Issues with GCam 9.6 on Pixel 9 Pro XL

Introduction

• User experiences problems with camera quality after installing GCam version 9.6 on Pixel 9 Pro XL.
• A video was created to inform Google about these issues.

Issue 1: Night Photos

• Noise in Night Photos: Significant noise observed in night photos, particularly with the T photo.
• Example: Attempted to photograph Burj Khalifa at night.
  • Viewfinder showed great quality, but processed image was noisy and oversharpened.
  • Comparison of Zoom shots between Pixel 8 Pro and 9 Pro XL (both at 12 MP with Night Sight).
  • 9 Pro XL produced an oversharpened and messy image, while 8 Pro performed better.

Issue 2: Comparison with Older Pixel Models

• Moon Shot Comparison: Comparison done with older Pixel models (6 Pro, 7 Pro, 8 Pro).
  • In viewfinder, 9 Pro XL looked best, but processed image was the worst (overexposed and blurry).
  • 8 Pro provided a telescope-like image with better details.
  • 6 Pro and 7 Pro also had overexposed images but were more detailed than 9 Pro XL.

Issue 3: Color and White Balance Issues

• Washed Out Colors: At night, colors appeared washed out with cooler than expected white balance.
  • Images captured by 7 Pro and 6 Pro accurately represented the scene.
  • 8 Pro and 9 Pro XL showed desaturated colors and overexposed images.
• Comparison with Previous Version: Compared night photos taken with GCam 9.4 on Android 14 to those taken with GCam 9.6 on Android 15.
  • Version 9.6 resulted in dull scenes with noisy sky.

Issue 4: Video Quality Problems

• Shaky and Noisy Videos: Videos recorded with the main camera were shaky and noisy with washed-out colors.
  • Previously, with Android 14 and GCam 9.4, video quality was great.

Issue 5: Inconsistent Color Representation

• Color Inconsistency: Notable differences in colors between 12 MP and 50 MP modes.
  • Example photos taken showed that 50 MP produced warmer, more accurate colors while 12 MP was cooler and desaturated.

Issue 6: Indoor Photos and Videos

• Color Picking Issues: Struggles with accurate color representation in indoor settings.
  • Comparison with iPhone 16 Pro Max showed better performance in color accuracy.

Conclusion

• User expresses disappointment with camera performance of Pixel 9 Pro XL after GCam 9.6 update.
• Uncertainty whether issues stem from GCam 9.6, Android 15, or both.
• Encouragement for viewers to comment on their experiences with the 9 Pro XL.