Since 2012, Google Pixel phones have had a Photo Sphere Mode, allowing users to capture 360-degree images.

It worked by stitching multiple images together and it persisted well into the Pixel era, with the Pixel Fold and Pixel 7a still offering it.

To be fair, it is tricky to use. A Photo Sphere required shedloads of images to be taken, although Google had provided an intuitive UI. There were still some significant stitching issues and exposure/white balance differences.

However, it did have some uses in mapping and VR and the hope is that Google will return to the product in the future.