When the 9.1 update for Pixel cameras was released in October, it appeared to only change some UI and color options. However, the release of Google Pictures 9.2 shows that the company wants to continue to support older models while bringing some interesting new features.

While the main benefits of the update are focused on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 7, it appears that Google wants to offer it to older models as well; the Pixel Camera app v 9.2 is currently available for all phones running Android 14, and Google is now offering monthly This includes phones for which Google does not offer monthly support.

Google has stated that Pixel Camera 9.2 will disable Ultra HDR on both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. This is more of a quality of life improvement, as both models automatically take photos in Ultra HDR. In most cases, there would be no reason to turn this off, but if you want to conserve memory space or make it easier to send images to friends, an option is available.

Outside of the newest models, there are bonuses for older models. With this update, new HDR features will be available for models like the Pixel 6, allowing these models to keep their photos crisp and clear. Meanwhile, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have added support for Ultra HDR.

Finally, the camera UI has been changed in this update to make it slightly easier to use. In the original camera layout, exposure, shadows, and light balance were located on both sides of the screen. This has been changed so that all sliders now appear above the shutter button. This makes the layout less cluttered and easier to see the subject.

Ultra HDR is Google's new image format, dubbed "the future of photography." These are essentially JRPGs with embedded HDR gain maps. This effectively means that the photos taken are backward compatible with standard JRPG formats. In layman's terms, this means that the photos taken should look more natural because other HDRs omit these map gains.

However, the benefits of Ultra HDR can only really be seen on HDR screens like the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro. There will be certain color features that will be more dynamic when viewed on these devices than when viewed on non-HDR screens. It is definitely possible to capture Ultra HDR images on older Pixel smartphones, but this would require rooting the device and is not worth considering.

Google Pixel 9.2 offers quite a bit to users and even some advantages to those still using older models. The ability to turn off Ultra HDR is a nice option to have, even if you don't use it all the time, and the ability to use HDR on older models will keep those phones in decent shape for a while.

The main bonus, however, is the new layout of the camera, which will be easier for many to use and allow them to take better pictures to share with friends and family.