Time Lapse finally coming to Google Pixel phones (Update: Rolling out)

Update: May 8, 2019 at 2:40 p.m. ET: Google Camera version 6.2, the version that brings the Time Lapse feature, has just hit the Play Store. If you own a Pixel phone, head to the Play Store link below to grab the update!

Original article: May 7, 2019 at 2:48 p.m. ET: Already available on other smartphones and several third-party camera applications, Time Lapse is finally coming to Google Pixel phones through the stock Google Camera app.

Rolling out today, Time Lapse lets you put your phone down for a certain amount of time, record the world around you, and watch a sped-up version of the footage. Given the right circumstances and environment, time lapse videos can look stunning and make you appreciate the passage of time.

With Pixel owners no longer having to wait to natively capture time lapse videos, let’s take a look at how to use the new Time Lapse feature on Pixel phones.

How to use Time Lapse

When you open the Camera app, go to the More section. From there, tap the Time Lapse option that sits next to Slow Motion and is represented by a fast-forward icon.

Tapping Time Lapse brings up a different and simple camera viewfinder. When the phone is in portrait, the top-right thermometer icon lets you change the color temperature. The lock icon on the right lets you lock or unlock exposure and auto-focus, while the slider with the sun icon lets you override the exposure settings.

There’s also a magnifying glass option on the bottom right that lets you zoom in when you tap the icon.

We now get to the 1x, 5x, 10x, 30x, and 120x options laid out horizontally. You can only get a 10-second time lapse video, but you can choose for how long you want to record footage for. 1x means you record for 10 seconds, while 5x means you record for 50 seconds. That means the 120x option lets you record for a full 20 minutes.

Once you’re done recording, you can tap the bottom right icon to see your recording. Alternatively, you can hit the record button to grab another time lapse video.

The good news is that Time Lapse is a relatively easy and fun feature to use. Let us know in the comments if you plan to use Time Lapse on your Pixel phone.