Google has declared the Pixel camera bar a "labor of love."

The Pixel Camera Bar is now in its third generation and will likely be an integral part for a long time.

Google has always had a standout camera to offer with past Pixel generations. But since the launch of the Pixel 6 series, the Pixel camera bar has become much more of a signature feature. “The design process was a labor of love between the design and engineering teams,” the Google team wrote today.

Previous devices had a box-shaped camera area, but that had to go. But you don’t just do it casually, the new design was a big change and “required a lot of creative collaboration and experimentation to get everything right.” The biggest challenge was accommodating the large image sensor.

“Reengineering an entire camera system is a huge undertaking.”

What you as a user may not consider are the numerous challenges. On the one hand, Google didn’t want to make significantly larger smartphones, but on the other hand, a healthy balance was needed. At the same time, the internal goal was to create completely new designs that were not available from the competition.

Google describes composition as Tetris and chess. All modules need to be integrated together, look good and be easy to hold. The choice of a camera bar was natural as the Google search bar is still the company’s core product symbol.

There were new challenges with the Pixel Fold; The design had to adapt to hinged smartphones. This means that the camera bar is not installed 100 percent on the back. It brings other benefits; A case can therefore achieve greater stability. And the Pixel Fold isn’t just a copy of other models.

Google speaks of a trademark. But the question is whether it can survive beyond the Pixel 8 (released in October 2023). In fact, it will be time to introduce a new design with the Pixel 9. The last designs have survived three or two generations respectively. Will the Pixel camera bar last longer?

The next evolution is the Pixel 8. The higher aspect ratio of the glass brings a softer shape to the new generation and a bit of the Pixel 6 at the same time.