Testers in the Android 16 beta program are reporting a significant camera shake issue on Google Pixel phones after installing the latest quarterly update. According to a report from Android Central, the bug appeared with the release of Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1, causing video recordings to become unstable, particularly at higher zoom levels.
Users on the r/pixel_phones subreddit began posting about the problem, with some providing video evidence of the camera instability. The issue is reportedly most noticeable when attempting to record video using 2x and 5x zoom. The bug causes the viewfinder and resulting footage to appear extremely shaky, rendering the zoom functionality difficult to use for video capture. This problem seems to be specific to the new beta software environment, distinct from a separate camera issue some users experienced in October.
The source of the instability is reportedly linked to the camera’s electronic image stabilization (EIS). The report suggests that the Camera API’s EIS is having a “difficult time” processing imagery correctly within the Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 build. EIS is a software-based technique used in devices like the Google Pixel to reduce blurriness from camera shake, but it appears to be malfunctioning in the current beta.
The direct cause is attributed to a software bug within the Android 16 beta release that affects the EIS system. While Google has not issued a formal statement on the matter, the report notes that other users on the Reddit thread confirmed that the company is aware of the issue. Acknowledgment of the bug is the first step, but a solution may be delayed due to the holiday season.
A precise timeline for a fix has not been announced. It is also unclear which specific Google Pixel models are most affected by the camera shake bug or the total number of users experiencing the problem. Details regarding whether the bug impacts third-party camera applications or only the native Google Camera app have not been specified.
With Google reportedly aware of the bug, users in the beta program may expect a fix to be deployed in a future beta release or a dedicated hotfix. Until then, affected users may need to avoid using zoom while recording video. Testers should monitor the official Android Beta Program channels for updates and information on the forthcoming patch.
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