Android 15 could fix a major annoyance with Pixel’s webcam mode

Summary

• Google will enhance the Pixel phone’s webcam quality in Android 15 with HQ mode, delivering Full HD video at 30fps without draining the battery or causing overheating.
• The new feature boosts detail and sharpness, matching third-party webcam apps, but Google should consider a wireless connection option like Apple.
• While Google should have included this upgrade in Android 14, it’s a step in the right direction to improve user experience.

With the release of the first Android 14 Pixel Feature Drop in December 2023, Google added the ability to use your Pixel phone as a webcam with your PC. On paper, the feature sounds similar to Apple’s Continuity Camera, which lets you use your iPhone for video calls made through your Mac. In our hands-on experience with Google’s Continuity Camera clone though, we found Google’s implementation left a lot to desire, especially with the sub-par video quality. Thankfully, it appears the company will resolve the issue in Android 15.

In the recently released Android 15 Developer Preview 2, Google has added a new HQ option to the webcam’s viewfinder in the top-left corner. Tapping the button will enable a High Quality mode, significantly boosting the video quality. It does this by turning off Google’s under-the-hood power optimizations.

Based on testing from Android expert Mishaal Rahman for Android Authority, it appears your Pixel phone will stream the video in Full HD resolution at 30fps. As per his testing, the improved video quality does not come at the expense of battery life. It also did not cause his Pixel 8 Pro to overheat after an extended use of nearly 2.5 hours.

Below is a quick sample footage from Mishaal comparing the webcam footage quality from the Pixel 8 Pro with and without HQ mode enabled. You’ll see a clear improvement in detail and sharpness when the feature is turned on.

The boost in video quality means Google’s webcam mode can capture footage similar to what many similar third-party webcam apps on the Play Store have been able to achieve all this while.

Pixel’s webcam mode still needs work

It is good to see Google addressing one of the major drawbacks of the webcam mode on compatible Pixel phones. Ideally, the company should have rolled out this change as a part of an Android 14 Feature Drop instead of bundling it with Android 15.

Besides this, Google should take a cue from Apple’s Continuity Camera implementation and enable a way to wirelessly use your Pixel phone as a webcam. A wired connection makes the entire process inconvenient, especially when you are in a hurry or are traveling and want to use your Pixel as a webcam for a quick video call.