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The State of AV1: Why Isn’t This Advanced Video Codec Ubiquitous?
When you initiate a video on platforms like YouTube or Netflix, a complex process unfolds rapidly in the background. Video data is swiftly downloaded to your device, requiring it to decompress and organize this information into a seamless, uninterrupted stream. The technology of encoding and decoding video data has significantly evolved, with H.264 (AVC) and its successor H.265 (HEVC) remaining dominant video codecs for streaming high-resolution content. However, a new contender has emerged aiming to reshape the landscape of video compression.
The Rise of AV1: A Royalty-Free Alternative
In 2015, several tech industry leaders, including Netflix, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta, collaborated to pioneer the next generation of video compression: AV1. These companies, united within the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), assert that this video codec offers approximately 30 percent greater efficiency compared to established standards like HEVC and Google’s VP9. This enhanced efficiency promises superior video quality at reduced bandwidth consumption. Furthermore, AOMedia emphasizes its royalty-free nature, implying that device manufacturers and video providers can utilize this technology without incurring patent licensing fees. This open-source approach distinguishes AV1 from other codecs and aims to promote wider adoption.
Hesitant Adoption: AV1’s Slow March to Ubiquity
These purported advantages should have paved the way for AV1 to dominate the video streaming landscape. Yet, despite these enhancements and the backing of major technology corporations, the codec has not achieved universal implementation. Several prominent streaming services, including Max, Peacock, and Paramount Plus, have not yet integrated AV1 into their platforms. This slower-than-expected adoption raises questions about the hurdles facing even a superior and open-source video codec.
Growing Support for AV1 Across Platforms
Since its introduction in 2018, AV1 has gained traction with key players utilizing it for streaming high-definition content in 4K and 8K resolutions.
- Google initiated AV1 testing on YouTube in 2018.
- Netflix incorporated AV1 support in 2021.
- Amazon Prime Video adopted AV1 in 2021.
- Instagram Reels utilizes the codec.
- Microsoft Teams employs AV1 for screen sharing.
- Discord enabled AV1 support in 2023.
- Twitch is currently working on its implementation.
- Web browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox also support AV1.
Numerous devices now feature AV1 decoders, spanning TVs, smartphones, and streaming media players.
Hardware Hurdles: Decoding Complexity and Device Compatibility
The reasons behind the incomplete migration to AV1 are multifaceted, but a primary factor is hardware compatibility. For AV1 to function optimally, devices require dedicated hardware to support its decoding. Alternatively, devices can rely on software-based decoding, which can be resource-intensive and potentially impact performance. This hardware requirement represents a significant barrier to entry for older devices and can influence adoption decisions for manufacturers.
Device Manufacturers Gradually Embrace AV1
Over recent years, a growing number of devices have integrated AV1 decoders.
- TVs, smartphones, and streaming devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max now incorporate AV1 decoding capabilities.
- Chip manufacturers such as Nvidia, AMD, and Intel have released GPUs with AV1 technology.
- Apple integrated an AV1 decoder in iPhones starting with the iPhone 15 Pro in 2023, and expanded support across the iPhone 16 series.
However, not all device makers have readily embraced AV1. Roku, for example, publicly accused Google of pressuring them into supporting the standard in 2021, alleging it would inflate costs for consumers. This resistance highlights the complexities beyond mere technical superiority.
Complexity and Efficiency Trade-offs
“To realize AV1’s superior features, a significantly higher encoding complexity is necessary,” explains Larry Pearlstein, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the College of New Jersey. He further notes, “Conversely, increased decoding complexity also exists, placing demands on the consumer’s device.” This complexity translates to greater processing power needed for both encoding and decoding video content.
Software Solutions and Battery Life Concerns
Software-based solutions exist for devices lacking dedicated AV1 hardware decoders, but they are less efficient. Google provides Android app developers with dav1d, an AV1 decoder developed by VideoLAN. YouTube utilizes dav1d to deliver AV1 videos to users on older or mid-range smartphones. Nevertheless, some YouTube users have reported reduced phone battery life after this implementation, indicating a drawback of software decoding.
Adoption Rates: Netflix Leading the Charge
Currently, AOMedia estimates that approximately 95 percent of Netflix’s content is encoded using AV1, compared to around 50 percent of YouTube’s videos. Hari Kalva, chair and professor in Florida Atlantic University’s department of electrical engineering and computer science, points out the classic “chicken and egg” dilemma: “Which comes first – the technology before content, or sufficient playback devices to justify content creation?” This highlights the interdependent nature of codec adoption and content availability.
Emerging Competitors: VVC (H.266) Enters the Fray
The video compression field continues to evolve with the emergence of other standards. VVC, also known as H.266, developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG), the same entities behind HEVC and AVC, was finalized in 2020. VVC purportedly achieves 50 percent better compression than HEVC, exceeding AV1’s 30 percent improvement. However, unlike AV1, VVC is not royalty-free, presenting a different set of considerations for adoption.
The Cost of Efficiency: Encoding Complexity and Royalties
Despite its enhanced compression capabilities, AV1 introduces certain compromises that could hinder widespread adoption. Notably, compressing videos with AV1 requires more processing time and energy. Pierre-Anthony Lemieux, executive director of AOMedia, explained, “Achieving greater compression necessitates more processing effort… As codecs become more efficient, they generally demand more power.” This increased encoding complexity can impact content production workflows and infrastructure costs.
Royalty-Free Status Under Scrutiny
While AOMedia maintains AV1 is royalty-free, this claim has faced scrutiny. Historically, companies implementing video compression codecs have paid royalties, often through patent pools. These pools streamline licensing by offering access to numerous patents for a technology through a single entity. Organizations like Via Licensing Alliance, Access Advance, and Sisvel manage patent pools for codecs like HEVC and VVC.
IP Challenges: Navigating the Patent Landscape
“Video compression is a domain extensively explored by numerous experts over an extended period,” notes Robert Moore, an intellectual property attorney at Volpe Koenig. He describes the area as an “IP thicket,” making it “exceptionally challenging to develop commercially viable standard technology” due to the dense patent landscape. This complex intellectual property environment adds uncertainty to the supposedly royalty-free nature of AV1.
“Our members are actively developing the next major advancements.”
Emerging Patent Pools and Regulatory Scrutiny
Despite AOMedia’s intentions, patent pools have emerged asserting royalty claims on patents relevant to AV1, as reported by Streaming Media. The most recent pool formed in January 2025. AOMedia responded to the initial licensing program announcement in 2019, reaffirming its commitment to “leave behind the very environment that the announcement endorses” and emphasizing its “patent licensing terms up front.”
EU Investigation and Future Prospects
The European Union initiated an investigation into AOMedia’s licensing policy in 2022. Concerns centered around whether its “mandatory royalty-free cross licensing” agreement could impede innovation, particularly for “innovators not part of AOM at AV1’s creation but whose patents are essential,” according to Reuters. The EU closed the investigation in 2023 citing “priority reasons.”
AV1’s Enduring Future and the Horizon of Video Compression
Despite ongoing uncertainties, AOMedia and its adopters are progressing with AV1 as a pivotal technology for online streaming’s future – while also exploring its potential successor. “AV1 is likely to remain relevant indefinitely,” asserts Lemieux. “However, our members are actively developing the next major advancements, with anticipated announcements later this year.” This continuous innovation suggests an exciting future for video compression technology and online video experiences.