Android 15 comes with multiple optimizations and extensions that should help you get better quality photos and videos, even when you use capture apps other than the one dedicated to the camera.
The problem with cheaper Android-based phones is that their manufacturers rely too much on generic software to provide photo-video capture functions, the lack of optimizations resulting in exposure problems, images with too much digital noise, blurry photos and videos trembling. Android 15 promises to improve these aspects by making available new filters and extensions ready to use with capture apps.
This is the Camera2 API, the software interface that most Android apps rely on to access the camera.
The current Camera2 Extensions API supports five types of extensions:
- Auto: Adjusts settings according to the scene.
- Bokeh: Blurs the background to emphasize the subject.
- Face Retouch: Enhances facial features.
- HDR: Extends the exposure range for richer photos.
- Night: Improves photo quality in low light conditions.
But the type and quality of extensions used varies dramatically from device to device. Some manufacturers, such as Samsung, implement all supported extensions using in-house performance solutions, while other devices, such as Google’s Pixel series, support only a few extensions in order to preserve the natural look of the image source. And on devices offered by less reputable manufacturers, we find many low-quality extensions implemented.
Major limitation for the current API version, these extensions are usually only available for photo capture and preview, not video recording. This is why most clips shot with cheap phones have a very low quality level, especially when it comes to image stabilization.
Android 15 is expected to solve this shortcoming by introducing a new extension called Eyes Free videography, to be used in video capture mode. In addition to basic image stabilization, the new extension will also provide more advanced functions, for example selective focus and tracking of certain objects or portions of the image. According to sources, Google will enable the new extensions even for apps that aren’t expressly updated to use them, adding the relevant options already checked to the Settings menu of Android 15 devices.
