Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
The Google Camera app adds a bunch of cool features to the Pixel phone. It has also been unofficially ported to other devices and has a modified version that carries features that you only get on Google’s phones. So we wanted to know how important the app is to you when you buy a new phone. Do you consider this before you pick a new device? Here’s how you voted in our poll.
Do you consider Gcam port when buying a new phone?
The result
Our poll shows that our readers are divided on the Google Camera app. GCam is an important consideration for most respondents (26.9%) when buying a smartphone.
Meanwhile, about 24.8% of voters think that having the app is good but not necessary.
20.8% of our survey takers don’t care about Google’s camera app at all. Not surprisingly, it currently has a 2.2 rating in the Google Play Store with over 450,000 reviews.
Interestingly, 14.9% of respondents were pixel users. This means that their phone already has the official version of the Google Camera app.
Only 12.6% of our readers voted that GCam ports are essential for them and their primary consideration when buying a phone.
Your comment
Leif Shantz: I don’t really care much about it, I use the camera app whatever it is preloaded on the phone.
thesecondsight: Motorola and OnePlus budget phones have enough cameras. However, Gcam limits camera hardware on both devices. This is a game-changer for those who want a phone that makes wonderful photos and does not break the bank.
Roduardo: Smartphone cameras are super duper enough for everyday use today. The camera quality of the smartphone (for still images) was not something I had to think about for many years. Mobile video photography, on the other hand, still has a long way to go to get Apple (closest to Samsung) on Android devices.
Niky Tamayo: It’s sometimes better than the stock app in terms of color, but I like to use pro mode and fix things in the post if I need to. Either way, I tend to pick phones based on camera quality, and phones that pay attention often have very good stock apps.
mattc: How is Gcam going to be better than phone maker software?
Peter Bolga: I’m just waiting for an Exynos S22 Ultra, does anyone know a working GCam app? Coming from a pixel device I’m concerned about the speed of the shutter, the Samsung camera app always seems to fight with moving objects.
No: My s20 crashes instantly when I try and open a game port
Albin: I’m lucky my current Moto (compare my first level 3 camera 2 compliant, Pixel 3) phone supports several GCam, and I mentioned earlier about a good phone. I like “manual” style apps when I feel “creative” but can’t beat GCam for simple points and clicks, especially when there’s nothing to look at on a sunny screen. HDR + is surprisingly fast for handhelds and produces better details up to 3x or more digital zoom than a single shot.
I chose camera “mods” a decade ago using the Canon Powershot CHDK, which I must say is a much better organized and coherent project organization than GCam with a single website, detailed user manual and a thorough collaborative process for development. And to finalize the beta testing build, really effectively covers the excess of the PowerShot camera model. Finding out if there is a functional CHDK for the model is much easier than the freelancing collection of independent GCam developers, compared to a catfish. Good luck finding out if any new phones will support it.
Ahmed Danish: I used GCam on my phone but then when I compare it with stock camera it really shows a huge difference in detail Gcam is about 2MB while my stock cam is always 6 + mb so I decided not to use Gcam anymore. My phone is Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
David: I have a Xiaomi mi 10t 5g and the stock camera app is nice, I didn’t think to change it.
Japes: At first I was wtf is Gcam port. Is this a new hole in the phone… but then I realized Google Cam. Hahaha no, I’ve seen it but it’s definitely not a consideration when upgrading to a new phone.
Dani: I’ve used it for Huawei so far, and no GCam. The built-in camera is great for any occasion.
Lcd1701: It’s never been understood by me, and it’s always just the Gcam port that was originally mentioned. I can’t really see the article about Samsung or any other company’s cam port. Asking for problems using software that is not for your phone
duckofdeath: Google Spambots was set to fill the internet with promotions this past year. I suspect that nowadays there are more ads in the internet comment section than articles. Get fake interactions with people thinking they’re arguing with people and you can talk about what you want them to sell.