diff --git a/package/android/src/main/java/com/mrousavy/camera/core/VideoPipeline.kt b/package/android/src/main/java/com/mrousavy/camera/core/VideoPipeline.kt
index 57e1d78..f6df554 100644
--- a/package/android/src/main/java/com/mrousavy/camera/core/VideoPipeline.kt
+++ b/package/android/src/main/java/com/mrousavy/camera/core/VideoPipeline.kt
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import android.os.Build
 import android.util.Log
 import android.view.Surface
 import androidx.annotation.Keep
+import androidx.annotation.RequiresApi
 import com.facebook.jni.HybridData
 import com.facebook.proguard.annotations.DoNotStrip
 import com.mrousavy.camera.frameprocessor.Frame
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ class VideoPipeline(
   val height: Int,
   val format: PixelFormat = PixelFormat.NATIVE,
   private val isMirrored: Boolean = false,
-  enableFrameProcessor: Boolean = false,
+  private val enableFrameProcessor: Boolean = false,
   private val callback: CameraSession.Callback
 ) : SurfaceTexture.OnFrameAvailableListener,
   Closeable {
@@ -80,10 +81,9 @@ class VideoPipeline(
 
       if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.Q) {
         Log.i(TAG, "Using API 29 for GPU ImageReader...")
-        // If we are in PRIVATE, we just pass it to the GPU as efficiently as possible - so use GPU flag.
-        // If we are in YUV/RGB/..., we probably want to access Frame data - so use CPU flag.
-        val usage = if (format == ImageFormat.PRIVATE) HardwareBuffer.USAGE_GPU_SAMPLED_IMAGE else HardwareBuffer.USAGE_CPU_READ_OFTEN
-        imageReader = ImageReader.newInstance(width, height, format, MAX_IMAGES, usage)
+        val usageFlags = getRecommendedHardwareBufferFlags()
+        Log.i(TAG, "Using ImageReader flags: $usageFlags")
+        imageReader = ImageReader.newInstance(width, height, format, MAX_IMAGES, usageFlags)
         imageWriter = ImageWriter.newInstance(glSurface, MAX_IMAGES, format)
       } else {
         Log.i(TAG, "Using legacy API for CPU ImageReader...")
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class VideoPipeline(
 
           if (hasOutputs) {
             // If we have outputs (e.g. a RecordingSession), pass the frame along to the OpenGL pipeline
-            imageWriter!!.queueInputImage(image)
+            imageWriter?.queueInputImage(image)
           }
         } catch (e: Throwable) {
           Log.e(TAG, "FrameProcessor/ImageReader pipeline threw an error!", e)
@@ -182,6 +182,52 @@ class VideoPipeline(
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the recommended HardwareBuffer flags for creating ImageReader instances with.
+   *
+   * Tries to use [HardwareBuffer.USAGE_GPU_SAMPLED_IMAGE] if possible, [HardwareBuffer.USAGE_CPU_READ_OFTEN]
+   * or a combination of both flags if CPU access is needed ([enableFrameProcessor]), and [0] otherwise.
+   */
+  @RequiresApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.Q)
+  @Suppress("LiftReturnOrAssignment")
+  private fun getRecommendedHardwareBufferFlags(): Long {
+    val cpuFlag = HardwareBuffer.USAGE_CPU_READ_OFTEN
+    val gpuFlag = HardwareBuffer.USAGE_GPU_SAMPLED_IMAGE
+    val bothFlags = gpuFlag or cpuFlag
+
+    if (format == PixelFormat.NATIVE) {
+      // We don't need CPU access, so we can use GPU optimized buffers
+      if (supportsHardwareBufferFlags(gpuFlag)) {
+        // We support GPU Buffers directly and
+        Log.i(TAG, "GPU HardwareBuffers are supported!")
+        return gpuFlag
+      } else {
+        // no flags are supported - fall back to default
+        return 0
+      }
+    } else {
+      // We are using YUV or RGB formats, so we need CPU access on the Frame
+      if (supportsHardwareBufferFlags(bothFlags)) {
+        // We support both CPU and GPU flags!
+        Log.i(TAG, "GPU + CPU HardwareBuffers are supported!")
+        return bothFlags
+      } else if (supportsHardwareBufferFlags(cpuFlag)) {
+        // We only support a CPU read flag, that's fine
+        Log.i(TAG, "CPU HardwareBuffers are supported!")
+        return cpuFlag
+      } else {
+        // no flags are supported - fall back to default
+        return 0
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  @RequiresApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.Q)
+  private fun supportsHardwareBufferFlags(flags: Long): Boolean {
+    val hardwareBufferFormat = format.toHardwareBufferFormat()
+    return HardwareBuffer.isSupported(width, height, hardwareBufferFormat, 1, flags)
+  }
+
   private external fun getInputTextureId(): Int
   private external fun onBeforeFrame()
   private external fun onFrame(transformMatrix: FloatArray)
diff --git a/package/android/src/main/java/com/mrousavy/camera/types/PixelFormat.kt b/package/android/src/main/java/com/mrousavy/camera/types/PixelFormat.kt
index c4a7a3c..697c53b 100644
--- a/package/android/src/main/java/com/mrousavy/camera/types/PixelFormat.kt
+++ b/package/android/src/main/java/com/mrousavy/camera/types/PixelFormat.kt
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import android.graphics.ImageFormat
 import android.util.Log
 import com.mrousavy.camera.core.InvalidTypeScriptUnionError
 import com.mrousavy.camera.core.PixelFormatNotSupportedError
+import com.mrousavy.camera.utils.HardwareBufferUtils
 import com.mrousavy.camera.utils.ImageFormatUtils
 
 enum class PixelFormat(override val unionValue: String) : JSUnionValue {
@@ -19,6 +20,11 @@ enum class PixelFormat(override val unionValue: String) : JSUnionValue {
       else -> throw PixelFormatNotSupportedError(this.unionValue)
     }
 
+  fun toHardwareBufferFormat(): Int {
+    val imageFormat = toImageFormat()
+    return HardwareBufferUtils.getHardwareBufferFormat(imageFormat)
+  }
+
   companion object : JSUnionValue.Companion<PixelFormat> {
     private const val TAG = "PixelFormat"
     fun fromImageFormat(imageFormat: Int): PixelFormat =
diff --git a/package/android/src/main/java/com/mrousavy/camera/utils/HardwareBufferUtils.kt b/package/android/src/main/java/com/mrousavy/camera/utils/HardwareBufferUtils.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1d5106
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package/android/src/main/java/com/mrousavy/camera/utils/HardwareBufferUtils.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+package com.mrousavy.camera.utils
+
+import android.graphics.ImageFormat
+import android.hardware.HardwareBuffer
+import android.media.ImageReader
+import android.os.Build
+
+class HardwareBufferUtils {
+  companion object {
+    fun getHardwareBufferFormat(imageFormat: Int): Int {
+      if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) {
+        // Dynamically create an ImageReader with the target ImageFormat, and then
+        // get it's HardwareBuffer format to see what it uses underneath.
+        val imageReader = ImageReader.newInstance(1, 1, imageFormat, 1, HardwareBuffer.USAGE_GPU_SAMPLED_IMAGE)
+        val format = imageReader.hardwareBufferFormat
+        imageReader.close()
+        return format
+      }
+
+      if (imageFormat == ImageFormat.PRIVATE) {
+        // PRIVATE formats are opaque, their actual equivalent HardwareBuffer format is unknown.
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.R) {
+          // We can assume that YUV 4:2:0 or RGB is used.
+          return HardwareBuffer.YCBCR_420_888
+        } else {
+          // Maybe assume we are on RGB if we're not on API R or above...
+          return HardwareBuffer.RGB_888
+        }
+      }
+
+      // According to PublicFormat.cpp in Android's codebase, the formats map 1:1 anyways..
+      // https://cs.android.com/android/platform/superproject/main/+/main:frameworks/native/libs/ui/PublicFormat.cpp
+      return imageFormat
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/package/example/ios/Podfile.lock b/package/example/ios/Podfile.lock
index 4df4e73..9ccae1a 100644
--- a/package/example/ios/Podfile.lock
+++ b/package/example/ios/Podfile.lock
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ PODS:
   - libwebp/sharpyuv (1.3.2)
   - libwebp/webp (1.3.2):
     - libwebp/sharpyuv
-  - MMKV (1.3.2):
-    - MMKVCore (~> 1.3.2)
-  - MMKVCore (1.3.2)
+  - MMKV (1.3.3):
+    - MMKVCore (~> 1.3.3)
+  - MMKVCore (1.3.3)
   - RCT-Folly (2021.07.22.00):
     - boost
     - DoubleConversion
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ PODS:
   - react-native-mmkv (2.11.0):
     - MMKV (>= 1.2.13)
     - React-Core
-  - react-native-safe-area-context (4.8.0):
+  - react-native-safe-area-context (4.8.2):
     - React-Core
   - react-native-video (5.2.1):
     - React-Core
@@ -675,8 +675,8 @@ SPEC CHECKSUMS:
   hermes-engine: 9180d43df05c1ed658a87cc733dc3044cf90c00a
   libevent: 4049cae6c81cdb3654a443be001fb9bdceff7913
   libwebp: 1786c9f4ff8a279e4dac1e8f385004d5fc253009
-  MMKV: f21593c0af4b3f2a0ceb8f820f28bb639ea22bb7
-  MMKVCore: 31b4cb83f8266467eef20a35b6d78e409a11060d
+  MMKV: f902fb6719da13c2ab0965233d8963a59416f911
+  MMKVCore: d26e4d3edd5cb8588c2569222cbd8be4231374e9
   RCT-Folly: 424b8c9a7a0b9ab2886ffe9c3b041ef628fd4fb1
   RCTRequired: 83bca1c184feb4d2e51c72c8369b83d641443f95
   RCTTypeSafety: 13c4a87a16d7db6cd66006ce9759f073402ef85b
@@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ SPEC CHECKSUMS:
   react-native-blur: cfdad7b3c01d725ab62a8a729f42ea463998afa2
   react-native-cameraroll: 4701ae7c3dbcd3f5e9e150ca17f250a276154b35
   react-native-mmkv: e97c0c79403fb94577e5d902ab1ebd42b0715b43
-  react-native-safe-area-context: d1c8161a1e9560f7066e8926a7d825eb57c5dab5
+  react-native-safe-area-context: 0ee144a6170530ccc37a0fd9388e28d06f516a89
   react-native-video: c26780b224543c62d5e1b2a7244a5cd1b50e8253
   react-native-worklets-core: a894d572639fcf37c6d284cc799882d25d00c93d
   React-NativeModulesApple: b6868ee904013a7923128892ee4a032498a1024a