AOMedia releases AV2 1.0, targeting 30% better compression than AV1
AOMedia has released the AV2 1.0 open-standard video codec, targeting 30% better compression than AV1, with a reference encoder available for Linux users. Widespread playback support and hardware acceleration for AV2 are expected to take several years to materialize across different platforms and devices. The article details how to build and test the AV2 reference encoder/decoder on Linux and outlines the current lack of wider tool and hardware support.
Key Takeaways
- AV2 1.0 was finalized on May 28, 2026, with an AVM reference encoder/decoder available for Linux.
- AV2 aims for 30% better compression than AV1, competing with VVC (H.266) but with royalty-free licensing.
- There is no current FFmpeg, browser, or hardware support; optimized software decoding is a few years away.
- AV2 is not backward compatible with AV1, meaning new hardware or software decoders are required.
- AOMedia members, including Google and Netflix, expect to implement AV2 within two years of its release.
Why It Matters
AV2's release marks the next generation of royalty-free video codecs, offering significant compression gains critical for streaming efficiency and storage costs. However, the lack of immediate software and hardware support means a multi-year transition for the ecosystem. Early adopters will rely on the reference implementation, but mainstream streaming providers and device manufacturers will drive widespread integration. Keep an eye on FFmpeg-devel mailing lists and browser flags for the first signs of integrated AV2 support, as these will signal the beginning of broader adoption across streaming platforms and consumer devices.
Read full article at fosslinux.com