Katarzyna Petru
The Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia) is gearing up for the launch of its next video codec. According to FlatpanelsHD, AV2 is set to be released before the end of 2025 and will be a direct successor to AV1, which has been operating for several years as a free alternative to HEVC.
Successor to AV1 and alternative to HEVC
The new solution is intended to provide significantly better compression than AV1, which in practice means smaller files while maintaining high image quality. The organisation emphasises that AV2 has been designed with the growing demands of streaming in mind – from classic 4K and HDR to more demanding applications like VR video or simultaneous display of multiple streams on a single screen.
When will we see the first devices with AV2?
So far, we haven't yet been introduced to specific performance indicators for 4K and 8K content, but according to announcements, AV2 is set to compete with the VVC codec, which is developing as a successor to HEVC. In terms of rollout pace, AOMedia predicts that over half of the companies within the alliance will implement AV2 within the first 12 months of its launch, and within a two-year outlook, this rate is expected to rise to 88%.
In practice, however, the success will depend on how quickly AV2 reaches devices – televisions, media players, computers, or smartphones. The list of AOMedia members includes industry giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Samsung, Microsoft, and LG, so the potential for rapid popularisation is immense.
Source: Flatpanelshd.com
