An upgrade in Android 15’s video stabilization could level the playing field with the top features of the iPhone

Android 15 is rumored to introduce improved video stabilization for third-party camera apps, potentially bridging the gap between Android and iPhone’s video capabilities. The discovery was made by Android Authority code-diver Mishaal Rahman, who identified a new feature called ‘Eyes Free’ that will be added to the existing Camera2 API on Android devices. This enhancement allows third-party camera apps to access phone makers’ camera extensions, with Eyes Free specifically focusing on locking and stabilizing a specific region or object during video capture.

With Eyes Free, Android phones could potentially match the video stabilization performance seen in flagship devices like the Google Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, offering users a smoother recording experience in popular third-party apps such as Snapchat and Instagram. In addition to video stabilization, these apps would also be able to utilize features like auto detection, bokeh, Face retouch, HDR, and Night modes through the Camera2 extension, ensuring a seamless integration of advanced camera capabilities for users.

While some phone manufacturers already implement their own camera pipelines for third-party apps, the addition of Eyes Free within the Camera2 API could significantly enhance videography on Android devices overall. This enhancement could potentially bring Android’s video capture performance closer to what is offered by the latest iPhones, which are often praised for their superior image quality and ease of use in this regard. By enabling users to capture high-quality videos directly within third-party apps, Android 15 may mark a significant improvement in smartphone videography for Android users.

Although the upgrade to video stabilization in Android 15 might not be the most groundbreaking feature, it signifies a step towards enhancing the video capture capabilities of Android phones. Apple’s iPhones have long been regarded as the industry leader in smartphone videography, with Google and Samsung devices sometimes falling short in terms of image quality and user experience. By addressing this gap, Android 15 could potentially position Android phones as stronger contenders in the realm of mobile videography.