Skip to main content

Google Camera ‘Smart Burst’ replaced by ‘Top Shot’ on Pixel 3

Google Camera 6.3 notably elevates Night Sight to the main interface but also removes manual white balance controls. According to the official release notes, this update also deprecates “Smart Burst” in favor of “Top Shot.”

Smart Burst was first introduced on the Nexus 6P in 2015 and a marquee feature of the original Pixel. It lets you take up to 10 shots per second by holding down the shutter button. To help with the “burst” of images, Google Camera automatically finds the best one by factoring sharpness, clarity, and other interesting moments.

It’s similar in concept to Top Shot, but the Pixel 3-only feature works automatically when Motion Photos are enabled. Google trained its “best moments” algorithm to look for functional qualities (like lighting), objective attributes (are the subject’s eyes open? Are they smiling?), and subjective qualities (like emotional expressions).

At a high-level, Top Shot saves and analyzes image frames 1.5 seconds before and after you tap the shutter button. Up to 90 images are captured, with the Pixel 3 selecting up to two alternative shots to save in high-resolution.

Release notes for Google Camera 6.3 spotted by Android Police mention how Smart Burst mode has been disabled on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. In a comment, Google added how users prefer Top Shot and that development will be focused on that feature moving forward. Smart Burst will remain available on older devices.

Smart Burst mode disabled for Pixel 3/3XL

Android Q Beta 6 users have had the latest version of Google Camera for the past month, and it should widely roll out with Android 10. Two Canadian carriers point to a launch as soon as tomorrow.

More about Google Camera:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news:

Comments

Author

Avatar for Abner Li Abner Li

Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications