Your Pixel now captures the perfect smile every time, even when shooting HDR+

There’s a lot to get into with the June 2024 Pixel Feature Drop, but many of the latest features are reserved for the latest Pixel 8 range. One of the new additions coming to a whole range of Pixel handsets is improved HDR+ Top Shot. In a nutshell, Pixel phones are now great at capturing the best moment with a single shutter press, even in tricky lighting environments that require HDR+ processing.

Improved Top Shot HDR+ frame selection is coming to the Pixel 6, 7, and 8 series. The Pixel Fold and the Pixel Tablet also make the cut, so this is a clean sweep for all models running a Google Tensor chipset.

This is an upgrade to the classic Top Shot feature, which has been available since the good old Pixel 3. The feature analyzes close to 100 frames captured right before and after you press the shutter, using on-device AI to search for criteria that include smiles, open eyes, lighting, and emotional expressions. It then picks out the picture where you’re looking at your best, and now it works even in HDR+.

You only have to install the June 2024 update to benefit from this new feature; once the update is installed, just point and shoot. If you want a bit more manual control, Google’s Best Take feature serves up a small selection of faces taken from multiple pictures, allowing you to select the best one yourself.

Have you tried out the Pixel camera with the new June 2024 Pixel Feature Drop? What improvements do you see, if any? Let us know in the comments below!