Smartphone cameras have come a long way over the past few years, and even budget smartphones these days have pretty decent cameras.
However, if you use phones other than the Pixel 2 or Pixel 3, you've obviously noticed that the image quality on other phones (even flagship ones) isn't as good.
Luckily, a lot can be improved simply by using a different camera app than the standard one that comes out of the box. Yes, I am talking about the Google Camera Mod, which has been talked about quite often and it does make a noticeable contribution to the image quality of a smartphone camera.
So, if you are wondering how to install GCam Mod on your Android smartphone, we will provide you with this detailed guide.
Key features of Google Camera for Android
- Convenient settings and large shutter button
- Mute the camera shutter sound
- Maximum viewfinder resolution
- Background blur effect - bokeh, like on a DSLR camera
- Electronic image stabilization when shooting video
- Flash when taking selfies improves the quality of photos from the front camera in low light
- Slow Motion - shooting slow motion video
- Camera 2API support
- Focusing in manual mode
- Manual settings for ISO, shutter speed and white balance
- RAW format support
- HDR and HDR+ modes
- And much more
The HDR+ mode, unlike HDR, takes not 3 pictures, but 15-30, the received data is analyzed and the best picture is selected as the main one. The rest of the photos are superimposed on it in the form of layers using algorithms and filters, those frames where moving objects are less blurred are selected, and then placed in the final photo.
If there is a gyroscope in the device, high-resolution panoramic shooting modes and Photo Sphere - circular panoramas - are available.
The listed GCam functions become available depending on the device hardware and Android version.
Google Camera for any Android
You know that Google Camera or Gcam app is cool. Thanks to computational photography and algorithms, especially the HDR+ algorithm. We have already talked about this in detail. The difference between photos on OnePlus 8 Pro through the standard application and through Gcam is visible to the naked eye. Do you want too?
There is a problem. Google Camera is very difficult to install: you can't just download the installation file from Pixel and hope that it will work on your smartphone. And searching for a suitable version from hundreds of modifications on the Internet is very expensive.
But today we will try to find a universal Google camera. And today I’ll tell you about this one, and at the same time I’ll teach you how to understand the world of endless modifications of the best mobile camera. So that your phone takes pictures like a god (many people asked me to tell you about this).
Why do we even want to put a Google camera on a smartphone? Google's algorithms take pictures in a special way: they provide a high level of detail and dynamic range. First of all, due to the proprietary HDR+ algorithm, which is not just good HDR. We even had a separate material and video about this!
Let's start with the problem. There is no perfect Google camera that works on every device. In this regard, the title was a little deceptive. Why is that?
The main problem is that smartphones run on different chipsets: Qualcomm, Exynos, Kirin, MediaTek, and the program must be adapted for all these chips. For example, if we run Google Camera APK from OnePlus 8 Pro on Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra with Exynos chipset, it will simply crash.
But there is also good news. If your smartphone is Qualcomm, then you will have a normal Google camera. We'll talk about Exynos and Kirin later.
So, if you have read up to this point, then you belong to one of two groups of people:
- I don’t want to worry and want to install something to make it work
- Are you ready to get confused and find the perfect mod for your super special Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S iPro, Indian version.
Let's start with the first category. What to put? There are a huge variety of mods. They differ in the list of devices for which they are optimized and in their individual features. What you need to do is install a mod called Ultra CVM or simply Ultra. Why him?
Firstly, the developers declare support for many popular smartphones: OnePlus, many Xiaomi and Redmi, Samsung on Qualcomm, Pocophone and others.
Secondly, there is support for standard Google camera features:
- HDR+ - what the main effect does
- Night mode
- Portrait
- Astrophotography
- Saving in RAW
- Even tracking focus
So and their unique ones:
- Advanced HDR+ mode, which apparently processes even more photos.
For this reason, the developer even decided to make a separate icon for the application.
Where can I find a safe version of "G Cam"
Despite the availability of this application on the Internet, the difficulty is finding the current version suitable for a specific gadget model. Difficulties may arise for Honor and Huawei users running on the Kirin processor. But, nevertheless, specialized sites provide the required version. Also, in every discussion of a gadget model, a download link is provided.
You can also use the resources of the CyanogenMods website, where all models are provided. For example, for the Honor 8X model you can download the application from this link.
And also try to install several versions of GCam using trial and error. One of the most successful and stable working modifications is modification number 7.3. Its main feature is support for importing and exporting config files. Configuration files allow you to load optimized settings, facilitate the process of downloading updates, and quickly select the optimal parameters for shooting in various conditions.
How to download and install Google camera on Samsung A50
To download and install the application, you must have access to a computer connected to the network. To install the application, repeat the following:
- From the website www.goo.gl/iprRdG, download the installation package of the “ADB and Fastboot” program to your PC.
- Run the installer as an administrator, click “Ok” several times on the driver confirmation messages that appear.
- Download the latest TWRP update for your smartphone to the adb directory on drive C. It is extremely important to choose the exact model of the smartphone, and not a similar one - the success of all subsequent actions will depend on this. Rename the downloaded file with the iso extension to twrp.iso.
- Check the battery charge on your smartphone (must be at least 50%) and the availability of the latest official operating system update.
- Open your phone settings and go to the “About phone” section. Tap on the “Build number” line several times until a message appears about opening the developer menu.
- The line “For Developers” will appear in the settings menu. Activate “USB Debugging” and “Factory Unlock” options
- Go to security options and disable any screen lock.
- Turn off your smartphone and hold down the power and volume up buttons. Wait for the “Bootloader” logo to appear.
- Connect your smartphone to your PC using a USB cable.
- Open the adb directory on your computer, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and right-click on a free area. In the drop-down list, select the line “Open PowerShell window here”.
- In the window that appears, run the command: fastboot devices. The name of the phone with the inscription fastboot will appear on the screen, which indicates that the computer has successfully detected the mobile device.
- Enter the following commands one by one: fastboot oem unloc, fastboot boot twrp.img
- Wait for TWRP to load on your smartphone. During this process, you cannot turn off the smartphone in order to avoid system errors and delete data from the device. After completing the process, return to the PC and write the following lines: adb shell, setprop persist.camera.HAL3.enabled 1, exit adb reboot bootloader
- Bootloader will start again on the phone, and we will only need to execute the last fastboot reboot command on the PC.
- Restart your smartphone. Now installation of the application via apk file will be successful.
Samsung Soundshare - what is it?
BestMe Selfie Camera
Cymera is an application that is suitable for those users who want to give their photos a fresh and dynamic look. It has seven types of lenses, a timer, a stabilizer and a wide selection of filters. It is worth noting the built-in photo editor - it allows you to improve color reproduction, adjust the brightness and contrast of the image, remove red eyes, and also naturally retouch the skin. Also in the application there is:
- collages;
- memes and animation;
- the ability to change hairstyle and makeup;
- quick figure correction, etc.
In addition, the functionality of the program involves the use of a “smart selfie camera”, which will allow you to take perfect pictures without any extra effort.
Cymera
Cymera is an application that is suitable for those users who want to give their photos a fresh and dynamic look. It has seven types of lenses, a timer, a stabilizer and a wide selection of filters. It is worth noting the built-in photo editor - it allows you to improve color reproduction, adjust the brightness and contrast of the image, remove red eyes, and also naturally retouch the skin:
- 130 filters;
- collages;
- memes and animation;
- the ability to change hairstyle and makeup;
- quick figure correction, etc.
In addition, the functionality of the program involves the use of a “smart selfie camera”, which will allow you to take perfect pictures without any extra effort.
Possible problems
List of possible side effects:
- there is a certain risk that the camera will stop working altogether.
- In rare cases, you will no longer be able to receive official updates over the air.
- If you do receive an Android update over the air, Gcam may stop working after that. You will need to repeat the entire installation procedure again.
- There is a possibility that your Google Pay app may stop working.
- Some Gcam features may be unstable or not work at all. The most common issues that cause problems are the slow motion and portrait mode functions on the front camera.
- If you have Android Oreo installed, be prepared for the fact that slow motion will almost certainly not work.
- and finally: your phone may stop turning on altogether. Yes, this also happens.
If you are determined and all of the above does not scare you, then go into battle! On my own behalf, I would like to note that if you are attentive and careful enough, then even in case of failure, you will almost certainly be able to return everything to its original state. However, we remind you that the Andro-News resource is not responsible for any possible damage to your device. You perform any actions with your smartphone solely at your own peril and risk. We are simply sharing with you a method that we have already used dozens of times ourselves, installing Gcam on a variety of devices of almost any brand and price segment.
