Shortly after announcing a new shortcut camera icon on the Messages app, Google is now working on an update that aims to simplify photo sharing, and it looks like it recently added Ultra HDR support in RCS chats.

According to reports, a minor update to the app has been made: support for Ultra HDR in RCS chats. The feature was apparently secretly introduced just before the introduction of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

HDR is an abbreviation for High Dynamic Range. It is a method of capturing photos that have a wider range of colors and tones than regular photography. This produces photos that are more realistic and lifelike, with darker shadows, better highlights, and retain more detail.

The image format is exclusive to Android 14, thus users must be using a smartphone running that OS version, such as the Pixel 8 series. Fortunately, many more manufacturers are releasing Android 14 as an update or preinstalled software in new devices.