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ZDNET key takeaways
- There are plenty of high-quality screen recorders.
- The built-in option is the best choice for most users.
- Some of these have premium options to remove ads or add features.
Over the years, there have been many instances where I had to record my Android screen to share with others. The primary reason for those shares was to help someone having trouble with some aspect of their mobile device. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video must be worth a million.
Until recently, I used one specific app for this, and it served me very well. However, Google did finally see fit to change that, and although its solution works well, it’s not quite as flexible as the other offerings.
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What offerings, you ask? Well, my Android-loving friends, let me share with you my shortlist of screen-recording apps that are certain to get the job done for you and make sharing videos of what you see on your Android screen a snap.
1. The built-in recorder
Yes, Google finally added a built-in screen recorder for Android. This came about in Android 11. At first, the built-in option wasn’t viable, so I shrugged it off. A few releases later, the Android screen recorder finally allowed me to cast aside what had been my go-to for years (more on that in a bit). The Android screen recorder works quite well and is very simple to use, which, in my opinion, is a big selling point.
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The one drawback of the built-in option is that it’s not nearly as feature-rich as the other choices on this list. However, the few features it has are probably all most users would need. You can record either the full screen or one app. You can also record audio and even touches on the screen. Keep in mind that the audio the app records is directly from your phone and not the mic, so you can’t narrate what’s going on (which would be pretty handy at times).
If you need basic screen recording, just stick with the built-in option.
2. AZ Screen Recorder
AZ Screen Recorder was my default for years. I found this app to be the most reliable, flexible, and simple to use. This app includes features like the ability to display over other apps, a built-in editor, audio booster, file recovery, video compression, image stitching, video downloader, Wi-Fi transfer, resolution switching, frame rate selection, auto orientation, audio source selection, stability options, recording controls, countdown before start, and much more.
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With AZ Screen Recorder, you can also livestream your screen to YouTube and Facebook (Pro version). AZ Screen Recorder has both free and paid options. The Pro version has no ads, allows live streaming, doesn’t add a watermark to videos, and includes higher resolution options. The cost for the Pro version is either $4.49 monthly or a one-time fee of $17.99.
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3. Mobizen Screen Recorder
Mobizen Screen Recorder is one of the most popular options for Android. Mobizen includes a very handy feature that allows you to designate an automatic touch location, so you don’t have to manually tap during the recording. You also get a built-in editor, 2K resolution, 12 Mbps, 60 fps, a facecam, save to SD card, custom profile watermark, intros and outros, GIF creator, and a user-friendly UI.
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One of the best features of Mobizen is that it allows you to record your own commentary, so your videos can be even more instructive. Mobizen is free to install, but you can remove the ads with a Premium license, which starts at $3.35 monthly.
4. XRecorder
XRecorder allows you to capture smooth, high-quality videos and even capture screenshots with a single tap. XRecorder includes features like a built-in editor (for trimming, merging, and more), recording in full HD (up to 1080p), a countdown timer, no watermarks, and the ability to record both audio and video together. One interesting feature with XRecorder is the ability to “doodle” on the screen during the recording, which can be very helpful when creating instructional videos. You also get direct streaming to YouTube.
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The only drawback to XRecorder is that the UI is a bit outdated. Another thing to keep in mind with XRecorder is that it will bombard you with notifications, so I’d suggest shutting off that feature. XRecorder is free to install and use.
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