Eclipsa Video is a new HDR (High Dynamic Range) video standard that ships built into Android 17, and its job is simple to state: make the same video look right on every screen. Google announced Eclipsa Video on June 29, 2026, a few weeks after Android 17 itself went live. It is a royalty-free format that Google developed together with Apple and NBCUniversal, and it aims to fix one of HDR's most annoying quirks: a clip that looks blindingly bright on one phone and flat or washed out on another.
Key Takeaways
- Eclipsa Video is a new, royalty-free HDR standard built natively into Android 17 (API level 37).
- It was developed by Google, Apple, and NBCUniversal, based on the open SMPTE ST 2094-50 specification.
- It uses three tricks — HDR Reference White, adaptive headroom, and frame-by-frame instructions — so bright highlights scale to each display instead of overwhelming it.
- Both playback and capture are supported on Android 17 devices with HDR screens that pass Eclipsa Compliance tests.
- It is positioned as an open, license-free alternative to Dolby Vision, and for now targets phones and tablets, not TVs.
The HDR problem Eclipsa Video is trying to fix
HDR video is supposed to show brighter highlights and deeper shadows than older SDR (standard dynamic range) content. The catch is that HDR leans heavily on each display to decide how bright "bright" should be. Because every screen interprets that differently, the same clip can look very different from device to device.
Google describes the issue plainly: "the exact same clip can render in unexpected and jarring ways depending on the display you're using." On one phone a video looks painfully bright while you scroll a feed; on another it looks dull, dark, or washed out. Eclipsa Video is meant to remove that guesswork so the result is, in Google's words, "consistent, balanced, and comfortable on every screen."
How Eclipsa Video works
Eclipsa Video is built on the open SMPTE ST 2094-50 specification, which Google says it developed with Apple and NBCUniversal. It leans on three main mechanisms, per Google's developer documentation:
- HDR Reference White — a fixed baseline for "normal" brightness. This keeps standard text, app menus, and SDR colors readable and vibrant even while a bright HDR video plays alongside them.
- Adaptive headroom — the standard carries "headroom-adaptive" gain curves. In plain terms, the brightness of highlights scales to what the display can actually do. A premium TV can push bright details hard, while a phone screen scales them down intelligently instead of clipping to white.
- Frame-by-frame instructions — Eclipsa carries per-frame metadata, like a set of digital notes from the creator that travel with the video. That preserves the intended color, mood, and contrast from one device to the next.
For developers, the plumbing is meant to be mostly automatic. Media3 ExoPlayer extracts and applies the SMPTE 2094-50 metadata without custom setup, and camera apps can capture Eclipsa video by routing through the DynamicRangeProfiles.HLG10_SMPTE_2094_50 profile in Camera2. Playback and capture both require a device on Android 17 or higher with an HDR display that passes Eclipsa Compliance tests.
Where it fits in Android 17
Eclipsa Video is one piece of a broad Android 17 media push. Android 17 launched on June 16, 2026, first on supported Pixel phones, and also lists RAW14 image capture, H.266/VVC video support, and constant-quality recording among its creator features. If you want the wider picture of what else shipped, see our rundown of Android 17's arrival on Pixel phones.
Eclipsa Video vs Dolby Vision vs HDR10+
Eclipsa Video enters a crowded field of "dynamic" HDR formats. All three below use per-scene or per-frame metadata; the big split is cost and who controls the format. Independent coverage frames Eclipsa as the open, no-fee option running under the HDR10+ consortium.
| Format | SMPTE standard | Cost model | Governance |
|---|
| Eclipsa Video | ST 2094-50 | Royalty-free | HDR10+ Technologies |
| Dolby Vision | ST 2094-10 | Paid licensing | Dolby Labs |
| HDR10+ | ST 2094-40 | Royalty-free | HDR10+ Technologies |
The royalty-free angle is the point. Anyone who wants to support Dolby Vision on a device or streaming service pays an ongoing fee, which is part of why Samsung has long refused to put it on its TVs. Eclipsa lets manufacturers add an advanced HDR solution at no licensing cost, as several outlets have noted.
Why It Matters
For most viewers, the win is boringly practical: fewer eye-searing bright videos and fewer dull ones, without touching a brightness slider. Because it rides on the operating system, Eclipsa reaches Android users automatically as their phones move to Android 17 — starting with Pixel and, in the coming months, partner phones from brands such as Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, Realme, OnePlus, and HONOR that are widely sold in the Philippines. That means Filipino viewers get the benefit through the normal Android 17 rollout rather than a separate local launch. As of publication, no Philippine-specific availability date or supported-device list has been announced, and the standard currently targets phones and tablets rather than TVs, with television support not expected before 2027.
It is worth staying measured about adoption. The format still lacks an official logo, and reviewers have drawn comparisons to Eclipsa Audio, Google and Samsung's Dolby Atmos rival, which has been slow to catch on. A skeptical view from Pocket-lint argues incumbents may treat open alternatives as a "waste of effort" while Dolby remains the default. Eclipsa Video being baked into Android is a real advantage the audio format never had, but content and app support will decide whether it sticks.
FAQ
Which phones support Eclipsa Video?
Any device running Android 17 (API level 37) or higher with an HDR display that passes Eclipsa Compliance tests. Pixel phones got Android 17 first, with other Android brands following in the coming months.
Does Eclipsa Video replace Dolby Vision or HDR10+?
Not directly. It is a royalty-free alternative that, for now, focuses on phones and tablets. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ still dominate on TVs, and Eclipsa's TV support is not expected until 2027 or later.
Do I need to turn it on?
No. Support is built into Android 17, so compatible content plays with Eclipsa handling automatically through the system and apps like those using Media3 ExoPlayer.
