Google’s latest Pixel doesn’t have a key feature for mobile videographers: 4K recording at 60 frames per second. Today, the company shed light on why it omitted it.
In a response to a tweet, @MadeByGoogle replied noting that storage capacity and general usage case were the biggest reasons for its absence on new Pixels.
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Hi, Pixel 4 supports 4k video recording on the rear camera at 30fps. We find that the majority of users stick with 1080p, so we focus our energy on improving our quality in this mode, versus enabling a 4k 60fps mode that could use up to half a gigabyte of storage every minute.
— Made by Google (@madebygoogle) October 20, 2019
“We find the majority of users stick with 1080p, so we focus our energy on improving quality in this mode,” it revealed.
It added that 4K recording at 60 frames per second could use up to “half a gigabyte of storage every minute”.
This wouldn’t perhaps be an issue, then, had Google allowed its users access to a 256 or 512GB storage model. Or, you know, gave the devices microSD card expansion support.
The highest-capacity Pixel 4 available is pegged at 128GB of internal storage.
While the omission won’t affect a number of users who really just want to record video at any resolution and frame rate, it’s just another compromise from the company.
The likes of the iPhone 8 and newer all feature 4K 60fps recording. New Samsung and Huawei flagships do too. And for $799, it’s a feature you’d really expect to have, especially on a phone series known for its prowess in photography.
It’s not clear if Google may be able to add the mode via a software patch at a later date, but at this point, it doesn’t seem like it wants to.
Feature image: Google
