diff --git a/src-tauri/src/conformance_runner.rs b/src-tauri/src/conformance_runner.rs
index 985bf5e9..44724218 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/conformance_runner.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/conformance_runner.rs
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ pub fn run_engine(url: &str, engine: Engine) -> u32 {
                     std::sync::Arc::new(crate::playback_reporting::throttle::EventThrottler::new()),
                 )
                 .expect("could not create the legacy backend"),
-                crate::player::media_player::Capabilities::native(),
+                crate::player::media_player::Capabilities::mpv(),
             ));
         }
     }
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index fc87d201..7d624e98 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -738,6 +738,27 @@ fn create_player_backend(
 
 /// Construct the tauri-specta command builder. Shared by `run()` and the
 /// bindings-export test so the TypeScript bindings always match the handler.
+/// What the engine built for this platform can do.
+///
+/// Declared per engine, not per category. ExoPlayer speaks HLS and can seek a
+/// server-side transcode in place; mpv cannot, because its HLS demuxer will not
+/// make the server produce segments from a new offset. Grouping them as "native
+/// engines" gets that backwards — being native is not the property that
+/// matters, speaking HLS is — and treating a category as a proxy for an ability
+/// is exactly the inference DR-246 removed.
+///
+/// TRACES: UR-081 | DR-246
+fn engine_capabilities() -> crate::player::media_player::Capabilities {
+    #[cfg(target_os = "android")]
+    {
+        crate::player::media_player::Capabilities::exoplayer()
+    }
+    #[cfg(not(target_os = "android"))]
+    {
+        crate::player::media_player::Capabilities::mpv()
+    }
+}
+
 fn specta_builder() -> Builder<tauri::Wry> {
     Builder::<tauri::Wry>::new()
         // Throw on error so generated `commands.*` return Promise<T> and throw,
@@ -1416,10 +1437,7 @@ pub fn run() {
             let player_controller = PlayerController::new(
                 Box::new(crate::player::LegacyPlayer::new(
                     backend,
-                    // Both native engines decode the stream themselves; the
-                    // webview path declares its own abilities when it becomes
-                    // an engine (DR-248).
-                    crate::player::media_player::Capabilities::native(),
+                    engine_capabilities(),
                 )),
                 playback_reporter.clone(),
                 position_throttler.clone(),
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/player/media_player.rs b/src-tauri/src/player/media_player.rs
index e379e85b..89ac6c6d 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/player/media_player.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/player/media_player.rs
@@ -139,12 +139,12 @@ pub struct Capabilities {
 }
 
 impl Capabilities {
-    /// What a native engine of this project's kind can do.
+    /// mpv.
     ///
-    /// `seeks_transcoded_in_place` is false: both native engines decode the
-    /// stream themselves and neither can make the server transcode from a new
-    /// offset. hls.js is the exception, and says so for itself.
-    pub fn native() -> Self {
+    /// Cannot seek a server-side transcode in place: its HLS demuxer will not
+    /// make the server produce segments from a new offset, so the stream has to
+    /// be re-opened.
+    pub fn mpv() -> Self {
         Self {
             video: true,
             audio_settings: true,
@@ -154,6 +154,24 @@ impl Capabilities {
         }
     }
 
+    /// ExoPlayer.
+    ///
+    /// **Can** seek a transcode in place. It is a full HLS client, so like
+    /// hls.js it seeks within the VOD playlist it was handed and lets the
+    /// server catch up. Grouping it with mpv as "a native engine" gets this
+    /// exactly backwards — being native is not the property that matters here,
+    /// speaking HLS is, and that is the whole reason this is declared per
+    /// engine rather than inferred from a category.
+    pub fn exoplayer() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            video: true,
+            audio_settings: true,
+            subtitle_switching: true,
+            audio_track_switching: true,
+            seeks_transcoded_in_place: true,
+        }
+    }
+
     /// An engine that renders through the webview element, where hls.js seeks
     /// within the playlist it was handed.
     pub fn webview() -> Self {
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/player/mod.rs b/src-tauri/src/player/mod.rs
index 210d2a9f..cbca0101 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/player/mod.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/player/mod.rs
@@ -2253,7 +2253,7 @@ impl Default for PlayerController {
         Self::new(
             Box::new(LegacyPlayer::new(
                 NullBackend::new(),
-                crate::player::media_player::Capabilities::native(),
+                crate::player::media_player::Capabilities::mpv(),
             )),
             playback_reporter,
             position_throttler,