OpenCV vs MediaPipe: which is better for real-time CV features?

MediaPipe offers robust, prebuilt pipelines for real-time computer vision features such as face tracking, gesture recognition, and pose estimation, and is highly optimised for speed on mobile devices. OpenCV provides a flexible, general-purpose library for custom vision tasks but may require more manual implementation for advanced real-time effects. For rapid deployment of common real-time vision features, MediaPipe is streamlined and easier to use. OpenCV remains preferred for custom or specialised functionality.