When it comes to mobile photography, smartphone manufacturers are always striving to develop powerful hardware that breaks the barrier between smartphones and professional cameras. In recent years, we have seen great developments in the hardware field. However, while some companies have chosen the hardware route to deliver impressive footage, Google has chosen the software route. With advanced image processing algorithms and more recently the use of AI, Google has consistently developed the Pixel smartphone series into the best smartphones for photography. These devices have made a name for themselves in the camera field, thanks to the powerful Google camera app, GCam.
The Google Camera app is behind the most advanced "tricks" of Pixel smartphones to deliver high-quality photos. Some features require special hardware from Google to work, but most are hardware-independent and all the magic is performed by software. Thanks to this basic premise, talented developers have been able to port the Google Camera app to multiple devices through the GCam project.
THE GCAM PROJECT
One of the biggest advantages of the GCam project is that it brings all its advanced software features to devices of other brands. It doesn't matter if you own a mid-range or premium flagship smartphone, once it proves compatible with GCam, you will have access to the app's advanced image processing algorithms. On many devices, especially budget phones, the standard camera doesn't allow you to take full advantage of its capabilities. With GCam, you can get great image quality without any hassle. GCam offers a ton of customizable options and also allows you to import and export settings that suit your smartphone. In this article, we'll talk about the latest GCam 9.2 (V10) update and show you how to install it on almost any Android smartphone.
GCAM 9.2 (V10) UPDATE
Earlier this month, talented GCam developer BSG released the latest update for their port of the Pixel Camera app. You can check out the changelog below, which lists all the changes, improvements, and fixes introduced in the latest update. It is worth noting that this update fixes some on-phone mods that were problematic in the previously released version.
GCAM 9.2 HIGHLIGHTS:
Changes introduced with GCam 9.2 V10 and the major highlights are listed below.
Optimized User Interface: With GCam 9.2, Google announced a major overhaul of the user interface. The goal now is to improve usability for beginners. In previous versions, you could find brightness, shadows, and white balance adjustments on the left and right edges of the viewfinder. These controls now appear within a compact carousel in the bottom right corner. There's also a "Reset All" button that debuted on the Pixel 8, allowing users to restore default settings with just one tap.
Improved accessibility: Google has also worked on improving usability with a focus on one-handed use. The Settings button has been placed in the bottom left corner for easier access with your thumb.
Advanced options: GCam 9.2 allows you to enable or disable Ultra HDR and Rich Color Spectrum for photos. Thanks to GCam, these features are now available on a range of smartphones.
Ultra HDR: Ultra HDR is a new feature introduced in GCam 9.2. It provides better images with even better dynamic range and the highest quality. Ultra HDR uses sophisticated algorithms to brighten the brightest areas and preserve the details.
Palm Timer: The palm timer feature is a handy tool to take selfies without having to fiddle with the buttons. It has now been upgraded to GCam 9.2. Previously, the palm timer was only active when the 3-second or 10-second timer was used. With the latest update, users can now set it to "always on."
GCAM MOD – SOME THINGS TO KNOW
As the title suggests, GCam 9.2 Mod is designed to work with almost all Android smartphones. It works perfectly with many smartphones, but some smartphones will have compatibility issues. Using the latest Android version will give you better results. Additionally, smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon tend to be more compatible. For some users, it's a case of trial and error. You'll need to try the app yourself to see which features work and which don't.
Fortunately, one of the best things about GCam is that it is run by a great community. On Telegram, you can find several GCam groups related to specific smartphone models. You can easily find different settings for specific versions of your smartphone or for different scenarios. Remember we said you can import settings? You can easily find an XML with the settings to get the most out of your smartphone.
GCam offers great benefits to its users, but there are some facts you should know.
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT GCAM
Compatibility: GCam is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It is compatible with a wide range of Android devices, but successful installation and functionality depends on your specific smartphone model. Be sure to check the compatibility with your device and find the right GCam version before proceeding.
Unofficial Source: GCam is a modified app and is therefore not officially distributed by Google Play Store. Therefore, you will need to download it from a third-party source. Always look for reliable sources that provide you with sufficient information. The CelsoAzevedo repository mentioned here is one of the safest repositories available. Be careful not to download GCam mods from shady websites.
Learning curve: It is very easy to get lost when working with the app's custom settings. It takes patience to study and learn everything the app has to offer. This will help you find the best settings for your device.
Last but not least: It is important to be aware of the fact that GCam is an unofficial mod. Although Google has never bothered with its existence, it is not officially available for all devices. Make sure you check all your device's specific details, warranty details, etc. before proceeding with the installation. Also, keep in mind that GCam is a complementary tool and does not completely replace your default camera app. Results here tend to be better, but it is important to keep the default app on your device.
HOW TO DOWNLOAD & INSTALL GCAM 9.2 V10 app to YOUR DEVICE
To install GCam 9.2 V10, you need to make sure your device is running Android 11 or higher.
Download the APK file and install it.
To install, you may need to allow installation from "Unknown Sources" depending on your browser. Don't worry, the file is safe and verified.
Once the installation is complete, open Google Camera. The icon will also appear on your home screen or app drawer.
CONCLUSION
If you follow the steps and have a compatible device, you will be able to use the features introduced in the latest update. Please note that GCam has a WIP (work in progress) status. So, there will be many more updates in the future.
DOWNLOAD & INSTALL GCAM 9.2 V10
MGC_9.2.113_A11_V10_snap.apk (org.codeaurora.snapcam) #
MGC_9.2.113_A11_V10_MGC.apk (com.android.MGC_9_2_113) #
MGC_9.2.113_A11_V10_ENG.apk (com.google.android.GoogleCameraEng) #
MGC_9.2.113_A11_V10_aweme.apk (com.ss.android.ugc.aweme) #
MGC_9.2.113_A11_V10_scan3d.apk (com.samsung.android.scan3d) #
What's the difference between these files?
They're all the same version, but have different package names (the package name is the text next/under the download link). Every bug fixed, every new feature, etc, is available on all apks, but the package name is different.
A package name is the real name of an Android app. For example, the package name for Chrome is com.android.chrome. Users see a friendly name, but Android uses the package name.
- Why are different package names needed?
Package names are usually needed to access all cameras and/or to enable features like Google Lens.
Some brands (eg: OnePlus, Samsung, etc) restrict access to all cameras. They have a "whitelist" of apps (package names) that can access those cameras, so modders release their versions with package names that are on those lists.
Multi APKs
For OnePlus usually allows org.codeaurora.snapcam, so that's what's usually recommended for OnePlus devices:
org.codeaurora.snapcam
For Samsung you'll probably need to use samsung packages:
com.samsung.android.ruler or com.samsung.android.scan3d
- Other uses:
Different package names lets you install multiple GCam apps side by side. For example, in the example above, you'd be able to install all 4 apks, even though they're the same app.
This is useful if you want to have different versions installed, when you want to test a new version without uninstalling the version you're using, want to have different versions with different settings, etc.
- Which package name should you use:
Since there's no rule that applies to all phones, you need to test them yourself or ask on a thread or group for your phone. With this said, when in doubt, use the first apk. If it doesn't work, try the second (and so on).
There are, however, some package names that usually work on most phones from some brands. For example:
OnePlus: org.codeaurora.snapcam (often called "snap" or "snapcam") or com.ss.android.ugc.aweme.
Samsung: com.samsung.android.ruler or com.samsung.android.scan3d.
Realme: com.ss.android.ugc.aweme.
Depending on the phone and on the whitelist used by the brand for that specific phone, you might be able to also use other package names. For example, while some OnePlus devices need org.codeaurora.snapcam for all cameras to work, some of their devices also support other names (eg: com.google.android.GoogleCamera).
Some brands (ASUS, Xiaomi) don't have these restrictions at all, so you can use any package name and still have access to all cameras. Most custom ROMs also don't have restrictions.
- Can't get all cameras to work with any apk?
Assuming you did everything right (tested all package names and made sure that the auxiliary cameras setting is enabled), it's possible that your phone completely blocks access to all cameras.
Unfortunately some brands (eg: OPPO, Realme) are very restrictive and using a special package name doesn't work. Other brands allow access on some, but not all hardware. For example, OnePlus devices with Snapdragon SoC/processors allow users to access all cameras (with a package name) while OnePlus devices with Mediatek don't (eg: many of the OnePlus Nord phones).
The only fix for this is to use a custom ROM not based on the stock/original ROM (eg: ColorOS, OxygenOS, MIUI, etc) as they don't limit access or need specific package names.
CHANGELOG
BSG public version changelog (9.2.113 from 2024/05/25):
- in the main modification settings, a new option "Upper Shade Settings" has been added ("Hide Manual Focus", "Hide Front Camera Flash", "Hide Rear Camera Flash", "Hide Beautification", "Hide HDR+", "Hide Frame Count", "Hide Google AWB", "Hide Motion", "Hide ASTRO", "Hide Timer", "Hide Aspect Ratio").
- added "Session quality" section to module settings (EDGE_MODE, HOT_PIXEL_MODE, TONEMAP_MODE(if = "Preset Curve" - TONEMAP_PRESET_CURVE(SRGB, REC709)), SHADING_MODE, COLOR_CORRECTION_ABERRATION_MODE, COLOR_CORRECTION_MODE, DISTORTION_CORRECTION_MODE, CONTROL_AE_ANTIBANDING_MODE, CONTROL_CAPTURE_INTENT(if = "Still Capture" - CONTROL_ENABLE_ZSL(ON/OFF))).
- fixed errors found in the modification's operation.
- fixed operation on some devices.