Google Pixel Camera 10.2 Update Restores Original Brightness and Shadow Controls

Pixel

Google has started pushing out Pixel Camera version 10.2, and the update quietly reverses one of the more controversial changes introduced earlier this year. The Quick access controls, added in 2023 to let users tap the viewfinder and adjust white balance, brightness and shadows through on-screen sliders, are now back to their original layout.

When Google rolled out the Material 3 Expressive redesign with version 10.1 in October, the company changed the order of those sliders, placing shadows first and brightness second, along with tweaks to the circular drag icons. The shift didn’t sit well with many users who preferred the long-standing arrangement.

With Pixel Camera 10.2, Google has undone that redesign. Brightness once again appears first, followed by shadows, and the interface restores the familiar look that Pixel users have grown used to. The change applies across supported models, and no additional interface adjustments have been spotted so far.

The broader December 2025 patch mentioned general stability improvements for devices ranging from the Pixel 9 to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, though nothing specific to this camera update was highlighted. For now, version 10.2.095.834499094.08 has not reached full rollout status on the Play Store, so availability may vary by region.