For months, some Google Pixel owners have been experiencing a frustrating flaw that affects one of the phones’ key capabilities: video stabilization. The issue is an annoying stutter that appears when users pan video using the telephoto lens, especially the 5x optical zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro models, when Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) is active. Reports of this issue surfaced a couple of months ago, and there hasn’t been a fix since. That said, Google Pixel 10 Pro users facing the telephoto video stutter bug may not receive a fix anytime soon, although there is a potential workaround that could help.
The annoying Google Pixel 10 Pro telephoto video stutter bug
The original report by Reddit user No_Particular7571 pointed to a potential conflict deep within the software that governs how Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and EIS work together. When users turn off EIS and rely solely on the phone’s hardware (OIS), the video smooths out. However, the native Google Camera app typically enforces this combination, which could be causing the jerky results when recording video from the telephoto lens.
Hopes for a resolution peaked when Google acknowledged the issue and released supposed fixes within recent Pixel Camera updates (versions 10.1.x). Unfortunately, users quickly confirmed that these patches did not solve the telephoto stutter. Third-party camera apps, which use their own stabilization methods, were capable of producing smooth footage. This reinforced the theory that the flaw remained exclusive to Google’s native system.
Hopes for a fix plummet
Now, in a recent development, the same Redditor who brought the issue to light shared a recent response they received from Google’s support team via email (Reported by Piunikaweb ). Sadly, the response was quite discouraging for those hoping for a definitive fix. The response suggests that the Google team considers the bug to be very “specific” and not requiring a priority response. “ We can’t promise a fix to the specific issue you have ,” reads the customer support response.
Furthermore, the corresponding report created in Google’s official bugs/issues tracker currently has a “ Won’t fix (Obsolete) ” status. So, while there’s no public response from Google on the matter, things aren’t looking good.
Source: Reddit user No_Particular7571
Some potential workarounds
Until Google delivers a potential solution, users have been looking for community-driven workarounds. The proven method to bypass the stuttering is to use a third-party camera application or manually find a way to switch off EIS when shooting with the telephoto lens. While effective, this manual step undermines the seamless, ‘just works’ experience that Pixel phones promise.
Another potential, anecdotal fix recently surfaced on Reddit. A Pixel 10 Pro XL user claimed success using the phone’s Repair Mode. To try this, users must go to Settings, scroll down and tap System, then select Repair Mode. After authorizing the action, the phone restarts into the special mode. The user then reportedly tested the camera immediately and found the issue was allegedly fixed. Finally, the user restarted the phone, and the bug was resolved even after leaving the Repair mode. While this remains an unconfirmed troubleshooting step, you have nothing to lose by trying.
