Katarzyna Petru
Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia) is preparing for the launch of its next video codec. As reported by FlatpanelsHD, AV2 is expected to be released before the end of 2025 and is set to be the direct successor to AV1, which has been functioning for several years as a free alternative to HEVC.
Successor to AV1 and an alternative to HEVC
The new solution is set to provide significantly better compression than AV1, which in practice means smaller files while maintaining high image quality. The organization emphasizes that AV2 has been designed with the growing demands of streaming in mind – from classic 4K and HDR to more demanding applications such as VR video or simultaneous display of multiple streams on one screen.
When will we see the first devices with AV2?
So far, we have not yet learned of specific performance indicators for 4K and 8K content, but according to announcements, AV2 is expected to compete with the VVC codec, which is developing as a successor to HEVC. As for the adoption rate, AOMedia predicts that more than half of the companies in the alliance will implement AV2 within the first 12 months of its release, and within two years, 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 AOMedia membership list includes industry giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Samsung, Microsoft, and LG, so the potential for rapid popularization is enormous.
Source: Flatpanelshd.com
