If your main goal is video recording with real-time background filters, the choice depends on performance needs, timeline, and target platforms. Here’s a clear, practical comparison 👇
🥇 Short Answer
Native Android is better for:
- Real-time video filters
- Background replacement / blur
- Camera + GPU processing
- Professional-grade performance
Flutter is okay if:
- You want Android + iOS quickly
- Filters are simple (color effects, overlays)
- Performance is not ultra-critical
🔍 Detailed Comparison
🎥 Camera & Video Performance
| Feature | Flutter | Native Android |
|---|---|---|
| Camera access | Plugin-based | Direct Camera2 / CameraX |
| Real-time filters | ❌ Limited | ✅ Excellent |
| Background blur | ⚠️ Possible but heavy | ✅ Optimized |
| Green screen / AI BG | ❌ Very hard | ✅ Supported |
| Frame drop risk | High | Low |
👉 Winner: Native Android
🎨 Background Filters (Critical Point)
Flutter limitations
- No direct GPU shader control
- Relies on platform channels
- Real-time frame processing is slow
- ML-based background removal is difficult
Native Android advantages
- OpenGL / Vulkan / GPUImage
- ML Kit / MediaPipe
- CameraX + SurfaceTexture
- Real-time segmentation & effects
👉 Winner: Native Android
🚀 Development Speed
| Aspect | Flutter | Native |
|---|---|---|
| UI development | Very fast | Slower |
| Learning curve | Easy | Medium |
| Code reuse | Android + iOS | Android only |
👉 Winner: Flutter
📱 Cross-Platform Support
- Flutter → Android + iOS
- Native Android → Android only
If iOS is planned, Flutter saves time — but you’ll still need native code for filters.
🧠 Recommended Architecture (Best of Both Worlds)
If you want performance + future iOS support:
Flutter UI
↓
Platform Channels
↓
Native Android (Camera + Filters)
But this increases complexity ⚠️
🏆 Final Recommendation (Based on Your Use Case)
If you want:
✔ TikTok / Reels-like app
✔ Live background effects
✔ Smooth video recording
✔ Scalable performance
👉 Go with Native Android (Kotlin)
Tech Stack Suggestion (Native Android)
- CameraX
- OpenGL ES / Vulkan
- GPUImage
- MediaPipe / ML Kit
- ExoPlayer / MediaCodec
When Flutter Makes Sense
- Simple filters only (blur, sepia, overlay)
- MVP / demo app
- Budget or time constraints
- Not real-time heavy processing
