AV2
AV2 is the next-generation royalty-free video codec from the Alliance for Open Media, designed as the successor to AV1. AOMedia released the AV2 specification in June 2026. AV2 aims to deliver higher quality at the same bitrate, or the same quality using fewer bits, and adds support for multi-view and stereoscopic video. Hardware and software support is still at an early stage.
Why it matters
AV2 points to where streaming costs are heading. If it delivers the savings its backers expect, services could cut bandwidth for 4K and immersive video without paying royalties. For now it is a planning item, since playback devices need years to catch up.
How it works
- Like AV1, the encoder splits frames into blocks and predicts each from nearby pixels or other frames.
- AV2 adds new prediction and coding tools that describe the same picture using fewer bits.
- The specification also supports scalable streams and multiple views, such as stereoscopic video, in one bitstream.
- Viewers will need AV2 decoders in browsers or chips, which are still arriving.
AV2 vs AV1: what is the difference?
AV2 is AV1's successor and is designed to compress video more efficiently while staying royalty-free. It also adds features such as scalable bitstreams and multi-view video in one stream. AV1 has years of browser and hardware support today, while AV2 support is only starting, so AV1 remains the practical choice for now.
When will AV2 be supported on devices?
AV2 device support is still early. AOMedia released the final specification in June 2026, and decoder chips typically take several years to reach phones and TVs after a codec is finalized. Expect software decoders and encoder trials first, with wider hardware support arriving later.
Where it's used
Large streaming companies in the Alliance for Open Media are building and testing AV2 encoders to cut the data needed for 4K and immersive video ahead of device support.
By the numbers
- The Alliance for Open Media announced the release of the AV2 codec in a press release dated June 2026. (Alliance for Open Media: Alliance for Open Media Releases AV2 Codec)
