Former Google VP says he'll never buy an Android phone for taking pictures, recommends an iPhone

by Cosmin Vasile / Jul 31, 2017, 7:17 AM

Former Google VP says he'll never buy an Android phone for taking pictures, recommends an iPhone

Vic Gundotra, the name that's been associated with Google+ and search giant's mobile division for many years, has just decided that Android smartphones aren't as good as he thought they would be in comparison with Apple's iPhone 7.

According to Gundotra, the main reason Android smartphones can't have great cameras, as opposed to the iPhone 7, would be the fact that it's open source and must remain “neutral to all parties.”

Here is the problem: It's Android. Android is an open source (mostly) operating system that has to be neutral to all parties. This sounds good until you get into the details. Ever wonder why a Samsung phone has a confused and bewildering array of photo options? Should I use the Samsung Camera? Or the Android Camera? Samsung Gallery or Google Photos?

He went on to say that in order for Google to implement innovations made by other companies like Samsung, LG, and HTC via appropriate API, it could take years. Another aspect that the ex-Google VP points out is the computational photography level required for cameras these days and the fact that Google has fallen back lately.

However, Apple is thriving since it doesn't have all these restrictions and all the innovations it makes can be easily included into their iPhones with a simple software update.

Apple doesn't have all these constraints. They innovate in the underlying hardware, and just simply update the software with their latest innovations (like portrait mode) and ship it. Bottom line: If you truly care about great photography, you own an iPhone. If you don't mind being a few years behind, buy an Android.

All these are coming from the person who said less than five years ago that Google is “committed to making Nexus phones insanely great cameras.” I guess he was right in a way since the Pixel phones do have great cameras.

Pictures taken by Vic Gundotra with the iPhone 7

source: Vic Gundotra (Facebook) via AusDroid

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44 Comments

1. joevsyou

Posts: 1091; Member since: Feb 28, 2015

This guy is an idiot, no wonders he's the "formal"

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 7:20 AM 32

13. LebronJamesFanboy

Posts: 671; Member since: Mar 23, 2013

No former Google VP is an idiot.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 7:57 AM 5

16. Bankz

Posts: 2550; Member since: Apr 08, 2016

*Oops* dem samsung/android army are gonna be mad now. Lmao

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 8:38 AM 0

17. lyndon420

Posts: 6824; Member since: Jul 11, 2012

Nope. He means nothing to us, therefore his opinion is moot.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 8:48 AM 15

36. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

This former Google VP was fired for bad management, so he is salty. That's why he says all these, and to grab Apple's attention too. Meh.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 3:39 PM 4

43. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

Apple, please take him into your management instead. He like the Mooch!

posted on Aug 01, 2017, 4:13 AM 0

23. QWIKSTRIKE

Posts: 1459; Member since: Mar 09, 2010

Well it seems Samsung is excluded. He mentions That they are making it happen.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 10:04 AM 2

20. ibend

Posts: 6747; Member since: Sep 30, 2014

iPhone's camera clearly better than any android phone.. Apple's CEO already proved thathttp://i.imgur.com/jov5pun.png /s

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 9:16 AM 15

37. PhoneCritic

Posts: 1354; Member since: Oct 05, 2011

Lol- remember that one

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 3:43 PM 0

28. Awalker

Posts: 1982; Member since: Aug 15, 2013

I'm still not sure why the iPhone is his preference even after reading his explanation.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 11:21 AM 0

33. You_Dont_Say

Posts: 431; Member since: Jan 26, 2015

*FORMER And you are calling someone else an idiot? Hard to believe 26 idiots liked your comment.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 3:25 PM 0

44. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

He is an idiot because his behavior has a name, it's called "burning your own bridges."

posted on Aug 01, 2017, 4:15 AM 0

39. Skizzo

Posts: 403; Member since: Jul 14, 2013

Calling him an idiot is harsh, as everyone is entitled to their opinion, however, I fail to see how his explanation justifies his point of view. While I see what he's trying to say, and in theory, it could make sense, I strongly disagree that it's still the case, as would the majority of the user base if the countless blind camera tests are to be believed, since an Android device has held the top spot for a few years consistently. Perhaps there is some hostility toward his previous employer, or simply that Apple paid him well for his statement. "If you truly care about great photography, you own an iPhone. If you don't mind being a few years behind, buy an Android." -that sentence alone seems like a very low blow coming from a "respected professional."

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 5:03 PM 0

2. ShadowSnypa786

Posts: 593; Member since: Jan 06, 2017

Is that why the best cameras on any smartphones are the one on the HTC 11 and Google Pixel? And when I have a samsung device I use Samsung camera why would I even touch the google camera? If i wanted to I buy a stock google device.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 7:20 AM 4

6. hemedans

Posts: 758; Member since: Jun 01, 2013

nop that title belong to lumia 1020 and Nokia 808, they are still best cameraphone around. even lumia 950xl (without xenon) beat all android flagship. just check comparison between 950xl and u11 http://allaboutwindowsphone.com/features/item/22295_Camera_head_to_head_Lumia_950_.php

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 7:33 AM 2

8. bucky

Posts: 3790; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

yes, check out that comparison on "allaboutwindowsphone.com"... From what i recall, the windows phones have great hardware but let down by the software- much like Sony

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 7:40 AM 6

31. DFranch

Posts: 557; Member since: Apr 20, 2012

The software wasn't bad at all. It was the app support. MS came late to the app party and developers just never bought into the 3rd ecosystem. Without the apps, Windows phone was doomed.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 1:14 PM 0

34. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

But image detail isn't everything. The Lumia 1020 and 808 Pureview have laughable focus speed, and the 1020 takes about 5 seconds to save a photo after snapping.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 3:29 PM 1

3. Hyperreal

Posts: 361; Member since: Oct 08, 2013

This guy is delusional, stuck in 2010, angry because he was reportedly fired from google or just trolling.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 7:24 AM 20

40. Skizzo

Posts: 403; Member since: Jul 14, 2013

Outdated thinking for sure. If this article came out around the iPhone 4/4s era, I'd say he had a legitimate argument, as the iPhone cameras were the ones to beat for a while. Today however, completely an off base statement in my opinion.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 5:07 PM 0

4. cmdacos

Posts: 4264; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

Ok let's just ignore the glaring yellow hue on iPhone pics... Not going to happen for me.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 7:28 AM 11

14. bucky

Posts: 3790; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

The iPhone isn't the very best mobile camera but one thing it has is accurate colours. Trying too hard as always.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 8:00 AM 0

15. Macready

Posts: 1824; Member since: Dec 08, 2014

No, he's actually right. They are notorious for adding a yellow hue to fake the golden hours in almost every shot, resulting in most white details turning yellow and often green/yellow skin tones, as if people suffer from a liver disease. Thus was introduced with the 6 and has continued since. The easiest way to pick out the iPhone from a blind comparison, even if it's a tight crop with no other clues.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 8:21 AM 6

5. DRS1977

Posts: 679; Member since: May 27, 2015

The guy was fired from Google, what else is he going to say. He is stuck in 2010.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 7:31 AM 9

7. Dr.Phil

Posts: 2450; Member since: Feb 14, 2011

While I disagree with his notion that iPhones have better cameras (it's been proven that the new Android devices are in fact better all-around), I do agree with him on the underlying problem with Android being multiple default applications that can confuse consumers. I mean just take for example text messaging: there's the Google Hangouts app, Google Allo, and your default Messages app supplied by whatever manufacturer you bought. Apple users just use one app: Messages (or iMessage). So, I do agree that there is this fragmentation when it comes to default applications on the device that can confuse consumers who don't know what they're doing.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 7:35 AM 1

11. RebelwithoutaClue unregistered

Neither Hangouts nor Allo are mandatory apps. Duo will be, but that isn't a text messaging app.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 7:50 AM 1

32. Dr.Phil

Posts: 2450; Member since: Feb 14, 2011

I'm not saying they are mandatory apps. My point is that there are multiple apps already found on these Android devices and that, yes, it can be confusing for most consumers that aren't tech-savvy to figure out which is best to use.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 1:56 PM 0

35. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

"it can be confusing for most consumers that aren't tech-savvy to figure out which is best to use." How about the consumers try out those multiple apps and decide which one suits them best? I fail to see how confusing it is.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 3:34 PM 0

9. Gustavoar

Posts: 22; Member since: Jan 13, 2016

Vic is just trying to downplay Google because he was fired. Every flagship phone has its strength in camera. There are some situations that iPhones takes better picture than Android ones, but there is also the opposite. There is no king for everything. Also he says about that Auto awesome feature that used to have in Google+, just because it was his baby and when Google realized that it was spending a lot of money on something that it wasn't paying off, they fired him.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 7:43 AM 7

10. NoAllegiance unregistered

Sounds more like he is trying to get Apple to notice him so that they can hire him.

posted on Jul 31, 2017, 7:49 AM 11

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