I've always been a fan of the Pixel series, but my enthusiasm is waning. The latest model, the Pixel 11, has left me with a sour taste in my mouth, and I'm not alone. Many photographers are feeling let down by Google's once-promising smartphone camera. The main issue? The portrait mode. It's not just me; the Pixel's portrait mode has been a source of frustration for many, and it's time for Google to step up its game.
The Pixel's portrait mode has always been a bit of a letdown. The bokeh effect is just not natural, and the edge detection is off. It's like the phone is trying to guess what's in focus and what's not, resulting in smudged hair and gaps in the background blur. I've compared it to the Fuji X-S10 mirrorless camera and the OPPO Find X9 Ultra, and the difference is stark. The Pixel just can't compete with the natural-looking bokeh and smooth edges of its competitors.
The problem lies in the fact that the Pixel combines pixel data from its 1x and 5x lenses to add detail and depth, but it lacks the natural blur created by a proper lens. This results in a much heavier reliance on software to fill the gaps, and there's no way to adjust or remove it once the photo has been taken. It's like the phone is trying to force a square peg into a round hole.
But it's not just the portrait mode that's disappointing. The Pixel's computational photography can't fill in the blanks when shooting cropped in portrait shots using data from the primary camera. This results in additional noise, color banding, and oversharpened details, resulting in blotchy, rough skin textures and smudged-looking hair. It's like the phone is trying to force a photo into a mold that doesn't fit.
I'm not holding out much hope for the Pixel 11. Based on the latest reports, any camera upgrades look set to be incremental tweaks to the current formula. A 25mm primary lens will always be too wide, while the 113mm telephoto is too tight for natural face shapes and framing. Google needs to wake up to the power of larger telephoto cameras, which have propelled China's Ultra flagships to the top of the mobile photography charts.
In my opinion, Google is lagging behind with tiny zoom sensors and a dogged fixation on the wide-angle lens. At least in my opinion, they're increasingly wrong on that front. I hope the Pixel 11 Pro XL offers something more than just new software gimmicks for more discerning photographers. But I'm not holding my breath. Avid photographers like me might just have to skip it.
