Videoplayback stutters on some Videos

[DrNinbos]

Checklist

• I am able to reproduce the bug with the latest version given here: CLICK THIS LINK.
• I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - which I could contribute my information to.
• I have read the FAQ and my problem isn't listed.
• I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the bug report will be dismissed otherwise.
• This issue contains only one bug.
• I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.
• I have read and understood the AI policy. The content of this bug report is not generated by AI.

Affected version

0.28.1

Steps to reproduce the bug

1. Select Video (It seems pretty random to me for which it happens, but for example all Haelian videos seem to be affected for me.)
2. Play Video

Expected behavior

Video plays normally.

Actual behavior

In random intervals the Video stutters a bit. Audio is fine, I tested different resolutions and playbackspeeds (I usually watch at 2x but also happens at normal speed). Sometimes it seems better after not having used the App for a while but sometimes it also just starts stuttering straight away.

Screenshots/Screen recordings

No response

Logs

No response

Affected Android/Custom ROM version

Android 16 / GrapheneOS Build 2026011001

Affected device model

Pixel 8

Additional information

No response

[yfloress]

I have the same problem, also with a Pixel 8.

[theckman56]

I am a third pixel 8 user with this exact issue. Only thing of note is that it seems to have started after the recent android update.

[0xsimulacra]

I have a problem related to this.

Video stutters and may end up in an app crash mostly when there is video playback going on and I'm doing other things in the same time inside the app like refreshing subscription or doing a search.

Last time this happened I got this crash report:

Exception

• User Action: ui error
• Request: ACRA report
• Content Country: GB
• Content Language: en-GB
• App Language: en_GB
• Service: <unknown_service>
• Timestamp: 2026-01-17T10:51:08.922+01:00
• Package: org.schabi.newpipe
• Service: <unknown_service>
• Version: 0.28.1
• OS: Linux samsung/r9qxeea/r9q:16/BP2A.250605.031.A3/G990BXXUGIYJ1:user/release-keys 16 - 36

Crash log

java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: Failed to allocate a 16 byte allocation with 1477384 free bytes and 1442KB until OOM, target footprint 268435456, growth limit 268435456; giving up on allocation because <1% of heap free after GC.
	at android.hardware.camera2.CameraManager$CameraManagerGlobal.postSingleAccessPriorityChangeUpdate(CameraManager.java:3364)
	at android.hardware.camera2.CameraManager$CameraManagerGlobal.onCameraAccessPrioritiesChanged(CameraManager.java:3887)
	at android.hardware.ICameraServiceListener$Stub.onTransact(ICameraServiceListener.java:213)
	at android.os.Binder.execTransactInternal(Binder.java:1462)
	at android.os.Binder.execTransact(Binder.java:1401)

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[rsnnn]

Same here with a Pixel 8a

[unchanged1024]

I'm having the same issue on a Pixel 7 with GrapheneOS build 2026011300

[eshom]

I am a third pixel 8 user with this exact issue. Only thing of note is that it seems to have started after the recent android update.

Same. To be more specific, it started after this Android update:
BP4A.260105.004.E1

[Jorge-tin]

Same here. Pixel 8 Pro with GrapheneOS.

I have a workaround: I realized that this doesn't happen with WebM videos, only with MPEG-4. By selecting WebM as the default format in the options, all videos load in this format and I haven't had any more problems.

[jorritsmit]

Same problem and same fix that worked

[ForeverAflame]

This problem is also happening to me on my Pixel 7 Pro with Android version 16. I have used the workaround from @Jorge-tin. However, the problem persists even on some videos that say they're delivering video to me in MPEG-4.