4 ways Android cameras are about to get better, thanks to Qualcomm – even for dogs

The chipset in your smartphone does much more than power speed, efficiency, and cool features — it plays a critical role in the performance of all your phone’s functions, including photography. With Qualcomm’s latest mobile platform, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the company aims to enhance how you interact with your camera.

Whether you’re setting up a video call, snapping a photo, recording a video, or capturing moments with your furry friend, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite introduces new, enhanced mobile photography experiences.

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Since many Android phones utilize Qualcomm’s latest mobile platforms, it’s likely that many of the new Android phones launching over the next year, including the latest from Samsung, OnePlus, and Motorola, will feature not only this chipset but also some of the enhanced photo-taking capabilities it supports.

I had the opportunity to demo most of them at Snapdragon Summit and rounded up the features you can expect, ranked by how helpful I think they will be when they are ready to launch. 

1. Video Object Editor 

If you are familiar with Google’s Magic Eraser, a feature that allows you to wipe out unwanted subjects in an image with a quick tap, Video Object Eraser is very similar to that for video. Users can swipe out an object and select “delete” to declutter the background or remove the photobomber. 

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One of the biggest advantages is that it happens on device, making the typically cumbersome process quicker and circumventing the cloud, which keeps your video more private. When demoing the feature, I found that it wasn’t entirely flushed out yet, but it clearly had promise.

2. AI Keeper 

Like the feature above, AI Keeper is a photo-editing feature that ensures that what ends up in your shot is exactly what you want. With the feature, you can select the subjects of your photo you want to keep, and then it automatically eliminates everything else. The feature is simple to use, has no frills, and worked well in the demo. 

3. AI Pet Capture Suite 

If you have a pet, you know it is really difficult to resist the urge to take pictures of their cute faces every day, all day. However, as cute as they are, it can be hard to get a good picture because of how quickly and unpredictably they move. 

That’s where this feature can shine. When your phone is pointed at your pet and the pet looks at the camera, Snapgdragon automatically takes a burst and then picks the best shot. There is also a pet hair enhancement feature to make sure your pet looks its best. 

4. AI relighting 

Whether you are casually FaceTiming a friend or on a business video call, looking your best on a call matters. However, there are only so many factors you can control, and important variables like lighting are often unpredictable. With Snapdragon 8 Elite’s real-time AI Relighting feature, you have more control by adjusting a virtual movable light source and changing the hue. This was another simple feature that worked as simply as described, but it got the intended job done.