Last Updated on November 28, 2023
Google has quietly added support for Ultra HDR images on RCS Chats in the Messages app on Android smartphones. The feature lets users send and receive extraordinarily sharp and crisp images via the advanced messaging service on their mobile phones.
Currently, the feature has been made available on Pixel 8 series smartphones with a plan to add more devices in the near future. Reportedly, users need Android 14 software to benefit from this exciting graphical elevation.
RCS Chats are marked for giving users the ability to share large-size images, read receipts, group chats, etc. It only gets better that users will have the ability to exchange Ultra-HDR images via the Message app on their Android smartphone.
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What is an Ultra HDR image?
In photography, HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It balances the light and dark pixels and produces visually stunning images impossible with a regular dynamic range. Only HDR-capable smartphones can capture and see a true HDR image. But even on a non-HDR phone, such an image would look good.
Talking more of it, an Ultra HDR image is the one that takes JPEG images and includes HDR metadata. This allows non-HDR smartphone displays to show standard images.
Google initially talked of Ultra HDR Image Format v1.0 support in July 2023. The feature was finally launched with Android 14 in the October Google Event. If you were not aware, Google Messages is also available on the web.
Pixel 8 smartphone users get the benefit at first
The Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro devices can shoot Ultra HDR images. As it stands, only the users of these two models can send an Ultra HDR image. Likewise, the sender must have the supported device, in this case, either the Pixel 8 or the Pixel 8 Pro for now. Another requirement is that the future requires Google Messages on Android 14.
Google’s move comes soon after Apple pledged to add support for RCS Chats in iPhones. The tech giant had been continuously making attempts to lure the phone maker into incorporating RCS Chats in iPhones. After Apple gave in, Google made this exciting move that makes the prospects for RCS Chats profile even more appealing.
If you love using the Messages app and the RCS Chats protocol within it for its gamuts of “picture” features, the support for Ultra-HDR images will absolutely excite you. This lets you send and receive visually astonishing images via a smartphone. How do you feel about it? Do share in our comment section below.
