Google Pixel 3 Lite camera samples leak hints at flagship credentials

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Lite in name, but the camera could be flagship

The rumored Google Pixel 3 Lite is tipped to be a less powerful variant of its flagship siblings, but leaks suggest it will still pack the same excellent 12MP rear camera, and camera samples claiming to be taken with the yet-to-be-announced handset appear to support those claims.

The photos were posted by Russian site Rozetked, the same site behind the Pixel 3 Lite leak just a few days earlier, where it's claimed the handset has the same 12MP camera which seriously impressed us in our Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL reviews.

If this cheaper version of the handset does inherit the same photography smarts as its more expensive siblings it would be something of a coup for consumers - however it does make us wonder if there will be drastic compromises in other areas.

The rumor also suggests the Pixel 3 Lite will come with just a single 8MP selfie camera, while the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have dual front-facing snappers.

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Leaked Google Pixel 3 Lite camera sample (credit: Rozetked)

Same camera, different photos

The earlier Google Pixel 3 Lite leak from the Russian site claimed the handset would come with a Snapdragon 670 chipset, rather than the flagship 845 found in the other two devices.

It may be the case that the Pixel 3 Lite has the same camera hardware as its siblings, but with a mid-range chipset, and thus a mid-range ISP (image signal processor), the software capabilities of the camera on the Pixel 3 Lite are likely to be reduced.

Part of the reason the Pixel 3 and 3 XL cameras are so good is down to the clever software algorithms Google has used to smartly enhance snaps and provide modes such as portrait and night sight. 

A lot of these capabilities lean on the Snapdragon chipset inside the phones - with the ISP a core component for photography. With a less powerful chipset inside the rumored Pixel 3 Lite, the camera experience is likely to not hit the same impressive heights.

This should all be taken with a pinch of salt however, as there's been no confirmation - or even an inkling - from Google that a Pixel 3 Lite may be in the works.

Via Android Authority

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John McCann
John McCann
Global Managing Editor

John joined TechRadar over a decade ago as Staff Writer for Phones, and over the years has built up a vast knowledge of the tech industry. He's interviewed CEOs from some of the world's biggest tech firms, visited their HQs and has appeared on live TV and radio, including Sky News, BBC News, BBC World News, Al Jazeera, LBC and BBC Radio 4. Originally specializing in phones, tablets and wearables, John is now TechRadar's resident automotive expert, reviewing the latest and greatest EVs and PHEVs on the market. John also looks after the day-to-day running of the site.