Google’s Pixel smartphones don’t support external microphones in the default camera app. This omission has irked many users who have picked up a Pixel handset precisely for its camera abilities. Google has heard the voice of its users and confirmed that the Pixel camera app will soon gain support for external microphones.
This was particularly infuriating for users as some third-party camera apps provide support for external microphones. It didn’t make sense to many that Google would not add this capability to the handset’s native camera app.
This has been the case since 2016 and a Google employee has finally followed up with the company’s solution for the matter. He commented on a Pixel support thread from 2016 to inform those who have been asking for this feature since the last two years that the native Pixel camera app will support external mics starting October 18th. For those keeping tabs on Google’s smartphones, it’s also the day that the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are launched.
“At the same time as Pixel 3 launch (October 18th), we will introduce support for Android-compatible plugged-in external microphones in the default camera app for all Pixels,” said the employee.
The reply suggests that all Pixel smartphone models will get this support next week. This will surely be appreciated by users who tend to capture a lot of video with their Pixel smartphones.