Google Camera NX adds portrait mode to older Pixel and Nexus devices

When buying a new smartphone, most of us look for a good camera. This is why smartphone manufacturers these days focus more on the camera aspect.

Likewise, Google made sure the Pixel 2 comes with top-notch camera with features like portrait mode. While the company's latest flagship excels in the optics department, the original Pixel and the previous Nexus devices are not equipped with such advanced camera features. To rectify this, a developer released Google Camera NX in 2015, a mod which brings newer Google camera features to older handsets.

Now, thanks to Camera NX, Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6P, and Nexus 5X users can capture photos using the portrait mode by sideloading an APK. If you go through the comments section for the app, you will understand that the portrait mode was a much-awaited feature.

The developer made the installation and user experience of the app really smooth. First, you will have to download and install the APK. Then, open the Camera NX app, which has a slightly different design than the Google Camera app icon. However, you will see that the interface looks kind of identical to other versions of the Google Camera app.

There is one difference between Camera NX's portrait mode and Google Camera's though. Well, the mod needs to take a burst of photos to create the depth of field effect. As reported by 9to5 Google, "You'll know that the effect worked when you scroll through your gallery and it states that the burst contains two photos".

However, as of now, it seems like portrait mode only works when the camera app can identify a human face.

"While the Pixel 2 can create the depth of field look around almost any object, my attempts at taking a portrait mode photo of inanimate objects around my house with the Pixel XL failed", adds the publication.