Google Pixel phones could soon be getting an astrophotography timelapse mode
But we’re not sure which handsets will qualify
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Being able to take shots of the moon and the stars is one of the best tricks that recentGoogle Pixel phonescan pull off, and it looks as though the feature is about to get an upgrade in the form of a timelapse mode.
As spotted by9to5Google, the Pixel Tips app has been updated to include a mention of “CameraAstrotimelapseSettingController”, which sounds as though the astrophotography mode will soon be able to track celestial objects over time.
What’s not clear is which phones are going to get the updated feature. At the moment, astrophotography is available on thePixel 3phone from 2018 and every Pixel released since, up to the most recentGoogle Pixel 5released last year.
The feature is apparently coming to version 8.2.3 of theGoogleCamera app – the current version on thePlay Storeis 8.2.2, so it would appear that an update is imminent. Code in the Pixel Tips app has pointed to feature upgrades before.
More Pixels on the way
As 9to5Google notes, the astrophotography timelapse mode may well arrive as part of the Pixel Feature Drops that Google pushes out four times a year.Previous dropshave included the Smart Compose option for getting some AI help with your messages.
The next Pixel Feature Drop is due in June, so that fits in with the timing of the update to the Pixel Tips app. Presumably as soon as the next version of the Google Camera app arrives, astrophotography timelapse will then become available.
We’re still waiting for theGoogle Pixel 5ato make an appearance, though there have been a few leaks and rumors about what’s in store. The mid-range handset could be out in August, which would be 12 months after the launch of thePixel 4a.
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After that of course it’sGoogle Pixel 6time – we think that there are going to be some substantial upgrades to the cameras, so if the new night sky timelapse feature is live by then, the Pixel 6 should have the hardware to pull off results that are better than ever.
Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you’ll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.
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