520 mAh battery
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