Google’s latest flagship smartphone, the Pixel 8 Pro, comes with a host of exclusive new features and improvements. One of the most notable* is Video Boost, which promises to enhance video quality, especially in low-light conditions. Video Boost works by using Google’s computational photography algorithms to analyze and enhance video footage server side. The algorithms work to improve the video’s dynamic range, color accuracy, and detail. They also help to reduce noise and grain, which can be a problem in low-light conditions.
The results of Video Boost are impressive. In low-light conditions, Video Boost can make a significant difference in the quality of your videos. I tested the P8P at Disney on Ice at the RocketMortgage FieldHouse under pretty challenging conditions – a dark arena with a brightly lit ice rink. As you can see from the comparison videos below, the footage is brighter, more detailed, and has more accurate colors.
As you can see, the video with Video Boost enabled is much brighter and more detailed. The colors are also more accurate.
In normal lighting conditions, the improvements are much less pronounced. The image stabilization seems more pronounced while the image quality seems to be largely unchanged. This could be a quick and dirty replacement when you don’t have a gimbal.
Video Boost does have some drawbacks, however. The biggest issue is that it can significantly increase the file size of your videos. In our tests, we found that videos taken with Video Boost were 3-4 times larger than videos taken with Video Boost disabled. This could quickly eat into your Google Photos storage space as well as your phone’s if you’re not careful. If you’re planning on using Video Boost frequently, you may want to consider upgrading your Google Photos storage plan**. This feature also takes several hours to render (once backed up to Google’s servers) before it’s sent back to your device – so don’t expect to share it immediately.
Here are some examples from the files above:
If you’re looking for a way to improve the quality of your videos, Video Boost is definitely worth considering. Just be sure to keep an eye on your Google Photos storage space if you plan on using it frequently.
*As far as I can tell, there is nothing keeping this feature from other devices, even non Android devices since all the upscaling/improvements are done server side. Due to the computational power, I do wonder if this feature will be free going forward.
** I am currently on T-Mobile’s plan that offers “unlimited” Google Photos storage and it appears that the Video Boost files are covered under that “unlimited” storage.
