Google has begun rolling out a new portrait related setting inside the Google Phone app for Pixel devices, marking another incremental but meaningful update to how calls and camera behavior are managed on Android. The change gives Pixel users clearer control over portrait handling during phone calls, reinforcing Google’s ongoing effort to refine system level experiences through software rather than hardware changes.
The new Google Phone portrait setting rolls out through a gradual server-side update and targets Pixel phones, which already depend heavily on computational photography and AI-driven camera features. Although users have long associated portrait effects with photography and video, Google is now extending the same concepts into calling and communication features, where visual presentation and clarity matter more than ever.
For users, the update simplifies how portrait behavior is applied and managed during calls. Instead of relying on automatic system decisions, the Google Phone app now exposes a dedicated control that allows users to determine when portrait processing is active. This improves predictability and avoids unexpected visual effects, particularly for users who frequently switch between standard voice calls, video calls, and camera based communication features on Pixel devices.
The timing of the update is notable. Google has been steadily enhancing the Phone app with AI powered tools such as Call Screen, Hold for Me, Direct My Call, and improved spam detection. Adding finer portrait controls fits into this broader strategy of making the Phone app a central hub for intelligent communication rather than a basic dialer.
As video calling and hybrid communication become more common, managing how the camera behaves during calls is becoming a practical concern rather than a niche feature.
Google would not be the first company to go in this direction. Apple and Samsung have both invested heavily in call related enhancements tied to camera processing, privacy controls, and visual presentation. Especially how it appears when paired up with other devices and vehicles.
Moreover, not all Pixel users may see the portrait setting immediately, as availability depends on app versions and backend activation. However, once fully deployed, the feature is expected to reach a wide range of supported Pixel models.
