- New today: An Android Police feature published on November 9 shows how Photo Sphere still delivers immersive 360° images in 2025—especially via the Google Camera (GCam) app on non‑Pixel phones—rekindling interest in a classic Google camera trick. Android Police
- Context: Google removed the dedicated Photo Sphere mode from the Pixel Camera beginning with the Pixel 8 generation in 2023, a change that has frustrated long‑time Pixel photographers. 9to5Google
- What replaces it on Pixel: In 2025, Google rebuilt Panorama on the Pixel 9 series, tapping the HDR+ photo pipeline and even encouraging users to try the mode’s “full 360 capabilities”—a shift that effectively covers many Photo Sphere use cases without restoring the old toggle. Blog
- Support confirmation: This removal remains reflected in Google’s own support forums in 2025, where staff advise recent‑model Pixel owners to seek third‑party options for spherical captures. Google Help
What happened today (Nov. 9, 2025)
Android Police’s new piece argues that Photo Sphere is still worth your time, demonstrating how loading the Google Camera (GCam) app on a non‑Pixel phone can revive the feature and produce engaging, navigable 360° scenes. The article includes examples shot on a Realme handset and notes how GCam behaves (e.g., auto‑switches like Night Sight) while capturing spheres—proof that the experience remains compelling in 2025 even outside Google’s own phones. Android Police
A quick timeline: from beloved to buried (and partially reborn)
- 2012–2022: Photo Sphere debuts with Android 4.2 and becomes a hallmark of Google’s camera ambitions, letting anyone create immersive 360° photos similar to Street View. DPReview
- October 2023: Google removes Photo Sphere as a standalone mode on Pixel Camera for the Pixel 8 family; older Pixels keep it at the time. 9to5Google
- Early 2024: Updates briefly restore Photo Sphere on older Pixels (not the Pixel 8 lineup), underscoring how the feature continued to exist—just not on Google’s newest phones. Android Central
- 2025: Google’s Pixel 9 series ships with a reengineered Panorama, leveraging the HDR+ photo pipeline. Google’s own guidance explicitly suggests trying the mode’s “full 360 capabilities”—a strong hint at Google’s preferred path for spherical or near‑spherical capture on modern Pixels. Blog
The Pixel approach in 2025: 360° via Panorama, not “Photo Sphere”
Rather than bringing back the old Photo Sphere toggle, Google focused on quality and reliability in the Pixel 9’s Panorama:
- From video sweep to photo stack. Panorama now stitches individual photos (not a low‑data video scan), tapping HDR+ for cleaner edges and better exposure blending. Blog
- Capture tips from Google: rotate the camera in place to minimize parallax, stay as still as possible (especially for Night Sight panoramas), and skip tap‑to‑focus—the software handles exposure and focus automatically. Blog
This doesn’t resurrect the classic Photo Sphere UI, but it does enable comprehensive, high‑quality panoramic capture on Pixels—including wraps that can go a full 360° around you—addressing many of the scenarios creators used Photo Sphere for in the first place. Blog
So can you still shoot true “spheres” in 2025?
Yes, with caveats:
- Older Pixels: Some still offer Photo Sphere as a legacy mode after earlier updates—just not on Pixel 8/9 where the mode was removed. Android Central
- GCam (Google Camera) ports: As Android Police shows today, installing a reputable GCam APK on supported non‑Pixel phones can unlock a Photo Sphere experience reminiscent of Google’s classic mode. (Standard APK‑install cautions apply.) Android Police
- Third‑party 360 apps and cameras: Dedicated apps remain on the Play Store, and professional options like Insta360 gear can capture Street‑View‑ready imagery. Google Play
Where do those spheres live now?
Even without the old Pixel toggle, you can still publish 360 imagery to Google Street View on the web and explore contributions from others worldwide. That keeps the Photo Sphere spirit alive across Maps and tourism content. Google
Why today’s piece matters
- Renewed interest: A fresh, real‑world demo from Android Police is timely proof that immersive 360° photography still resonates with mobile shooters in 2025—especially as social and XR platforms push spatial media. Android Police
- Clearer product direction: Meanwhile, Google’s own documentation discourages waiting for a “Photo Sphere” comeback; the company has re‑channeled spherical ambitions into Panorama, with measurable imaging gains on newer Pixels. Blog
- Practical options: If you’re on Pixel 8/9 and crave spherical captures, you can lean on Panorama’s 360 wraps or pick third‑party tools—while recognizing that the old one‑tap Photo Sphere UI is gone on recent Pixels. Blog
Quick how‑to: best results for 360‑style shots on Pixel 9’s Panorama
- Stand in place; rotate the phone, not your body, to reduce perspective shift and stitching artifacts. Blog
- Be patient at each dot, especially in Night Sight; let the camera finish every frame before moving on. Blog
- Try vertical panoramas for dramatic architecture or tall interiors; Google added explicit support last year. Blog
The bottom line
Today’s Android Police feature reframes a simple truth: the joy of immersive mobile photography didn’t vanish with a missing menu toggle. If you want the classic experience, GCam ports and third‑party apps can still get you there; if you want higher fidelity on Pixels, the new Panorama is Google’s path forward. Either way, 360‑style storytelling remains very much alive in 2025. Android Police
Sources & further reading
- Android Police’s feature on rediscovering Photo Sphere with GCam (published Nov. 9, 2025). Android Police
- Google’s 2025 guide to the upgraded Panorama on Pixel 9 (HDR+ pipeline, full‑360 usage tips). Blog
- 9to5Google’s original report on Photo Sphere removal starting with Pixel 8 (Oct. 2023). 9to5Google
- Google support thread (2025) confirming Photo Sphere isn’t available on recent Pixels. Google Help
- 2024 coverage of Photo Sphere returning to older Pixels after updates (but not Pixel 8 series). Android Central
