Google’s Pixel 9 Connected Cameras Feature Is Coming to Older Pixel Models

For years now, Google has cultivated a reputation not just for releasing cutting-edge smartphone features, but for gradually sharing those innovations with owners of older Pixel models. The practice, known as backporting, has become something of a hallmark of the Pixel ecosystem. While Apple and Samsung occasionally roll out similar updates, Google has leaned into the idea that Pixel users don’t always need to upgrade to enjoy a fresh set of tricks.

The newest example of this strategy is the Pixel 9’s Connected Cameras feature, which is quietly making its way to earlier Pixel generations such as the Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 8 series.

When Connected Cameras debuted with the Pixel 9 series, it was marketed as an exclusive. The tool allows users to link another Pixel phone or a compatible action camera like a GoPro, effectively turning it into a secondary angle for livestreams or recordings. Imagine hosting a YouTube Live session and being able to pull in another perspective without professional gear: that’s the promise of Connected Cameras. It was described as ideal for creators who want to enhance their social media presence on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube without needing complicated setups. Initially, the assumption was that only those who purchased a Pixel 9 would get access to this.

But as history has shown, Pixel exclusives rarely stay locked down forever. Google has done this dance before. The Recorder app first appeared on newer Pixels before landing on older models. Astrophotography Mode, Night Sight, Car Crash Detection, Live Caption, Extreme Battery Saver, Hold for Me – the list of backported features is long. Each time, Google frames the capability as a reason to buy the latest Pixel, but over the months following the launch, older phones quietly gain access.

Evidence of Connected Cameras expanding beyond the Pixel 9 began surfacing on Reddit. A Pixel 8 user reported seeing the toggle appear in settings and even captured a screenshot of the feature’s interface. At first, YouTube was the only listed compatible app, but the page hinted at broader integration with instructions for linking Pixels or GoPros. Shortly afterward, users on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 6a began reporting the same experience. The natural assumption is that if the 6a has it, the 6 and 6 Pro won’t be far behind.

This move underscores a philosophy that Google has been cultivating: backward compatibility isn’t just a technical footnote; it’s a selling point. Some might argue that Google undermines its own hardware sales strategy by offering marquee features on older devices, but Pixel loyalists see it differently. It’s part of what makes sticking with the Pixel brand worthwhile. Your phone feels less like an abandoned piece of hardware and more like a constantly evolving gadget.

Comparisons to Apple are inevitable. Cupertino has also tested the waters with bringing new features to slightly older models. For example, Apple’s Visual Intelligence feature – originally tied to iPhone 16’s Camera Control – was later extended to the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. It allows the iPhone camera to identify items in frame and then analyze them with AI, or extract dates and add them to the calendar. But while Apple tends to carefully limit these updates, Google has been more generous with its backporting policy. Features that seemed permanently exclusive to one generation eventually find their way to earlier Pixels, often years after release.

To see this in practice, one only has to look at the Pixel 2 XL, which eventually received Night Sight after the Pixel 3 launch. Or consider the Pixel 6 Pro, which got the Magic Editor from the Pixel 7 series – a much-desired upgrade that gave users creative editing options once thought impossible on older hardware. Even Clear Calling, another Pixel 7 perk, found a home on the Pixel 6 Pro not long afterward. And with Android version updates, Google has kept surprising owners: the Pixel 6 Pro, for instance, will keep receiving updates through Android 17, well beyond what many expected.

For consumers weighing whether to buy the latest Pixel, this creates an interesting dynamic. If a feature tempts you – say, a breakthrough in photography or a new AI-driven tool – it may be worth asking whether patience will be rewarded. Often, the answer is yes. For those able to resist the marketing hype and hold onto their wallets, there’s a decent chance the innovation will trickle down to their current phone.

Of course, not every feature gets backported. Hardware-dependent upgrades, such as those requiring specialized sensors or new chipsets, tend to remain exclusive. But software-driven tools – especially those tied to the camera or AI – have a history of spreading. Connected Cameras fits neatly into that category, making its expansion unsurprising but still delightful for Pixel users who love discovering something new in their settings after a routine update.

As a Pixel owner, this cycle can feel like being part of a living experiment. There’s excitement in waking up one morning, updating your phone, and realizing a capability you envied from the latest flagship has quietly arrived. It also builds goodwill. Google could easily lock these features away, using them purely as leverage for sales, but instead, it has cultivated an image of generosity. For all the criticism that the Pixel line sometimes draws for bugs or limited hardware options, this steady flow of features keeps fans loyal.

Looking forward, it’s worth considering how Google’s strategy shapes expectations across the industry. Apple is dabbling in similar tactics, and Samsung occasionally does the same with Galaxy features. But Google remains the most consistent. For creators, photographers, and casual users alike, the knowledge that your Pixel is likely to gain new tricks over its lifetime adds value that isn’t always captured in spec sheets or launch-day comparisons.

Connected Cameras may have begun as a Pixel 9 selling point, but as it rolls out to earlier devices, it reinforces why many users stick with the Pixel ecosystem year after year. Backward compatibility isn’t just a technical consideration – it’s a philosophy of trust, one that keeps older devices feeling fresh long after their successors debut.