If there has been one criticism of the Essential Phone, it has been the camera and the camera app. Frankly, it was a hot mess when the phone was released but the company has been making huge strides in updating both the firmware and software to improve photos from the phone. Today, they are getting a little better.
There is an update to the Essential Camera app in the Play Store that brings a lot of fixes as well as Auto-HDR support. The update is version 0.1.096.003 and a lot of work has gone into it around HDR in general.
In the release notes, Essential states that a new HDR algorithm is now in the app, improving the performance, capture speed and scene rendering in the app. Also, Dynamic HDR and Flash indicators highlight icons are now lit up when you are using the camera app in auto mode.
As you would expect, there is the normal smattering of stability improvements and other optimizations happening in the app update.
Auto-HDR is table stakes at this point for smartphone camera apps so it is good to see that Essential has updated the app to bring it to users. If you have an Essential PH-1, be sure to head to the Play Store and get the update. After you give it a go, drop a comment and let me know if it has made a big difference for you & your photos.
