Blackmagic pushes Camera for Android to version 3.5 with presets, search and 10‑bit previews

Blackmagic Design has released a sizable update to its smartphone video app, moving the Android build to Blackmagic Camera for Android 3.5 and bringing several workflow and performance upgrades.

The update focuses on making capture quicker and more reliable in the field. A new search field in the app settings lets users locate configuration options without digging through menus, which should shorten the time it takes to tune the camera on a phone. The app also gains a shortcuts feature that launches the application with a chosen preset already active, so you can start shooting immediately; in Blackmagic’s words users can "open the app directly with a selected preset." That should help run-and-gun shooters and run lists that rely on repeatable, predefined looks.

Remote monitoring gets a meaningful bump: the release enables 10‑bit remote previews on compatible phones and tablets, so feeds sent to control devices can carry higher‑precision color and grading information. Blackmagic describes this capability as a way to "unlock 10‑bit remote previews on supported phones and tablets." For anyone who monitors or directs on a separate handset or tablet, seeing a richer preview reduces surprises when footage reaches post.

Under the hood the update includes compatibility and performance work. The app is listed as optimised for Android 17 and includes phone‑specific tuning for some recent flagship models, with named improvements for the Oppo Find X10 series and the Oneplus 16 series. Blackmagic also says the release reduces overall battery drain through a collection of performance improvements, and it bundles a set of bug fixes to tidy up miscellaneous issues.

Blackmagic’s changelog frames the build as a mix of usability and platform support: settings search, preset shortcuts, 10‑bit remote preview support, Android 17 optimisations, explicit device tweaks and battery/performance gains. That combination targets both everyday users who want faster access to controls and professionals who need dependable, higher‑fidelity remote monitoring when directing or colour supervising from a second device.

The app’s free availability remains in place. Blackmagic has previously emphasised that the Camera app is free on both major mobile platforms, and this release continues that approach — "it’s free, by the way," as the company puts it — though Blackmagic also markets higher‑end hardware and software that integrate with its mobile ecosystem.

Blackmagic Camera for Android 3.5 is the latest in a string of mobile and desktop moves from the company aimed at tightening the link between acquisition and grading. On the acquisition side, the app’s presets plus shortcuts make it easier to guarantee settings across multiple takes or operators. On the monitoring side, 10‑bit remote previews bring the preview closer to what colourists expect to see later in post. Together, these updates reduce friction between what a shooter frames on set and what an editor or colourist receives.

Practical benefits of the update include faster setup thanks to the settings search and preset shortcuts, better second‑screen representation of footage via 10‑bit remote previews, and generally longer runtime during shoots because of reduced battery consumption. The model‑specific optimisations may also improve stability and performance on the Oppo Find X10 series and Oneplus 16 series devices, which could matter for teams standardising on particular phones for capture or monitoring.

As with all app updates that add advanced monitoring or device‑level features, users will want to confirm that their phone or tablet supports the higher‑bitrate preview stream before relying on it for critical colour decisions. Blackmagic’s notes identify the feature as available on supported devices rather than universally, so real‑world behaviour will depend on handset hardware and the versions of Android those devices are running.

For mobile shooters who already use the Blackmagic ecosystem — from desktop tools to cameras — the new version tightens a few loose ends and adds a couple of convenience features that matter daily. For newcomers, the free price and clearer, quicker access to presets and settings make the app easier to trial on a production testbed.

If you use the app, expect this update to make preset‑driven workflows smoother and remote monitoring more colour‑faithful when both ends of a control chain can handle 10‑bit signals. The company lists a collection of general fixes alongside the headline features, so even users who don’t need 10‑bit previews or the device‑specific tweaks should see incremental improvements in battery life and stability.

Blackmagic Camera for Android 3.5 sits alongside other recent Blackmagic software moves aimed at streamlining capture, monitoring and post, and it continues the company’s emphasis on tightly integrated tools across phones, cameras and desktop platforms.