Google boosts augmented reality performance with dual photo sensor

Google is preparing to improve the performance of its Pixel 4 in augmented reality. Until now, the smartphone only uses one of its photo sensors to calculate the necessary data. In a future SDK update, it will use both sensors. It is not yet known whether the Pixel 5 will benefit from this.

To allow its smartphones to offer augmented reality features, Google has developed an SDK called ARCore. Thanks to motion sensors, light and of course, photo sensors, the latter performs the calculations necessary to place virtual objects in an environment. However, ARCore only uses a single camera sensor, despite the development of phones with three or even four sensors.

Google therefore decided to remedy this. The firm is thus deploying an update of ARCore which allows it to use two photo sensors at the same time. In the release annotations, we can read in particular “Stereo depth by dual camera on compatible devices”. The smartphones concerned will therefore display better performance in augmented reality, especially in the calculation of depths.

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The Pixel 4 will perform better in augmented reality, but the Pixel 5 will not

The update will be available in the coming weeks according to Google, and should for the moment only concern the Pixel 4 and 4 XL. This decision is somewhat surprising, since, in addition to being released more recently, the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G also have a dual photo sensor. However, this can be explained by the fact that their secondary sensor is much wider than those of their predecessors, which could complicate depth calculations.

Google is therefore once again suffering the consequences of his hazardous choices in terms of photography. For a long time, the firm insisted that its smartphones did not need multiple sensors, thanks to the impressive computing performance already on offer. But she backtracked with the Pixel 4, equipped with a double sensor. This indecision is not without consequence: the quality of the photos of Pixel 5 and 4 has greatly decreased compared to the old models.

Source: Android Police