Last week Google launched its third generation Pixel smartphones, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, at an event in New York, but it didn’t address arguably one of the most talked about drawbacks, the mic. The Pixel devices reportedly capture average audio when recording a video through the native camera app, which does not even offer support for an external mic. Google is looking to fix this this issue and it has announced that it will roll out an update that will extend external mic support in the camera app itself.
According to Isaac from the Pixel Camera engineering team, Google will introduce support for Android-compatible plugged-in external microphones in the default camera app on October 18. “Hi, folks — Isaac here from the Pixel Camera engineering team. I have been keeping an eye on this thread since the beginning and have good news. At the same time as Pixel 3 launch (October 18th), we will introduce support for Android-compatible plugged-in external microphones in the default camera app for all Pixels. I hope you all enjoy the update,” the Google employee wrote on a thread on Pixel User Community.
The update will essentially let Pixel users stop their dependence on third-party camera apps that have been offering external mic support to Pixel smartphones. People who use their Pixel devices for shooting videos — owing to its “best smartphone camera” — will not have to depend on other camera apps for recording quality audio. If you are a Pixel user, you will need a dongle to attach to the Type C port in the newer Pixel devices (the first generation Pixel has a 3.5mm jack). This year Google launched several new features in the Pixel 3 camera. You can read about those features here. The company also incorporated two selfie cameras in the Pixel 3 smartphones.