Style and Grooming

Best Android Selfie Settings in 2026: Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy Front Camera Tips

What are the best Android settings for selfies? Turn off or lower face retouching, use Portrait mode for a soft background, turn on the grid, and use a palm gesture or timer so you are not tapping the screen. On the Google Pixel 11, Tech Advisor's October 16, 2026 review lists a 10.5MP f/2.2 front camera. [1] Settings matter more than megapixels.

Short answer

Face retouching: off or low.
Portrait mode for a blurred background.
Grid on to keep things straight.
Palm or timer to take the shot.
Window light in front of you.

What the Pixel 11 front camera is

Tech Advisor's review lists the Pixel 11's cameras as a 48MP main, a 13MP ultrawide, a 10.8MP 5x telephoto, and a 10.5MP f/2.2 front camera. [1] It runs Android 17. [1] For comparison, Apple lists an 18MP front camera on the iPhone 18 Pro. [2] More megapixels on the front does not always mean better selfies. Light and focus matter more.

Pixel setup (original steps)

Open Camera > Settings (gear icon).
Grid type: 3 x 3.
Face retouching: set to Off or Natural/Subtle. Strong smoothing looks fake.
Save selfies as previewed: turn on if you want the photo to match the mirror view you see while shooting. Off saves it the way others see you.
Use Portrait mode from the mode bar for soft background blur. You can change the blur after in Google Photos.
Use Night Sight only in low light, and hold very still.
Turn on the timer (3 or 10 seconds) for hands free shots.

Samsung Galaxy setup (original steps)

Open Camera > Settings.
Grid lines: on.
Save selfies as previewed: choose your preference, as above.
Shooting methods: turn on Show palm so you can raise your hand to take the photo.
In Portrait mode, adjust blur and pick a soft background effect.
In the front camera, open the Face effects or beauty icon and lower smoothing and face slimming to zero or very low.

Menu names change between models and updates, so look for the closest option.

Light first, settings second (original)

Face a window. Soft daylight is the best filter.
Avoid overhead lights alone. They put shadows under your eyes.
Turn off the flash unless you want the bright party look.
Golden hour, the hour before sunset, makes skin glow.

Angles that work

Phone slightly above eye level.
Turn your face a little, about 10 to 20 degrees, so one cheek is closer to the camera.
Push your chin forward and down a bit to define your jaw.
Wide front cameras can stretch your face near the edges. Keep your face near the center.

Editing without looking fake

Raise brightness a little, lower highlights if your skin looks shiny.
Warm the temperature slightly in cold light.
Use the heal or magic eraser tool for a stray spot or a mess behind you, not to change your face.

Common mistakes

Beauty mode left on at maximum from a past setting.
A dirty front lens. Wipe it with a soft cloth.
Holding the phone too close. It makes your nose look bigger. Arm's length is better.

Front camera video selfies (original)

More people post short talking videos than ever. For front camera video:

Prop the phone at eye level, not in your hand, so it does not shake.
Face a window or a ring light placed behind the phone.
Record in 1080p or 4K at 30 frames per second for a natural look.
Use wired or Bluetooth earbuds as a mic if the room echoes.
Tech Advisor notes Pixel owners get the newest Android features first through regular Pixel Drops, so check camera settings again after big updates, because options move. [1]

A 60 second check before every selfie

Wipe the lens.
Face the light.
Check the grid line on your eyes.
Retouching off or low.
Take five and pick one.

Quick takeaway

Turn face retouching off or low, and turn the grid on.

Use Portrait mode, a timer or palm gesture, and window light.

The Pixel 11 has a 10.5MP front camera, per an October 2026 review.

Arm's length and a slight angle beat any filter.

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